Ft. Hood massacre reclassified as "workplace violence"

[kraft-t]

No! don't assume anything.

[Samnospam]

Homeland security acts as though there is a terrorist hiding around every corner. The problem is so serious that a portion of the new defense authorization will allow suspected citizens to be disappeared from within our borders just under the suspicion that they may be terrorist. A self respecting person can't fly because they must submit to being treated like a criminal because the danger of terrorism is SO great. Yet they won't call an actual terrorist a terrorist. Whats wrong with this picture? What the hiell is wrong with this country?

[bruce MN]

Not disagreeing with you as this does appear to be absurd, but could it be that this ruling might have something to do with the determination of the status of his mental heatlh? I beleive it was determined quite soon after that he was certifiable insane. Was probalby going to be declared so whether he was or not. Same with the kid that shot Giffords.

On the potential conspiracy side, there is always the chance that there could be additional embarassment for the Pentagon of State Department or whomever if he got a forum in the form of a civil trial. Just as nobody much higher than the  the White House janitor wanted Bin Laden talking.

[dagwud]

You might be on to something Bruce as the shooter was not playing with a full deck.  The sad part is there were several co-workers including doctors that reported their concerns about Hasan's mental state well before the shootings.   I have to wonder if our government after 9-11 had a policy promoting tolerance and acceptance of Muslims and it caused some to fear being labeled a racist if they came down against Hasan and tried to have him removed from the military or made to seek mental treatment.

[schnurrbart]

See how easy that was.  Thanks.  I didn't remember reading that.  I stand corrected.  Not sure if being a terrorist or a murderer makes much difference in the long run though.

[r3020]

A murderer is usually one person who kills a specific person for a specific reason, all on his own. A terrorist is backed by an entire organization that kills in mass, at random, to advance an agenda.

[schnurrbart]

A terrorist is anyone who creates an atmosphere of terror on one victim or an entire city and can act alone or with another person as in the unibomber or mcveigh.  A murder can kill many people.  In the end the punishment will be the same.  Who cares what they call any of them??

[dagwud]

A terrorist is anyone who creates an atmosphere of terror on one victim or an entire city and can act alone or with another person as in the unibomber or mcveigh.  A murder can kill many people.  In the end the punishment will be the same.  Who cares what they call any of them??

Bart, evidently this administration cares quite a bit what they are called.   Our vice president has no problems calling Tea Party Repubs terrorists but they can not refer to Hasan as a terrorist???

[Nebrfarmr]

I think there is a difference.  A murderer normally acts alone, and once caught, the murders cease.

A terrorist is often, maybe even usually part of a bigger organization, and often there is another one to take the place of one that is caught.