Category: Race Relations
Posted by Libby Spencer on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 11:44 AMJumping to Conclusions
After the initial scramble for details and much needless speculation, the story of the Ft. Hood shooter is becoming a bit more clear. However, it's far from complete. No one knows yet why this man went off the rails. That will be revealed in the months to come when he goes to trial. So people should be careful before they jump to conclusions about his motives.
He is said to be a lifelong Muslim, and he shouted "Allahu Akbar"during the shooting spree. Some want to use that to indict all Muslims as radicals. But as I recall no one thought that phrase was so threatening when the Iranians were shouting it from their rooftops during the election protests. Moreover, I'm told there are thousands of Muslims in our military who have fought bravely and even died in service to our country. In any event, Ft. Hood's Gen. Cone says while it can't be entirely ruled out at this early point, the available evidence does not point to terrorism.
I fear this incident will bring out the worst in those predisposed to hate Islam. Already I've seen far too many willing to connect imaginary dots. But Adam Serwer reminds us that attitude only serves the true jihadists who are a very small percentage of the Muslim population. Read it all at the link, but I leave you with these thoughts from the piece:
In the past few months, we've seen a number of shootings performed by white men with right-wing fringe beliefs--but while an attempt to assign the responsibility for the murder of George Tiller, or the killing of police in Pittsburgh, or the assault on the Holocaust Museum to white men as a whole would rightfully be seen as idiotic, there are those who sit poised and prepared assign the alleged actions of one man to an entire people. This is, quite frankly, the best reaction groups like Al Qaeda could hope for--the strength of their narrative of a war between Islam and the West ultimately rests on our own actions. We should not indulge them or those that share a similar worldview.
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re: Jumping to Conclusions
Libby Spencer wrote in part "After the initial scramble for details and much needless speculation, the story of the Ft. Hood shooter is becoming a bit more clear. However, it's far from complete. No one knows yet why this man went off the rails. That will be revealed in the months to come when he goes to trial. So people should be careful before they jump to conclusions about his motives."
Ms Spencer..We now know much more than when you initially posted this blog.
Do you have enough information now to admit this individual was a terrorist, and not some poor misunderstood soul?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091110/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_fort_hood_shooting_259
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"It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy," Obama said. "But this much we do know: No faith justifies these murderous and craven acts."
President Obama 11/10/2009
Jumping...
Sorry, bad paste job on my last sentence, it should read:
"Based on Libby's posts, it sounds like those of her progressive ilk are leaning towards making him a "victim" of GOP and Bush political policies. Which is sickening, but not entirely unexpected..."
Jumping...
Libby,
One does not have to be connected with a recognized terrorist group to commit a "terrorist" act:
terrorism:
1. the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.
2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.
3. a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/terrorism
I would say that his actions fit definition #3 quite easily...
The shooter in this instance repeatedly spoke out against the US killing Muslims and then pre-meditated and excuted killing those who he felt held a level of culpability.
Any claims of "Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome" are garbage. This clown never saw combat or anything more stressful than the negative reviews and resultant transfers he received...
Based on Libby's posts, it sounds like she is leaning towards making him a "victim" of GOP and Bush political policies. Which is sickening, but not entirely unexpected...
Jumping...
Like I said Mako, it's an unconfirmed rumor. Just passing it on since people are talking about this. :)
Jumping...
Libby, this soon after the incident, I doubt whatever the FBI indicates is reliable. One, that if there is a connection, of a sleeper-oriented situation, the Feds will be vague and unclear until they bag who did it.
Two, the guy's in a coma, and that's where the real info lies. Three, twitter feeds are notoriously unreliable, much like cable news at times. Cheers, Mako out.
Jumping...
Let's see if this will post. Saw on Twitter last night that FBI found no connection to terrorist groups on his computer. No link to confirm that yet though.
Jumping...
Chris D, the signs are pointing to a premeditated attack, but moreso, one that fits the nominal "crazy" motive, a belief in a personal jihad, which actually scares me the same way the drug/crime situation is in Detroit comparatively with Los Angeles (actually just had a convo with people about this very topic).
The idea that someone in their own volition concludes that they must act is a different form of terror in itself. It is disturbing as well to note the equivocations that any separatist movement requires to enact violence on the public.
There are many caveats to conclusions, however, which include the consideration of a wartime footing, and loyalties that religion carries over national service. It's undeniable that many benefits are construed over this principle, but at the same time, when threatened (whether by extremists of any religion), are justifiable homicides waiting to happen.
He did gave away his material possessions (frozen vegetables included), resigned himself far in advance to do what he was going to do. He knew the reaction, he timed his attack, and believes he did the right thing. He even went as far as to conceal his methods by legally purchasing firearms and use his access granted him by the very nation he attacked to socially engineer easy access at the base gates. No civilian security officer would check the Major's car that day, the normal protocol coincided with graduation traffic, and in my opinion, a security breach waiting to happen again.
Major Hasan chose to use his religion as an excuse, imo. I think the motive lies more along simple things, like him being single at 39, about to go to war, and no one to miss him. I can't imagine the stories of PTSD coupled with broken relationships were any less comforting. Mako out.
Jumping...
I'm leaving the Tiller and security guard murders out of this. We all know Libby blamed (wrongly) a bunch of people for those right from the start...
But looking at the facts, this now DOES appear like a pre-meditated, cold-blooded act with new updated reports:
1. Weaponry: not military-issue, was puyrchased legally a couple months before the shooting at a gun store
2. Residence: apparently the shooter sold or gave away most of his personal belongings a few days before the incident
3. Crime Scene A: since the weapons were not military issue, the shooter had to smuggle them onto the base
4. Crime Scene B: reports now say the shooter fired over 100 rounds, that means he smuggled a large quantity of ammo and several magazines with him onto the base
5. Religion: the shooter had repeatedly spoken openly to other soldiers and his "patients" about his opposition to the war and his extreme discontent at being shipped off to Afghanistan
These are facts, they are NOT in dispute and they lead me to believe this was not a spur-of-the-moment act. This was a well-planned activity that the shooter likely knew he would not survive...
If you consider Oklahoma a terrorist act, I think this incident now qualifies as one...
Libby Spencer jumping to conclusions right after Tiller shooting
blogprof, btw, on your personal blog, comments aren't going through. Cheers, Mako out.
Libby Spencer jumping to conclusions right after Tiller shooting
I'm hoping Ms Spencer offers a explanation for her apparent contradiction between the Murders at Fort Hood, and the Murder of Dr Tiller
Or will she follow her typical MO and moveon.org to her next blog?
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"The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity"
Andre Gide
Libby Spencer jumping to conclusions right after Tiller shooting
Libby the day after the Fort Hood shooting: "After the initial scramble for details and much needless speculation, the story of the Ft. Hood shooter is becoming a bit more clear. However, it's far from complete. No one knows yet why this man went off the rails. That will be revealed in the months to come when he goes to trial. So people should be careful before they jump to conclusions about his motives."
Libby the day after the Tiller shooting: "If you remember the firestorm over the DHS advisory report on far right, domestic terrorists, this is exactly what they were talking about. The suspect in the murder of Dr. George Tiller, Scott P. Roeder, was a member of an anti-government group in the 1990s and a staunch opponent of abortion. He has posted disturbing comments on various anti-choice forums and was apparently a supporter of a group that not too subtly advocates the murder of abortion doctors."
How does an acid case from the 60's write a political blog for the Detroit News anyway?
Liberals are crazy
Jump to conclusions?
White House press release within hours of murder of George Tiller
Within hours of George Tillers murder
Within hours of George Tillers murder
within hours of George Tillers murder
Now remember we don't want to spread fear and hate. This is a time for understanding not conclusions. Take a page from the liberals and look at it rationally.
BTW George Tiller was murdered on May 31 2009. Check the time stamps on the websites I linked. No rest for the wicked.
Jumping...
Waitng for the smoke to clear on this one before judgements are made...
Still wondering what the explanations will be for the ballistics math I referenced under Sushi's post...
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