Its not the first time its happened that a soldier serving in Iraq or Afghanistan has snapped in this manner, although this instance has had the largest body count.
I very well could be wrong, but he doesn't fit the profile of a terrorist. Born and Raised in America, non-devout, very high level of education, volunteers for the US Army as a career achieves a high rank. I mean seriously, how many al qaeda members fit this profile?.
First of all this guy never served in Iraq or Afghanistan, so that is a non issue. Second of all, if people on this forum think all Americans hate arabs just because of the war, then they are wrong. I have a Palestinian serving in my platoon right now, and I trust him with my life daily.
I don't think anyone is saying that the guy was an Al Qaida member, at least not that I've heard. There have been many reports of him posting on pro terrorist websites though. The reason that Al Qaida and other terror groups use extensive propaganda is to reach a broader audience. Al Qaida releases propaganda tapes, internet postings, videos, taped attacks on Americans and other propaganda in an attempt to reach people of through the Islamic community all over the world. Maybe he felt his ideas were more closely linked with them then the Army. John Walker Lindh was an American, born and raised in DC and Cali as a Catholic (and he was white). Then he traveled to the Mideast, learned Arabic, converted to Islam and joined the Taliban and battled American forces. I'm not saying that the whole religion is evil, but you cannot deny the only common thread shared by the majority of terrorists in the world today. They come from all countries, are all races, all backgrounds, but one religion. To deny the only unifying characteristic of the modern extremist movement is to lie to yourself. We are talking about a movement without borders here, so wake up and think about it.
Most people who "just snap" would go to their place of work and fire, especially if he was upset about being harrassed. They do it in the places they work, they go to school, they shop, they travel. This guy did not shoot up his place of work. He made the calculated decision to go to the one place on Ft Hood where soldiers are returning from and deploying to Iraq. Since most of you are not stationed at Hood like I am, let me tell you that the hospital he worked at is on the OTHER SIDE of the installation. The guy lived in KILLEEN, so why travel all the way accross the post to shoot people on the side that borders COPPERAS COVE to shoot people? Especially when you are driving right past your place of work? Does that sound like "snapping" to you? Most people who "just snap" are trying to right a perceived wrong (these guys pick on me, I don't fit in, this girl hates me) but this guy went to a place where he doesn't know anyone, he doesn't work there. The ONLY thing that happens there, is people do final paperwork before going to Iraq or Afghanistan. How can that not have a political or religious motivation? If you think that had no part in it, you are just fooling yourself. Most of you have had the luxury of not facing the enemies in this war, so it doesn't bother me that you don't get it. If I had went to college instead of joining the Army, I don't know if I would get it either. This is a messed up world right now, and I am not at all surprised that people invariably tend to beleive the explanation that most fits in with what they already want to beleive. I don't hate you, or pity you for it. We are all a product of our experiences, and most of you are lucky to have never experienced this war. I guess 37 months in Iraq may have changed me for the worse. When this guy wakes up from his coma and gives his reason, then I'll change my mind based on what I hear. If he says he did it for his muslim brothers, will you? Bear in mind people in the military are skeptical since a guy just shot some soldiers a few months ago for exactly those reasons. Read below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/us/02recruit.html
no spares whatsoever I say.
