I just do not get it; maybe you can enlighten me? Since when is making notes on your hand a big deal? I got to tell you; when I saw Sarah Palin "stick" it to the media for ridiculing her for making notes on her palm, I laughed. She simply took a lead from so many of the media that made fun of her during the 2008 Presidential campaign with McCain.Not to mention the frenzy of media reporting on her book tour; "is she throwing her hat in ring for 2012?" "Is she making a bid for POTUS?" The speculation went on and on and now that she has publicly said "I would be willing" Well they really are in a frenzy now! Personally, I think she has taken a tip or two on how to manipulate the media.Palin is not doing a bad job of it now; is she?
You must admit that after the over- the- top "reporting" or over reporting that she used "palm" notes during her speech in Nashville at the Tea Party; what she did with the media at Gov. Rick Perry's campaign stump appearance writing "Hi Mom" on her palm, was priceless! Now; Robert Gibbs had to try and be funny today at the White House daily Briefing with his palm grocery list and "Hope and Change". Is anyone in Washington not worried about Palin? I think they "doth protest too much"; Media, Washington, anyone that is not listening to We the People of the U.S.
I just do not get it about the writing notes on the hand. How many of us in Public Speaking class did not want to appear like we were reading off index cards and wrote little notes on our hands? I know I did multiple times. Now I could see if someone were taking a test and writing "cheat sheet" on your hand that is morally wrong; I get that, but for a speech? I am sorry maybe I am missing something here but I do not see what is such a big deal.I am a logical thinker though I guess; is there anyone in Mainstream Media not to mention Washington thinking with any logic at all?
The media is now speculating that we want to use Palin as a leader of a "New Political Party" in Washington. As the kids today say "I am not down with that". I refuse to allow any media manipulation to thwart what We the People want and have fought so hard for since April 15, 2009.We are not asking for a new Party in Washington. We simply want to be heard by our leaders; those we put in office to represent us for each state in Washington, cut government spending, support our military, let states have more power in our daily lives not Federal govt; quit bailing out crooks,try military combatants in military tribunals, and do not give our Sovereignty away to "Global" interests.
Start reporting the Truth all of you who supposedly are there to report the news. That is why I love Paltalk News and other independent news sources. Just the Facts.. Just the Facts thank you! Stop making a big deal out of someone using notes on their hand; is this really all you have to report about? I just don't get it.

Well of course we all know that during our Christmas Day celebrations; a "radical" had been trying to detonate a bomb aboard Northwest Flight 253 Amsterdam to Detroit. But what the heck was Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab doing on an airlines flight in first place? NBC News reported that Abdulmutallab was on a terror watch list because his family (father, specifically) had the guts to alert authorities of this young man(terrorist)'s increasing radicalization. What is just mind blowing is according to NBC and Robert Windrem of MSNBC "the terrorism watch list contains more than 500,000 names, while the No- Fly list has some 4,000 names" on it.
So why are they even allowed to fly anywhere; but especially to the USA? Oh it must be because Obama said that this is not a War on Terror; it is a battle against some "man made disasters", right? Or is it because Homeland Security Chief, Janet Napolitano makes asinine comments like; "We are winding down a war in Iraq that took our eye off terrorists that attacked us, and have increased our resources in Afghanistan and Pakistan where those terrorists are"; really? Abdulmutallab was in a cave somewhere in Afghanistan, Pakistan? Hmmmm Not from all the reports I have read both here in US and around the world coverage of story. Abdulmutallab was not a poor misunderstood jihadist he was quite wealthy, in fact; having what equates to a near $4 million "flat" or apartment in UK; not too shabby I would say. Not your typical cave dweller in Afghanistan and Pakistan; oh I mean terrorist in Afghanistan. There were signs enough for him to be on a "terror watch list" don't ya think that he should have been restricted from flying and placed on the 4,000 member No- Fly list? I mean seriously, when are these people in charge of so-called protecting us going to wake up!
I look at it this way; I do not care how much money u have,how much or many educational degrees you possess, or who you know that is law abiding and respectable. If you are on a terrorist watch list you are not automatically given carte blanche to fly in a packed airliner on Christmas Day! No day period! It is just that simple. You choose to be a radical; you have no freedoms here or anywhere else! You think Obama would make that law? Highly doubt it; don't u? But something has got to be done or else this may not end next time without another tragic, senseless attack on innocents. Christmas Day could have been a very sad day indeed for many many families and this nation. Thank goodness it was a day for relatives to hold their loved ones close and "give thanks to being on ground and safe", as one passenger on Flight 253 said. Well the question does remain; how did Abdulmutallab get the explosive device that he was to use on board? I bet it involved a orifice of his body; although officials will not say it. We have seen stories of drug smugglers using their bodies as a hiding place for the drugs.
NBC News said " a suicide bomber hid PETN,(pentaerythritol tetranite), the explosive" "in his underwear when attempting to detonate when greeting Prince Mohammed bin Nayet, head of Saudi counter-terrorism, on August 28", 2009. Same explosive Abdulmutallab was attempting to blow up Flight 253 with; coincidence that the Airport Securities were not aware of Yemen- linked explosive on this man's body? Well, if it was that well hidden must have been in orifice like I said and reports of this being culturally taboo to search people in this manner; well that should be thing of past! I am not saying every single person at a airport or public transport such as subways should be strip searched, searched in body cavities even; I am saying that if they are on terrorist watch list and you still have idiocy of allowing them aboard then yes, by all means, body cavity search!Especially, when Homeland Security knows that two months after the attempt on Prince Mohammed bin Nayet's life, Sada al- Malahim online magazine's,(magazine I call Al-Qaeda publishing), leader Abu Basir al -Wuhayashi stated "would-be al-Qaida members use small amounts of explosives to kill "apostates", and Western nationals", including on passenger aircraft and in airports".And yep, you got it; no matter where you have to hide it!
So is it too unreasonable to think this administration would immediately say anyone on terrorist watch list is now on No-Fly list too? I have read Obama will make a speech to the American people ummmm sometime on his Hawaii vacation. Well I am not holding my breath but maybe he could state emphatically that No one on "watch list" will be allowed on Flights packed with innocents from now on because terrorist watch list means your not flying anywhere especially within US borders!

I am infuriated right now after learning of Army Ranger 1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna's obvious railroading sentence of premeditated murder of Ali Mansur, a known Al-Qaeda operative operating in the area of Albu Toma, north of Baghdad! He had not premeditatedly killed Mansur it was self-defense; and a very respected Forensic expert, Dr. Herbert Leon MacDonell, Director of the Laboratory of Forensic Science in Corning, N.Y; could prove it! But Dr. MacDonell after admitting he could prove it; was told he was not needed after all. This is insanity! One of our heroes, one of those putting their lives on the line for us has been sentenced to 20 years in Leavenworth; reduced from 25 years!!! Unbelievable! You can read Dr. MacDonell's sworn affidavit; dated April 21, at http://biggovernment.com/2009/12/08/101st-airborne-officer-serving-20-ye...
You tell me how our military can be railroaded, thrown under the bus; for the sake of what....??? 1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna's parents, Scott Behenna, an FBI intelligence analyst, and Vicki Behenna, a federal prosecutor — explain how prosecutors appear to have committed a Brady Act violation when they failed to disclose certain information to defense lawyers; including Dr. MacDonell's sworn affidavit that proves the innocence of 1st Lieutenant Behenna! That link I provided has 7 minute video from the Behenna's.This 26 year old young man deserves a medal for taking out Mansur; instead he is faced with 20 years in prison! This is insanity! Dr. MacDonell's testimony would have proven that the angle of the gun shots and the blood spatter were consistent with self-defense not premeditated murder! And when Dr. MacDonell told the prosecutors, all 3 that were in a room, this fact; they dismissed him from testifying after he heard 1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna's own words and he concurred that what he had said would be exactly consistent with Dr. MacDonell's findings. He had never seen the 1st Lieutenant's accounts of the events of Ali Mansur's death; but what that young man testified to was exactly what Dr. MacDonell too had concluded. No other explanation for the evidence but that it was self- defense.
Our military; those prosecutors railroaded this young man! We can not allow this to stand. We have to write letters to our Congress and voice our opinions that either this young man be given a new trial or just give him a dang medal better yet! You read Dr. MacDonell's sworn affidavit and you tell me was he railroaded or not? Do not be silent. Stand for one of our own that stands for us; puts their lives on the line for us so we do not have to fight these scum on our own soil! Like I said 1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna u deserve a medal and GB ur family, GB u young man and GB our military!

This weekend sadly a well accomplished Professor and Author, Dr. Richard T. Antoun, was stabbed at Binghamton University in NY.First and foremost; my condolences to Rosalyn (Roz)his wife and Dr. Antoun's loved ones and colleagues. His assailant is an Saudi National, 46 year old Grad student in Anthropology, Abdulsalam Al-Zahrani.WBNG of NY did report that Dr. Richard Antoun was a convert of Judaism through marriage to his wife of 17 years; but failed to call this a hate crime. Well you be the judge of that.
Dr.Antoun was author of "Understanding Fundamentalism: Christian, Islamic, and Jewish Movements,” and other books on Islam over the last 20 years, particularly related to Jordan. He had extensive knowledge of "Middle Eastern Studies" and was well liked and loved by many.
At 1:45 pm Eastern Friday December 4, Al-Zahrani walked into Science 1 Building of the Binghamptom University and stabbed Professor Dr. Antoun to death!Emergency workers were dispatched immediately after about ten minutes; witnesses could tell all efforts were in vain; the very much loved Professor had passed away. Al-Zahrani; just like Nidal Malik Hasan, was reportedly blogging or making racists and hateful comments online (so did we not see that coming)about Israel and the Jewish religion; according to Private Investigator Bill Warner by tracing his email at Binghampton University.Abdulsalam Alzahrani: aalzahr1@binghamton.edu One of his quotes:
"we are people ruled by the most corrupted blood-sucking, sadomasachistic (sadist with us and masachist with their overseas lords), demented, ignorant and incapable gangs, deprived in body and mind, deformed in consciousness (we must erase this word from the Arabic dictionary ... it is superfluous without a referent in the real world ... our world) ..." Wow! Is that a Rant or what?
So what saddens me even more than a lunatic cutting down a well loved Professor, a husband of 17 years to a woman who obviously adored him, and an accomplished and well read student of Middle Eastern Studies; is that this 46 year old man was not even reported by WBNG News as being a Hate Crime perpetrator! Obama just made it a mandatory Law;"not religious related"? Who are they kidding!Its time for NY to bring the death penalty on for such acts of blatant hatred!WBNG has received 100s if not 1000s by now scathing and rightfully angry comments, emails and such because they failed to call it what it is a HATE CRIME.
I leave you with the victim's own wife's words, Rosalyn (Roz):"”It’s terrible and the most terrible thing is that this is happening more and more,” she said. “It’s happening like every other day. We’re seeing it all over the place.”

Well I must admit; to much the chagrin of my friends and family that said "I told u so"; they were correct.Obama did not do what I hoped and prayed for much of last 2 weeks; announce an exit immediately of our troops or announce sending the amount that would do the job and Win the War against terrorism in Afghanistan. Or I even had hope of one more scenario.. Get our military on ground out.. and send drones or our USAF's finest bombers in and take out the safe havens once and for all! No.. Obama did what every single person in my life said he would; appease the Democrats with a so called "exit of 18 months" and appease the Republicans with a half than needed for Victory troop surge of 30,000 or so more.Typical political rhetoric in my opinion. We parents of serving men and women and especially now those who's children have just finished Basics like a dear friend of mine's son; is in no doubt where the military will send their children; in harm's way. The Taliban is not going to be destroyed with a measly 30,000 troops; Gen. Stanley McChrystal knows how many additional troops are needed there to defeat the terrorists.He told Obama months ago that either you send the 60,000- 80,000 or pull out! That is simple to me; is it just me? Please tell me there is someone in DC that has common sense..No? Did not think so.
So Obama to try and appease the politicians that have way too much control over our lives anyway; goes against McChrystal's troop surge assessment, against Biden's idea of taking the troops on ground out and obliterate the safe havens; not to mention against what we the people know to be the truth; we must win the war on terrorism or face more Hasan's on our own soil!Well ty Mr. President now u have truly put our children in danger and not to mention this nation in more danger than ever before; the enemy sees your weakness. Maybe I am a Pollyanna but I sure hoped you would prove people in my life wrong; that you would make a real effort to either win this War or bring our kids home ASAP; I was wrong. Once again; Obama proves he is not fit to be Commander-in Chief. God help our children in harm's way. God help our nation; because all I see is appeasement.
What is that saying.. "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time". That's right that was President Abraham Lincoln (16th President) that is attributed to saying that quote... Well are we ready to wake up now America? We have an appeaser in the White House not a Commander-in-Chief. As someone quoted earlier tonight in Paltalk News Network's chat room; is he now ready to bow to Taliban? Sure seems so.God Bless our Military & God bless our nation. We're gonna need it.

Colorado ranchers and authorities are baffled over some very strange incidences involving livestock occurring in Costilla County in recent weeks. I won't go into the details of the calves' mutilations; except to say it is pretty extraordinary that there are no visible evidences of human or animal attacks. Bizarre to say the least; no signs of human attackers, such as footprints or ATV tracks and no signs of an animal attack by a coyote or mountain lion. There is no blood at the scenes!
Now I admit I was a avid watcher of the X-Files' Fox Mulder and Dana Scully lol But this has become quite unnerving for people in Colorado. Some in the area believe the mutilations are the work of aliens. An area UFO chaser,Chuck Zukowski, from right here in Colorado Springs; has been to the Costilla County ranch of the latest incident of four calves but Zukowski has stated that there have been other unexplained calf mutilations in the area, including three in March. Yes, there was a similar episode on the X-Files in the 90s and I must admit when our news here reported on this story; that episode came to mind.But seriously, it is so unnerving that ranchers are selling off their calves and more closely monitoring their other animals. Like I said, bizarre to say the least. You can read the whole story from our local Pueblo newspaper http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/11/26/news/local/doc4b0e0598ecb82... You can cue up the Twilight Zone Music or X- Files musical score if u want lol but I have no explanation and apparently the authorities do not as well.

First I would like to thank Gary and Boaz and everyone at Paltalk News Network for allowing us regular chatters at Paltalk to write about anything we choose to in this Blog.I must admit I never had a desire to write on a Blog for as long as it has been popular. But I have many things I am very passionate about; first and foremost our troops in a non-winnable war, (Pretty sure that is not a word). lol But the idea of 4 months of deliberation, decision-making; eight or ten or twenty Strategy meetings, all is irrelevant to the fact that this President travels around the world "selling" the "new and improved" America policies while our young kids are spending their Thanksgivings and Christmases and Hanukkahs and yes even Ramadans in a place that is not "welcoming". The people of Iraq welcomed our troops putting down the Evil Regime of Saddam Hussein and yes they are enjoying their new freedoms thanks to our troops that have fought, bled and sadly died for those freedoms.
Afghanistan is not so welcoming "change" and without the support of additional troops as UK did for their military; I also am referring to Gen. Stanley McChrystal's official assessment of "60,000 additional troops needed" before Pentagon chair sitters said different; we need to bring our kids home and starting Jan 2010 not a moment later! I feel so helpless here being a Mom of a son serving; all of us parents feel that way; however, there is something we can do and now. We can petition our Congress; our Representatives, our Senators, and most of all our kids' Commander-in- Chief, Obama.Time is of the essence; our children are being left to fend for themselves in a new and present Vietnam.
I am appealing to you to take some action. If u are saying I don't think this is my concern or I feel for you parents but what can I do? Signing a Petition to "Bring our Troops Home" sponsored by Lou Dobbs; yes that Lou Dobbs. http://loudobbs.com/petitions is a great start! I thank u on behalf of all of us parents that will not spend holidays with our children; and we are very proud of our serving men and women!It is just not in our best interest to continue to be in Afghanistan.
Finally I would also like to share with you a Mother's plea and no it is not mine. I too feel the same way she does; and she said it so much better than I ever could. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zWmTi86drU&feature=player_embedded Thanks!

I am sure all my wonderful UK Paltalk Bloggers will share my sentiment but just for those that may not quite comprehend how our President Obama capitulates to some leaders and not so much to others. Oh and should I say definitely not to women Leaders? This weekend Obama once again illustrated how low he can go (saying facetiously); but in all sincerity, Obama showed utmost respect for Japanese Emperor Akihito by bowing down his tall lanky self to him; Empress Michiko,not so much. Just a nod for the Lady; that was it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0mZfpOfQYc Well that is not so bad; right?
Remember when he nearly bent over double for King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in April at the G20 summit? There were no women there at that moment; Go figure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAegSd6pu10&feature=related Seems to be a pattern that President Obama has displayed. Foreign Leaders surely deserve the utmost respect in their own countries especially; but what of the moment he met the Queen? We have all seen it; I'm sure but if not; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYLuLEfVNow&NR=1&feature=fvwp Queen Elizabeth II of England is a very important dignitary. Why did she only receive a nod of the head; much like Empress of Japan?
So just what am I getting at? hmmmm So what; he doesn't bow to Empress Michiko of Japan; Emperor Akihito is the distinguished Leader not her; right? Well some of my friends pointed out that female leaders and dignitaries do not receive the same form of respect by the President; I must admit after carefully researching this weekend; even his "posed" pics seem more genuine when who he is posing for pics with is someone he admires or has respect for; the pics posed with Queen of England; just disingenuous smile. You can tell can't ya?
You probably are saying oh my goodness! so he bows to Leaders out of his sincere ability to appear to be a Global leader; who cares? Well one has to wonder who is next to enjoy his capitulation? How low will he actually go to appease,submit, bow to, and acquiesce? You get my meaning? He is the President of the United States and yet he acts as though he wants to appear weak and subservient to world leaders. One has to wonder does he bow to Nancy Pelosi in private? I mean she is his number one tax and spend, tax paid abortion,Healthcare $1.2-2 Trillion representative and even though we do not feel that is in best interest of this nation; does he nearly kiss her shoes; bowing to her? Yeah I didn't think so. There are societies and nations that do not give females same respect as their male counterparts; is this what we want for our country? I think not; Just a little observation.

I am re-posting a very articulate and impressive Blog by a PalTalk chat member we all know and respect with her permission: "The re-traumatization of New York City.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed admitted to being one of the masterminds behind the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001. You remember that day: a few loose planes which may or may not have been flown by Islamic freedom fighters got caught in the explosion as the then President, George W. Bush, and his Zionist friends created an excuse to go to war with Islam. You remember that day, right?
Pardon my sarcasm here, but it seems our current President doesn't remember 9-11 any better than the idiots who make up these ridiculous conspiracy theories.
Showing great sensitivity (more sarcasm) for the people of New York, the current administration deems it wise to have a non-citizen, professed terrorist, the man who claims responsibility (under penalty of getting wet again) for plotting 911, to receive a fair trial by a jury of his peers. It's Constitutional, right?
Yeah, if he were an American citizen. Has something like this ever been done before? Not that I can recollect. The Nuremberg Trials were military tribunals and the actions of those tried occurred during an announced war. Not so the case with the trial of Mohammed. We weren't at war with Islam- even though radical Islam had been at war with us for decades.
Did Mohammed et al violate domestic criminal law? No, they didn't. They were captured and detained because of their ties to terrorist organizations and, in that detention, admitted to being part of the plot to kill Americans. They were not captured by police, they were captured by the military, during a time of declared war. This, as in the case of Nuremberg, calls for a military trial, not a civilian one.
In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Attorney General Michael Mukasey makes the same assessment, listing other important considerations:
" The challenges of a terrorism trial are overwhelming. To maintain the security of the courthouse and the jail facilities where defendants are housed, deputy U.S. marshals must be recruited from other jurisdictions; jurors must be selected anonymously and escorted to and from the courthouse under armed guard; and judges who preside over such cases often need protection as well. All such measures burden an already overloaded justice system and interfere with the handling of other cases, both criminal and civil.”
I'll go a step farther: where in the hell are we going to find a “jury of peers” for this guy? Are we going to have the first ever all Muslim jury? Talk about a violation of separation of church and state! A religious litmus test for jury selection would open a huge door for the infusion of Shari'ah law in America.
Maybe we can get members of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and retirees from the Weathermen Underground (like Obama's dear old pal, Bill Ayers) to be on the jury. Awe hell, let's just invite Osama Bin Laden to lead the defense team and get it over and done with, shall we?
The Obama administration, in particular Eric Holder, have declared “successes” out of other civilian trials involving terrorists. One stellar example is the trial of Mamdouh Mahmud Salim. Salim was supposed to go on trial for his role in the 1998 embassy bombings however, before they could get him to trial, Salim managed to fashion a weapon out of a comb and jam it into the head of Louis Pepe, a prison guard, leaving Pepe blind and unable to speak.
Salim's foiled escape plan resulted in his being found guilty of “attempted murder”. You can call this a success if you want to; but I call it utter bullcrap.
One last thought: exactly where will these guys be housed if they're not given the death penalty (and an immediate execution?) At a place like Guantanamo, they would be in extreme isolation. GITMO was chosen precisely for this reason.
But if these guys go to a civilian prison, they will be able to interact with other prisoners. Oh joyous day! They'll be recruiting, too! Won't that just be peachy? Not to mention a horrific security nightmare for the City of New York and the facility wherever these terrorists are house.
Don't the people of New York City deserve better? Don't the victims of the World Trade Center deserve a better memorial?" by Leah D. Mclellan She said it all did she not? ty Leah ! Leah's Blog http://reaganimity.blogspot.com/

I did not rush to judgment about Maj. Hasan when he was identified; I did, as the president said, not "jump to conclusions". But today we discover that US Intelligence Officials knew he was a "jihadist". Someone angry with the warped sense of ideologies as 9/11 attackers. Attended same Mosque as 2 of them, wrote emails wanting to join Al-Qaeda, and the blog we were told could very well be that Nidal Hasan.Now we know he was one single man carrying out an horrific act of slaughtering innocent unarmed soldiers and civilians.But we also have known for a couple days that colleagues heard him say from his own mouth anti-USA, anti-Military rhetoric and no one did anything about it. Why? Because people were afraid of backlash that may come from saying a "Muslim" stated something derogatory.Do you remember day after 9/11? Do you remember the president at that time Bush, say for us to "remain vigilant"; report any suspicious behavior? I sure do! And we did report anything that looked as though it was not quite right. Did innocent Muslims receive some treatment that was not fair or just? Yes they did sadly; but most were not. It was "airing on a side of caution" and then the politically correct thing became to say nothing at all. Do not risk being called prejudice or a hater. Well tonight I bet those colleagues that knew this one individual was spouting non-sense, the Military who knew he was proselytizing (which by the way a Jewish person or a Christian would never be allowed to do at their place of employment; let alone at the US Military offices),and also the fellow Muslim whom knew he was spouting hatred; I bet they all wish they had said something.
Well I am asking you to do something. I do not care if it is a Muslim, Christian, Buddhist,Hindu,Jewish person or an atheist; if you hear someone spouting garbage for violence against USA, Military, or innocent citizens; report it! Not tomorrow or next day; immediately! Contact the proper authorities so that person can go on a "watch list" for US Officials. Let me be clear I am saying be "Vigilant" not a "Vigilante". Our police, FBI, CIA have enough to deal with; do not take the Law into your own hands! But it is time to be "airing on side of caution"; rather than sitting idly by and doing nothing. It is just common sense if u see a person advocating violence against anyone you report it.If heard in casual conversation; report it. If u read a person's blog and they are spouting hatred and violence against innocents again, report it to the authorities.
One final thought; my continuous prayers are with families and loved ones of the Ft. Hood shootings' victims but I also hope that the Military will arm at least one person in a Processing Center such as at Fort Hood in all the military installations in this nation; because some lives could have been spared the agony of that tragedy had just one soldier been armed and taken the shooter out before he wreaked havoc on an entire building! Just a thought. Stay Vigilant! Do not think you are infringing on someone's First Amendment Right to "freedom of speech" when they are clearly not in support of our nation that gives that right and our Constitution. A radical extremist such as Yousef al-Khattab in Queens, NY has no right to "hail Hasan a hero!" This is plain ludicrous and US Officials should deport him; and I am not advocating deporting all Muslims just the ones known to preach hatred and anti-Jewish, anti-Christian, anti-USA, and anti-USA Military rhetoric.

First and foremost I would like to offer my condolences to all of the families and friends of the Ft. Hood/Killeen, Texas massacre. You are in our thoughts and prayers.This is an unconscionable abhorrent act of one cowardly individual.I am not about to sugar coat it. Major Nidal Malik Hasan carried out a methodical premeditated act of slaughter! He sold off his possessions, handed out Koran to as many as he could, and when he was about to pull the triggers of two guns we know he had possession of; he shouted very plainly "Allahu Akbar" and we all know from various other extremist attacks that means "God is Great".Well he greatly slipped through the cracks of the mental health community and sadly first and foremost; the US Military Mental Health Community.
I have been saying for a very long time but especially since this past summer; the Military of our brave men and women have to implement better mental health counseling , more PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and more ready preparedness for deployment counseling. Not after the fact; before the fact of active War. I don't believe this individual was suffering from any mental health issues other than he despised the War in Afghanistan; where he was to soon be deployed; and find it reprehensible to kill even in act of War; his "brothers"..My son is bravely doing his duties in Afghanistan and he was raised with strict morals; especially not to commit the heinous act of murder. He, however; has a desire to serve the Constitution of the United States and our Commander in Chief.My son underwent the the usual combat readiness training that the US Military offers just before he was to deploy; a tragedy struck his very own unit! A young Airman Ian York shot and killed his little 19 year old fiancee at Beale AFB, Marysville, CA on July 4th weekend; hours later the next day; he took his own life in midst of a police shootout.They had been celebrating his recent return from Iraq! No one saw it coming; or did they? There is however;much more to the story; like Airman York had been recently demoted, cut in pay grade for actions unbecoming of military personnel; but just as Major Hasan was an employed active duty Army psychiatrist; there were
warning signs;in Hasan's case, before his transfer to Ft. Hood; in the young Airman's case; after he returned from Iraq.
The US Military needs to have the support of this administration; our President needs to set more strict stringent guidelines for personnel deploying and returning from the War on Terror; or plainly just don't send them at all.This administration has said that brave men and women would not be sent (additional troops) unless all the facts were in; well, here is a fact. Our military has been neglected for far too long.We have seen it in after effects of Vietnam, first Persian Gulf War, and now Iraq and Afghanistan.Mental health counseling is supposed to be just that; if something does not gel with the "norms" of society; then do not commit them to high stress situations. Give the men and women that enlist more support, emotionally.
I am not making excuses for Major Nidal Malik Hasan by no means; but I am saying that these unconscionable acts would not even happen if the military were given the right "evaluations" for mental health The mere fact that a former colleague Terry Lee stated that Hasan was spouting" radical views" and his disdain for his soon deployment should have set bells and whistles off; something is not right; this guy is not a committed soldier to US objectives.As soon as he was found to have written and expressed his radical views on a blog; he should have been discharged from the military! I do not care if he was a well respected psychiatrist for the Army; he was disciplined long before he even transferred to Ft. Hood for radical views.The tragedy is the whole incident could have been prevented; 13 lives could have been spared. Thirty-one one wounded (meaning one was Hasan himself) would not have been wounded in "non combat" on US soil! How? By simply giving the US Military more support for the Mental Health Community. Ensuring that all women and men serving are in the best mental; as well as, physical condition before serving.Strict guidelines for the "effectiveness" of the mental counseling of our brave men and women have got to be implemented!
Yesterday sadly they had not been; that is the real tragedy. Support and care is not just after the fact of War; it should be foremost; before high stress situations are forced upon all those who bravely serve. The case of Hasan; he should have never been transferred to Ft. Hood because of his "radical views" being discovered long ago!