Last Thursday, 13 people were killed and another 29 were wounded in a shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas. The alleged gunman, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, is a Muslim.

The natural tendency for many of us, when we hear of a heinous act like this committed by a man with a name like Nidal Malik Hasan, is to conclude that this was likely a terrorist act born from a militant Islamic ideology.

Because of this natural tendency that many of us have, there is a great effort to keep the American people from thinking along those lines. U.S. Muslims fear a public backlash against their religion. Imam Mohammed Abdullahi was quick to claim that “Islam is not responsible” for the events at Fort Hood. Barack Obama described Hasan’s actions as a “terrible crime,” rather than calling it an act of terrorism, attempting to minimize the connection between violence and Islam.

But the fact remains that the Koran teaches violence against non-Muslims. Tim made the connection in an article here immediately following the shooting. Others have been connecting the dots as well, such as Dick Morris in his article, Ft. Hood Attack was Terrorism. Yet many deny that and say Islam is a religion of peace. But in reality, those that are labeled as “extremists” are simply taking the “prophet” Muhammed at his word.

Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who led a Northern Virginia mosque attended by Hasan and three of the 9/11 hijackers, praised Hasan’s actions at Fort Hood. Notice some disturbing quotes from al-Awlaki from the CNSNews article referenced here:

• He called Hasan, “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.”
• Quoting from the Koran, he said “painful punishment” awaited U.S. Muslim organizations that condemned the shooting.
• “Nidal opened fire on soldiers who were on their way to be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan,” Awlaki said. “How can there be any dispute about the virtue of what he has done?”
• “In fact the only way a Muslim could Islamically justify serving as a soldier in the U.S. army is if his intention is to follow the footsteps of men like Nidal.”

For one who is strictly following the teachings of the Koran, Hasan’s actions are seen as virtuous and commendable. Muslims who condemn the shooting are apostates of the faith of Islam.

While the terrorist attack at Fort Hood in itself was a tragedy, there is another fact that is also tragic - this was very likely preventable. It is now being reported that the Army ignored warning signs about Hasan. One of Hasan’s classmates, Lt. Col. Val Finnell, said, “there were definitely clear indications that Hasan’s loyalties were not with America.” Yet he says, “nothing was done.”

Finnell also said, “The issue here is that there’s a political correctness climate in the military. They don’t want to say anything because it would be considered questioning somebody’s religious belief, or they’re afraid of an equal opportunity lawsuit.”

“He was a lightning rod. He made his views known and he was very vocal, he had extremely radical jihadist views.” And further, “they should’ve confronted him — our professors, officers — but they were too concerned about being politically correct.”

It is no secret that our society is infected with the supposed need for political correctness. So much so, that it is even joked about. But this is not a joke. It has become dangerous. The comment was made on Tim’s article that is exactly true - “political correctness in the military has now officially cost American lives.”

When will the people of this country wake up? When will we realize that people’s lives are more important than people’s feelings? Thirteen Americans are dead. It’s possible it could have been prevented as the warning signs were there. Our President will not call this a terrorist act, but rather a crime. It’s time we wake up before we politically correct ourselves into oblivion.

-Andy Sochor