The White House and Pentagon have refused to characterize the attack as terrorism, instead terming it “workplace violence.” The victims have been denied Purple Hearts and are suing the military because they claim the “workplace violence” designation gives them diminished access to medical care and financial benefits normally available to those whose wounds are designated as “combat related.”
I am not familiar with the military’s definitions for these designations, but I would assume that “combat related” is intended to refer to soldiers wounded after being ordered into a combat zone. Not to unarmed soldiers attacked on a US base by a fellow soldier turned terrorist.
I certainly wish the victims were being treated better, but I’m not entirely sure “combat related” designation is appropriate.
Did the victims on 9-11 die of combat-related injuries? Arguably those on Flight 93 did, but the others?