Fort Hood — the departure lounge to the front line for those of high-school age

London Times ^ | 11/6/2009 | Chris Ayres

[Saije]

“Welcome to the GREAT place,” reads the sign outside the main entrance of Fort Hood, Texas, set in rolling lawns just off US Route 190...

It certainly looks like a pleasant spot to live. In fact, it is hard to believe this 340 square mile, self-contained city of 70,000 people, which resembles a vast, sleepy university campus, is actually the world’s largest military facility.***

There is a certain open-mindedness to Fort Hood as well, as evidenced by the closed-circuit television footage of Major Hasan, in Muslim dress, buying his morning coffee on Thursday about an hour before he allegedly opened fire on his fellow soldiers.

...Major Hasan looked a lot like the people that US soldiers are trained to kill in Afghanistan, no one gave him a second glance. And when a shop employee smiled at him, he beamed back.

It has since emerged that Major Hasan was anti-war. But that’s also not unheard of at Fort Hood, which tolerates all kinds of world views (as long as the holders of those views are ready and willing to fight).

In the nearby town of Killeen, soldiers who openly disagree with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq often gather at a coffee house named Under the Hood.***

Then there are the hospitals — far more than a population of 70,000 would normally require — and the billboards urging the troops to put their faith in the Creator. “It’s all about HIM,” reads one. Such divine reassurance is no doubt in great demand. After all, Ford Hood is not just a military base; it is a departure lounge — a gateway to another dimension through which tens of thousands of high-school-age Americans are routinely transported from one of the richest, safest countries on Earth to the death zones of Afghanistan and Iraq.

[Saije]

A certain openmindedness?....Fort Hood soldiers have probably seen more of the world and understand it better than a lot of people.

[~Kim4VRWC's~]

thanks

marked to add to archives and read later
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2380089/posts?page=59

[penelopesire]

Another smug report from a liberal ass-clown.

[BuckyKat]

“the hospitals - far more than....”???

Huh??? When we left there in 2001 there were 2 hospitals in the area - Metroplex, a civilian facility, and Darnall, the military hospital. For 45,000 soldiers plus their family members and all the retirees that tend to cluster in military towns, that doesn’t seem out of line at all. There’s the one in Temple, Scott-White, but that’s a good 20 miles away.

The biggest thing I noted that was different about Killeen was the number of traffic fatalities. But that is understandable as well when you take the average speed of most Texas drivers and throw a bunch of young teenage males, many on their own for the first time in their lives, in the mix.

[PghBaldy]

I read the whole article- it is not long. The impression it gives is that the war(s) and the military are to blame for Hasan’s terrorist behavior.

[reformedliberal]

That is the chosen liberal spin. They are so inculcated that their minds come up against Islamic terrorism, skid off and they reach for the first PC rationale they can: being in proximity to all that horror of war is responsible.

Reminds me why I only watch FNC and FBC. They are facing up to the reality. Well, except for Shep and he will probably be convinced shortly. Sad, but convinced.

[Doe Eyes]

The impression it gives is that the war(s) and the military are to blame for Hasan’s terrorist behavior.

It talks about the "the mental toll on those who come back alive".

Hasan did not serve in Iraq or Afghanistan.