The real issue behind Fort Hood

This might make some sense if Hasan had ever been in combat.

Well put! This is a very good article and I think you've hit on something that seems to be escaping the media's attention. The suicide rate among soldiers is sky-high.

John,

Did I read your article correctly? Are you suggesting a "Doctor" who had never seen combat duty killed 13 people because of PTSD? If so, I'd be curious as to how you rationalize the points made in the following article in regards to Hasan's mass murder?

At his blog today, Andrew Bostom, a scholar of jihadism, cites the following passage from "Reliance of the Traveler," a widely distributed manual of Islamic law produced by al-Azhar University in Egypt, the most authoritative interpreters of theology and sharia jurisprudence in Sunni Islam, the dominant tradition among the world's Muslims:

Jihad means to war against non-Muslims, and, is etymologically derived from the word, mujahada, signifying warfare to establish the religion [of Islam]...The scriptural basis for jihad is such Koranic verses as "Fighting is prescribed for you" (Koran 2:216); "Slay them wherever you find them" (Koran 4:89); "Fight the idolators utterly" (Koran 9:36); and such hadiths [sayings of the Prophet] as the one related by (Sahih) Bukhari and (Sahih) Muslim that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: "I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and perform the prayer, and pay zakat. If they say it, they have saved their blood and possessions from me, except for the rights of Islam over them. And the final reckoning is with Allah"; and the hadith by (Sahih) Muslim, "To go forth in the morning or evening to fight in the path of Allah is better than the whole world and everything in it."
As Dr. Bostom points out, the first hadith referred to in the passage -- the one in which Mohammed explains that Allah has commanded the Muslims to fight non-Muslims -- was cited by Nidal Hasan in slide 43 of the June 7, 2007 presentation that Jonah discusses in his excellent column today.

Not to beat a dead horse on this, but in 2001, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, an al-Azhar graduated doctor of Islamic jurisprudence who is the spiritual guide of the Muslim Brotherhood and the most influential Sunni cleric in the world, issued a fatwa approving suicide bombings against Israel. In 2003, with the male jihadists being caught too often before they could strike, Qaradawi expanded the fatwa to approve suicide bombings by women. In 2004, he issued a fatwa calling for the killing of American troops in Iraq, and later expanded this authorization to include the killing of American civilian support personnel. (As Qaradawi put it: "All of the Americans in Iraq are combatants, there is no difference between civilians and soldiers, and one should fight them, since the American civilians came to Iraq in order to serve the occupation. The abduction and killing of Americans in Iraq is a [religious] obligation so as to cause them to leave Iraq immediately.")...

John,

Just to be clear I am NOT a supporter of having American troops in the Middle East.

That said I completely disagree with your belief that by pulling our troops out of the Middle East it will make any difference whatsoever in Muslims behavior toward America. I take the Islamic religion at face value, i.e., Jihad is part and parcel of Islam. Having troops in the Middle East makes no difference. Islam will wage jihad regardless.

In support of my argument how else can you explain the following acts of wardare by Muslims as none of these have anything to do with "troops in the Middle East"?

1) 4,000 Buddhist killed in Southern Thailand since 2004 by Islamists.
2) Islamists stirring up problems and violent confrontations in Western China.
3) Islamists stirring up problems and violent confrontations in Southern Russia...including killing over a hundred grammar school children in Beslan.
4) Sudan genocide. Islamist killing off what remians of the Animst and Christian community in Sudan.
5) Anarchy in Somalia resulting in all non-Muslims being killed or fleeing for their safety.
6) Kashmir in a constant state of insecurity thanks to Muslim/Hindu differences.
7) Coptic Christians in Egypt. One of Christianities oldes communites is being slowly eliminated from their original home because of Muslim's intolerance. The same thing is happening to the Chaldean Christian community in Mosul, Iraq.
8) Lebanon's Christian community has gone from 60% to 30% of that countries population as they are being driven out by Islamists.

I could go on, but you get my point. How are any of these conflicts connected to anything you write in your column? The only theme that is consistent between all these prolems is Islam, not America having troops in the Middle East.

Here's some Jeffersonian history for you:

>>In March 1785, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman (or Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). Upon inquiring "concerning the ground of the pretensions to make war upon nations who had done them no injury", the ambassador replied:

It was written in their Koran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every muslim who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise. He said, also, that the man who was the first to board a vessel had one slave over and above his share, and that when they sprang to the deck of an enemy's ship, every sailor held a dagger in each hand and a third in his mouth; which usually struck such terror into the foe that they cried out for quarter at once. [2] [3]

Jefferson reported the conversation to Secretary of State John Jay, who submitted the Ambassador's comments and offer to Congress. Jefferson argued that paying tribute would encourage more attacks.<<

RE: John Surico
I disagree with Mr. John Surico explanation and analysis. Nidhal Hassan more likely had other motives than being "stressed out". The odds for a Muslim recruit to kill 13 (14 if you count the embryo of the dead lady soldier). All the other "stressed out" soldiers elected to commit suicide but only two (not a coincidence, folks) who were Muslims chose to kill American Soldiers that were in the same "foxhole" as they were. One in Kuwait who threw a grenade into a tent and now, this cowardly act by another fanatic. I am not saying, Islam is a bad Religion, it is the fact that fanaticism is a Religion GO BAD" via the hateful teachings of the Imams. It is not the duty of the USA to fight these traitors, but the Muslim World has to clean its reputation by denouncing and monitoring such murderous teachings on its land and abroad.
Islam was an honorable Religion, now, it has branched into teachings that are nothing close to the teachings of Real Islam.
Our duty here is not to find excuses of mental stress for killers but to wait for investigations results to analyze the true reasons behind this cowardly act. Our duty is simple, encourage a dialog with these groups and meanwhile, the armed forces have to cleanse itself from such fanatic Christian, Jewish and/ or Muslim groups that can spell disaster in the future.

My friend Ali
I lived in the Middle East and did hear what you are talking about. I recognize and compliment your knowledge about Islam. In many ways, I was trying to be civil in not attacking the Religion and its founder because I am using my real name and have colleagues who taught at the University who were Muslims.
However, I can tell you that while I lived in Iraq for 5 years as a contractor from 1975-1981 I lived in peace with Muslims, young Ladies wore short skirts at the college I taught at, I bought Whiskey at the stores lining Raheed street, went to a night club at Karada by the river and My neighbors were a mix of Shiaat and Sunni. I never thought that Iraq would turn into a blood bath under the name of Islam. The Church I attended has been torched and the Christian families that I knew are now immigrants in Jordan, Syria and Italy.
The Christians in the Middle East are the original inhabitants originating fro UUR, Acadia, Babylon and Ninevah and now, the immigrants from the Saudi Deserts are displacing them. My friend Ali, I really despise any fanatic, whether Jewish, Christian and/or Muslim. Remember Timothy McVeigh and all the Jewish sabotage and spying for Israel.
Should we discriminate against Muslims in the Military? I have no objection that in this Country if authorities sense a potential threat then they should act on it.
I think this disaster shows a failure in the "Homeland Security Plans" that were glorified by Tom Ridge, CIA and US Attorney Office plus the Military who should bear the majority.

Andrew the uber-apologist for all Muslim atrocities no matter how horrendous they are is up to his tricks again.

Andrew, in an impressive display of brilliance and insight writes, "There is a lot of violence in America." Duh. And there's a chance of sunshine in the Mohave Desert tomorrow too. Andrew, where you find people chances are you will find violence. And whether you want to admit it or not some cultrues breed violence while others --Quakers for instance-- do not.

Take Islam for instance. Have you read about Islam, Andrew? Have you read that Islam's prophet, Mohammed, killed, raped and committed genocide against non-Muslims so as to achieve total Islamic control of the Arabian Peninsula and beyond? Have you read that Mohammed taught this violent, supremacist, facist philosophy (religion?) to his followers? Or are you just another dope with an opinion about everything even when that "everything" is something you don't know a stitch about?

What is it about you Andrew. Why this need to continue to deny the nose on your face? Are you on Saudi Arabia's payroll like Jimmy Carter?

Sure there's lots of violence in America. But it pales in compaison to the violence seen in Islamic countries. Of course some Islamic countries do not have much violence because they're not so much countries as very big prisons. Take Saudi Arabia for example. People there no that if they "come out of the closet" they'll lose their head, so to speak. Or, if they say something like, "The Royal Family eats kaka" they will lose their head. Or, if they run around in a bathing suit shouting "Look at how cute I am" they will lose their head. Or, if they say, "Israel has a right to exist" they will.....You get my point Andrew. There's little violence that's visible in Saudi Arabia just like there's not a lot of violence in most maximum security prisons. Prisoners no that if they're bad boys or girls they'll lose their heads and they'd rather keep their heads even if prison life isn't exactly like going to a neaven where there are 21 vrigins welcoming your entry, no double entendre intended here.

That said I understand there's a ton of violence --behind the scenes-- in Saudi Arabia. Household help, for instance become slaves in Saudi Arabia --their passports stolen-- and are subject to beatings and sexual abuse. Amazingly enough the hundreds of skilled "investigative reporters" in Saudi Arabia have not reported on this topic because, and I'll bet you guessed it, the reporters will lose their heads if they do report on it.

Anyway, Andrew, your incessant spinning of Islam is amusing to me. I'm not going to let you get away with it and look at you as the "gift that keeps on giving."

There's too much violence in America and that is one of the by-products of a free society but when compared to a supremacist society --like all Islamic states- America looks like an idyllic paradise where everyone holds hands and sing happy songs.

Strange. I challenged Andrew to provide documentation to support his far-fetched claims. I wonder why he did not respond. See below:

Nov 11, 2009
6:59 p.m.
Andrew wrote, "Did you know that by far the most suicide bombings were comitted by Hindus?"

Andrew, how can you expect to be taken seriously when you make statements like this without providing any mateerial to back it up. Every single day we read about another Islamic terrorist attack but I cannot remember the last time I read about a Hindu flying a plane into a high rise or blowing himself up while targeting tourists in a Mumbai hotel. Nor can I remember the last time I read about Hindus beheading a journalist or a civilian contractor while reading verses from the Upanishads.

It is becoming increasingly clear you are a snake oil salesman for Islam.

It has been my experience that people who make claims that "feel" outlandish and do not support the claims with any supporting documents then it is a good guess the claim is BS. Unless you provide supporting information on Hindus committing "...by far the most suicide bombings..." then I am left to believe you will make up whatever you think you can "sell" to win an argument. I call that deceit.

You do know Mohammed said "War is deceit", eh?

Andrew the apologist for everything Muslim writes,

"Peshewar, don't you think there could be alternative explanation? Like that the pointless US war in Afghanistan has caused a great deal of spillover and violence into Pakistan? The Taliban and suicide bombing wasn't a problem there before the invasion."

Andrew is a professional PR guy for Islam and never, ever admits Islam is ever at fault for anything. It's always someone esle's fault: America, Israel, colonialists, western decadencs, internationalsim, you name it.

Andrew blames all the murder and mayhen in Afghanistan and Pakistan on America. But America has nothing to do with the following examples of Islamic anarchy, hatred, warfare and murder:

1) 4,000 Buddhists killed in southern Thailand by Islamists as they froce their way north.
2) Russian school children killed by Islamists in southern Russia because they were NOT Muslim.
3) Chinese living in western China under constant pressure from Muslims encroaching on Chinese land.
4) Black Muslims, Christians and Animists being mercilessly murdered and forced from their homes by Arab-looking Muslims.
5) Coptic Christians being murdered in Egypt.
6) Australians being murdered in discos in Bali by Muslims.
7) UN employees being killed in Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran Pakistan and Afghanistan by Muslims.

Andrew what are all the excuses you can come up with to explain Islam's murderous rampages all across the globe? Is it America's fault? Israel's, colonialist's?

Why is it that the common thread in all of this is Islam but it's never Islam's fault?

Andrew,
DId Muslims behead the following people because of America's policies in Israel?

Christian extremists behead two Russian officials -- no, wait...
It was Islamic jihadists again, oddly enough. Everyone knows that all religions have their fanatics and extremists and they're all equally dangerous, yet those Christian beheaders remain inconveniently quiet. "Russian officials beheaded in N. Caucasus-Ifax," from Reuters, November 24:

MOSCOW, Nov 24 (Reuters) - A police investigator and a court bailiff were found beheaded in a car trunk in Russia's mainly Muslim region of Kabardino-Balkaria, Interfax said on Tuesday, underscoring spreading violence on Russia's southern flank.
The killings follow a spate of attacks on power stations and police posts in Kabardino-Balkaria, which is close to the Ingushetia region where rights group say Islamist militants and government forces are effectively at war.

The two beheaded men were discovered in a Mercedes late on Monday in the town of Chegem, about 10 km (six miles) north of the regional capital Nalchik, the news agency reported, citing law enforcement services....

Andrew,

Whose fault is this???????????????????????

Obama reaches out to Philippine jihadists
As Weasel Zippers says: "What a disgrace. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been responsible for the ethnic cleansing of Christians in the areas it controls, beheadings, numerous terrorist attacks etc. not that this would bother Obama...."

"Obama sends letter to Philippine Muslim rebel leader," from Deutsche Presse Agentur, November 14:

Manila - US President Barack Obama has sent a letter to the leader of the main Muslim rebel group in the Philippines, a guerrilla official said Saturday.
The letter to Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Murad Ibrahim was delivered to rebel peace negotiators by Deputy Assistant State Secretary Scot Marciel, according to Muhammad Ameen, chairman of the MILF secretariat.

Ameen said Marciel and two other US diplomats met MILF peace negotiators headed by Mohagher Iqbal on November 6.

Ameen did not disclose the contents of the letter but said it was a response to a letter Murad sent to Obama after he won the election last year.

On Friday, US State Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton urged the Philippine government and the MILF to conclude a peace deal before the end of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's term next year....