yeah cause that's exactly what we're saying Zarn.

And Squirrel King, you might be right. I'm not trying to imply that those were his reasons for what he did. I'm just saying I'm sick of the media being sympathetic to him (at least CNN. That's the only network whose coverage I've seen, being on a ship and all). In my mind, there's no excuse, there's no mitigating circumstances. The guy's a monster and I hope he fries in the electric chair (I'd be shocked if there's any other result).

Wookie, you say that he had plenty of chances to get out in the 6 years since the war. I don't know how it is with the Army and specifically with army officers, but even if that's true, it's irrelevant. Even if he's been trying to get out for 6 years and hasn't been able to, it doesn't in any shape or form, to any degree, justify his actions. Like I said before, there're a lot of service members that want to get out. Alot of them even do stupid stuff to get out (doing drugs, pretending to be gay, etc), but they don't go around killing people on rampages.

Where's the evidence of his 'extremist views'?

Err, What?

Maybe you misinterpreted my post. Of course there is no excuse. Their is not one person serving in the military in any fashion that could be truly considered involuntary post 9/11. At this point in time anyone with any type of service obligation has made there choice to commit themselves post-Afghanistan, which the shooter was scheduled to leave for this month, and, most likely, post-Iraq. The point is that he obligated himself to military service WHILE these conflicts were ongoing. If he was personally opposed to them he simply should have chosen not to serve.

I guess it is possible that he might have entered into an agreement for the education prior to 9/11, completed it after, and then still have had a service obligation. Even then, he could have refused the commitment and reimbursed the government for the expense of his education or something along those lines.

I would not say I have evidence of extremist views because I think it is too early to consider the reports "evidence". It is my opinion we will find out that most of the following reported information is true:

He was chanting "Allāhu Akbar" while shooting people.
He posted on radical muslim websites (context?).
His coworkers report his pro-islamist war views.

Of course we will learn more and find out what is really true. I find it entertaining that everytime an African doesn't get a condom it's the Pope's fault but anytime someone points out a devout muslim acting upon his views of his religion commits acts of violence I'm the islamophobe.

If he really has such views what the hell was he doing in the army.

this. the fact that he was a military psychiatrist isnt helping his case. he should have just been able to let the making fun roll off his back.

Especially because experienced Army psychiatrists make around $200,000+ a year.

I think that's pretty much the point Wookie's trying to make.

My point is that if being a muslim with personal views so at odds with the current military mission was the real issue, he has had plenty of opportunity to no longer serve in the military. The easiest thing to believe would be that he stayed in the army to find a way to commit an act of jihad but I think that is too easy. Still, it appears that, at some point, he was radicalized.

Thank goodness he was only able to kill 12 people. If someone were to get a gun with a sufficiently high capacity magazine and target a large crowd in a confined area, say on black friday, they could kill hundreds with out too much trouble. Considering that the person is loosing their own life in the process, it's fortunate that they don't put any more thought into it.

Go watch that MW2 video to see the worst case scenario.

Are you trying to make sure I don't step out of my house on Black Friday?

Also, don't give them any ideas.

brb, gunstore

People already die on Black Friday from trampling. I'm glad I don't work in retail anymore.

(I was going to make a joke about people standing on line for MW2, but given the topic of the thread I realized it was especially tasteless, even for me.)

One of the articles I think mentioned a high school graduation going on in a nearby building.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5A85DK20091110