San Francisco, California

  After an American soldier's tragic outburst of violence at Fort Hood, Texas – the army's largest US post, with some 40,000 troops – dominates the headlines, a fear-mongering hysteria concerning his supposed religious motivations is taking priority over questions regarding his mental health.

Although the facts, and clues about motive, are still being uncovered, we know that the alleged shooter, 39-year-old Major Nidal Malik Hasan, is an American-born medical doctor and licensed psychiatrist, who also happens to be a Muslim born to Palestinian immigrant parents.

When Hasan's Arabic name was revealed as the alleged shooter, the blogosphere and message boards lit up with the predictable assortment of anonymous bigoted bile vilifying Islam and questioning the loyalty of American Muslims.

Thankfully, most mainstream voices, such as Republican senator John Cornyn of Texas, urged caution and moderation, stating: "It is imperative that we take the time to gather all the facts, as it would be irresponsible to be the source of rumours or inaccurate information regarding such a horrific event."

But some, such as Republican US representative Michael McCaul of Austin, Texas, alarmingly responded with inflammatory histrionics: "Whether it was domestic or foreign, clearly when a US military base is attacked in this fashion, that is an act of terror in my book."

If it is discovered that this lethal rampage was motivated by an inexcusable and misplaced sense of religiosity, it would provide ammunition to those extreme rightwing, minority voices in America who are convinced their Muslim neighbours are stealth jihadists ready to commit suicide bombings at a moment's notice. These proponents of modern day McCarthyism find their allies in members of the "Birther movement", who remain convinced President Obama is not an American citizen. Their esteemed colleagues include those who pontificate about Obama being a closet Muslim and an agent of socialism.

Reports of an image taken hours before the killings showing Hasan in a prayer cap seem to insinuate that a common article of clothing worn by many Muslims before they are about to pray somehow conclusively proves an religious intent behind the violence. A blog note attributed (though this is unconfirmed) to Hasan – comparing terrorist suicide bombings to suicidal acts during war to protect fellow soldiers and inflict damage upon the enemy, such as Japanese kamikaze missions – is being pointed to on the net as his potential justification for the alleged shootings.

It should comfort most Americans that mainstream Muslim American organisations, which often espouse a sense of victimhood and unnecessary rationalisations, unequivocally denounced Hasan's alleged actions as "heinous" and incompatible with Islam. The Council on American Islamic Relations issued a statement saying: "No political or religious ideology could ever justify or excuse such wanton and indiscriminate violence."

Ultimately, this use – or misuse – of fear and rumour over Hasan's Islamic faith should be moot in light of the record of the thousands of Muslim American soldiers who have served and made sacrifice – such as Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, awarded the prestigious Purple Heart and Bronze Star and praised by Colin Powell, who now rests in Arlington cemetery after giving his life to protect and serve his country in Iraq. There are currently 20,000 Muslims serving with honour in the US military, according to the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council. If Hasan's faith is ultimately proven to be the misguided inspiration for his violence, then the brave and patriotic service of thousands of Muslim American soldiers renders him an isolated and aberrant exception.

Sadly, although yesterday's violent outburst against fellow soldiers was the most deadly in US history, it was not the first of its kind. In May this year, five soldiers were shot dead at Camp Liberty in Baghdad by Sergeant John Russell. In February 2008, an Air Force sergeant diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) upon returning from Iraq fatally shot his son and daughter after a domestic argument with his ex-wife. Religion was not the common link between these soldiers; it was mental instability. Even if such individuals purported to be religious, their wanton acts of barbarism reflect rather their tenuous grasp on sanity.

A cousin of Hasan, interviewed by reporters, has suggested an alternative motivation, not necessarily influenced by religious conviction. "He was mortified by the idea of having to deploy," said Nader Hasan. "He had people telling him on a daily basis the horrors they saw over there [in Iraq and Afghanistan]."

From the evidence thus far, it seems tragic and ironic that Hasan, a psychiatrist who helped heal soldiers suffering from PTSD, would allegedly turn against them upon learning of his deployment to Iraq. In the interview with Fox News, his cousin described going to Iraq as Hasan's "worst nightmare." He went on: "[Hasan] was doing everything he could to avoid that … He wanted to do whatever he could within the rules to make sure he wouldn't go over." Hasan's aunt told the Washington Post that her nephew had consulted an attorney to see if he could leave the army before his contract expired due to harassment he had received from colleagues because he was Muslim.

Whatever the FBI investigation and any subsequent prosecution following the terrible shootings at Fort Hood may finally reveal, incidents such as these warrant a re-examination of how to treat and discharge or excuse those soldiers who are troubled or conflicted psychologically, politically or religiously over our foreign policy and, in particular, the current war in Afghanistan and occupation of Iraq.

No mere factual, evidential explanation could ever justify or excuse in any way Hasan's alleged actions. But it ought to broaden the horizon of those in the media who seem infatuated with the need to pin the blame for this perverse tragedy solely on a man's religious faith and Arabic last name, rather than exploring the possibility of a more complicated truth involving some combination of mental state, divided loyalty or conscientious objection.

>>American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council (20,000 muslims)

I know personally one of the founders and I've debated him about this before. This is a wild-ass guess; We should use the Pentagon's official statistics of declared faith, which it concretely tracks. That number is far lower ~ 5,000 AFAIK, so the real number is likely slightly higher.

BUT PLEASE, no more of this BS about mental instability; we have a huge problem as a community in dealing with the tension of being prosperous Muslims in America while our country pursues foreign policies that many of us do not agree with.

We can only pursue the mental health excuse for so long, but I myself no longer buy it and more importantly, the majority population are not the dumb white trash that some elitist immigrants with superiority complexes think they are. They're not buying ti either and I fear that everything we've worked for is being undone by completely sane Muslims who know exactly what they are doing.

No more heads in the sand; no more lame excuses; we must actively fish malcontents out and deal with them ourselves before we all bear the brunt of the consequences of thier deeds.

>>"He was mortified by the idea of having to deploy,"

F- that! He served for 14 years!!! He had plenty of time to resign his commission after 9/11. He was an officer; they can resign any time they want after the first 4-6 years. He was a coward! He was a mooch off the system who wanted a free medical degree but couldn't give back to his country when it was time. He wanted to skate by on his way to retirement 6 years from now while the rest of us deployed for him.

Wajahat, don't give him any excuses! We know what we're doing when we sign up. He was a coward so don't defend him with any touchy-feely lameness. 14 years is plenty to decide to leave or not. Now you know because I told you so.

I agree with OmarG 100%. This was a cowardly act of terrorism. I believe he was a sane individual, who knew actually what he was doing. He was ordered by the America government to give back to the country and serve, he choose the route of hypocrisy (ALLAH knows best). The detriment that his actions could bring to the American Muslim population and Muslim soldiers in general could be of grave consequences. We as Muslim Americans, need to speak loudly, clearly, using media satellites everywhere to voice the insanity of his actions and how this is unacceptable behavior and excuses, sleeper cells (hidden agendas of misguided Muslims) will not be protected nor tolerated by the Muslims in America. It's time for Muslims in America to establish strong, sophisticated media outlets to address damaging propaganda driven by loonies.

"Muslim American organisations, which often espouse a sense of victimhood..."

For a guy who accuses Muslim orgs of espousing victimhood, Mr. Ali is oddly unaware of the sense of victimhood running through this piece.

Well... more news has come out regarding that stunning failure of psychiatry, Nidal Malik Hasan. He is of Palestinian descent (that little bit of info is like catnip for Fox News) and currently numerous hard drives and web postings linked to the suspect are being examined by law enforcement . Perhaps the most significant development in this god-awful mess is his link to a Virginia Mosque that apparently hosted at least two Sept. 11 terrorists (before they blew themselves to bits). The imam of the mosque at that time was Anwar al Awlaki, who has made many inflammatory comments regarding the West and the legitimacy of violent acts like suicide bombings. His latest work on his website is titled "Nidal Hasan Did the Right Thing" (http://www.anwar-alawlaki.com/?p=228)
The first line of his op-ed reads as follows: "Nidal Hassan is a hero. He is a man of conscience who could not bear living the contradiction of being a Muslim and serving in an army that is fighting against his own people." You are all welcome to read the rest of his statement on the massacre. Depending on who you are you may feel elated at reading his words... or you may feel compelled to vomit in your mouth. Right now I am finishing off a bottle of mouth wash. This "religious leader" has left the states sometime ago and reports say he may be living in Yemen. Yes, Yemen. He has also been linked to many "activists" the world over. Somehow I think a very large, remote controlled model airplane may visit him in the near future. If it happens, I won't be too broken hearted. On another side note, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has announced a special fund to benefit the victims at Fort Hood. A very gracious and important gesture. Personally for me, the press release by that organization from last week condemning the attacks was more than a appropriate response.

ANYONE who betrays their oath of loyalty - whether a physician (to do no harm) or a soldier (to defend) - is a hypocrite and is no brother of mine, regardless of their so-called "faith"...

Some of you might expect to count me among those spouting "anonymous bigoted bile" but for one little thing. I believe I actually met the man once, and the encounter, while brief, was enough to suggest that his outlook was outside the bounds of most others in the Palestinian-American Muslim community.

So I feel no ill will towards Muslims or Palestinians due to this incident. But I do wonder: did the major feel that his community failed him, and if so did that contribute to this tragedy?

But I do wonder: did the major feel that his community failed him, and if so did that contribute to this tragedy?
>>>

All else being said about this insane act, he also failed the Muslim community by an act that further put it in harm's way.

>>did the major feel that his community failed him

It depends whether or not we will advance a lack of poontang as the cause for his unhinging. Its entirely plausable, though, but it'll never make the mainstream media...

>>> religiously-inspired political act of violence is, much as we'd be unwilling to admit it, entirely plausible.

He's an army psychiatrist. Suicide rates aside in this profession, he already attempted to avoid serving in Iraq. He is also obviously privy to the hidden secrets of mililtary men with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is what the media and veterans don't want to admit. After all this time, his actions are a consequence of what he knows about the army and not what he believes about the religion.

Linking people to masjids just shows an arrogance and misunderstanding of the religion. Masjids and their imaams have influence, but they don't control the forum of Muslim discussion (like they sometimes tend to think they do). Muslim communities depend on Imaams because they can facilitate our observances with more certainty than others. They are religious clerics, but NOT community leaders.

>>> Religion was not the common link between these soldiers; it was mental instability.

Yes. The military inspires special types of insanity in itself. And in the end, blaming his misapplied faith or his cowardice or terrorism .. ignores the fact that other servicemen out there aren't receiving the support they ought to from their military. It also ignores the fact that Muslims are suffering internally too, and we're not doing enough to help them. To kill people and be killed too .. what was he trying to accomplish if not an insane goal. Where were his parents, family members, fellow service-men and Anwar Awlaki before he lost his senses?

Its like bowling for Columbine. Blame everything and everyone except our own complicity in this failing human civilisationary project.

I spent five years in South Africas new National Defence Force. We had halaal meat, went for Jummah prayers, got time off during Eid, were always offered alternatives to alchohol, had an Imaam come in to talk to us when there was a compulsory service. I regret none of it, knowing that I was part of a bigger project that saw the entire society transition from the old system to a more fair, democratic and just system. Our constitution guarantees religious freedom and every citizens right to be treated with dignity.

Yet today, some idiots call our attachment to our country an apartheid "hang-up". New scholars who don't have one ounce of real world experience say that it's haraam and tantamount to shirk to serve. Some say do it because its "useful" for the community. Beligerent and ignorant bubble-world trolls exist. But I don't let them tell me how to live, how to have honour and nobility, how to respect my neighbour .. anymore than I would let a blind person drive me to work.

The issue here is NOT religious firebrands. Brother Hasan was suffering .. emotionally and spiritually, and he wasn't helped when he could have been ... and now other families must suffer too. I don't support the war or the US military for that matter, but joining a military entails a certain decorum and set of standards. He could have been a conscientuous objector and made a strong political statement, like Muhammad Ali when he was draughted. But he chose to join in the first place and with that comes certain ethics and values that militarymen celebrate. But he also didn't serve on the frontline either, so he didn't face any of the stress.

In my assessment, he snapped.

I hope everyone who commented here is aware that the United States Government has had a brainwashing/mind control program for more than fifty years. It was jointly developed by the Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense (Google MK Ultra and take it from there). Further, it would have been easy to give Major Hassan orders sending him on temporary duty to some remote location, where he could have then been conditioned to commit this terrible act. What would be the goal of such a process? To have average Americans continue to feel hatred and suspicion toward Muslims. This makes it much easier to continue to invade and occupy Muslim countries, to bleed them of their natural resources, and occupy and control strategic areas of the world. Did this happen? Allah knows best. Could it have happened? Absolutely. Anybody who thinks that Uncle Sam couldn't do something like this needs to stop reading comic books.

>>>I hope everyone who commented here is aware that the United States Government has had a brainwashing/mind control program for more than fifty years.<<<<

Seriously? You have to know that such ridiculous comments only open yourself to criticism. How do we know that YOU weren't brainwashed into telling us this? ;-)

>>> Absolutely. Anybody who thinks that Uncle Sam couldn't do something like this needs to stop reading comic books.

lol ... and start reading about reptilian theory in reputable online forums.

Now I know there is disinformation going on here, as I have long suspected. Anybody who hasn't heard of MK Ultra is simply ignorant, or is playing ignorant. This program is a matter of documented historical fact, and easily verified. TarawithaK and Gulam either are too lazy to Google the term, as I suggested, or they are simple provocateurs, who lurk here in an attempt to mislead the gullible. I challenge you both, why haven't you verified what I say? Because the ones pulling your strings told you to ridicule me, using nonsense like "reptillian theory"? The reality of induced conditioning, aka brainwashing is well known to anybody who paid attention during High School Psychology classes. It was a standard method in China, during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s. To maintain that the US Government is too benevolent to do this is laughably naive, and what one would expect from someone who lives in 'South Africa', or wherever you actually live. Supposedly the US Government abandoned brainwashing programs in the 1960s. Well, I don't believe in the Tooth Fairy either. TarawithaK, how is my comment 'ridiculous'? Because you're too lazy to go to your local library, if you don't trust online sources, and find the documentation of what I say? Or are you merely the undeclared minion of some hidden entity/polity whose mission is to ridicule inconvenient truths? Here is the link to Wikipedia's article on the subject: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_MKULTRA

Now, don't you both feel stupid?

@alkh3myst: there is a flaw in your logic: just because it may have existed does not all by itself validate your theory about Maj. Hasan. In fact, MK Ultra may not even be wholly as you describe it. I personally think you're being a good Muslim by blaming all bad things on others. If you read another book mentioned on Wikipedia, i.e. The Quran, you will find that people will be held responsible for thier own actions on the Last Day, no matter what program was said to have existed.

Surely, you will see this as a disinformation attempt because we are all agents from the Impossible Missions Branch...

Do any of you have a good level of English comprehension? Do you understand what you read in this language? At NO TIME did I say I am convinced that this is what happened. My primary thrust is to point that all of you "alt Muslims" (whatever that is, either you're Muslim or you aren't) are condemning another Muslim, based on third-party accounts reported by mass media i.e. non-Muslims. Now if YOU did more study of the Qur'an (yes the apostrophe belongs there, I'm surprised you don't spell it "Koran") you would know that it is improper to accept an accusation of wrongdoing made by non-Muslims against a Muslim without verification. None of us were there, or know what really happened, but most of us seem to be swallowing Corporate Media's official line without hesitation. Also, if YOU read, rather understand the Qur'an, you should certainly understand that "Some suspicion is a crime." (49:12) Honestly, I doubt that many of these "alt Muslims" are Muslim at all in fact. Many commenters here have made statements that show a complete lack of understanding of BASIC Fiqh. They state positions of THEIR OPINION (haram) that are clearly meant to water down the Sharia. There is no compulsion in religion; those "Muslims" who wish to follow another way are free to do so. But they will never be allowed to lead others into the hellfire to suit the whims of the kuffar. Any MUSLIM should know that the Deen is perfect. All of this whining and the amateurish attempts at ad hominem attacks questioning my rationality give me a growing feeling that some people here likely ARE on somebody's payroll, tasked with leading naive and uninformed Muslims onto the path of Shaitan.

Its clear you have quite a different view of how to be Muslim than we do.

>>"Some suspicion is a crime."

Yes, my dear freind, there is also a concept in basic hadith methodology of tawaatur, which means that a statement is eligible to be accepted as sahih when its reported by multiple people with substantially the same details. Hundreds of people saw him shoot up to 40 people; how can you deny it?

One of the hallmarks of radical ideology is asking people to disbelieve in what they see with thier own eyes, which brings me to:

>>I doubt that many of these "alt Muslims" are Muslim at all in fact.

Yet another twisting of Islam to suit your own *opinions*! How ironic you are, but at least you're able to demonstrate for all to see the intellectual bankruptcy. You, by stating your own opinions here about what happened are distinctly engaged in sowing doubt among the beleivers and attempting to destroy the 1200 year old basic methods of shariah when trying to determine what happened in a case.

You, and only you, are one of the true destroyers of Islam.

You're so knee deep in trying to pretend to follow a foreign culture, you don't even know your own language past a 4th grade level:

>>yes the apostrophe belongs there, I'm surprised you don't spell it "Koran"

No, it does not belong there. English has no hamza in its alphabet; you've simply misused an apostrophe to represent a sound we do not even have. We also do not have a 'qaaf' sound, so you're spelling is not correct English spelling of what has now happily become a native English word.

So, did you even graduate high school and are now trying to sound all rigid and scholarly about Islam to make up for your lack of education within your own country and culture? Why are you trying to be more Arab than the Arabs?

So you see, now you are reduced to making a personal attack on me. This shows how weak your overall rhetoric is. Evidently Ghulam and TarawithaK realized that they were in over their heads, and sent in the relief pitcher. I shouldn't even have to state that the conventions of transliterating Arabic letters into the Roman alphabet DO stipulate the use of an apostrophe as as substitute for hamza. BTW, since your linguistic sensibilities are so refined, how is it that you don't know the difference between your = pertaining to you, and you're = you are? What's YOUR grade level, smart guy? What makes you think you know what my ethnicity is? Do you have access to some database someone has furnished you with? Arabic is the language of Islam, plain and simple. To be culturally literate, all Muslims should know or learn the language of Qur'an. For centuries, this was true of Latin for Roman Catholics, or any learned Westerner. Did anyone ever try to imply that Isaac Newton was trying to imitate Nero? You sound ridiculous. If learning and using Arabic is bad, then you are defending ignorance. How would YOU suggest people learn their deen? Maybe that's why your opinions are so weak. "Its clear you have quite a different view of how to be Muslim than we do." Who exactly do you claim to speak for? I speak for myself, but can furnish proofs from the correct sources. NOWHERE did I ever state that Maj. Hassan did not shoot people, once again I question your level of reading comprehension. What I am saying is that none of us know all the facts, and that the man may not have been in his right mind. Surely someone with your comprehensive knowledge of Islam knows that mental deficiency excuses one from culpability in a crime, according to the Sharia. None of us really know. Further, I am saying that without complete knowledge of the material facts, and without Maj. Hassan being convicted of any crime, blanket condemnations of him are backbiting,and a great sin. "I believe he was a sane individual...". Only Allah (SWT) can see into the hearts, to claim otherwise brings one close to kufr. "He was a coward..." plain backbiting, completely indefensible, Astahgferullah. Finally, why do multiple users seem to feel the need to attack me? Are you all really the same person, using multiple accounts? I'm not saying this is the case, I'm just asking. I'm not in the habit I see elsewhere here of stating speculative postulates as actual fact. I'm pretty much done with these "forums" now. I suspected that many posters are in fact enemies of Islam who seek to corrupt new and poorly informed Muslims. Now I feel fully justified in holding that opinion. Anyone who IS working mischief here, you know who you are, and Allah is the best of planners. Anyone who is sincere probably already knows that what I say does not apply to them. Any fault in my words comes from me. What is correct comes from the mainstream scholars of the Ahl as-Sunnah wal Jamaah. I do not follow any sectarian school of thought. To suggest otherwise is itself disingenuous.