Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death by a military court, for the Ft. Hood shootings. It was a unanimous decision by thirteen senior officers, but it requires approval by the President as commander-in-chief.
I'd be very happy if Obama overruled the death penalty and Hassan were left to die of old age in a prison cell.
Punishment should be a punishment, not a reward. Martyrdom would be just such a reward. Let him live a long, healthy life in a cage, to die of old age like the kept rat that he is.
I am actually more interested in going after the attitudes that let him continue as a soldier in good standing while he was telling colleagues he wanted to go to jihad and passing out business cards that said "Soldier of Allah". With a flamethrower.
Not that convicting him isn't justice, but if I could choose just one...
In the back of my mind I think I really was expecting them to go easy on him. The military system, as you say, never seemed able to enforce limits on him before. It's a bit of a relief that they think his having killed 13 people requires an adjustment to the prevailing attitude.
E Hines...if he were sentenced to life, what do you figure are the odds that hostages would be taken and his release demanded in exchange for their survival?
Mr Foster, I'm happy to take that risk. We always can apply the Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein solution later; there's no need to martyr this...person...right off the bat.
Besides, paying ransom is morally akin to aiding and abetting.
The only problem is that our government is too timid for either of those. Still, I'll take the risk.
Killing him to avoid hostage-taking, though: what's your limiting principle? Shall we, as a matter of policy, take no prisoners at all in this war? Just kill them all?
He will not be missed, nor shall he be missed.
ReplyDeleteHow much you want to bet Obama either pardons or withholds approval?
ReplyDeleteNot even taking that bet.
ReplyDeleteI'd be very happy if Obama overruled the death penalty and Hassan were left to die of old age in a prison cell.
ReplyDeletePunishment should be a punishment, not a reward. Martyrdom would be just such a reward. Let him live a long, healthy life in a cage, to die of old age like the kept rat that he is.
Eric Hines
I am pleased by the guilty verdict, but am only interested in the sentencing insofar that it undermines any claim that this was "workplace violence."
ReplyDeleteMay he live in pain and loneliness, and die knowing he has wasted his life in the service of evil.
ReplyDeleteValerie
I am actually more interested in going after the attitudes that let him continue as a soldier in good standing while he was telling colleagues he wanted to go to jihad and passing out business cards that said "Soldier of Allah". With a flamethrower.
ReplyDeleteNot that convicting him isn't justice, but if I could choose just one...
In the back of my mind I think I really was expecting them to go easy on him. The military system, as you say, never seemed able to enforce limits on him before. It's a bit of a relief that they think his having killed 13 people requires an adjustment to the prevailing attitude.
ReplyDeleteE Hines...if he were sentenced to life, what do you figure are the odds that hostages would be taken and his release demanded in exchange for their survival?
ReplyDeleteI'd put it at pretty close to 100%.
Mr Foster, I'm happy to take that risk. We always can apply the Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein solution later; there's no need to martyr this...person...right off the bat.
ReplyDeleteBesides, paying ransom is morally akin to aiding and abetting.
The only problem is that our government is too timid for either of those. Still, I'll take the risk.
Killing him to avoid hostage-taking, though: what's your limiting principle? Shall we, as a matter of policy, take no prisoners at all in this war? Just kill them all?
Eric Hines