Hasan Warned Army about Muslim GI Morale

Washington Post: Fort Hood Rampage Suspect Said Muslim Soldiers Should be Released as Conscientious Objectors

(Washington Post)  This story was written by Dana Priest.

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The Army psychiatrist believed to have killed 13 people at Fort Hood warned a roomful of senior Army physicians a year and a half ago that to avoid "adverse events," the military should allow Muslim soldiers to be released as conscientious objectors instead of fighting in wars against other Muslims.

As a senior-year psychiatric resident at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Maj. Nidal M. Hasan was supposed to make a presentation on a medical topic of his choosing as a culminating exercise of the residency program.

Instead, in late June 2007, he stood before his supervisors and about 25 other mental health staff members and lectured on Islam, suicide bombers and threats the military could encounter from Muslims conflicted about fighting in the Muslim countries of Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a copy of the presentation obtained by The Washington Post.

"It's getting harder and harder for Muslims in the service to morally justify being in a military that seems constantly engaged against fellow Muslims," he said in the presentation.

"It was really strange," said one staff member who attended the presentation and spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the investigation of Hasan. "The senior doctors looked really upset" at the end. These medical presentations occurred each Wednesday afternoon, and other students had lectured on new medications and treatment of specific mental illnesses.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Tragedy at Fort Hood

An Army spokesman said Monday night he was unaware of the presentation, and a Walter Reed spokesman declined to comment. It is unclear whether anyone in attendance reported the briefing to counterintelligence or law enforcement authorities whose job it is to identify threats from within the military ranks.

Hasan spent six years at Walter Reed as an intern, resident and fellow beginning in 2003. He was transferred to Fort Hood as a practicing psychiatrist in July and was set to leave soon for Afghanistan. According to a relative, he had asked not to be deployed. It is not known whether he ever sought conscientious-objector status.

Maj. Gen. Gina S. Farrisee, the Army's personnel chief, said in an interview Monday that because of the investigation, she and other Army officials could not discuss whether Hasan had officially asked to quit the service or not to be deployed. However, she and another Army official said it would be highly unusual for officers with Hasan's rank and medical training to be allowed to resign, given their service obligation.

Investigators are examining Hasan's religious beliefs, whether he harbored extremist views, and whether he was in contact with others who may have encouraged violence against U.S. troops.

The title of Hasan's PowerPoint presentation was "The Koranic World View As It Relates to Muslims in the U.S. Military." It consisted of 50 slides. In one slide, Hasan described the presentation's objectives as identifying "what the Koran inculcates in the minds of Muslims and the potential implications this may have for the U.S. military."

He also sought to "describe the nature of the religious conflicts that Muslims" who serve in the U.S. military may have and to persuade the Army to identify these individuals.

Other slides delved into the history of Islam, its tenets, statistics about the number of Muslims in the military, and explanations of "offensive jihad," or holy war.

Another slide suggested ways to draw out Muslim troops: "It must be hard for you to balance Islamic beliefs that might be conflicting with current war; feelings of guilt; Is it what you expected."

Hasan's presentation lasted about an hour. It is unclear whether he read out loud every point on each slide. If typical procedures were followed, his adviser would have supervised the development of his project, said people familiar with the practice.

The final three slides indicate that Hasan referred to Osama bin Laden, the Taliban, suicide bombers and Iran.

Under a slide titled "Comments," he wrote: "If Muslim groups can convince Muslims that they are fighting for God against injustices of the 'infidels'; ie: enemies of Islam, then Muslims can become a potent adversary ie: suicide bombing, etc." [sic]

The last bullet point on that page reads simply: "We love death more then [sic] you love life!"

Under the "Conclusions" page, Hasan wrote that "Fighting to establish an Islamic State to please God, even by force, is condoned by the Islam," and that "Muslim Soldiers should not serve in any capacity that renders them at risk to hurting/killing believers unjustly -- will vary!"

The final page, labeled "Recommendation," contained only one suggestion:
"Department of Defense should allow Muslims [sic] Soldiers the option of being released as 'Conscientious objectors' to increase troop morale and decrease adverse events."

Staff writer Ann Scott Tyson contributed to this report.

[jihamed]

Islam must be forbiden as untolerant religion for morons only, believing that they will find wife only if they die...The simple reason is they cannot find any because local sheikh has 30-40 already, and needs stupid soldiers of faith to die for him - dying they"ll get 70 virgins (why not *****)in their paradise-obviously one has to be moron to believe in this!

[Jvince92]

I just want to state that Dana P., you're an idiot. I'm going to quote you now, "The Army psychiatrist believed to have killed 13 people at Fort Hood..." those of you who didn't pick up on this. Her keyword is "believed". How foolish can one be to actually say something like that? Who in their right mind would use such wording? Hasan was seen (doing the evil deed, it shouldn't be "believed" it should be "who killed") killing these people, beloved marines, who willing signed up for the job knowing they would be putting their lives on the line. You're scum, you should be ashamed of yourself. And those of you who are going to rip me, don't even give me that bu!!**** about how "oh it's an easy mistake to make" or "you just hate Muslims." Think about it, before you submit something, one usually checks over their work.

[Sloughfoot]

Locate and ID every muslim in the military. Form them into one unit, put them in charge of the brig in Cuba. Evacuate all other U.S. military personel. End of story. Fidel shipped us his unwantables, we now have the opportunity to reciprocate. (Oh, if their families want to be with them - ship them too.

[RL_Cudd]

The military "knew" about his radical thoughts, but his superiors were to damn worried that they would be accused of signalling him out because he was a Muslim. Sen Lieberman needs to ask hard questions and kick out those responsible for allowing this to occur. The warning signs were present, and ignored. AND these are our military leaders??? No wonder we aren't winning the war.

[wyodutch]

Perhaps we should forbid our military from being stationed within America's borders. It worked for the French Foreign legion.
.
After all... we don't seem to mind being involved in endless wars of occupation... so why not require that our military roost in those nests they've occupied.

[armyoftwelve]

If you want to enjoy the benefits of a free society..it doesn't matter if it confliects with your religion or not.

If your religion won't let you support the same free society you want to enjoy the benfits of...then LEAVE THE COUNTRY!!!

[warsux]

by armyoftwelve November 10, 2009 9:14 PM EST
If you want to enjoy the benefits of a free society..it doesn't matter if it confliects with your religion or not.

If your religion won't let you support the same free society you want to enjoy the benfits of...then LEAVE THE COUNTRY!!!



What if YOUR religion wont allow others to enjoy a free society?

All of these god idiots telling people who they can and cant marry, the president saying that god told him he needs to free to iraqis, abortion, gods will BS. Why doesnt everyone grow up and drop the religion thing. Santa Claus is fake, but the cloud fairey is real? Come on.

And btw, the us is not a free society. Far far from it.

[Farhat4]

Tonight the announcer said referred to criticism the US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan as a "radical activity" Major Hasan engaged in - does this mean that anyone who criticises the illegal invasion of Iraq is engaged in "radical" activity? Has CBS been bought by Rupert Murdoch?

[lucy0909]

MANDATORY COUNSELING for ALL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. Civilian or Military. They should all be required to undergo regular mental health evaluations.

[6591Hou]

Major Hassan forgot - he forgot why he was wore the uniform, he forgot his oaths to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States (and because so many of you forget to add: to obey the orders of superiors as may be given from time to time etc. etc.), he forgot.

He forgot because he elevated a religion above his nation, there are plenty of people who will argue that nationalism is a bad thing - but they must agree that theocracy is worse. Major Hassan traded his nation for his Koran, and his oak leaves for U.S. soldiers blood.

[Skirtlifters]

He forgot because he wanted our military to pay for that pricey education of his. He never intended to go into combat. But when it came time for him to perform his duty, as he was about to be deployed, well, he wasn't going to fight Muslims, no way, so...

[cattiej]

This Hasan is a coward and the picture about with the U.S. Flag next to his picture is really a terrible thing to look at. This whole mess could have been avoided just like the 9-11-2001 World Trade Center being hit by the airplanes that were being flown by those cowards!
I think the federal government are asleep at the wheel on a lot of the Muslim extremist's. How are these people allowed to stand on the street corners of America and preach their hate? Let's change the law's of our country because this should be a hate crime. Arrest them and throw them in jail for being terriorists.

[warsux]

Who is who allowed to stand on the corner and preach hate? I dont see any muslims standing on the corners preaching hate. Was the guy in Orlando a muslim? How about the lunatic that shot up the holocaust museum? What about the plethora of abortion clinic shootings? Oh right. Those are ok because they tend to side with your insane religious views right?

The only people I ever see on a street corner preaching hate are christians. They go to cemetaries and protest soldiers funerals because somehow, they believe they died because homosexuals are allowed to marry. I see thousands of misinformed morons dragging themselves out of their trailers like zombies being beckoned by mr beck and spewing their religious beliefs down everyones throats.