US army chief of staff George Casey has warned deadly shootings at Fort Hood could prompt a backlash against Muslim soldiers, undermining diversity needed to fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr Casey, speaking on CNN television on Sunday, warned against guessing at the motives of Nidal Malik Hasan, who is alleged to have killed 13 people and wounding dozens more on a murderous rampage at the Texas military base on Thursday.
Mr Casey, a former commander in Iraq, said he was "concerned that this increased speculation could cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers.
It has been suggested that US-born Hasan carried out the shootings as revenge for persecution about his Islamic faith at the hands of his comrades.
"I worry that the speculation could cause something that we don't want to see happen."
There are an estimated 3500 self-declared Muslims in the US armed forces, although some experts say the true figure is much higher because Muslim soldiers are wary about openly declaring their faith.
The tragedy struck an army that has actively tried to enlist recruits with a knowledge of Middle Eastern languages and culture, to aid its efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It would be a shame - as great a tragedy as this was, it would be a shame if our diversity became a casualty as well," Mr Casey said
#3 This is true however this is also not the first time a Muslim traitor has killed some of his unsuspecting fellow soldiers since the "War on Islam" began in 2003. We'll see how this plays out in court. By the way, are those Jap camps still open? We may need to fill 'em up again soon.
Posted by Yo Adrian 2009-11-08 11:53||
2009-11-08 11:53||
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#4 Mr Casey, speaking on CNN television on Sunday, warned against guessing at the motives of Nidal Malik Hasan,
Hasan is on record saying 'non-believers' should have their 'heads cut off and hot oil poured down their throats'. That enough motive for ya, General?
Posted by Woozle Uneter9007 2009-11-08 12:39||
2009-11-08 12:39||
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#5 I don't think Casey's warning is unwarranted.
Wasn't a Muslim serving in the US military actually shot and severely injured recently? Somewhere in Texas? By some redneck called Munley?
/sarc
Posted by Glirong Pelosi7914 2009-11-08 12:42||
2009-11-08 12:42||
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#6 The general makes the common mistake of linking, inversely, security to diversity, thinking that we must tolerate less of one to have more of the other.
The two are unrelated. It's possible to have perfect diversity and perfect security, and likewise it's possible to have neither of either.
The issue isn't diversity. The issue is loyalty. And as it turns out, security and loyalty ARE linked.
Major Hasan isn't an issue because he was Muslim. We have plenty of loyal Muslims in our military.
Major Hasan was an issue because he was disloyal.
Posted by Steve White 2009-11-08 12:59||
2009-11-08 12:59||
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#7 I think Glirong Pelosi7914 just won Snark O' The Day in #5.
Posted by SteveS 2009-11-08 13:53||
2009-11-08 13:53||
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#9 Gilrong Pelosi7914......hell of a nym generator, Fred. Gave ma a needed chuckle. Thanks.
Posted by Alaska Paul 2009-11-08 14:29||
2009-11-08 14:29||
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#10 Mr Casey, speaking on CNN television on Sunday, warned against guessing at the motives of Nidal Malik Hasan, who is alleged to have killed 13 people and wounding dozens more on a murderous rampage at the Texas military base on Thursday.
Jesus. It wasn't enough that this nimrod mismanaged the war effort in Iraq for two and a half years (he opposed the Surge, among his other stunning achievements) before getting kicked upstairs to CoS...now he has to peddle the Obamunist-MSDNC-CAIR party line as the official Army stand on this incident? If he's fuctioning as an Obama sockpuppet on this issue, that's bad enough. If this PC gasbaggery represents his true beliefs, he's unfit to hold a commission.
Posted by Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) 2009-11-08 15:40||
2009-11-08 15:40||
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#11 Whatta hack.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2009-11-08 16:03||
2009-11-08 16:03||
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#12 I didn't catch the CNN broadcast, but Casey was on This Week (with George Stephawhatever). Two things I observed as he was stammering and stuttering to make excuses -- one, he looked very nervous and, two, he looked very afraid. It was very odd, but he didn't speak with any semblance of confidence...it was almost as if he was trying to say whatever would get him in the least amount of trouble.
Posted by Woozle Uneter9007 2009-11-08 16:22||
2009-11-08 16:22||
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