Islam & Terrorism: Bookerista Perspectives

Javier David: "Muslims Should Be More Vocal In Denouncing Extremism"

Asserts the conservative writer in New York: "Over the course of the last several days, more information has been made public about the suspected perpetrator of the Fort Hood massacre, Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan. With each new development a more disturbing picture accrues - one that strongly challenges the emerging meme that Hasan's actions were the mere result of mental derangement, emotional distress, or opposition to the wars currently being raged in Iraq and Afghanistan. By all indications, Hasan was profoundly influenced by radical Islam, and red flags, such as his proselytizing to colleagues and waxing eloquent about suicide bombers, were everywhere prior to last Thursday's fateful events. But rather than confronting these issues, Hasan's actions fell into the memory hole of military bureaucracy. The end result is that thirteen people lost their lives in a burst of heinous violence that may have been avoided."

He continues his commentary: "In the aftermath of 9/11, there was much discussion about the need for everyday, mainstream Muslims to denounce violence and extremism. While this has occurred to some degree, a major problem is that such efforts are often sporadic, reactionary and half-hearted. Most Americans are naturally inclined to co-exist peacefully with Muslims, but the lack of emphasis placed on rejecting extremism within Islam is the biggest impediment to reconciling Islam with the Western world. Renouncing acts of violence after they occur, or in order to indulge political correctness, is no longer sufficient. As a society, we are rapidly approaching a tipping point that will determine whether Muslims and non-Muslims can peacefully coexist. While the default position of extremists has been to blame American and the Western world, the time has long since passed for Muslims to take a far more active role in rooting out the extremism that gestates in the dark recesses of Islamic fundamentalism."

Kenneth Durden: "Major Hasan. Major Problem."

The libertarian-conservative blogger writes: "It's a shame that it looks like political correctness led to deaths of innocents soldiers at Fort Hood. 'Apparently, intelligence agents intercepted between 20 and 30 emails from Major Nidal Hasan to a radical cleric in Yemen.' The day they read his emails asking how he could assist in jihad, he should have been put down like a rabid dog."

Richard Ivory: "Torn Psychiatrist Or Jihadist: Meet Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan"

The moderate Republican blogger in New York writes: "Recent news reports that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan had connections to a radical cleric and was actively reaching out to Al -Qaeda raises more questions concerning whether this was a psychological breakdown or an actual terrorist attack. If it is the latter, then this is more proof that Al-Qaeda has already begun to penetrate this nation from within. It also sounds like the Army Brass knew that Hasan was a potential lighting rod but because of red tape and politically correct polices erred on the side of caution - i.e. meaning keeping the[ir] jobs verses being fired for violating [A]rmy discrimination polices. If so talk about a lack of due diligence! Nevertheless, if this is true, then perhaps the Armed Services should introduce a system which allows military personnel to report suspicious complaints anonymously."