It’s been brought to my attention by several reliable sources that the Defense Department has brought Louay Safi to Fort Hood as an instructor, and that he has been lecturing on Islam to our troops in Fort Hood who are about to deploy to Afghanistan. Safi is a top official of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), and served as research director at the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT).

Worse, last evening, Safi was apparently permitted to present a check (evidently on behalf of ISNA) to the families of the victims of last month’s Fort Hood massacre. A military source told the blogger Barbarossa at the Jawa Report: “This is nothing short of blood money. This is criminal and the Ft. Hood base commander should be fired right now.”

You need to read the whole thing please.

Before you watch the video, read this from Founding Bloggers, and make sure you read the entire post. It’s not long … but it is on the mark.

With no pogrom backlash after 9/11, no pogrom backlash after Bali, no pogrom backlash after Madrid, no pogrom backlash after London, no pogrom backlash after Mumbai, no backlash after countless other Jihad attacks, why would there be any reason to believe the reaction would be any different in this case? As we have written before, the West has already passed this particular civility test.

The Mayor is using a straw-man argument that conveniently provides him with an opportunity to politicize the terrorist attack as part and parcel with America’s love of guns.

It’s the same point I made in an e-mail to a listener today. In it he made the point that General Casey had reason to be concerned that there might be some racist backlash in the Army. As I replied to him, although FB was much more eloquent, there is just no reason to believe there will suddenly be a backlash when there has been none to date.

There certainly is no reason to blame guns.

Mudville Gazette caught this (via Ace and a hat tip to RVO reader Laura) … but watch the video below and judge for yourself. On American Morning Private Joseph Foster relates how when Major Hasan began shooting he shouted “Allahu Akbar”, which, has become a rally cry for Islamic Jihad Terrorists. But … in their on-line print story, this is how CNN is reporting the incident.

“I was sitting in about the second row back when the assailant stood up and yelled ‘Allahu akbar’ in Arabic and he opened fire,” Foster said Monday on CNN’s “American Morning.”

Foster, 21, said he wasn’t clear about whether the gunman said those exact words, noting that “with that much adrenaline, you tend to forget things.”

Well no … that’s not how the Private saw it and Mudville catches it here. The first quote is correct … but the second comes two minutes later. Mudville picks up the story.

But two minutes later in the interview, Foster would try to downplay Roberts’ implication that he was a hero:

ROBERTS: So you were acting like a soldier. You were acting heroically. We should point out that you’re with the 20th Engineer Battalion and despite your best efforts and I guess the efforts of your comrades, as well, four members of the battalion were killed, 10 others were injured. And you were shot in the hip and you didn’t realize it at the time?

Foster: I had realized it at first, but with that much adrenaline, you tend to forget things.

Meaning very specifically that an adrenaline rush can help you overcome pain – or in Foster’s case forget you’ve been shot. And hero or not, that’s what you get for telling CNN something they don’t want to hear.

Mudville reports CNN has changed (covered up) its main story … but it continues to be quoted elsewhere on its site. And it’s spreading. Here’s the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlbdghYkIOE

And I was just starting to watch and even like CNN again. Too much.

The dots are turning into pretty clear lines, and what really ticks me off is the reports within hours of the attack indicating terrorism was not a factor. Bull feathers. As soon as that statement came out, I knew it was terrorism since as far as I was concerned it met the definition. In the days since, we’ve all heard the stories – or maybe you have not – indicating Hasan was radicalized or on his way.

From today’s Washington Post…

U.S. intelligence agencies intercepted 10 to 20 e-mails from Hasan to Anwar al-Aulaqi, a U.S. citizen who once was a spiritual leader, or imam, at the suburban Virginia mosque where Hasan had worshiped, said a law enforcement official who spoke about the investigation on condition of anonymity.

Aulaqi responded to Hasan at least twice, according to Rep. Peter Hoekstra (Mich.), the ranking Republican on the House intelligence committee.

Before I go on, please remember to read about the Fort Hood heroes, including police Sgt. Kimberly Munley who took down Hasan and was shot herself, and 19 year old Army nutritionist Amber Bahr who did not even know she had been shot as she put a tourniquet on a wounded soldier and got him to medical care. Also, remember the fallen.

Now, sending a few e-mails to a imam (spiritual leader) is certainly not a crime. Sources also indicate al-Aulaqi responded to Hasan twice and those replies were “pretty innocent.” But add this to statements and actions by Hasan, and we’ve got a problem that should have raised red flags.

What are the other dots we’ve got? How about US intelligence agencies informing the Army Hasan was attempting to contact al-Qaida?

Instead of duplicating the efforts of others, here are links to some very good blog reporting over the last few days.

Long War Journal details the ties to al-Aulaqi.

Here is what we know about Hasan so far:

• Hasan attended the Dar al Hijrah mosque in Great Falls, Va., in 2001 at the same time as two of the 9/11 hijackers.
• Hasan openly praised Anwar al Awlaki, who preached at the Dar al Hijrah in 2001.
• Hasan had direct email communication with Awlaki.
• Hasan openly opposed the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Hasan told coworkers that US troops are legitimate targets both at home and overseas.
• Hasan praised the murder of two US soldiers who were killed outside a recruitment center in Little Rock, Ark., and said more such attacks should occur.
• On a web posting, Hasan said suicide bombings are justified and compared suicide bombers to US soldiers diving on a grenade to save their buddies.
• Hasan casually espoused his radical religious views to colleagues in the course of his work as a medical professional.
• Hasan was disciplined for proselytizing his radical religious views.
• Hasan gave away his Koran and other worldly good the morning before he carried out the attack.
• Hasan shouted “Allahu Akbar” before murdering troops at Fort Hood.
• Hasan conducted his attack at a center where US soldiers were processing to prepare for deployment to Iraq.

AJ over at Strata Sphere has a very good wrap-up diving into the details about how the US intelligence community may have had their hands tied. AJ has a second post with more details and his proposed time line of events that seems pretty solid. He also directs us over to Michael Isikoff’s article in Newsweek.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air asks … if we had e-mail in the 1940s …

Would we have shrugged at correspondence between a naval officer studying Kamikaze attacks and a member of Tojo’s staff?  Or would the FBI have hotfooted it over to the Pentagon to recall the officer in question ASAP?

The blame game

Quick comment about the blame game. We’ve heard that he was picked on. We’ve heard the pistol he bought was a “cop-killer” gun (oh, come on now…) and we’ve heard Hasan had post tramatic stress disorder by proxy.

Thanks to Jim Hoft over at Gateway Pundit who links us to J.R. Salzman’s Web site. Salzman is a world champion log roller, soldier, and wounded Iraq War veteran. Salzman is disgusted at the PTSD by proxy trial balloon. Go read Salzman’s post…

I’m more than a little angry right now. Yes, I’m irate that some sh-tbag Major (“sh-tbag” is often used as a technical term in the Army) opened fire on a group of his fellow Soldiers killing 12 and wounding 30. But that’s not even what is under my skin right now. What is bothering me is the general reaction of our media and those stupid enough to think this was not an act of terrorism, but was caused by supposed PTSD caused at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

You want to know what PTSD is like? I’ll tell you. Read more…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpePttt0t3w

Update: Here’s the bite that bit Colonel Peters the most. From CNN on Sunday. General George Casey doesn’t want anyone to jump to conclusions … nope. He’s concerned that the Army may sacrifice, more men? Nope, he’s concerned that the Army may sacrifice diversity. The relevant portion begins at 2:00.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1fhYFOAisI

“He shouted out according to bystanders the words Allahu Akbar … and the fact that he did that at the moment of these murders if that’s confirmed, raises a genuine concern that this was a terrorist attack.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2RzVATTjrs

Just minutes later Joe warns that not all terror comes from overseas and then proceeds to list the attacks on American soldiers. Connecticut more dots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUBAQJYS_DE

The Senator makes a compelling case. How long will the media ignore?

UPDATE: If you want a roundup and links about Colonel Maj. Hasan, Hot Air has a fine post here. (My bad folks. I have Colonel on the brain. It certainly was not my attention to give him a promotion. Still, coming from a Navy family, not bad if that’s my only mistake. Again, sorry)

The first one you can watch here and not only did it stun even the mainstream media at its coolness and lack of compassion (Obama’s version of the two minute gap) but apparently beltway insiders too. His second try was better yesterday but folks inside the WH must have sensed his failure to address the Fort Massacre until two minutes into his speech, was a gaff worth correcting twice.

It’s mostly an expression of condolence to the families at Fort Hood which is appropriate I feel. Still he only briefly addresses the murdering thug who killed 13. I suppose this is appropriate too if this is now a criminal matter and no longer a war. I think it’s the latter but I’m not the President.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFFmeDw4wfc

Here is the short hand version from last night’s O’Reilly show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLJQGsuTWCg

Then there’s this interview with his cousin Nadar, who says Nadil was a “good American”, and perhaps was the victim of harassment. Got that? The perp was a victim and a good American.

And this. This got to me more than anything. The president’s reaction yesterday to this massacre. You don’t need to watch all the way through. After his meeting yesterday with the tribal nations, he spent the first two minutes patting everyone on the back. Watch the first few minutes … then skip ahead to 1:30.

The commander in chief has just seen 13 of his troops go down and the best he can do is “in case you have not heard …”? My video is the short hand version. Gateway has the longer version. Oh and note the shout out to a medal of honor winner who reportedly didn’t. Too much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2MW7KKu-m0

As Ralph Peters said, pardon us for interrupting your agenda.

And it’s not just me, or Col. Peters, or Jim Hoft … others in the main stream media noticed too.

But instead of a somber chief executive offering reassuring words and expressions of sympathy and compassion, viewers saw a wildly disconnected and inappropriately light president making introductory remarks. At the event, a Tribal Nations Conference hosted by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian affairs, the president thanked various staffers and offered a “shout-out” to “Dr. Joe Medicine Crow — that Congressional Medal of Honor winner.”  Three minutes in, the president spoke about the shooting, in measured and appropriate terms. Who is advising him?

Could not have said it better myself.

This was a cold blooded, premeditated, act of terrorism. There’s no other word for it. But I have to tell you, the Army also bears blame for this. The Army is so sick with political correctness that no one had the guts to take this guy on.

He argued with his patients about foreign policy, posting hate speech and praising suicide bombers on the internet, labeling himself Palestinian and no one, no one said this guy’s not fit.

Listen to the whole thing, but it really takes off about a third of the way through. Click on the play button…

And here’s what Ralph wrote in the NY Post this morning:

For the first time since I joined the Army in 1976, I’m ashamed of its dereliction of duty. The chain of command protected a budding terrorist who was waving one red flag after another. Because it was safer for careers than doing something about him. Get ready for the apologias. We’ve already heard from the terrorist’s family that “he’s a good American.” In their world, maybe he is. But when do we, the American public, knock off the PC nonsense?

Now might be the time to buy the Colonel’s book, The War After Armageddon.

“The thinking man’s Tom Clancy”–Wall Street Journal

“Peters’ battle scenes are masterpieces of perspective…it is hard to imagine a better portrayal of modern war.” –Newsweek