Comments on: Should Maj. Hasan Be Executed?

By: Wickle

Wickle — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:15:19 +0000

I’m a lifelong civilian, I admit it. Air Force brat, but civilian.

I voted “No” mainly because I’m against capital punishment. However, I think it’s also worth noting that he hasn’t been tried yet. Last I knew, we allowed people in this country to make their defense before we sentenced them to death for being criminals and Muslim. There are other possible considerations, not the least of which being his potential psychopathy.

If Hasan wasn’t a Muslim, then the story would be that this guy, believed by his mental-health-professional peers to be unstable, was able to buy handguns and sneak them onto a military facility.

By: kevintracy

kevintracy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:11:11 +0000

I should have made that a requirement before commenting to ensure people knew where these opinions were coming from. I’d be curious to see if there was a difference in points of view on he issue between veterans and life-long civilians.

By: daltonsbriefs

daltonsbriefs — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:11:56 +0000

Well asked Kevin.
In radical islam-world our hanging of an islamic radical will also give them more to use for hate talk. Life imprisonment would seem to be better for national defense. Now maybe you can tell us Kevin where in the world we could send him for the rest of his life, perhaps Guantanamo (no the president wants to shut that down) or one of the black op prisons overseas?

By: Matthew Rhodes

Matthew Rhodes — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:01:50 +0000

Interesting, I wonder how many of those people who voted yes have served in the military.

By: kevintracy

kevintracy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:17:50 +0000

haha, Thanks Tom.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:11:43 +0000

Kevin, your attention to detail and ability to ponder such complex shit, especially when things may seem like a no brainer always shocks me. This is such an interesting question yet I doubt anyone in the media will ask it. You should consider law school. abstract shit is your thing man! Sorry for the swearing I’m all hopped on the coffee.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:04:56 +0000

The J in UCMJ stands for Justice. There are crimes so heinous where death is the only means of obtaining justice. When they put on that uniform, they should be held to a higher standard, not a lower one.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:52:48 +0000

I hadn’t even considered what could happen to troops in the field. I can see troops being sacrificed for the benefit of politicians or political correctness.

Kevin what was the final result of the haditha issue?

By: briand

briand — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:06:30 +0000

“Should American troops be worried about capital punishment for their actions in the fog of war?” Well they should certainly worry about punishment for their actions. They should be and are held accountable and it is good for them to know that actions like Haditha will be prosecuted. Will knowing that they could be executed stop things like this any more than going to prison the rest of their lives? I don’t think so. I think they snap or justify their actions and hope not to be caught. Will it make them reluctant to follow duty or make them question actions more? It could and probably should. Aside from all that I cannot believe that our bases have vast areas where no guns are allowed. These men who have professional fire arms training were rendered sitting ducks by this rule.

By: Travis Gearhart

Travis Gearhart — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:46:24 +0000

Interesting…I still think yes, though, because this is little different take. Granted, there are other war crimes, however shooting up your own army men, in a premeditated act of violence is, I think, more severe than the vengence noted in your post. Good points, though. Definately a thinker.