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Why I Murdered 13 People At Fort Hood: Nidal Hassan Explains It All To You (Barry Rubin Alert)
Rubin Reports | 11/14/2009 | Barry Rubin

Posted on 11/14/2009 10:43:13 AM PST by goldstategop

How do we know that the attack at Fort Hood was an act of Islamist terrorism? Simple, Major Nidal Hassan told us so. You’ve seen reports of a long list of things he did and said along these lines. But what’s most amazing of all is this:

Hassan is the first terrorist in history to give an academic lecture explaining why he was about to attack. Yet that still isn’t enough for too many people—including the president of the United States--to understand that the murderous assault at Fort Hood was a Jihad attack.

It was reported that the audience was shocked and frightened by his lecture. He was supposed to speak on some medical topic yet instead talked on the topic: “The Koranic World View as it Relates to Muslims in the U.S. Military.” All you have to do is look at the 50 Power Point slides and they tell you everything you need to know.

It is quite a good talk. He’s logical and presents his evidence. This is clearly not the work of a mad man or a fool, though there’s still a note of ambiguity in it. He's still working out what to do in his own mind and is trying to figure out if he has a way out other than in effect deserting the U.S. army and becoming a Jihad warrior. Ultimately, he concluded that he could not be a proper Muslim without killing American soldiers. Obviously, other Muslims could reach different conclusions but Hassan strongly grounds himself in Islamic texts.

In a sense, Hassan's lecture was a cry for help: Can anyone show me another way out? Can anyone refute my interpretation of Islam? One Muslim in the audience reportedly tried to do so. But unless these issues are openly discussed and debated--rather than swept under the rug--more people will die.

In fact, I’d recommend that teachers use this lecture in teaching classes on both Islam and Islamist politics. .

Follow along with me and you’ll understand everything.

Hassan deals with three topics: What Islam teaches Muslims, how Muslims view the wars in Afghanistan and Iran, how this might affect Muslims in the U.S. military. [Slide 2] Hassan defines Jihad, showing how silly are the claims that it only means a personal struggle to behave better. It also signifies holy war, of course. [Slide 5]. Ironically, if an American journalist or professor said this he’d be accused of Islamophobia.

Now here’s Hassan’s central theme. Muslims cannot fight in an infidel army against other Muslims. And Hassan himself says that it’s getting hard for Muslims in the U.S. military to justify doing so. [Slide 11] Obviously, Hassan was deciding that he couldn’t do so.

He then quotes the Koran extensively to prove the point. Allah will punish anyone who kills a Muslim [Slide 12]. Hassan then gives four examples of Muslim soldiers who broke under the strain. One who killed fellow American soldiers (which Hassan would himself do), one accused of espionage (but was acquitted), one who deserted, and one who refused deployment to Iraq. [Slide 13]

Quoting the Koran, Hassan next provides a number of quotations to show that the believer must obey Allah. If they do, they will enjoy great delights (though he left out the 72 virgins, there’s one quote hinting at pederasty), and if they don’t they will suffer torments of Hell.

Finally, he gets into the heavy stuff. Hassan introduces the concept of “defensive Jihad” which is a core element in radical Islamist thinking and has especially been promoted by Usama bin Ladin and al-Qaida. [Slides 37-39]. If others attack and oppress Muslims, then it is the duty of all Muslims to fight them. September 11 was justified by saying that the United States had attacked Muslims and therefore it was mandatory to kill Americans in return.

And here is the crux of the matter: Verse 60:08, “Allah forbids you…from dealing kindly and justly” with those who fight Muslims.” [Slide 40]

If Nidal Hassan believed this and would follow it, he must—to be a proper Muslim in his eyes—pick up a gun and join the Jihad, Muslim side. He was not shooting Americans because he caught battle fatigue from American soldiers he treated. Think about it. To have done so, Hassan would have had to sympathize with them, thinking about what it would be like for him if he’d been fighting…Muslims in Iraq or Afghanistan. But that was precisely his problem.

Being ordered to ship out to one of these countries, Hassan now had to decide: which side are you on? Would he choose the side of Allah and the Muslims, to be rewarded in Heaven? Or would he join with the infidels, to be punished with Hell and to betray his religion? He made his decision.

It is interesting that no Muslim debate has developed over a very simple issue: What if two groups of Muslims are fighting, cannot one side with one group, even if it has non-Muslim allies? After all, Americans are not going to Iraq or Afghanistan simply to “kill Muslims” but to defend Muslims from being killed. The Saudis, Kuwaitis, and Egyptians had no problem with using Western troops to save them from Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in 1991, for example. The Iraqi and Afghan governments, made up of pious Muslims, do the same thing.

Arab nationalists who are Muslims can take this position more easily. But for Islamists the problem is not some abstraction but knowledge that they are fighting a battle to seize control of all Muslim-majority states and indeed perhaps of the entire world.

The true problem, then, is not that some Muslims help infidels kill Muslims, but that some Muslims help infidels kill Islamists. But Hassan never considered this point, which could be quite persuasive to other Muslims in Western militaries.

So, in his thinking, how might Hassan have escaped from that stark choice? Hassan answers that question. Quoting the Koran, he indicated that if the Americans ended the wars, then that would be okay and no killing would be necessary. [Slide 42]

Another alternative is if the Americans accepted Islam or agreed to become subservient to Muslim rulers (dhimmis) and paid a special tax [Slide 43-44].

The third alternative would be if the Muslim Messiah came, destroyed Christianity as a false religion and set off the post-history utopia. [Slide 45]. He didn’t mention another part of this description, which was the murder of all Jews.

A digression is appropriate here. Hassan, although a Palestinian, has never been quoted as attacking Israel or the Jews. This is one more reminder that this struggle isn’t all just about Israel. But it also tells something important about Hassan which also applies to many Muslim radicals in Europe. Hassan is an American. As such he has no other nationality, neither Palestinian nor Arab. He doesn’t support Hamas or Fatah. But he has a religion that directs his thinking. That’s why he is an Islamist and why he supports a generalized Islamist revolutionary movement, al-Qaida.

As one moderate Muslim from Canada pointed out, the clothes he wore the day before committing his Jihad attack was not (as some sources put it in a silly manner) some martyr or even Arab garb but the clothing of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He is an al-Qaida Jihadi, having changed sides in the War on Terror.

Hassan was no fool or blind fanatic. Indeed, he presents a sophisticated view. For example, he quotes contradictory Quranic verses, one suggesting that all religions can enter Heaven; another that all non-Muslims will go to Hell [Slide 47].

His conclusion takes on tremendous significance in light of what would happen at Fort Hood. He writes:

“If Muslim groups can convince Muslims that they are fighting for God against injustices of the `infidels’; i.e., the enemies of Islam, then Muslims can become a potent adversary ie: suicide bombing, etc.”

And of course, these groups did so convince Hassan. [Slide 48]

Why? Hassan tells us:

“God expects full loyalty. Promises heaven and threatens with Hell. Muslims may seem moderate (compromising) but God is not.” [Slide 49]

And at the very end, he proposes what might have been his own escape route:

"Recommendation: Department of Defense should allow Muslim soldiers the option of being released as `Conscientious objectors’ to increase troop morale and decrease adverse events.” [Slide 50]

If that had existed for Hassan, I think, he would not have killed people. This proposal is worth debating, though it has negative implications too, of course. But then he had other options. He could have resigned his commission, deserted, or refused deployment as a conscientious objector and gone to prison. In fact, Hassan himself cited individuals who had done the last two.

The answer must be in a mix of psychological factors and the fact that he did see himself as a Jihad warrior in the end. The existence of the former in no way negates that of the latter.

The fact that Hassan’s lecture has not been the centerpiece of the whole post-massacre debate is a true example of how impoverished are the “experts,” journalists, and politicians at dealing with these issues. Of course, without exploring the Islamic factor, they're wasting everyone's time. They're also going to be wasting quite a few lives.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Philosophy; US: Texas; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; barryrubin; forthood; globaljihad; islam; islamofascism; jihad; jihadinamerica; jihadism; koran; maliknidalhasan; powerpointslides; rubinreports; soldierofallah; texas; waronterror
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The most extraordinary thing surrounding Malik Nidal Hasan's jihadist massacre of 14 Americans at Fort Hood has been the total absence of attention paid to Hasan's Islamist thinking that justified it. By excluding Islam as the main motive behind the attack, American thinkers and analysts miss the big picture. Barry Rubin has more here:

Why I Murdered 13 Soldiers At Fort Hood: Nidal Hassan Explains It All To You

Thus, without further ado, let's hear Hasan explain in detail why he did it. Its deep and serious stuff.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

1 posted on 11/14/2009 10:43:14 AM PST by goldstategop
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To: goldstategop

How ironic that with 72 virgins waiting, he is paralized from the waist down. God works in mysterious ways.


2 posted on 11/14/2009 10:49:23 AM PST by marstegreg
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To: goldstategop
"Recommendation: Department of Defense should allow Muslim soldiers the option of being released as `Conscientious objectors’ to increase troop morale and decrease adverse events.” [Slide 50] If that had existed for Hassan, I think, he would not have killed people.

You THINK he would not have killed people??? You mean you don't know?

Here's the pathetic truth: If he HAD been allowed "conscientious objector" status and STILL killed people, you would have come up with some OTHER lame, forced, tortured excuse to dismiss his actions.

Now, drop and go straight to Hell.

3 posted on 11/14/2009 10:49:44 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. -- Texas Eagle)
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To: marstegreg
How ironic that with 72 virgins waiting, he is paralized from the waist down. God works in mysterious ways.

The virgin goats are thankful as well.

4 posted on 11/14/2009 10:51:00 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Texas Eagle

LOL!!!!!


5 posted on 11/14/2009 10:53:25 AM PST by marstegreg
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To: marstegreg
The entire Powerpoint slide lecture can be condensed in a few words:

Its Islam That Drove Me To Do It, Stupid!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

6 posted on 11/14/2009 10:54:42 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: goldstategop; ~Kim4VRWC's~

Agreed.


7 posted on 11/14/2009 10:58:29 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: goldstategop; NormsRevenge; Grampa Dave; SierraWasp; Marine_Uncle; Fred Nerks; Allegra; ...

Man...lays it out.

I have not actually looked at the slides...


8 posted on 11/14/2009 11:04:25 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: Texas Eagle

HAH!


9 posted on 11/14/2009 11:08:29 AM PST by Palladin (The Obama Administration: "A Czar Too Far")
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To: All
Reference Item:

Fort Hood Texas: Free Republic Archives

10 posted on 11/14/2009 11:11:47 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; All
I have not actually looked at the slides...

I have. Rubin lays it out exactly right. Every one of us should look at them. Hasan simply, after giving it great thought, took the last step in a long-contemplated journey. This wasn't insanity in any normal form; it was deliberate jihad, terrorism, and treason.

11 posted on 11/14/2009 11:19:10 AM PST by libstripper
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To: goldstategop

bump


12 posted on 11/14/2009 11:26:43 AM PST by VOA
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To: libstripper
Of course it was treason! He gave a great deal of thought about switching loyalties and betraying his country. Hasan was not mad, stressed out or a guy who snapped for no reason. He knew exactly what he was going to do. All the warning signs were there and were ignored.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

13 posted on 11/14/2009 11:30:50 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: libstripper; goldstategop

Well,...if we of the Western World who pride ourselves on strong Logical Reasoning ...can understand this....then we should KNOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM
.


14 posted on 11/14/2009 11:34:59 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Support Geert Wilders)
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To: goldstategop

They are telling us in quite clear terms why them must be sent back to the hell holes they crawled out of.


15 posted on 11/14/2009 11:41:14 AM PST by Leftism is Mentally Deranged
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To: marstegreg

Yes and with any luck, he will have bacon and eggs for breakfast, ham sandwich for lunch and pork chops for dinner every day!! All pork and no virgins! What a just reward!!


16 posted on 11/14/2009 11:41:23 AM PST by I_be_tc
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To: goldstategop
There is very good reason for the media to deny that Hassan is an Islamic terrorist, because if they admit that Hassan is a terrorist, the following argument becomes inescapable: There were no more terrorist attacks on US soil after 9/11 under the Bush presidency. We are now less than a year into 0’s presidency, and we've already had the first attack. The math is easy: Bush and Republicans kept America safe, 0 and Democrats haven't.
17 posted on 11/14/2009 11:43:30 AM PST by mojito
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To: goldstategop

A “moderate” death cultist is one who doesn’t actually do the killing, but pays weekly dues to the organization that sends money to the fervent practitioners who do the killing.


18 posted on 11/14/2009 11:56:47 AM PST by Leftism is Mentally Deranged
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To: marstegreg

Didn’t even think about that. Amazing.


19 posted on 11/14/2009 12:06:04 PM PST by Freedom2specul8 (I am Jim Thompson............................Please pray for our troops....)
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To: mojito

I think it is the second. I believe that attack on the recruiting station in Little Rock was also a jihad thing and we just got lucky he did not kill more there.


20 posted on 11/14/2009 12:15:22 PM PST by jospehm20
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