Imagine! Blame Apportioned...
An enquiry into the deadly mass shooting at the Fort Hood military base has come to the conclusion - inescapable, given the details readily available through the press immediately post-attack - that heads should roll. But not too far. "As a result of our review, it appeared that there were several officers who did not apply the army's policies to the perpetrator", according to the former army secretary who led the review.The recommendation is for "an accountability review", specifically relating to those officers in question. And that review could, just could, include disciplinary measures. Perhaps another review will be in order to investigate precisely what disciplinary measures could be undertaken. And once that has been established, another review launched to determine whether the discipline fits the breach.
Fact is, if the officers were properly and professionally engaged they would have exhibited the kind of discipline and attention to duty that should have recognized the potential danger that U.S. army surgeon Nidal Hasan represented to those around him. The symptoms and symbols of his inner conflict were obvious to those who worked most closely with him.
There were credible reports back to superiors by those who were troubled by this man's affiliations and stated sympathies, let alone his outright sermons condemning U.S. actions and supporting violent Islamists. Security agents had filtered information of his contact with A.S.-born radicalized cleric Anwar al-Aulaqi.
All of these prime indicators of trouble ahead were ignored. Was everyone afflicted with the unease of racial profiling, and the condemnation that might be brought down on their heads as a result? Would that be remotely possible, given all the heads-ups, the incontrovertible evidence emanating from the man's own mouth?
Is it simply that these good Americans, in believing that all Americans are just as well-intentioned, they could never possibly harbour malign intent toward their own colleagues, let alone others of the country whose citizenship was shared? Is this largely to be attributed to an inability to believe the worst possible scenario resulting from internal deviance from the accepted norm?
U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates, in fact, while praising the report, and stating he had ordered immediate steps taken to implement its recommendations, still stated he held no belief that a major threat existed within the military by possible radicals. Amending that by stating "clearly one is too many".
Costly, too, in 13 lives at one go. More to come? Who knows? Lesson learned at the CIA installation in Afghanistan? Will time tell?
Labels: Terrorism, Traditions, United States
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, January 17, 2010
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