[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Mohoender

French reports are not going the way you describe.

They were saying that he was pro-american but discriminated by fellow troopers for being muslim and palestinian (sadly I can buy that).

They were also saying that he was growing more and more tired from listening what soldiers coming from Iraq and Afghanistan had to say. Kind of getting battle fatigue before even getting to the battlefield. I'm not a specialist but I think it is not unheard of from military psychiatrist.

It seems also that the various authorities deny any connection with terrorists. Sorry but I hardly admit that US authorities are still (if they ever were) stupid enough not to monitor someone of his rank and potential influence on soldiers who would have connections or sympathy with terrorists (especially after 9/11).

Of course, I'm not trying to find him excuses, but the idea that the guy was islamic, terrorist lover and anti-american..., and still holding the position he had in the US Army is unacceptable. Moreover, if fellow soldiers and officers had known about that and not done anything about it what are they: traitors? If not traitors, they should be considered his accomplice and prosecuted consequently. I agree that I'm a little extreme in this but if I was one of his victim's father/brother and you were explaining me that you knew but didn't do shit, I'm not sure of what I would do. Such an idea is outrageous to me.

For my part, they sound more like school kids who had done something mean and try to run away from their responsibility.

Unfortunately, from what I've been able to find out you have the right scoop. Anti-Muslim discrimination has been growing in the military since 9/11 -- and I worry that it might get worse now. I worked with Muslims here and there in the Army, and they're no less American than the rest of us. Yes, the shooter must get a court-martial if he survives (it's looking like he might; he's here in San Antonio at Brooke AMC right now, BTW, along with several of the victims), but his actions have nothing to do with other Muslims. It's same as if he were a Christian and mentally-ill and started shooting people.

Since he appears to have given plenty of signs that he was unstable, and they seem to have been glossed over, I also think a top-to-bottom investigation of his chain of command and possibly a RIFT is in order.

It makes you wonder: How many other time bombs are in the military, pushed way too far by how hard we're pushing our troops?