that has come up concerning Nidal Hasan’s PowerPoint lecture to Army doctors in 2007 is whether he was merely providing objective information about the war commands of the Koran, or presenting them as his own beliefs. Below, VFR reader Kathlene M. quotes and summarizes substantial portions of the PowerPoint document. The document leaves no question that Major Hasan of the United States Army was speaking—speaking to an audience of U.S. Army officers—as an advocate and believer in the Allah-commanded eternal war against all non-Muslims. And the Army did nothing about this. It allowed Nasan to keep his commission and his place in the Army until he carried out those same war commands himself and mass murdered American soldiers.
Investigating Hasan’s immediate supervisors and the Army higher ups responsible for this policy and cashiering them, up to and including the egregious Army Chief of Staff George Casey, is vitally necessary, but it will not get to the root of the problem. The Army brass was following directives from the Defense Department and the White House and the Congress, going back at least three presidential administrations, to increase at all costs the ethnic and gender diversity of the armed forces, particularly the number of Muslims. It was not this officer or that who allowed the Fort Hood massacre to occur; and it was not the conservatives’ bogeyman “political correctness.” It was our entire ruling ideology of inclusion and non-discrimination, which the conservatives themselves support and never challenge.
I had to type from the document itself since cutting/pasting was impossible.
What strikes me as I read the 50-page document is this: Hassan is clearly supporting jihad since it’s supported by the Koran. He is also clearly saying that Muslims don’t belong in the U.S. military.
Below are important sections. If I make any comments or explanations, they are noted below each page in parentheses. Actual content from the slides is in quotes after the page number. Any bolding, italics and typos are Hasan’s, not mine.
Page 1: “The Koranic World View As It Relates to Muslims in the U.S. Military”
Page 2: “Objectives: Identify what the Koran inculcates in the minds of Muslims and the potential implications this may have for the U.S. military. Describe the nature of the religious conflicts that Muslims may have with the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Identify Muslim soldiers that may be having religious conflicts with the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Page 5: “Concept of Jihad: [Arabic jihad, from jahada, to strive; see ghd in Semitic roots.]. 1. Islam An individual’s striving for spiritual self-perfection. 2. Islam A Muslim holy war or spiritual struggle against infidels. 3. A crusade or struggle: “The war against smoking is turning into a jihad against people who smoke” (Fortune). Struggles inside ones self are termed ‘the Greater Jihad’ and Struggles with outside forces ‘the lesser Jihad.’”
(This page about Jihad ties in to the last several pages of Hassan’s presentation, starting at page 35.)
Page 9: “Military Statistics: Pentagon officials say there were 4,070 self-declared Muslims in the U.S. Armed Forces in May 2001…. Qaseem Uqdah: heads the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council in Washington, DC, counts upwards of 15,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and Coast Guard members—2001…. “
Page 11: “Fatwa: Muslims in U.S. Military: … ‘It’s getting harder and harder for Muslims in the service to morally justify being in a military that seems constantly engaged against fellow Muslims.’”
Page 12: “Muslims in the Military” (Here Hassan cites Koranic verses about the punishment for those who kill Muslims.)
Pages 13: “Adverse Events” (Hassan lists four Muslims who refused to carry out their duties in the U.S. army. One inflicted casualties.)
Page 17: “Rule of Abrogation:…. ” (Koranic verses are cited that discuss how some revelations in the Koran override others. This will be important to page 35 and thereafter [below] in which “defensive/offensive jihad” is shown to override verses about peace and forgiveness.)
Page 22: “Concept of Complete Submission: O you who believe! Enter into Islam completely, whole-heartedly … [2:208]”
Page 25: “Lack of Submission:..” (Cites Koranic verses cursing those who do not believe or submit to the Muslim God. These cursed are “despised, hated, as apes and swine.”)
Pages 27-32: “Fearing God” and “Rewards”
(Discusses fearing the Muslim God and the rewards e.g. paradise for Muslims who fear and follow God.)
Page 32: “Punishment Verses: [8.50] And if you could see when the angels take away the souls of those who disbelieve (at death); … taste the punishment of blazing fire. [44:43] Verily, the tree of Zaqqum. [44:44] Will be the food of sinners. [44:45] Like boiling oil, it will boil in the bellies, [44:46] Like the boiling of scalding water. [44:47] (It will be said) ‘Seize him and drag him into the midst of blazing fire,’ “
Page 33: “Punishment Versus Cont: [44:48] “Then pour over his head the torment of the boling water” … [44:56] Surely, those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (verses, signs, etc), We shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment. Truly, Allah is Ever Most Powerful, All-Wise.”
Page 34: “Punishment Slides: … [41:29] And those who disbelieve will say” “Our Lord! Show us among the jinn and men who led us astray: that we may crush them under our feet so that they may become the lowest.”
Page 35: “Example: Jihad-rule of Abrogation: In Mecca Muslims were not permitted to defend themselves/fight. There only job was to deliver the message (peaceful verses). Emigration to Medina: self defense was allowed. Then offensive fighting was allowed. Later verses abrogated former ie: peaceful verses no longer apply. Indeed at one point Islamic spanned form Morocco/Spain to the Border of India/China.”
Page 37: “Defensive Verses: Permission (to fight) is given to those (believers) who are fought against, because they have been wronged; and surely, Allah is able to give them victory.[22:39] … “
Pages 38-41: “Defensive Jihad” (Koranic verses are cited.)
Pages 42-43: “Verse of the Sword: … “
Page 44: “Offensive Jihad Cont: 9.29: “Fight those who do not believe in Allah … until they pay the tax in acknowledgement of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.”
Page 45: “Offensive Islam If The Future: … He will break the cross, kill the pigs and abolish the jizyah, … “
Page 46: “History Cont: Islam “spread by the sword?” … “
Page 47: “Different Paths to Heaven?: … [3.85] And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.”
Page 48: “Comments: … If Muslim groups can convince Muslims that they are fighting for God against injustices of the “infidels”; ie: enemies of Islam, then Muslims can become a potent adversary ie: suicide bombing, etc. We love death more then you love life!”
Page 49: “Conclusion: God expects full loyalty … Muslims may be seen as moderate (compromising) but God is not … Fighting to establish an Islamic State to please God, even by force, is condoned by the Islam. Muslims Soldiers should not serve in any capacity that renders them at risk to hurting/killing believers unjustly … “
Page 50: “Recommendation: Department of Defense should allow Muslims Soldiers the option of being released as “Conscientious objectors” to increase troop morale and decrease adverse events.”
Donna E. werites: