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General Casey: diversity shouldn’t be casualty of Fort Hood
General George Casey, the Army’s top officer, is concerned that diversity will become a casualty of the Fort Hood tragedy.
The religious beliefs of suspect Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a Muslim Army psychiatrist, have led to speculation about motive in the shooting rampage that killed 13 people.
“I’m concerned that this increased speculation could cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers. And I’ve asked our Army leaders to be on the lookout for that,” Casey told CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” whether Muslim soldiers are conflicted in fighting wars in Muslim countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, Casey said: “I think that’s something that we have to look at on an individual basis. But I think we as an Army have to be broad enough to bring in people from all walks of life.”
The bottom line is the military benefits from diversity, he said.
“Our diversity, not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength. And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that’s worse,” Casey said.
President Barack Obama also mentioned military diversity in his Saturday radio address which was focused on Fort Hood. 
Veterans Day is a chance to honor Americans who served in battlefields all over the world, Obama said. “They are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers.”
“They reflect the diversity that makes this America. But what they share is a patriotism like no other,” Obama said.
Photo credit: Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi (Casey at Fort Hood after shooting), Reuters/Jim Young (Obama leaving podium after remarks about Fort Hood shooting)
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I disagree with most of the posters here. What Hasan did was evil, and there is no justification for it. But that doesn’t mean we ought to take it out on Muslims. Don’t let a few bad apples spoil the bunch. For every Hasan like nut there are many more Muslims who love America and being American. All you people talking about Hasan should familiarize yourselves with another name, one that most of you probably have never heard before and would just assume forget because it doesn’t fit with your world view.Cpl. Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan. He was an American soldier, a patriot and a Muslim, he died for his country as bravely as any of the others who gave their lives. He was 14 when 9/11 happened and he signed up to serve to prove Muslims loved America too. He gave his life for that. Thousands like him risk their lives on the same principle.His death meant just as much to his mother as any of the 13 heroes we lost at Fort Hood. Should his sacrafice be forgetten/ignored because a treasonous nut like Hasan decides to go out in a blaze of hatred?Were there warning signs overlooked, yes! Was Hasan a victim of discrimination after 9/11, maybe so, but no amount of discrimination justifies killing dozens of people who have done you no wrong. Hasan’s goal like that of other terrorists claiming the mantle of Islam to justify their actions was not merely to kill Americans, but to sow the seeds of hatred upon which they feed.The fact that Hasan was a terrorist whacko doesn’t make it right for us to go out and declare all Muslims a threat. Which is what the anti diversity nativists here seem to be advocating.We should learn from the Hasan case, but we should also remember those like Cpl. Khan who made the ultimate sacrafice for America. His death and what died fighting for should count for more than the whims of a murdering lunatic zealot like Hasan.May Cpl. Khan, the heroes of Fort Hood and all our heroes who died to defend us rest in peace. And may Maj Hasan and every nut like him roast slowly on spit in hell forever.
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General Casey should be court marshalled. He has placed political correctness before the lives and well being of our soldiers. That mentally ill dirt bag, Hasan was treating soldiers with serious mental and physical problems. Just what kind of care did they get. Two time Medal of Honor winner General Smedly Butler wrote ‘WAR IS A RACKET.’ Casey is a racketeer.
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