Worst Disaster
Three days after Ft. Hood’s worst disaster, a shooting spree that left 13 dead and 30 wounded, our infotainment-based media continues in its absurd and pathetic reporting of the incident. What we do know, we think for certain, is that Nidal Malik Hasan is a psychiatrist, with the rank of Major, in the United States Army.
Hours after the incident, news reports were based on an instant creation of hysteria and sensationalism. Half-staffed in coverage and half-baked in their ability to do a good job, much less a decent one, news reporters instead gave us hype. This hype was based on information received from a military installation in lockdown mode. Three days after the fact, the facts trickle out, sensationalism still reigns.
While internet discussion boards are filled with hate, racism, and bigotry over this major disaster, little is offered up toward a rational thought process. Nor is anyone questioning the information offered up by the military. Any information released was, is, and will continue to be based on the age-old CYA policy. This seems to be especially true with the military’s modus operandi.
Ask The Right Questions
Why does the media continue to provide information to the general populace based on information provided that is based on anonymity? How can we get accurate information if someone is providing that information without fear of accountability?
While army officials continue to present the story that a lone gunman did all this killing and wounding with only two handguns, as presented by CNN and seemingly every other news outlet, ballistics tests from casings strewn about the murder site have yet to reach a conclusion. A conclusion that, no doubt, will be announced by the military industrial complex as it stays in the CYA mode.
Performance Evaluation Process
While the kicking of a downed human continues, little is said about the suspect reaching the rank of Major in one of the world’s most powerful militaries. Instead, as Osman Danquah states, we hear “I didn’t get the feeling he was talking for himself, but something just didn’t seem right.” This in reference to Hasan’s seeking counsel from Danquah regarding what to tell fellow Muslim soldiers regarding the killing of Iraqis and Afghanis in those U.S. military-occupied countries. Danquah is the co-founder of the Islamic Community of Greater Killeen. Another question, if things didn’t seem quite right, did Danquah report any of this? It’s just a question, but maybe it’s one of the many right questions.
How about Major Hasan’s performance evaluation? This man reached the rank of Major based on his performance. Right? Again, questions. This of course leads us to the question of staff evaluations. Who was, or is, responsible for determining where Hasan’s performance evaluation report lands? On whose desk does the report ultimately land? Better yet, in which file cabinet is the report stashed? Who evaluates those who evaluated Hasan? So many questions that may never be asked.
Anyone or any entity can present their own agenda, passing it off as fact, as long as the right questions aren’t asked. Infotainment remains king, even in tragedy.
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