Open Letter to Your Senator:  Will the Obama Administration Approve Purple Hearts for Fort Hood Soldiers Who Were Killed and Wounded by Major Hasan?

By Ernest McDermon, Atlanta, Georgia

One of our occasional columnists is sending this letter to his Senator, who happens to sit on both the Senate Armed Forces Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. We thought our readers might consider sending a similar letter to their Congressman or Senators:

Dear Senator:

I believe that the jihad inspired attack on our soldiers at Ft. Hood, TX this past Thursday is but the latest in a long line of Islamist attacks on the United States and our Armed Forces.

It is reliably reported that Major Hasan yelled out "Allahu Akbar" ("God is Great") immediately before launching his attack at Fort Hood.  Additionally, both in Great Britain and the United States, reports are surfacing that Major Hasan attended a mosque in Great Falls, VA at the same time that Nawaf al-Hazmi and Hani Hanjour (two of the 9/11 terrorists) attended, and at the same time that a radical Islamic cleric was the imam of the mosque.

I do not believe this is merely a "coincidence", and it is highly likely that the beginnings of Major Hasan's nascent Islamist thoughts began in that mosque, and it is possible that he was recruited as an Al Qaeda "sleeper" by the two 9/11 plotters that he would certainly have known.

Subsequent to the 9/11 attacks, I would venture the guess that Major Hasan failed to disclose on any of his Security Clearance questionnaires the connection with the al Hijarh Islamic Center, the radical imam, Anwar Aulaqi,  and the fact that two 9/11 hijackers were known to him.  I suspect that a review of any security questionnaires that he has completed since 9/11/2001 will disclose that he deliberately lied about his association with known terrorist organizations or members of Al Qaeda.

It is also being reported in the media that Major Hasan planned this attack carefully, obtaining two semi-automatic pistols each capable of carrying multiple rounds, and he apparently carried multiple magazines of ammunition for rapid reloading to inflict maximum casualties in close quarters against unarmed military personnel.  The soldiers he killed and wounded were then in preparation for movement to overseas combat theaters within days or a few short weeks.

I believe that he chose his target deliberately to disrupt the flow of replacements to forward areas, and to inflict not just physical harm to our soldiers, but also instill the fear of fighting against the Islamist jihad in our soldiers both in the US and overseas.

As a Physician and a Psychiatrist, having counseled returning combat veterans and soldiers about to deploy, it can be argued that Major Hasan knew his actions would have a Psychological Operations effect on our soldiers' morale and "will to fight" well beyond the boundaries of Fort Hood.  He knew that this type of "sudden jihadist" attack on US soil would cause a distrust of fellow Muslim soldiers worldwide, and... for US soldiers of the Muslim faith, instill a feeling of them being under suspicion and a desire to adhere closer to the core tenants of Islam...and jihad.

It appears that both the Obama Administration and Army Chief of Staff General Casey are trying to downplay this watershed event in the war as simply a "criminal act".  It is not.  Major Hasan's actions are treason, and he should be considered an illegal combatant under the terms of the Geneva Conventions.

Unfortunately Major Hasan's actions cause problems for the Obama Administration politically on a variety of fronts:

Major Hasan's immediate supervisors are indicating that they had already identified him as a problem for having argued with his patients about the United States'  "waging war on "Muslims".  They did not report this further up the chain of command for fear of retribution for the perception that they might have singled him out for disciplinary action because of his Muslim beliefs.  The command environment that exists currently at Ft. Hood appears to have the unhappy consequence of minimizing security threats posed by hidden jihadist sleepers, and not encouraging supervisors to report up the chain of command soldiers who harbor, and in Major Hasan's case, express sympathies with the enemy.  This environment of (for want of a better word) deference to the sensibilities of Muslims, has resulted in the loss of 13 killed and 30 wounded soldiers.

General Cone should not be considered for further promotion, and probably relieved of command for failing to properly secure the Fort Hood installation in wartime.

General Casey, Chief of Staff of the Army is working to treat this event as a "criminal act" and not a wartime "terrorist attack".  This foolish, "politically correct" thinking is what lead to the 9/11 attacks: a failure to properly identify, and react to, a deliberate attack on the United States by an Islamist terrorist with the tacit support of Al Qaeda.

The Obama Administration's heart is not in the fight against the Islamists and their efforts to impose Shari'a Law worldwide by force.  The Administration's attempts to classify the War on Terror as "overseas contingency operations", and attacks like this as "man caused disasters" shows a weakness of character at the highest levels of the Obama Administration.  The current President is not interested in defending the nation, but is solely interested in transforming our society into a Socialist State.  Mr. Obama does not want any distractions like the combat deaths of 13 US Soldiers this past week on US soil to cause distraction from his political agenda.

I ask that as a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that you consider the following actions on behalf of Georgia and our Armed Forces:

1.  Support Senator Joe Lieberman's efforts to classify this event as a terrorist attack.

2.  Ask that the command at Fort Hood approve recommendations for the award of the Purple Heart to the 13 soldiers killed and those who were wounded.  I believe that this will be a major political issue nationally by the end of this week after the first funerals are held and the families realize their loved ones haven't received Purple Hearts.

3.  Inquire as to whether or not the Army plans to charge Major Hasan with treason, and if not, why not?  He is a Field Grade Officer, afforded special considerations, deference and pay.  His actions betray not just his fellow soldiers, but all United States Armed Forces Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers.

4.  Inquire as to whether or not Major Hasan lied on any Security Questionnaires since 9/11 about his involvement with Islamic extremists.

5.  Conduct closed door hearings on the security ramifications of the loyalties of Armed Forces members of the Muslim faith.  Are there any others like Major Hasan that our Commanders are aware of, but aren't reporting for fear of retribution as being "culturally insensitive"?

6.  Review the security posture of our US based forces.  It seems that the Obama Administration has dialed security down to the point that we're losing active duty service members on US soil.  Regardless of what the Obama Administration would like to believe, our Nation is at war...our US based military installations should be secured as if they are at war also.  The recent intrusion at the South Carolina nuclear weapons storage facility without reaction from the base underscores the urgency of this review.

Ernest McDermon, Atlanta, GA

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written by Jerry Marcantel, November 10, 2009

I have seen only one mention that these GI's were unarmed..... Clear cut case of terrorism...... jerry (in Tucson)

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PURPLE HEART FOR MAJOR HASAN
written by Erich, November 12, 2009

The issuanec of purple hearts to the 13 (14?) fallen soldiers should be vigorously fought for. The sicaphant spineless lackies in the Leniinist media certainly will not but we must all insist on it especially those in the militar. if that does not seem to nudge the dashing Gen Casey into action, then I propose we flood the mainstream media and the the most ardent left wing Democratic members of Congress with requests to issue the good Major Hasan with a purple heart for wounds that the gallant officer recieved while on active duty on a military installation during wartime! The lefties are craven enough to support such an idea! At that time we should be able to unleash a verbal firestorm of indignation, nothing short will wake the zombie rank and file citizens from their slumber.

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Purple Heart
written by vinny, November 14, 2009

Purple Hearts are only given to those wounded in combat.

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Fort Hood wounded and killed certainly meet the criteria for being awarded a Purple Heart
written by Patrick, November 17, 2009

"Criteria: a. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force who, while serving with the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded;
(6) After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the department concerned, or jointly by the Secretaries of the departments concerned if persons from more than one department are wounded in the attack;"

The problem is not in the very clear criteria for the award. The problem is the Army and President Obama's Administration, in that an admission of the obvious terrorist nature of the attack by Major Hasan would be embarra*sing.

TOO BAD!!! Get over it! Soldiers on an active US Army base were murdered and wounded in a terrorist attack by a radical islamist. Unfortunately, denial of the event doesn't change the fact that the event occurred or worse yet, do anything to prevent a future attack! The unwillingness to recognize the event for the atttack that it was and move forward with the goal that it will not be allowed to happen again through PC or deniel of clear indicators is a disgusting prospect.

The enemy will always make the effort to attack where they can. We need to recognize, learn and deal with them quickly and make EVERY effort to deny them success. Anything less than an honest evaluation of the circumstances leading to the successful execution of this attack and changing any policies that need to be changed to prevent a repeat are nothing less than a denial of the sacrifices made by the brave soldiers serving and protecting us every day. THAT WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE!

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Purple Heart
written by CarlTyra, November 17, 2009

As much as I empathize with these individuals and pray for their families, your view on what the purple heart is awarded for is flawed. Soldiers that receive wounds in COMBAT are authorized this award and the Department of Defense as recently as last year reiterrated that even soldiers who suffer from PTSD or other maladies CAUSED by combat arent eligible for the award. If you want to justify this award, their are soldiers who were killed in 2003 in Kuwait from my unit by a Muslim soldier but none of them were authorized this award because we officially hadnt crossed the border or started the war. Work on soldiers who have been injured while in combat either physically or mentally before we try to be politically correct.

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Will Purple Hearts be Given to the Fort Hood Soldiers?
written by Bill Shepard, November 19, 2009

There have been many servicemen who were killed or injured in the AOR while conducting combat operations who were not eligible for the Purple Heart because they died from equipment failure or in aircraft actions. It looks to me like you are trying to support the Purple Heart for these solders just to prove a political point. If you are going to stand up for something, stand up for the ones who died or were injured in a combat zone who can’t be recognized while others with superficial injuries caused by the enemy can get all the benefits that come with a Purple Heart. Also, if you have not served, at least have the courtesy to disclaim that you are talking beyond your experiance.

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Purple hearts for those killed or wounded a joke.
written by james foster, November 19, 2009

I feel sorry for those hurt by this tragedy and the families. That said I still see no reason to hand out purple hearts to the victims. The bottom of my license plate reads combat wounded, in no way shape or form had the individuals entered a combat zone. The above comment talks of all the benefits of a purple heart, a medal and a purple heart tag for free is about it nothing major.

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