JoeinAustin's Open Salon Blog

Brooks: "Shroud of Political Correctness" over Ft. Hood

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:11:25 -0500

It appears that the jihadist chickens are coming home to roost at the coop of the horror of Fort Hood. More and more evidence seems to be pointing toward Major Nidal Hassan's heinous mass murder rampage as not the act of a distressed man, but of a man killing in the name of his extremist religious beliefs.

David Brooks has an insightful column on the subject at NYT.

I really love Brooks' assertion that the "distressed man" storyline was used by the media and government officials, acting as "kindergarten teachers who had to protect their children from thinking certain impermissible and intolerant thoughts," out of fear that "the great mass of unwashed yahoos in Middle America would go off on a racist rampage."

Now that Major Hassan (should we still call him MAJOR?) is conscious and awaiting his lawyer in his bed at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, I think the next few weeks are going to be interesting to say the least.

Fort Hood Shooter and Jihadist Cleric Exchanged Emails

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:11:40 -0500

Radical Muslim Cleric Anwar al-Awlaki declared the suspected Fort Hood mass murderer, Major Nidal Hassan, "a hero" in an article posted on the cleric's website Monday. The English language article also said Hassan was "a man of conscience who could not bear living the contradiction of being a Muslim and serving in an army that is fighting against his own people." Moreover, Awlaki appears to encourage other Muslims in the U.S. Military to commit murder as Hassan did. "In fact the only way a Muslim could Islamically justify serving as a soldier in the US army," Awlaki writes, "is if his intention is to follow the footsteps of men like Nidal."

Even more interesting is that Awlaki is not offering his perverse praise to a complete stranger. According to a New York Times article also posted on Monday, U.S. intelligence agencies were aware that Major Hassan had been in contact with Awlaki, an American born Muslim of Yemeni parents who has served as imam in at least two mosques in the United States and is a renowned radical jihadist. Per the NYT report, Hassan and Awlaki, who left the United States in 2002 and is now back in Yemen, exchanged some ten to twenty emails last December that were intercepted by U.S. intelligence monitors. However, U.S. counter-terrorism officials did not take any action against Hassan because the emails between the two appeared to be related to Hassan's clinical research. Representative Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) of the House Intelligence Committee has requested that intelligence and law enforcement officials preserve all records of their dealings with Major Hasan.

The NYT report also notes that Awlaki was connected to three of the 9-11 hijackers; Hani Hanjour, Khalid al-Midhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi; via two of the mosques at which he was imam. Awlaki is mentioned in the report of the Sept. 11 commission as having met with Hazmi several times prior to the attack on the World Trade Center.

Major Hassan is now conscious at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. His attorney has requested that the Major not be questioned until he arrives.

Austinites Warned of the Dangers of Toiling Lawyers

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 14:11:44 -0500

I found this sign today posted along the Lady Bird Lake
Hike/Bike Path by Longhorn Dam (Pleasant Valley)

Well, I didn't find any lawyers ahead, but I did find some trail construction. I would like for the City of Austin Parks Department, the concern in charge of the trail, to know that I am available for sign composition and editing. My spelling and grammar may not be perfect, but I think a third grader could have caught this blaring mistake. There are a lot of unemployed people in Austin holding under and post-grad degrees who'd love to have a job double-checking signage.

Report says Fort Hood Gunman Shouted "Allahu Akbar"

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:11:50 -0500

According to a Guardian UK story posted earlier today, Fort Hood Gunman, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, shouted the Arabic phrase "Allahu Akbar" or "God is greatest" as he commenced his shooting rampage on Thursday.

The Guardian story also states that "...family and fellow officers said Hasan had complained of harassment by other troops about his Middle Eastern ethnicity and Muslim faith" and that "...the FBI was last night going through Hasan's phone and computer records to see if a motive could be identified. Agents were checking back on website postings by a man who identified himself as Nidal Hasan that appeared sympathetic to suicide bombings."

See full Guardian Story.

See altmuslim.org comment

AUSTINITES: Barton Springs Needs YOUR HELP!!!

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 11:11:32 -0500

Folx: As you may be aware, the recent storms in Austin wreaked some havoc on our dear Barton Springs. For the first time in god knows how long, water from Barton Creek usurped the West dam at the springs, bringing all sorts of debris into the pool. The clean-up is taking quite some time.

I've been in contact with City of Austin Aquatic Program Coordinator Wayne Simmons who says they can you use some volunteers today (Monday, 11/2/09) between Noon and Six. He also says that he may be needing help throughout the week to help clear debris, mostly tree branches, stumps, and twigs, from Barton Springs Pool.

If you can help today or any other time, please contact Mr. Simmons by email to let him know your availability:

mailto:Wayne.Simmons@ci.austin.tx.us

Thanks!!!!!