WASHINGTON – The US Army’s top general expressed worries Sunday, November 8, that a deadly attack on a military base in Texas could prompt a backlash against Muslim soldiers.
"I'm concerned that this increased speculation could cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers,” Army chief of staff General George Casey told CNN.
“I've asked our Army leaders to be on the lookout for that."
At least 13 people were killed and 30 wounded when an army major, Nidal Malik Hasan, went into a shooting rampage at Fort Hood base in Texas on Thursday.
Casey said focusing on Hasan’s Muslim background could “heighten the backlash” against Muslim troops.
Senator Joe Lieberman, the chairman of the Senate’s Homeland Security committee, termed Sunday the attack as “Islamist extremism”.
"There are very, very strong warning signs here that Dr Hasan had become an Islamist extremist,” Lieberman told Fox News.
“And, therefore, that this was a terrorist act."
Born in the US to immigrant parents, Hasan, a psychiatrist, joined the army and received his medical license on July 12, 2005.
During his army service, he counselled many war-wearing soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, becoming aware of the terrifying realities of the war.
According to army officials, Hasan was to be deployed this month to Afghanistan later this month.
Relatives have said Hasan wanted to leave the Army to avoid being deployed to Afghanistan and that he had faced harassment by fellow soldiers because of his religion.
Though American Muslims have vehemently denounced the attack, fears are growing of an anti-Muslim backlash.
President Barack Obama urged Americans Saturday, November 7, not to jump into conclusions over the attack, stressing the diversity of the US army.
There is no official count of Muslims serving in the 1.4 million-strong US armed forces because recruits are not required to state their religion.
But according to the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affair Council, there are more than 20,000 Muslims serving in the military.
* Casualty
Casey warned that anti-Muslim backlash would undermine the Army diversity needed to fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Our diversity, not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press”.
“And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that's worse."
Asked whether Muslim soldiers are more conflicted than other soldiers 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," he said.
Casey’s remarks echo those by Obama, who said that servicepersons of every religious affiliations and different origins have greatly contributed to the US military.
"They are descendents of immigrants and immigrants themselves. They reflect the diversity that makes this America."
US Muslim soldiers have already condemned the attack on the army base.
"What Maj. Hasan did does not represent us," Robert Salaam, a former Marine who reverted to Islam after 9/11, told IslamOnline.net.
Source: IslamOnline
"I'm concerned that this increased speculation could cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers,” Army chief of staff General George Casey told CNN.
“I've asked our Army leaders to be on the lookout for that."
At least 13 people were killed and 30 wounded when an army major, Nidal Malik Hasan, went into a shooting rampage at Fort Hood base in Texas on Thursday.
Casey said focusing on Hasan’s Muslim background could “heighten the backlash” against Muslim troops.
Senator Joe Lieberman, the chairman of the Senate’s Homeland Security committee, termed Sunday the attack as “Islamist extremism”.
"There are very, very strong warning signs here that Dr Hasan had become an Islamist extremist,” Lieberman told Fox News.
“And, therefore, that this was a terrorist act."
Born in the US to immigrant parents, Hasan, a psychiatrist, joined the army and received his medical license on July 12, 2005.
During his army service, he counselled many war-wearing soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, becoming aware of the terrifying realities of the war.
According to army officials, Hasan was to be deployed this month to Afghanistan later this month.
Relatives have said Hasan wanted to leave the Army to avoid being deployed to Afghanistan and that he had faced harassment by fellow soldiers because of his religion.
Though American Muslims have vehemently denounced the attack, fears are growing of an anti-Muslim backlash.
President Barack Obama urged Americans Saturday, November 7, not to jump into conclusions over the attack, stressing the diversity of the US army.
There is no official count of Muslims serving in the 1.4 million-strong US armed forces because recruits are not required to state their religion.
But according to the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affair Council, there are more than 20,000 Muslims serving in the military.
* Casualty
Casey warned that anti-Muslim backlash would undermine the Army diversity needed to fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Our diversity, not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press”.
“And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that's worse."
Asked whether Muslim soldiers are more conflicted than other soldiers 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," he said.
Casey’s remarks echo those by Obama, who said that servicepersons of every religious affiliations and different origins have greatly contributed to the US military.
"They are descendents of immigrants and immigrants themselves. They reflect the diversity that makes this America."
US Muslim soldiers have already condemned the attack on the army base.
"What Maj. Hasan did does not represent us," Robert Salaam, a former Marine who reverted to Islam after 9/11, told IslamOnline.net.
Source: IslamOnline
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