It is not a good thing to jump to conclusions when there is a shooting, at least on the issue of whether the shooting was a mere crime or terrorism. On Thursday, I cautioned against jumping to the conclusion that Nidal Hasan was motivated by religious or political goals in the Fort Hood shooting, just because he had a Muslim name.
No need to jump to conclusions any more, the conclusion has been reached. This was an act of domestic terrorism committed for political and religious purposes. There may have been additional factors, or something which sparked the eruption at that moment, but there is more than sufficient evidence that Hasan sympathized with al-Qaeda, and made anti-American statements, to treat this as a terrorist act.
Now it even has been revealed that Hasan attempted to contact al-Qaeda operatives. As ABC News reports:
U.S. intelligence agencies were aware months ago that Army Major Nidal Hasan was attempting to make contact with people associated with al Qaeda, two American officials briefed on classified material in the case told ABC News.
Joe Lieberman, who Chairs the Senate’s Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, went public yesterday with the point that all evidence pointed to this as an act of Islamic terrorism. Lieberman has been attacked (and called a “bigot“)in the left-wing blogosphere supposedly for “whipping up” anti-Muslim sentiments:
Joe LIEberman (Insurance-CON) went on Fox News Sunday this morning and in addition to promising to block the public option, he announced that he was finally planning to hold hearings in the Homeland Security Committee…. What will be the topic for the hearings? Nothing other than a big round of “booga booga there’s Mooslums in the military!”
Given how viciously the left targets anyone who dares speak honestly about terrorism, it is not surprising — but still shocking — that the military hesitated to take action against Hasan despite all the warning signs.
General George Casey is correct that there should be no backlash against Muslims in the military, or in civilian society. Fomenting internal conflict is one of the goals of terrorism, and we should not allow Hasan to achieve that goal. At the same time, we cannot shy away from the facts as to this crime.
An investigation is needed, not only as to the extent of Hasan’s connections, but also as to why the military hesitated to respond. And if the left cries foul, that’s too bad. There are lives at stake, and we don’t need the truth to be Hasan’s last victim.
UPDATE: Looks like the NY Times changed its original headline to take out reference to Hasan having reached out to al-Qaeda, New York Times Retracts Headline Indicating ‘Fort Hood Suspect Communicated With Radical Cleric…’
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