Why Hasan’s superiors didn’t flunk him out of Army medical school

The revelations about Nidal Hasan don’t stop. From ABC News, which has been at the forefront of this story (and which in this article happily breaks with the media habit of using a pleasantly smiling photo of the mass killer and features a more sinister shot of him instead), we learn that

Investigators also found that Hasan donated $20,000 to $30,000 a year to overseas Islamic “charities.” As an Army major, his yearly salary, including housing and food allowances, was approximately $92,000. A number of Islamic charities have been identified by U.S. authorities as conduits to terror groups.

We also learn that

One of Hasan’s commanding officers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Lieutenant Colonel Melanie Guerrero, told investigators she had considered failing him as an intern but “decided to allow him to pass since he was going into psychiatry and would not be doing any real patient care.”

I’m speechless. I can’t think of any comment, whether outraged or clever, to make about Lieutenant Colonel Melanie Guerrero’s remark. We’re in a realm beyond criticism, beyond indignation, beyond parody. It’s called liberalism.

Here’s the article:

Hasan Was Worried About Results of Recent HIV Test
Investigators Also Find Accused Fort Hood Shooter Sent $30,000 a Year Overseas to Islamic “Charities”
By JOSEPH RHEE, ANNA SCHECTER and BRIAN ROSS
Nov. 19, 2009

Major Nidal Hasan seemed worried about the results of an HIV blood test taken a week before the Fort Hood shooting rampage, according to federal investigators piecing together background details on Hasan’s life.

The information came from a member of the Fort Hood medical staff who was in the building where Hasan is accused of opening fire on November 5 and killing 13 people.

The investigators said there was no indication that Hasan was HIV positive, although a bottle of medicine used to treat HIV-positive individuals, Combivir, was seen in Hasan’s apartment by ABC News last week. Medical experts say many doctors also have Combivir on hand in case of an accidental needle stick. A second drug seen in the apartment, clarithromycin, is an antibiotic designed to treat respiratory infections. However, it can also be used to treat specific opportunistic infections in patients with HIV.

Hasan, who is not married, was a regular at a Killeen, Texas strip club which features nude dancers, according to employees there.

Investigators also found that Hasan donated $20,000 to $30,000 a year to overseas Islamic “charities.” As an Army major, his yearly salary, including housing and food allowances, was approximately $92,000. A number of Islamic charities have been identified by U.S. authorities as conduits to terror groups.

Investigators said Hasan followed his own strict interpretation of how a Muslim should live—including driving without auto insurance or signing up for life insurance provided through the military.

His academic record is replete with serious concerns about his religious statements and his academic abilities, the investigators found.

One of Hasan’s commanding officers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Lieutenant Colonel Melanie Guerrero, told investigators she had considered failing him as an intern but “decided to allow him to pass since he was going into psychiatry and would not be doing any real patient care.”

Guerrero told ABC News his performance problems stemmed from his lack of competence in the intensive care unit, including problems with recommending the proper medications or coming up with the right kind of patient treatment plan.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at November 21, 2009 02:09 PM | Send