No Purple Hearts for Fort Hood Victims

[JPL]

Came across this news article, which will probably generate a lot of debate.

The Department of Defense is making it clear: The military opposes awarding Purple Hearts to the victims of the Fort Hood shooting. A Pentagon position paper, delivered to congressional staff says giving the award to the Fort Hood victims could "irrevocably alter the fundamental character of this time-honored decoration" and "undermine the prosecution of Major Nidal Hasan [the alleged Fort Hood shooter] by materially and directly compromising Major Hasan's ability to receive a fair trial."

DOCUMENT: Pentagon Position on Fort Hood Purple Hearts

The Department prepared the paper in response to legislation introduced by Rep. John Carter, (R.-Texas), the Congressman whose district includes Fort Hood. The Fort Hood Families Benefits Protection Act would award both military and civilian casualties of the Fort Hood attack combatant status. Carter re-introduced the legislation in February in the wake of an ABC News investigation detailing claims by victims that they have been neglected by the military. Thirteen people were killed, including a pregnant soldier, and 32 others wounded in the Nov. 5, 2009 rampage at the Army base in Killeen, Texas. Hasan now awaits a military trial on charges of premeditated murder and attempted murder. After numerous delays, that trial is now set to begin with jury selection on May 29.

Despite extensive evidence that Hasan was in communication with al Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki prior to the attack, the military has denied the victims a Purple Heart and has treated the incident as "workplace violence" instead of "combat related" or terrorism. Last month, a spokesman for recently appointed Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel, told ABC News the Department's position had not changed under his leadership.

In a February statement, Rep. Carter said the Fort Hood Families Benefits Protection Act "would award the military and civilian casualties of the 2009 Fort Hood attack the same status that was awarded to the casualties of the Pentagon attack on Sept. 11, 2001. All of the casualties would be eligible for the Purple Heart Award or the Department of Defense civilian equivalent."

Read the complete news article: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/purple-hearts-fort-hood-victims-pentagon/story?id=18845771#.UVq2L5OG024

Jean-Paul

[Chris Boonzaier]

IMHO it would be wrong to award them... even if the victims have my sympathies... If this was the case, where would you stop? Any soldiers wounded by Tim Mcveigh?

[Paul R]

In this case I would agree to the award being issued for the victims. The Major is an enemy operative who took orders from Al Queida, an enemy that we are in combat operations against. Timothy McVeigh was not.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Was he really fully a terrorist operative? Or was he an idiot who made his own agenda after surfing the internet and exchanging a few emails? where is the bar between being a murdering homicide guy, and being an enemy combatant? did milititary personel killed in the twin towers get one?

best

Chris

[dond]

Either way he should have been tried and shot by now.

[Chris Boonzaier]

maybe he had a difficult childhood... or came from a single parent family... you never know.... ;-)