"Hasan picked the day -- November 5, 2009 -- because it was when the units he was scheduled to deploy with to Afghanistan were scheduled to go through the processing center, he said. Hasan, who has been acting as his own attorney, rested his case without calling a single witness or taking the stand to testify on his own behalf. His decision not to offer a defense was an anticlimactic end to the trial in which prosecution witnesses, primarily survivors, painted a horrific picture of what unfolded inside a processing center during the attack." CNN
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Well, this fellow is not going to say that his new name will be "'A'isha" and ask for a sex change regime. 'A'isha was the prophet's favorite wife.
IMO he should not be given the death penalty. My reason for that is simply that he wants it so much. No, he should be made to live out his miserable life in a wheel chair in the army prison at Ft. Leavenworth among the people he hates so completely.
"Al akth bi tha'r" (the taking of revenge) is ancient Arab custom. Let it apply here. pl
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/justice/nidal-hasan-court-martial-friday/
I 100% agree with you Col. Let him rot. Let him worry about pig's knuckles in every meal. Do I sound bloodthirsty? Yes, in this particular case I am. You want to fight the enemy? Go to a front and engage in battle the traditional way. I guess I sound hopelessly old fashion? . So be it.
Posted by: jonst | 23 August 2013 at 02:13 PM
I disagree. This is why we have the death penalty. Hang him. We and the world will be better with him gone.
Posted by: r whitman | 23 August 2013 at 02:24 PM
Col.
Agree 100%. Perhaps let him bunk with Ms. Manning.
Posted by: Tigershark | 23 August 2013 at 02:31 PM
Are you aware of the intensive care that people who are thus injured require?
Their bowels and bladders have to be manually vacated once or twice a day; someone actually has to perform those tasks.
Posted by: Babak Makkinejad | 23 August 2013 at 02:37 PM
babak
Yes, We have hundreds of paraplegics in VA and Army hospitals. Chelsea says she is sorry. She and Hasan would be in the same prison... pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 23 August 2013 at 03:10 PM
Babak,
I come to SST to read Col. Lang's stories, and learn more on the Middle East, an area where I have no expertise.
One area where I do have some expertise is in Spinal Cord Injury. (SCI) I have not followed the case so closely that I know at which level Hassan's spine was injured; cervical, thoracic, or lumbar, but it appears he was injured at a lower level. He can have an intermittent catheter, an condom style, or a supra pubic catheter. Bowels can be handled by a colostomy. Hasan, depending on the level of injury, can vacate himself; someone else may have to deposit the waste in a toilet.
This is the result of the choices Hasan made when he opened fire. He will, while in prison be assisted by "unclean hands", Christians, Jews, men and women, maybe even lesbian and gay. That is the result of the choices he made.
Personally, I wish he had been tried for treason, convicted, and shot by firing squad. (Pollard, too) But we don't do that anymore.
Posted by: Tigershark | 23 August 2013 at 04:27 PM
You seem to be missing my point; his maintenance is being inflicted on others.
Like some of these criminals that are maintained at equivalents to a Harvard education while the graduate students are sent packing due to lack of funding.
Posted by: Babak Makkinejad | 23 August 2013 at 04:56 PM
Perhaps Chelsea can be responsible for vacating his bowels.
Posted by: eakens | 23 August 2013 at 05:14 PM
Babak
Leavenworth, Kansas is a poor town, Prison guards, the families of prisoners and retired enlisted soldiers are the inhabitants. many will want the work. In any event I want him to suffer a long time. As elkern writes this would be a good job for Chelsea Manning. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 23 August 2013 at 05:40 PM
All prisoners inflict their maintenance on others, be they on death row or minimum security.
Posted by: Tigershark | 23 August 2013 at 05:54 PM
Another one getting a life sentence:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/staff-sgt-bales-apologizes-afghan-massacre-20038545
Posted by: The beaver | 23 August 2013 at 07:52 PM
Col,
Pollard and Hasan as cell mates ? Interesting discussions all day.
Posted by: tunde | 23 August 2013 at 08:47 PM
My take is that he should be hanged. If there is reason to shoot him, then it should be done out of the public eye. Lethal injection is for pets suffering from ailments or injury.
Posted by: drifter | 23 August 2013 at 09:13 PM
Colonel, I was thinking the same thing.
With a verdict of 'life" maybe a similar fate will take place as was the case with Gavrilo Princip.
Posted by: Pirouz | 24 August 2013 at 02:02 AM
Yes, we heard rumors to that effect when I worked in the VA Hospital in Manhattan in the 70s. But thanks for reminding me...the Col says no personal insults allowed here...and that is a wise policy so that is all I have to write to you. I look forward to you sharing more of your insights.
Posted by: jonst | 24 August 2013 at 06:39 AM
It has been reported that Major Hassan had been on many jihadi websites - including the one hosted by Inspire and the American born cleric al Alawaki . Would it have been realistic to have expected the US Army to have noticed that Major Hasan was visiting radical Islamist sites ? What is to prevent the next Lone Wolf attack in our military on our Service members ?
Posted by: Alba Etie | 24 August 2013 at 07:51 AM
AE
"to have expected the US Army to have noticed that Major Hasan was visiting radical Islamist sites" It is not a crime to visit subversive websites. I saw a man convicted on terrorism connected charges in a civilian court on that basis. the verdict has been reversed by the 9th circuit. I do not think the army should monitor soldiers communications unless there is some indication of criminality. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 24 August 2013 at 08:09 AM
I'm assuming AE, that someone, somewhere, along the line did know about the site visits. I am guessing--pure guess, based on watching how govt institutions operate these days--they made a judgment call to let it slide. PC dominates.
As to what can be done to prevent "Lone Wolf" attacks in the future. Well, the usual tweaks here and there...a bit of an increase in monitoring. So on and so forth...but in the end, one deals with risks. I make my living in risk assessment and risk managing. Legal risks. My sen sense is; we don't do risk management well in this nation. As a general rule. And why should we? A big part of it involves critical thinking...and an ability to live with your personal ass, a bit exposed. Those are not skills we have an abundance in.
Posted by: jonst | 24 August 2013 at 09:45 AM
While sending him to the lethal injection table may in a way allow some degree of closure; the reality is doing so will only make him a martyr in the eyes od many Muslims. He wanted to die that day.
Depending on the extent of his injuries he may well be sent to a Federal Prison hospital.
Posted by: Hank Foresman | 24 August 2013 at 09:52 AM
Hank Foresman
As I said I am in favor of keeping the bastard alive as long as possible. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 24 August 2013 at 10:08 AM
Sorry, off topic.
I found the article written by a dissident [and previously jailed] Iranian journalist educational.
You, Sir, as host of this blog may decide to post it, or not. The choice is, of course, your right and privilege.
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/139643/akbar-ganji/who-is-ali-khamenei?page=show
Thank you for your attention, cordially yours.
Posted by: norbert M. Salamon | 24 August 2013 at 11:51 AM
NPR reporter said President would
have to sign off on death warrant if
given. Chance of that?
Posted by: SteveG | 24 August 2013 at 01:00 PM
Well, don't shoot the messenger.
Posted by: Babak Makkinejad | 24 August 2013 at 01:01 PM
Jonst
Critical thinking needs to be cultivated more.
I guess we can take cold comfort in that Alawaki was killed by a drone strike . Went looking for the Inspired site once - never could find it..
Posted by: Alba Etie | 25 August 2013 at 01:44 AM
Col Lang
I agree its not a crime to visit subversive sites. Would there have been any reason to believe Major Hassan was involved in criminality prior to the mass shooting at Ft Hood ?
Posted by: Alba Etie | 25 August 2013 at 01:48 AM