- FEBRUARY 9, 2010
-
-
AFGHANISTAN
Kilcullen: What Matters in COIN
-
SOLDIER'S CORNER
Opening up on War Fatigue
-
PIRATE WATCH
Ship Master's Shirking Safety in Pirate Waters
The Fort Hood shooter: How to prevent recurrences
Posted By Thomas E. Ricks
Friday, November 13, 2009 - 5:48 PM
Share
The note below is from a friend, retired Army Col. Stuart Herrington, a veteran intelligence officer who wrote one of the best memoirs of the Vietnam War, Silence was a Weapon -- and who also blew a much-needed whistle in Iraq in 2004 about the abuse of prisoners.
My favorite anecdote in his Vietnam memoir is about the restaurateurs of Saigon who specialized in Hanoi cuisine and who complained about all the Viet Cong commanders he was driving into the city for lunch. Herrington's feeling was that they were hungry and homesick, and that a little bit of pho would go a long way. He was right, despite the discomfort of the restaurant owners.
Anyway, here is his take on what the Army needs to do after the Fort Hood incident. I think he offers a lot of common sense, as well as dollop of respect for Muslim soldiers in a difficult situation. I think the top brass needs to think about this was a way to protect American soldiers from violent extremists in their ranks:
I remember when we invaded Panama, and I led a team to investigate (via captured archival review and interrogations of detainees) if some of our soldiers stationed in Panama had been "co-opted" (i.e. recruited) by Noriega's intelligence service to give secret information about the US contingent stationed there. We found 35 cases from our investigation, of whom all but one were Hispanic GIs, or GIs with Panamanian wives who were working as civilians for US forces.
When I revealed these somewhat damning results to the J-2 and recommended that ethnic Hispanics, heavily targeted as they were, should receive a special security briefing when they signed in for duty, apprising them that they were particularly vulnerable and targeted when stationed there, the idea did not go over well with Southcom staffers and commanders, and that's putting it mildly. "We cannot insult our fine Hispanic-American soldiers," was the outcry. Sounds like a similar situation now exists with Muslim soldiers.
Fear of "insulting" them causes the Army to circle the wagons, in spite of the obvious appeals being made now by al Qaeda-associated Imam that no soldier in the U.S. Army who is Muslim can faithfully be a Muslim while serving in a force that kills fellow Muslims. This is a serious situation, and someone needs to wake up. There are ways to handle these things that are not necessarily insulting and degrading to Muslim soldiers. In fact, what is insulting and degrading to them is the notion that they are not sufficiently professional to understand their vulnerability and accept common-sense measures to heighten vigilance and weed out problem soldiers -- like Maj. Nidal."
I think there is a great deal of common sense in Stu's note. I think his last three sentences need to be put in front of the Army chief of staff, the secretary of the Army, and the secretary of Defense.
Will Palmer/Flickr
General Casey: "Our diversity, not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength. And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that's worse."
Ricks, Where did you send your kids to school, Sidwell Friends?
Your love of diversity would ring true if you would outline the diversity of your neighborhood, country club, and the schools your children attended. Otherwise, tell the truth. White wealthy Americans hate diversity, that's why they live in the 'burbs and send their children to segregated schools.
General Casey: "Our diversity, not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength. And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that's worse."
Tom, Where did you send your kids to school?
Your love of diversity would ring true if you would outline the diversity of your neighborhood, country club, and the schools your children attended. Prove your diverse cred.
Obama and the Clintons love diversity. That's why their children attended Sidwell Friends rather than DC public schools.
There is at least one case of Israeli espionage uncovered each year involving DoD or military Jewish Americans. Do you suggest that we screen them more carefully, and let them know they are being watched? What about the White House Chief of staff, who is a reservist in the Israeli army? He joined in 1991 during the first Gulf war, rather than join the U.S. military, so his loyalty is suspect.
Keep in mind there is no evidence the Ft. Hood shootings were the result of that Major being influenced, he clearly cracked up. He could have killed hundreds of soldiers if he wanted.
Credit Greg Greenwald with pointing out that many in the media and Congress can't seem to grasp the English language. If one assumes that Major killed soldiers as part of al Qaeda, then it was not a terror attack, but a commando attack. A military base where soldiers are preparing to deploy to fight overseas is certainly a military target.
Can someone comment on why the media has refused to clarify who gunned down the Major? The Army told the media that a white female policemen shot him and was wounded in the heroic attempt. Afterwards, I read in the obscure Huffington Post that is was a black male policeman. And there has been no followup on reports of friendly fire deaths.
people with family connections
to Israel are screened differently, for the reason you cite, and because of Israeli links to 'Russian mafia'. They are after all a nuclear state, and capable of dragging us into the threat of nuclear conflict, or oil price-hikes. That happened in 1967 (USS Liberty), 1973 (Suez), and arguably in Georgia in 2008.
We also guard our secrets against Britain, probably with as little success. The dog shouldn't blame the tail, if we know we're being wagged.
The media are blaming the Army
The media are blaming the Army for the story, but the Army’s action is pretty easily explained as far as I’m concerned. It appeared that the Ft. Hood PA office was trying to get information out as fast as they could. They were told by witnesses that the female officer was first in the door, first to spot Hasan, that she shot at him and was shot in return. I doubt that they had the benefit of hours of debriefings at that point. I’m not blaming the Army and I’m not even blaming the media for running with the story, but everyone ought to know that first information in any disaster is often wrong. Now the media is playing this as if it was a conspiracy by the Army to get the girl-hero story out there. If they really think that, they give the Army WAY too much credit for creativity.
One other thing: nothing we’ve found out since that first report takes away from the heroism of either of those officers. They didn’t pull straws to see who would go first; there was no “after you.” They both did what police officers are supposed to do — they went after the suspect with all they had. Who got the lucky shot that took him down is completely irrelevant. I doubt that either of the officers knew for sure at the time whose bullet did the trick.
After Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman, I can understand a certain skepticism toward the motives of the Army when they get a story like this wrong.
The Army high command can not be trusted to tell the truth about anything. Their number one mission is to protect themselves, truth be damned. When the final report comes out on this tragedy, we will need an Orwellian dictionary to translate it into english. The first rule is to always treat any official statement from them as a lie, and work from there. The facts will usually be correct, but the story is always false and spun to the point of confusion. They will spin this story to the moon, because it was a commisioned Army officer that murdered our soldiers.
Don't you have tin foil to put on?
Admiral-The PAO make mistakes all the time, just like the regular press. They get pressure to give information and sometimes they get it wrong, like with Tilman and Lynch. So, I assume you say the same things about the Boston Globe when they made the mistake about soliders on video raping Iraqi's? The NY Times about the women being raped by fellow US Soldiers in Iraq even though two of the women in the article were never in Iraq? Time magazine for Haidtha? News week for the Quran report? Right? You are all over those guys too, right?
This isn't limited to an isolated incident by the PAO. In both of those cases, there certainly appears to have been a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. The text of Pat Tillman's medal gave the impression he died to enemy fire even though it was known within a day that he had been killed by friendly fire, for example.
In the case of Ft. Hood, there were witnesses pointing out that the initial report on who had taken down Nidal Hasan was in error, but the PAO apparently made no attempt to correct the story.
Hell, the military has still not come clean on Abu Ghraib, instead punishing a few low level soldiers who were caught on film and the national guard commander of the prison (who had no authority over the area where the prisoner abuse happened).
The sad reality is that in this day of a military that has had a Pentagon office in charge of spinning the news, and that vets reporters for their politics before allowing an embed, you simply cannot assume that the military is going to be honest with the American people.
First off, a lot of what happened in the Tilman and Lynch case are both due to error on the PAOs, rushed to get info out, many wanted to hold back until all the info came out but the administration in both cases wanted a "hero" and so pushed it out, nothing to do with the Military except being forced, against there own advice to, release information.
As for the Abu Ghraib? Are you serious? The CID was investigating that long before the press "broke" it, it was another soldier who got the CID the info on it and the only thing the military has fought against is the release of graphic pics from the same event.
You and admiral are conspiracy folks, nothing will convince you otherwise that more often than not it just human incompetence and not human evil that causes these things.
It is not about diversity...it is about the weakness...
in affinity. We are all vulnerable in one facet or another. This is how Madoff gets money from Jews, Priests get children from Catholics, GOP gets votes from..., Fox gets believers..the vulnerability to affinity creates a bias or an unseen conflict of interest. Reporters get it also. It is going native past judgement and accepting a rouge.
The warning is as appropriate as guidance against presence in a brothel that runs on human traffic.
If you want to take care of your soldiers
If you want to take care of your soldiers, wouldn't you want to find ways to protect them?
Thanks,
Tom
for domestic US you would find ways to prevent the purchase and possession of automatic weapons especially handguns that have no "militia" value in or near the military bases. If the state does not assist, then BRAC the fort and place the assets, where covering one's rear or REMF is not necessary.
Don't believe such locations as Texas really value anything not attached to a personal cash flow. (Once there existed brothels and bars outside Naval Bases until the locals woke up to having their rice bowl removed.) Maybe gunshops outside a fort should be treated as brothels in San Diego and Norfolk. They ceased to exist, atleast openly.
If they can't provide a safe regrouping area, then take it away.
Bill, I have to think you are not serious
Either you are an extreme anti-gun person or you just did not see what the Major used, do not know much about crime in the US or think that somehow, even though the guns have always been here since our founding, that we can no longer be trusted with them.
"By Wire reports | Friday, November 6, 2009, 03:19 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Law enforcement officials say a 5.7-millimeter pistol used in the Fort Hood shooting rampage was purchased legally at a Texas gun store.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.
Records indicate Hasan bought the FN 5.7 at store called “Guns Galore” in Killeen, Texas, well before the attack that left 13 people dead. The pistol has been dubbed a “cop killer” by those who have tried to stop its use.
The most powerful type of ammunition for the gun is available only to law enforcement and military personnel. Gun control advocates call it a “cop killer” weapon because that ammo can pierce bulletproof vests, and its use by Mexican drug cartels worries police."
Always thought that it is best to deal with reality. Best way to maintain ethics and courage.
Again, have to think you are not serious
lol, the round is not a cop killer bullet, those were teflon coated, police vests are only designed to stop small caliber pistol rounds, not rifle or high powered pistols. Most vests worn are NIJ Level II or IIA. Your solution pretty much is a silly one, if you think that would have stopped this then you are either ignoring the reality of the situation, are devoid of ethics yourself and hence masking a gun control argument in the guise of "care for the troops". Sorry Bill, your argument does not hold water. Are you saying we should outlaw them all? Even though more people were killed by Hands and Feet than Assault Weapons according to the FBI and NIJ? That the overwhelming cause of firearm related deaths are suicides accorind to the FBI/NIJ? If you are going to make a gun control argument, have your facts straight and at least attempt to act like you have a real solution and not mask it in a faux concern for the troops. People like you are called "trolls" for a reason.
Is it still a felony in Texas...
to carry a loaded weapon in a bar?
What does that have to do with the price of eggs?
Bill, yes, it is 10k and/or 10 years in prison last time I checked, not sure, neen a bit since I have had a drink in a texas bar but what does that have to do with this topic again? Hey, also, while you are at it, if guns are the problem, how come the Swiss do not have these on a regular basis since everyone there has a rifle (Sig Assault Rifle in 5.56mm) and has to join the military?
Eric, appreciate your sincerity on this...
Am not in any way interested in pushing back on a part of the Bill of Rights. We handle millions of weapons personally and responsibly in our nation. And we do regulate in various ways how the weapon can be sold, carried, loaded and used.
But we have a traffic issue... We can move about, we are a mix of cultures, morals, ethics and religious interpretations. Our communities are becoming another stop on the drug, silk and weapons road.
(In Baghdad where I once was an adviser we suspected that Iranians could flow freely thru various communities with only money upon entry and transit out fully armed and loaded with as good an arsenal as the BCT down the street.)
Swiss don't have that problem - only dirty money goes thru the laundry and safe house there - as you point out they take the weapon home and live with among neighbors who have not moved in 1000 years. They have nowhere else to go and therefore won't shit where they and their heirs will have to eat for another 1000 years.
Back to our diversity and traffic...if we permit a small private armory with fire sales opportunities next to a fort or a university or a school, are we not permitting the pre-positioning of an arms cache next to a soft target?
That is my concern.
It would not have made a bit of difference
Bill,
It would not have made a spot of difference. This guy was VERY motivated, even if he could not get weapons in a legal manner he could have gotten them another way. Most of the guns being run to Mexico are from C. and S. America, with even the FARQ running weapons up north. Our Bill of Rights would have made no difference on this guy and he is not the first of his kind in the US Military, recall a man in the early part of OIF who tossed grenades and shot fellow soldiers over not wanting to fight other muslims then claimed insanity and now sits on Death Row. Nothing to do with the anything but the people who want to commit the acts, one way or the other they will find a way.
....Don't put them under Generals like John Bell Hood
...all frontal assault...no strategic thought...destroyed the confederate army of Tennessee...worked for a president who last wore a dress...good reason to name a fort after him.
Every time I read a story about what the Army should have done, I ask myself two things: (1) is what’s being suggested legal and (2) would it have changed the outcome (and, if so, how).
Col. Harrington is absolutely right in my view. The military SHOULD take these steps with members who are most likely to be targeted. But what if they had done this in Hasan’s case? Would it have changed anything? Probably not. Likewise, had the Army been apprised of his exchange of emails with the radical cleric, what should the Army have done about it? In themselves, the emails were pretty harmless from what I understand. But let’s say, for purposes of a thought experiment, that the Army did take them seriously and found out about his postings on jihadi forums. What could they do, really? At the outside, what they could have done was discharge him. Would that have stopped him from carrying out his attack somewhere else, like a shopping mall or church, for example? I’m not sure — the primary cause here doesn’t appear to be the jihadi connection. The primary cause appears to be that the guy is crazy (to use a technical expression), so chances are probably pretty good that the site would have moved but the act wouldn’t have changed.
I’m worried that the take-away from this is what security expert Bruce Schneier calls “security theater” against movie script scenarios. In other words, the military will spend millions of dollars increasing obvious security — more guards, more checkpoints, etc. — without having any impact on future threats. Just as we always prepare to fight the last war, we seem to always try to appear to address the last security threat, usually without doing so.
Paul G, you write: "the emails were pretty harmless from what I understand."
How could e-mails to a radical anti-American cleric in Yemen be construed as harmless?
Best,
Tom
There are two things that the Army should have been looking for. All they saw was that the content of the emails was innocent in nature and had no relation to inciting violence.
But what they missed was the source of the commentary.
That's been a murkier issue.
Awlaki historically has not been any more radical then your run-of-the-mill Salafists. But that seems to have changed drastically over the last few years.
I've heard his speeches and lectures and while he is definitely a fundamentalist, it would be hard to describe him as someone that would glorify wanton killing of innocent people. But then again the comments attributed to him after the shootings claim that these weren't 'innocent civilians' but rather soldiers being prepared to deploy and potentially kill fellow Muslims.
As a Muslim, I'd have to say that if indeed this is Awlaki's line of reasoning, he's definitely a 'radical muslim cleric.'
I know what grounds he's basing his advice on, and it's the most extreme [and highly disputable] interpretation of the Law possible.
American and British Muslim groups have been distancing themselves from Awlaki for years now... and it's exactly because of these kinds of antics.
But be that as it may, Col. Herrington says
There are ways to handle these things that are not necessarily insulting and degrading to Muslim soldiers.
Such as?
I agree with the advice here, even if the incident prompting it doesn't offer support for his view. It's imprudent to take invulnerability to intelligence operations for granted, particularly when engaged in armed conflicts that seem likely to go on for a while.
"Triple Cross", by Peter Lance
Has a lot to say about wilfull blindness to the danger of penetration, at a much higher level and cost than the Ft. Hood murders.
http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Cross-Penetrated-FBI-Fitzgerald/dp/0060886889
"I think the top brass needs to think about this was a way to protect American soldiers from violent extremists in their ranks ... "
Should the "was" in this sentence be "as" instead?
Muslim soldiers in the US military
Your readers might find the following interesting:
Hasan and the proselytization factor
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
By Mikey Weinstein
President and Founder, Military Religious Freedom Foundation
As you read this, please remember these
U.S. soldiers of the Muslim faith
who sacrificed their lives for our country.
U. S. Army Corporal Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan
killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq
U.S. Army Specialist Rasheed Sahib
accidently shot to death by a fellow soldier in Iraq
U.S. Army Major James Ahearn
killed by a bomb in Iraq
U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan
killed as he approached a suicide bomber in Iraq
As we turn our collective eyes to the tragedies of Fort Hood this week, we mourn the men and women who offered themselves up to serve our country overseas, only to make the ultimate sacrifice in a senseless act of violence back home.
But the shootings at Fort Hood should be an important wake up call to the continuing religious intolerance that has been allowed to blatantly and systemically manifest in our nation's armed forces. Too often, honorable men and women who have joined our military are comprehensively denigrated and made to feel worthless because, although they wear the same uniform, they do not pray in the "approved" church or to the "correct" God or to no God at all.
Let me be clear, there is absolutely no excuse for the alleged actions of Nidal Malik Hasan. What he did is reprehensible, and goes against everything the American military stands for.
(it goes on) http://helpbuildthewall.org/homepage.html
Womens Roll-Top Timberland Boots
$143.00 $83.00
Save: 42% off
Timberland Roll-Top Boots womenPremium, full-grain, waterproof leather for comfort, durability and abrasion resistance ; Direct-attach, seam-sealed, waterproof construction keep feet dry in any weather ; Quarter panel crafted with rich shearling leather and is unconstructed so it can be worn up or rolled down ; Durable laces with Taslan? fibers and rustproof hardware for long-lasting wear ; Inside of shoe is lined with shearling - up to the toe box which is lined with breathable fabric ; Rubber lug outsole for traction and durability ; Embossed Timberland tree logo on the side ; Steel shank provides maximum support ; Waterproof
http://www.brawbuy.com/
http://www.myjerseysky.com/
http://www.ghdprincess.com/
Read More
January/February 2010
-
Cover Story
-
Dispatch
-
Feature
About FP: Meet the Staff | Foreign Editions | Reprint Permissions | Advertising | Corporate Programs | Writers’ Guidelines | Press Room | Work at FP
Services:Subscription Services | Academic Program | FP Archive | Reprint Permissions | FP Reports and Merchandise | Special Reports | Buy Back Issues
Subscribe to FP | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | RSS Feeds | Contact Us
1899 L Street NW, Suite 550 | Washington, DC 20036 | Phone: 202-728-7300 | Fax: 202-728-7342
FOREIGN POLICY is published by the Slate Group, a division of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, LLC
All contents ©2009 Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, LLC. All rights reserved.
(30)
HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE