[Mrs. Mik]

This is unbelievable. Gunman Kills 12, wounds 31 at Fort Hood, TX

As a parent of a soldier, I'm feeling quite selfish in my thankfulness that my son is NOT at Fort Hood in Texas.

As a parent of a soldier, I'm appalled that something like this could even happen! One would think our military installations are the safest places in our country!

Based on the name of the shooter, it's questionable, to me at least, whether this is someone that was a part of Al Queda all along. Frankly, I'm of the opinion that if you're not NATIVE BORN AMERICAN, you CANNOT serve in the military. Maybe that's going too far, but I don't care. If that sort of edict saves just ONE life, then it's worth it.

Frankly, I don't give a rat's behind if other country's don't like our laws. It's not up to them to keep our people safe. It's up to US and as far as I'm concerned if you don't like our laws, you can go pound sand!

Prayers go out for all the soldiers and family members.

Julie

[Sparks]

Yes, it is a shame something like this had to happen, but it's far from the first time. There was VMI a year or two ago, Camp Liberty in Afghanistan last year, one at a base in CO in the near past, and many more through out history. I don't think it's anything that can be prepared for in advance.

The Major was a native born American, born in GA IIFC, and he's been in the military since 94 or 95, finished college, completed his medical residency, & received his degree & schooling in psychology all in the Army. I'm not trying to defend his act, but I sure would like to know what the Army, FBI, & CIA reports will have to say. I expect we'll hear about them over the next 2 or 3 weeks.

There have been 47 suicides in the military & I believe that was only the numbers for 2009 that took place in the US, Iran, & Afghanistan. All blamed on the war. Seems like we need to have a psychological examination for every soldier that has to pull war duty. Not all have the mentality (not stupidity) needed to fight.

Peace between all countries would be nice but unfortunatly I don't think it will ever happen. After all, the war between the middle east countries has been going on for over 3,000 years

[Little Kopit]

Thank you Ron for some balance. The issue of suicide is a strong one up here too. Post trauma stress or such name. The military up here has been slow to pick up and recognize those who have left the services and then committed suicide. Those who go into greater depth say the rate of suicide is on the increase and is well above that of the general populatiom

One of those who speak out on the stress and the suicide trends is retired General Romeo Dallaire, My linkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rom%C3%A9o_Dallaire. He is best known for his leadership of United Nations troops in Rwanda in 1993 and 1994.

I picked that reference because I thought Wikipedia would be clearly a more neutral reference source than one from Canada. Note that Dallaire was born outside of Canada in the post WWII period. A lot of our leaders these days were born outside Canada and have dug in to try to fix that what needs fixing. Some of these have started in government. Others have gotten there later on. Adrienne Clarkson, past Governor General of Canada, retired journalist is one. My linkhttp://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0001665 Another former journalist and not native born Canadian is Michaelle Jean, present Governor General of Canada. She was born in Haiti. My linkhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/background/governorgeneral/michaelle_jean.html Canada would be a much poorer country if it weren't for those immigrants who have dug in and contributed significantly to their adopted country. I'd be willing to be you all could think of 3 key folks down there two who got there via parents who came over post WWII.

& actually, I think if it weren't for immigration, this forum would only have one member. Some came earlier, ie 17th century (me). Others arrived very recently. I'd bet there is at least one member here who came to one of our countries in the 20th century.

Of course in times gone by any military had to weed out those affected by the stress of military action and call them cowards. Then it was the only way.

Today's action certainly shows it should not be the current way.

[Tech]

This guy joined the Army knowing he could be deployed. His Religion set him off.

[Little Kopit]

Like you Tech I don't accept the official notice of being posted to 'combat zone' as probable cause. But I would say I would accept a report I heard about being on the receiving end of a lot of racial discrimination.

[Sparks]

There wasn't much if any, racial/religion going on in the Army. #1, only officers equal to or above his rank of Major would be able to do it. If any it must have been off base, and he did live in a Muslim community.

From the news today it was reported he said he was a Muslim first and an American second and had, in the last 3 months, started wearing Muslim clothing. It sounds like this was planned for a long time as he began to give away his personal belongings over the past few weeks. Whether he's connected to any terrorist group is yet to be determined.
The reason given for not being deployed to IR or AF was that he didn't want to kill Muslims. This statement IMO is questionable as being a Psychiatrist, he wouldn't have been required to carry a weapon and would never have engaged in any battles as he would be in the rear in a medical hospital.

The new military suicide total for this year was reported as being 116 which includes the US. Wasn't like this in the 60s when I was in.

[Little Kopit]

As Gen. Dallaire says those suicide stats have to include those who have left the military. & I agree that the military themselves don't look for things like this.

[Tech]

It is quite obvious that he would rather kill Americans himself than go to Afghanistan with a unit which would be killing Muslims. Like you said Ron, he considered himself a Muslim first and an American second.

[Mrs. Mik]

Tech, on 06 November 2009 - 06:52 PM, said:

It is quite obvious that he would rather kill Americans himself than go to Afghanistan with a unit which would be killing Muslims. Like you said Ron, he considered himself a Muslim first and an American second.

That's so disgusting, I can hardly comprehend it! I've never understood why someone who wants to kill themselves decides to take innocent people with them! Those folks didn't WANT to die like this scumbag did, and they didn't deserve to die like this scumbag did!

While I wish he WAS dead, as it would save a LOT of taxpayer dollars, I'm sort of glad that he IS still alive so that we can find out why the hell he thought he had to take 12 innocent people with him!

Firing squad will be too good for this monster!

[Sparks]

Since it happened on a Military base with military personnel, he will be tried by a military court and if I'm not mistaken, I believe they still hang their people.
At any rate, it shouldn't impact our tax money very much if any. All the officers in a military court are paid out of the military budget.

Yeah, the gal should have given him a center of the forehead shot, but in a way, I'd like to see him dangling for a few minutes. That and the anticipation will cause him pain.

They should shove some pork down his throat to help ensure he'll never see those 72 virgins.

[Mrs. Mik]

Sparks, on 07 November 2009 - 09:17 PM, said:

They should shove some pork down his throat to help ensure he'll never see those 72 virgins.

WOW!

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!

[Tech]

Shame on you two. You are not being politily correct.

[Sparks]

What's that???????????????????????????????????????

[Tech]

I saw a report where this guy has a connection back to three of the 9/11 killers. He attended the same mosque they did, at the same time they were there, which was headed by a radical cleric who is now back in Yemen.

[Mrs. Mik]

OMG! What more are we going to find out about this guy?! This is unbelieveable.