Fort Hood: How Safe Are The Rest Of Us?

Fort Hood Shooter

At Fort Hood, the largest military base in the country, it would be assumed that it would have a superior level of security, at least when compared to the streets of New York City, Chicago or some other urban area. People are watched going in and out of the base, they are constantly observed and they are subject to the rules and disciplines of the armed forces. In our cities and towns there is no such surveillance or rules. Malik Nadal Hasan was a known entity, and one whose actions had been under scrutiny. In other words, all of the signs were there if someone wanted to see them.

• Contact with Imam Anwar al-Aulaqi
• Purchase of a gun in August
• Internet postings on suicide bombings
• Speech given on the divided loyalties of Muslim soldiers
• Vocal opponent of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Hasan's faith may help determine the answer to the question of why all of the warning signs were overlooked or dismissed as unimportant. The level of political correctness in our society has reached epic proportions. Even today, after many facts are in, some are loathe to label this a terrorist attack. Even the FBI had initially said terrorism was not involved before any of the facts had even surfaced. Some people and groups are strictly off limits, because to bring up the facts as existed in this case would have potentially created a firestorm. Not only in Killeen or the State of Texas, but potentially internationally. The government does not like firestorms of controversy. Particularly under President Obama, we just want to be liked, get along and maintain the status quo with the rest of the world.

That mentality, which helped to result in the mass murder at Fort Hood should be heeded, because the United States is dealing with these issues on a global scale. The benign neglect that led to these shootings is but a small window to the benign neglect going on concerning Iran, North Korea and in Afghanistan. The warning signs are all there, yet we refuse to act. When it is to late, as it was at Fort Hood, will we again look back and say that in hindsight it was all painfully obvious.

Iran has reportedly been working on technology to put nuclear warheads on missiles. They are making fools of the international community led by the United States concerning the deal made to ship enriched uranium out of the country. They have nuclear facilities that the IAEA was unaware of. The international community dithers while Iran goes along on its merry way.

If the warning signs were ignored on a military base, where will they be found and dealt with early enough to prevent something like Fort Hood, or something on an even a larger scale from occurring?

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