There is a lot of stuff coming out in the news regarding the mass murder at Fort Hood. I would like to buck the trend and only speak to issues that I might have some relevant experience with and leave the fact-finding to the investigators and the legal conclusions to the lawyers and courts.

First, this guy apparently was harassed for being Muslim. I suppose that is possible. But it sounds odd to me. If he were a PFC in a mess kit repair battalion, then I would be more open to the possibility. But an Army Major working in the medical field? Is that really a work environment that is known for intolerance or bigotry? My credulity is strained.

When I was in Ranger School, my Ranger buddy was a Muslim. The Ranger Instructors knew that he was Muslim and made sure that he got the Pork Chow Mein MRE every day. He didn’t want Allah to get all worked up, so responsibility fell upon me as his Ranger buddy to trade him my non-pork MRE. Even prior to that experience, Pork Chow Mein was one of my least favorite meals. Trust me, I can recall every occasion when I had to give up the Chicken and Noodles MRE (3 times), which was the only MRE that I thought was halfway decent. That will make a man bitter. But if being subjected to 2 months of Pork Chow Mein MREs by a Muslim Ranger buddy was not enough to turn me into a bigot, then I’m very skeptical that a bunch of medical personnel (who probably went to college on very diverse campuses) would care about this Major’s religion. I suspect this tidbit of information is either incorrect or incomplete. It is also quite a sharp contrast to the recent story about the Army allowing a Sikh doctor to wear his religious headgear and not shave his beard, in a move that will no doubt give CSMs everywhere a heart attack. (I suspect, however, that the reflective belt remains non-negotiable)

Second, he apparently yelled “Allahu Akbar.” Maybe there is something to that. But here is how I see it. I have seen guys invoke God’s name, grasp religious symbols, pray, and do other acts associated with their faith while in combat. That is not because they thought they were fighting a holy war. It is because they knew that there was a good chance that they would be meeting their maker in short order and they wanted to be on good terms with Him before the moment of judgment. This guy must have known that police would eventually show up and give him the good news. I suspect he thought his time on Earth was drawing to a close.

Third, he allegedly wrote some things that look kind of wacky, such as justifying suicide bombings. I would hate to be held accountable in the public sphere for everything that I have written under this pseudonym or others. Sometimes I have argued a point of view that I do not agree with, specifically to tease out a better argument from other participants. If those things were taken in isolation and broadcast into the public sphere, it would amount to character assassination against me.

Fourth, this guy has never deployed, but apparently was going to soon. According to his ORB, he has 175 months of dwell time. He shot a bunch of people and there is no evidence, yet, that he turned a gun on himself or intended to commit suicide by cop. So why all of the discussion about PTSD, suicide, and an overworked military?

I don’t know what the facts are. Those are just my reactions to some issues that have arisen. Everybody and their mother is out on television and radio providing some information, but also providing a whole lot of worthless opinions and rants. If there is a blood drive, a fund for the families, or some similar information, then please share it. But if all you’ve got is a rant against Islam or a rant against George Bush, then just do us all a favor and STFU. I am content to let the fact-finders determine what the facts are, let the court system handle the trial, and let the jury render an opinion.

Here is something else to keep in mind.