Shepard Smith: “Maj. Hasan’s Name Says it All, Senator”
FOX News anchor Shepard Smith is sometimes seen as a dim beacon of light in an otherwise black hole of a television channel, a voice of reason amongst the reasonless, if you will. And yet, yesterday, following the Fort Hood shootings, an appearance by Texan senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) seemed to change all that, when Shepard asked: “The name tells us a lot, does it not, senator?“ Hutchinson’s (unsurprising) response? “It does. It does, Shepard.”
I’ll say off the bat that I’m not at all surprised by Hutchinson’s response (a Texas Republican? Says it all), nor really such an attitude from the FOX News channel. But from Shepard Smith? I’m disappointed. In case you’re unaware, Shepard was the sole FOX correspondent who vehemently defended against the “Obama is a Muslim” claims and against the whackjob “birthers.” He has ranted on-air against the idea of America torturing people. He has repeatedly been called a “lefty” by the crazies on the far right, and while he most certainly isn’t, that says something. And yet, unsurprisingly, Smith’s humanist tendencies stop at one thing: Muslims. Just like other middle-of-the-road anchors likely to speak out against racism or misogyny, the buck stops at Muslims.
Smith was literally the only voice of what seemed to be a glimmer of reason on FoxNews. Shocked and disappointed to hear about this.
Why would you be shocked and disappointed that he was right?
I missed him saying that. I had heard that faux news had some good coverage, so I tuned it in was impressed with Smith. After hearing this, it will be 6 or 7 years again before I watch.
This report was given at a time when there was still very little information. The name had not even been officially corroborated yet. So investigating this story at that point, with no official motive or other information, trying to determine what can be ascertained from the very little material at that time – the name, of course being middle eastern, actually a lot can be deduced from that and the report that the shooter was opposed to being deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq . And it turns out it was right.
He was absolutely correct. He didn't state WHAT the name could tell us, but he was correct in that the name actually provided the key to unlocking the puzzle at that point…. It turns out that the shooter was a Muslim who had problems with U.S. military action in the Middle East, and he did not want to be deployed.
If the name isn't a clue, will you settle for an "Allah Akbar" as the shooting began?
Have you ever considered that if everyone wasn't so f'n politically correct this might have been stopped?
And if the military people who are now making all these claims were doing their damn jobs, this might not have happened! If it's true that he was giving speeches on pouring oil down infidels throats, then HOW COME NOBODY SAID ANYTHING? No one thinks it's their responsibility, huh?
…then HOW COME NOBODY SAID ANYTHING? No one thinks it's their responsibility, huh?
You answered your own question when you made this post. The powers that be in the military were afraid of being portrayed as anti-Muslim if they took action against him for the things he was doing and saying. That has to stop. Which means people have to stop listening to your babbling, Jillian. You just tried to portray Shepherd Smith as anti-Muslim in regards to this very same perpetrator. If the military had either ejected this guy or prosecuted him for his radical anti-American statements you or somebody else on KF would have made a post about it. You know you would have.
First of all, anti-American government and extremist Muslim are two different things. I can be strongly opposed to both the American government and Islam at the same time.
Second, I would absolutely not condemn a soldier being fired over extremist religious statements of any kind. If someone ACTUALLY made such statements, then they deserve to be discharged. My understanding is that Major Hasan was actively attempting to be discharged anyway, no?
You still don't get it, Craig. I have and will stand up against people who make threats in the name of their religion.
Actually Jillian…. fear of appearing discriminatory against a Muslim kept people from reporting the red flags.
Well that's just ridiculous. They should have done it anyway. I would have.
Thank you for pointing out this rather telling bit of info for those who are so offended by anyone observing that most of the killings these days are by muslim fanatics. Stop worrying about Shep and Fox and start worrying that Sharia law is coming to a neighborhood near you.
This web site is interesting – I just stumbled in. When the muslims (the peaceful ones) start loudly denouncing the violence that their radical brethren cause, then I will start to differentiate. Until then muslims seem to comprise only two groups. The radicalized ones who kill Americans and others around the world, and the sheep who remain silent. I am not so sympathetic with the sheep.
I do know that those in the military must be a little worried if their platoon includes names like Hasan. Profiling? You bet.
Postscript – Why is the Obama administration going to such great lengths to emphasize that this was merely a criminal act and not terrorism? Talk about your political correctness from the Obamanation that dropped the term terrorism in favor of "man made disaster". What a putz.
I would like to point out the past few weeks have not been great for the members of the Islamic faith. Multiple arrests for home grown terrorists and now the shooting at Fort Hood. I would not be surprised to see a growing hatred towards your faith. I am not saying it is right, anyone who hates because of a person's faith, race or anything else that makes us different is wrong.
What must happen now is a strong commendation of these actions of the fringe groups. If it does not happen I am scared of the future.
It's been a terrible few weeks for Christians too. There was those teenagers in Kansas who raped a 10-year-old, and that 18-year-old father who raped his 8-month-old baby in Arkansas this weekend. Terrible week for Christians.
Unless they were motivated by religious ideology, that's a pretty senseless and offensive comment for you to have made.
And do you have any proof that Major Hasan was motivated by religious ideology, or is it only okay to assume when it's a Muslim?
Jillian: these things were not done in the name of Christianity. Islamic terrorism is done in the name of Islam. This shooting was done in the name of Islam, he yelled "Allahu Akbar" when he began the attack on his defenseless colleagues. more info here
Islamists have been caught planning attacks in the U.S. And they continue committing terrorism all over the world.
Why would you feel the need to try to equate some other religion with this phenomenon that is unique to Islam?
What's unique to Islam, terrorism? Explain to me, then, the murder of George Tiller (and the numerous terror attacks against abortion providers over the years).
Yes, Islamist terrorism exists, and yes, it's disgusting, but it's time you stop assuming every criminal Muslim to be a terrorist.
The "phenomenon" is all the violence committed because of religious ideology. All over the globe! Take a glance under the "News" section on this site to see a few of the latest incidents. There is no other religion which has this much violence done in its name.
The 911 attacks, the attacks on the trains in Spain, the attacks on the public transport system in London, the nightclub bombings, and all the jihad attacks all over the world are part of this phenomenon.
Yes there is other terrorism, and yes there are other incidents of violence… but this global phenomenon is unique to Islam. And no, not all Muslims are terrorists.
Jillian there really is no reason to be in denial about this, or to try and rationalize it or to justify it. It seems like the best thing to do would be to confront it head on, not to deny or make excuses like some sort of enabler.
The "phenomenon" is all the violence committed because of religious ideology. All over the globe! Take a glance under the "News" section on this site to see a few of the latest incidents. There is no other religion which has this much violence done in its name.
The 911 attacks, the attacks on the trains in Spain, the attacks on the public transport system in London, the nightclub bombings, and all the jihad attacks all over the world are part of this phenomenon.
Yes there is other terrorism, and yes there are other incidents of violence… but this global phenomenon is unique to Islam. And no, not all Muslims are terrorists.
Jillian there really is no reason to be in denial about this, or to try and rationalize it or to justify it. It seems like the best thing to do would be to confront it head on, not to deny or make excuses like some sort of enabler.
The second I see proper evidence, I will.
The fact is, you and Programmer Craig comment here frequently and condemn Muslims for every little thing that doesn't fit your worldview. If I seem defensive, you (and others like you) are the reasons why. You attack Muslims for non-violent things (their choice to wear the hijab, for example), and you wonder why you're seen as being divisive.
condemn Muslims for every little
You have never seen me "condemn a Muslim" for anything. I am opposed to senseless violence, hatred, and lies – and of course terrorists, or Islamic extremists. The terms "Islamism" and "Islamist" refer to Islamic extremism, and I am against those – but not ordinary Muslims.
I have never "attacked" anyone for the choice to wear hijab, I supported France's right to make the decision if it should be allowed there in their own French country. (By the way, in Switzerland they will vote this month on whether to ban minarets there).
I believe in freedom of religion, the the freedom not to have religion as you have chosen, and so am naturally opposed to Islamic domination, Sharia Law, ect. Muslims can practice their religion properly and have a relationship with their creator, understanding his will for their lives, without dominating everyone else.
I think there is a lot of ignorance in the Palestinian / Israeli issue, and a lot of lies and misinformation… I think that truth and common sense should prevail…. resolution of that issue will benefit the region and the entire world, and take the steam out of the rhetoric coming from places like Iran, ect.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not going to be surrendered, the American leadership has made it clear that defeat will not be accepted and is not an option – so the quicker that the governments there can take over the better….. and the quicker the Islamists there can be neutralized the better… for everyone. Taliban and other Islamists, including Al Qaeda, are the enemy of all freedom loving people. Period.
Then I apologize for grouping you in with Craig. You're our two most prolific commenters.
That said, you do not support freedom of religion and belief if you support France's decision.
Most people here share a desire to see the Palestinian situation improve, to see conditions get better, standard of living improvements, economic advancement and infrastructure upgrades. Not to mention security advancements. Where we disagree is on how to get there. And I don't go along with the notion that Israel is solely to blame for everything that has gone wrong.
And I don't go along with the notion that Israel is solely to blame for everything that has gone wrong.
Nor do I, but they're the ones with the power, and they continue to abuse it.
One last thing (not trying to be prolific lol )
During the Cold War, the Arab states like Syria and Egypt were Soviet allies, and Israel an American ally. Now there is no Cold War, but there is still this big divide, and the fuel that keeps it going is the Palestinian problem. Extremists take advantage of the conflict for their own purposes, and you have this whole situation with Iran supporting Hezbollah, with Syria, interfering with Lebanon, and so on. All this bullshit could be unraveled if the conflict was resolved somehow. And I'm sure you are aware of the vested interests in keeping the conflict going. I am convinced that some of those vested interests supply a lot of the misinformation and propaganda that deceives so many, especially the desperate, the emotional, and the ignorant – and truth is like an anti-dote.
Radical imam praises alleged Fort Hood shooter
Radical imam praises alleged Fort Hood shooter
Holy shit, a religious leader promoting hatred and acts of violence? Unheard of.
Hi Sana… been wondering where the 'critical-thinker-Sana' has been lately. I responded to you in some other places last night.
Jillian, at that point in time Shepherd Smith was refusing to disclose the name until it was confirmed. And:
The name tells us a lot, does it not, senator?
Is that an untrue statement?
At the time I first saw that, my assumption was the shooting was the work of a random nutjob with PTSD. I thought the hints it might be terrorism were absurd, because I know how violent and how prone to having a melt down some combat vets can be. But when Shepherd Smith implied the perp's name was telling us something was unusual about this shooting I knew before I even heard the name he was going to turn out to be an Arab Muslim. So, was Shepherd Smith wrong in saying "the name tells us a lot"? It told me a lot! It told me this was a premeditated and deliberate act of mass murder, and not just somebody in the military losing it. And he even went to a freaking processing center, knowing that's about the only place on a military base where you can find hundreds of unarmed military personnel crammed into hallways, waiting in line?
Eagle,
…and he did not want to be deployed there.
And yet he didn't desert, which is what people normally do when they don't want to be sent to a war. Instead he decided to try to martyr himself while murdering as many random American military personnel as he could. The only reason I don't consider this terrorism is that there's no attempt at ideological coercion involved. This was an unprovoked expression of pure homicidal rage and hatred. And I blame Jillian's attitude of political correctness for the fact this guy worked as a PSYCHIATRIST around mental health professionals for years and everyone he came into contact with seems to have known he had a problem, but nobody did anything about it.
Beyond my outrage about his murder spree, I feel sorry for any Iraq or Afghanistan war vet who was sent to him for treatment. Can you imagine how fucked up it would be to have psychological problems from war experiences and be sent to somebody who represents the enemy and harbors extreme ill will towards you? The US military owes war vets better than that.
Are you suggesting that a Muslim is incapable of "just losing it" the way a non-Muslim military person is?
No, Jillian, I'm saying that there aren't many Muslims in the US military and it would be the biggest coincidence in the history of humanity if the guy who committed the worst crime ever on a US military base just happened to be a Muslim.
1. Over fifteen thousand Muslims serve in the US armed forces
2. Not the biggest/worst crime ever committed on a US Military base. George Hennard Jr killed 23 people in 1991 (former Navy enlistee) at Fort Hood. And he was a racist and sexist.
There are plenty of Muslims in the US military, as Sana has already pointed out.
By the way, why does it not surprise me that the top 3 posts on KABOBfest either try to justify what this guy did, or to accuse critics of what he did of misconduct? This is your ideology at work, after all. How could you condemn it?
My ideology? I'm a protestant-born atheist, Craig. I don't like Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, not one bit. But Muslims do NOT deserve to be strung up for the actions of one man any more than Christians deserve to be strung up for that 18-year-old father in Arkansas who raped his 8-month-old baby last week. He was a Christian, at least by name, btw.
My ideology? I'm a protestant-born atheist, Craig.
Who is on record stating on this blog that she relates to Arab culture in the middle east better than she relates to her own culture *shrug*
For what it's worth, I was using "your" in a plural sense there, referring to the editorial stance on KABOBfest which is pro- Islamic "resistance". Same as this shooter's. And yeah you can go ahead and deny that Islam has anything to do with that but this blog only talks about Muslim countries so that's a non-starter.
I don't like Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, not one bit.
Well, considering Islam is one of the defining characteristics – if not THE defining characteristic – of the Arab culture you find yourself so attracted to, then I find that a bit difficult to swallow. I believe you are an atheist, but there's something about Islam in the Arab world that you find attractive.
But Muslims do NOT deserve to be strung up for the actions of one man…
My closest friend is a Muslim so I tend to agree with you! However, people who support violent jihad definitely DO deserve to take the hit for this, and for every other instance in which innocents have been victimized by a Muslim who thought he was doing God's will.
…any more than Christians deserve to be strung up for that 18-year-old father in Arkansas who raped his 8-month-old baby last week. He was a Christian, at least by name, btw.
What's that got to do with anything? I'm surprised you'd grasp at straws so desperately like that, Jillian. You don't see the difference between people who are motivated by religious ideologies and people who aren't? Really? I thought you aced the MENSA exam?
Anyway, I haven't talked about this event anywhere else. I wouldn't have talked about it here either, if you guys hadn't been trying to sweep it under the carpet. In future, you might wanna consider just not saying anything if it's something you don't approve of but can't bring yourself to condemn. Silence is a lot better than lame attempts to justify the unjustifiable.
Who is on record stating on this blog that she relates to Arab culture in the middle east better than she relates to her own culture *shrug*
I did not say that, Craig. I say that I relate better to some of my (decidedly atheist, leftist) Arab friends than I do some Americans I grew up with. I don't have many friends who are religious at all, though they may be Muslim by birth.
Well, considering Islam is one of the defining characteristics – if not THE defining characteristic – of the Arab culture you find yourself so attracted to, then I find that a bit difficult to swallow. I believe you are an atheist, but there's something about Islam in the Arab world that you find attractive.
I don't find much about Islam (or any other religion) attractive, but I do indeed like Arab culture: I like the closeness of family, the way people look out for each other, the modesty (not in its extremes, but in its ideal), and many other reasons. Most of those things I love so much about Arab culture are prevalent throughout Arab Christian and Druze (etc) culture too. Jewish culture, too.
What's that got to do with anything? I'm surprised you'd grasp at straws so desperately like that, Jillian. You don't see the difference between people who are motivated by religious ideologies and people who aren't? Really? I thought you aced the MENSA exam?
I remain unconvinced that this was religiously motivated, Craig. I don't think the other crimes were, either; I was making a comparison.
I condemn the attacks, what's your point?
Also, Craig, please recall that I was arguing with you against YOUR interpretation of what "my culture" is. You proclaimed that my culture was a Christian one. I argued that I was raised within an atheist/agnostic culture, and argued that as a result, I am likely to have more in common with my atheist Arab friends than I am with Christian Americans. I still maintain that to be true.
His faith has absolutely nothing to do with what he did. The bottom line is that this man was unhappy period. He wanted out of his situation and when he gave the military every single red flag in the book, they still would not let him go. How pathetic is that? It goes to show how desperate the US military machine is, if it is willing to take on or retain people who have no business being there, at the expense of the whole army.
Oh and by the way, the whole Allah akhbar thing is false. The army never confirmed that he said that, so for now it is bs.
You are obviously in some sort of denial. His faith was THE REASON for what he did.
No, it was PART of THE REASON. The Army had plenty of time to shape his worldview too.
When an atheist in the military commits an act like this, what will you say then?
the name says it all kabobfest! 'shep' smith the voice of reason that drops EFF bombs and fantasizes about jay-lo and oral sex on the set!
'blowjob bomb'—
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzV8wrnLfS4
'eff bomb'—–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IMgZqm4-Po
a sexually repressed christo-militant rightwingnut!
having a slip of the tongue (no pun intended) is hardly the same thing as "fantasizing"
and he dropped the f-bomb while being against so-called torture
OH SIGGY dontcha have better things to do than defend ole shep!
but everyone likes ole shep's highly caffeinated style! he's a good guy
i thought the tongue slips were pretty funny, too
why you guys gota hate on TEXAS. Sheesh. Republicans are not WORSE in Texas. At least our people don't shoutout 'YOU LIE'….were' polite in our racism