Asymmetric Military

Besides the loss of life and casualties and the horror experienced by family and friends of the deceased; I hate these mass-murder events for the meaning that people project onto the incident.

Because the left in 2009 doesn't perceive of Muslims as an ideological enemy, liberals have been mostly mute on the issue, except for the occasional gun control utterance. Now, if Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan had had Glenn Beck's station on one of his car stereo pre-sets, progressives would have gone nuts.

Some liberals might still brush off some of their hatred onto Christians by blaming religious fanaticism in general, Hitchens-style. Desires to lump similar but significantly different phenomenons together are either an attempt to unjustly deflect or assign blame or a sign of ignorance.

By the way, materialism also causes people to die. The Orlando shooter killed because he was bankrupt. Or, he lacked money.

I recoil from conservative commentary on this issue as well. We have pro-gun people who suggest that guns would have saved some lives. Perhaps. But, just like we should accept the wisdom of Army leadership when it comes to Afghanistan and Don't Ask Don't Tell, we should trust their judgment when it comes to guns on base.

Yes, Maj. Hasan is a Muslim and he probably was religiously motivated. Unless you plan on doing something about it, however, people shouldn't make a big deal about it. For example: If Muslims in general are so violent, should we ban them from serving in the military? If you're not prepared to follow the logical course of your argument, then don't bring it up.

"I'm just trying to point out liberal hypocrisy"

Well, OK. It's fair to mention that once in a while.

The only learning thing to take away from this tragedy is that the Army should take anti-Army soldier statements from soldiers more seriously.

Blogging buddy Gazing at the Flag invites us to write letters to the U.S.S. Russell, one of the boats in our Navy. You can ship your response here.

Uncle Sam needs you. It's for the 63rd RRC in Los Alamitos, Ca. A direct commission means that you go strait from the enlisted branch or even from civilian life to commissioned officer in the Army reserve- no need for basic training or OCS. It used to be exclusive to legal or medical personnel, but the Army has a shortage of officers right now for reasons that you can imagine.

Maj. Gen. Jeffery W. Hammond (left), incoming Multinational Division Baghdad commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, incoming MND-B command sergeant major, uncase the “Ironhorse” colors during the MND-B transfer-of-authority ceremony Dec. 19, 2007, at Camp Liberty, Iraq. Photo by Staff Sgt. Luis Orengo, USA.

Multinational Division Baghdad Transfers Authority

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Photo - Sgt. 1st Class Jason Sealey, Kohe Safi Police Mentor Team, holds a calf still while Lt. Col. Richard Probst, 413th Civil Affairs Battalion, gives it a shot during a medical outreach visit, Nov. 27, 2007, in Afghanistan’s Parwan province. Coalition doctors and veterinarians saw more than 450 people and 330 animals during the two-day visit. Photo by Senior Airman James Bolinger, USAF.

Coalition Forces Treat 450 Afghans During Medical Outreach

30 November 2007

By Senior Airman James Bolinger, USAF

Combined Joint Task Force 82 Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan – The towns of Eskandareh and Pacha Khak hide deep within the mountains of the Kohe Safid district in Afghanitan’s Parwan province.

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A local Iraqi firefighter operates a hose while Staff Sgt. Joshua Wilson gives advice to effectively knock out a fire during training. The 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters conduct a live-fire training exercise for the Iraqi firefighters teaching basic skills of advancing a hand line, procedures on approaching hazardous environments and performing search and rescue. Sergeant Wilson is deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Snyder).

Air Force firefighters teach Iraqis blaze fighting basics

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Photo - AL QA’IM, Iraq - Seaman Anthony Eromosece, a Navy corpsman with Task Force 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, and Bronx, N.Y., native, checks the height of a potential recruit during an Iraqi Police recruiting drive conducted by the district Police Transition Team and.Task Force 3rd Bn., 2nd Marines. Navy corpsmen took vital signs, height and weight measurements and tested range of motion in order to determine if applicants were fit for duty in the Iraqi Police. Photo by: Cpl. Billy Hall.

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