One Less Jihadist
One supposes that Muslim critics have a point when they assert that there's a responsibility in the chain of command to identify and rout problems that rear their heads. And certainly there appears to have been ample reason for those who worked alongside Major Nidal Malik Hasan to mark him as a potential serious problem.On the other hand, those same Muslim critics, so loud in their condemnation of the general U.S. public mumbling about jihadists in their midst - in the process striking fear in the hearts of ordinary Muslims, worrying about backlash - would have screamed foul if a U.S.-born American citizen, employed by the U.S. military were singled out for special treatment.
There is nothing quite simple in life. There are always complicating circumstances to ensure no easy passage throughout life's trajectory. Major Hasan's tragedy was his severe emotional conflict between his devotion to Islam and his fealty to Muslims, as opposed to his life-experience as an American. He seemed not to notice that fanatical Islamists harmed Muslims as often as they did non-Muslims.
Major Hasan was a severely deranged individual. And there's a certain ironic dissonance that reflects black humour of the most cynical kind that this morally-conflicted, religiously-confused medical professional held a post as staff psychiatrist meant to assist traumatized U.S. servicemen post-Afghanistan- and post-Iraq-service to their country.
This man struggled with his birthplace allegiance to his country, but it was his ancestral piety, his tortured, perverted obedience to a view of Islamic jihad recalling Islam's initiation in a primary world of tribal allegiance and vengeance that prevailed, leading him to do honour to the concept of Islamic jihad.
There can be no real quarrel with the Arab American Institute pointing out that "Thousands of Arab Americans and American Muslims serve honourably every day in all four branches of the U.S. military and in the National Guard", but the simple fact remains that there is always the potential for one frail individual to succumb to the pathology of fanatical Islamism, converting his allegiance to the country that supported him to the psychopathy of the extremists suborning the religion that he practised.
That this man's superiors had good reason to be suspicious of his conduct and his frailness of purpose cannot, however, be overlooked. In their casual disregard for all the warning signs, they in fact, consigned the lives of over a dozen innocent people to jihadist victim. It took the courage and determination of a civilian army police officer, a young mother of two children, who loves her country and her job, to halt the murderous rampage.
It is also rather instructive to note that although Major Hasan acted as a jihadist, he did not appear to have martyrdom in mind. After he had used semiautomatic weapons, emptying up to six magazines in the space of ten minutes; destroying thirteen lives, severely wounding an additional 30 others, he turned and fled the scene of carnage.
To come face to face with Sgt. Kimberley Munley who responded to the emergency call. And who confronted him, and while herself severely wounded by Major Hasan, wounded him in exchange. So that he may face a trial and receive the penalty due him.
Sgt. Kimberley will continue to sleep peacefully at night, knowing that she has made a difference in the lives of many.
Labels: Particularities/Peculiarities, Terrorism, United States
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, November 08, 2009
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