Family: Army's grenade attacker 'driven to it'

ABC News ^ | 03/25/03 | ABC News

[bolobaby]

Attitude Problem?
Family: Soldier Accused in Grenade Attack Troubled Over Race & Religion Issues

March 25 — U.S. Army Sgt. Asan Akbar, the soldier being detained in connection with a grenade attack on his fellow soldiers, told his family members that he encountered racism as an African-American and a Muslim in the armed services.

His stepfather, William Bilal, who was once married to Akbar's mother, Quran Bilal, said that his stepson was resentful toward the military and had complained several years ago that it was difficult for a black man "to make rank" in the military.

"Asan was pushed to this. We've got that clear," William Bilal told WBRZ, ABCNEWS' affiliate in Baton Rouge, La. "Everybody's got a breaking point, to put it that way. Everybody's got a breaking point. If he did this, he was driven."

...

[Mark17]

it was difficult for a black man "to make rank" in the military.

BS

[nfldgirl]

"He just spoke just like any other soldier, you know, going overseas. 'Man, we about to go overseas and about to spend all this time over there.' You know, just the same way every soldier feels when he get deployed," Bilal said.

The way SOME people speak, really gets to me. I can't get over how the public education system in this country has so failed in its responsibility to teach American children how to speak and write....so that when they become adults, they can SPEAK and WRITE as adults SHOULD BE ABLE TO!!!! Arrrggghhh!!! (just a pet-peave of mine!)

[cinFLA]

" had complained several years ago that it was difficult for a black man "to make rank" in the military."

Let's see. "several years ago" would be at least 1999. He joined in April 1998! According to the SacBee "His record idicates that he progressed up the ranks to sergeant quickly and was assigned to the Army's satellite sytems operation, an elite group in the corps".

Yesterday, it was "they hate me because I am a Muslim", today it is "they hate me because I am black". Next thing you know, they will be saying "they hate me because I am a black muslim radical.

[ThomasMore]

Before you know it, Jesse Jackass and Johnny "halfcocked" Cochran will be "race baiting" this whole issue.

[bolobaby]

Actually, the Army has a system called STPA (pronounced 'Step-ah') that takes into account many factors including aptitude, time in service, physical fitness, weapons qual, etc. STPA is about as unbiased as it gets. This guy is FULL OF IT.

[Williams]

Based on his recent behavior it might be argued he was not fit for advancement. Ya Think?

[Howlin]

Thanks. I just caught this. More whining.

This must be a particular American trait, this black Muslim whining; I don't recall any of the 9-11 hijackers' families saying their kids were forced to do it.

[bolobaby]

And Charlie Rangel...

[kimoajax]

Heard the same cry baby whine from the same sources some 35 years ago...as I was hauling them to LBJ. Loved it then and love it now.

[Redleg Duke]

Yep, play the race and Muslem cards. Whine...whine...whine...I'ma victim....whine...whine...whine!

[cinFLA]

There is something truly odd about this. Supposedly he was a double major in engineering (was it UC davis?) Why did he not seek some kind of officer training, even in school?

He was in ROTC at UCD. It was noted earlier that it was odd he graduated as sergeant instead of the usual officer. Also odd that he enlisted instead of seeking a rank. Also odd that he did not seek a good paying engineering job. Odd, Odd, Odd .....

[LADY J]

"Supposedly he was a double major in engineering (was it UC davis?) Why did he not seek some kind of officer training, even in school?"

Probably a PC degree not worth the paper it's printed on.

If he had any brainpower going - he would have been an asset that would not have been overlooked.

[nfldgirl]

Only, I hope the military still uses firing squads, so he can face the rifles of real soldiers just before he goes straight to Hell.

I hope I'm wrong, but I'd be willing to bet the "farm" right now that this guy will not get a death sentence for what he's done. He SHOULD! But in our PC society, I say this is never going to happen.

[SuziQ]

Sombody on another thread said that they had heard that John Mohammed, the DC sniper, had done a grenade attack similar to this during Gulf War I, but for some reason it didn't show up on his records. Has anyone heard about this?

[two23]

Of course--the world according to psychotics: "it's always someone elses fault.

[RogerWilko]

Before you know it, Jesse Jackass and Johnny "halfcocked" Cochran will be "race baiting" this whole issue.

Hopefully, they won't get a chance to because he'll end up "lost" in battle somewhere and their whining will be useless!

[Mochamadness]

It is not that hard for minorities to make rank. As a platoon leader, I was the minority within my platoon leadership. Of the 10 highest ranking noncommissioned officers in my platoon one was white, one hispanic, and the rest were highly skilled, highly qualified black men. They worked hard at learning their job and learning how to lead. If you aren't willing to learn and take the necessary steps to earn the right to lead soldiers, then you won't make rank. My soldiers were the cream of the crop, both technically and tactically, in my opinion.

[What Is Ain't]

His stepfather, William Bilal, who was once married to Akbar's mother, Quran Bilal, said that his stepson was resentful toward the military and had complained several years ago that it was difficult for a black man "to make rank" in the military.

It's obvious Mr. Akbar was suckled at the teat of Jesse Jackson resentment courtesy of his loving parents.

[SquirrelKing]

Puhlese.