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Wednesday      
November 11, 2009
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Major Hasan and the U.S. Army

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Americans are pondering how to deal with the information that’s come out about alleged Fort Hood shooter, Nadil Hasan. Did the U.S. Army ignore danger signs about a Muslim soldier in order to be “politically correct?” We speak with Dorothy Rabinowitz, a member of the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal.

We’ll also speak with Thomas Ricks, author of two books on the Iraq war, “Fiasco,” and “The Gamble”. Ricks is a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and an editor at Foreign Policy magazine where he writes the blog “The Best Defense.”

9/11 Memorial Controversy

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The father of James Gadiel, who died in the terrorist attacks of 9/11, wants a memorial erected in Kent, Connecticut that reads, “James Gadiel 1978-2001, A Gentleman and a Gentle Man Murdered by Muslim Terrorists.” A select woman thought those words were inflammatory and tried to talk Mr Gadiel out of it. We speak with select woman Ruth Epstein about why she does not want the memorial to mention the terrorists’ Muslim faith.

The British Debate

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People react as the coffins of six British soldiers are driven through Wootton Bassett, England, after being repatriated at RAF Lyneham, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009.  Hundreds gathered in this small English market town Tuesday to pay tribute to six soldiers killed in Afghanistan, five of whom were shot to death by an Afghan police officer who turned against them.  (AP)

People react as the coffins of six British soldiers are driven through Wootton Bassett, England. (AP)

The bodies of six British soldiers killed in Afghanistan were returned home this week. Their deaths bring the toll for the war to more than 230. As the BBC’s Naomi Grimley reports, public opinion supporting the war continues to erode as the number of deaths climbs.

Brian Turner, Veteran and Poet

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Brian Turner turned his experience in Iraq into poetry. His book, “Here, Bullet” captured several awards and also helped to earn him the Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship. Under the rules of the scholarship, he is required to spend a year outside North America. Turner also contributes to the Home Fires blog on the New York Times website.

From Swords to Ploughshares

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While in Iraq, former Army sergeant Matthew McCue witnessed the peace-making potential of agriculture. When he returned home he joined the Farmer-Veteran Coalition, and now works at the French Garden Farm near Sebastopol, California. Says McCue: “I still want to make the world a better place. I think I can do more good with a shovel than with an M-16.” His story was produced by Alix Blair for the SpeakEasy DC Storycast and Hearing Voices.

Music from the Show

  • A Perfect Circle, “Peace, Love and Understanding”
Listener comments
  • Dorthy Rabinowitz as a commentator what a train wreck, why does any Public Radio program give her a platform? She adds absolutely no value to any program other then to present a one-way ultra conservative viewpoint at the expense of any discussion. I guess she gives Public Radio some “cover” from critics on the right that their viewpoints are not presented. There have to be better sources who would at least present a more balanced approach to any subject.

    Posted by Todd Bria, on November 11th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
  • Regarding the shooting at Fort Hood.

    I think some are not considering that this is a workplace shooting, like those that occurred at US Post offices. How much is terrorism how much is mental health at workplace?

    Posted by Catherine D'Ignazio, on November 11th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
  • Dorothy Rabinowitz of the Wall Street Journal is quite off the mark. She has no basis for the remarks that she made about the killer and the killings at Ft Hood. Why have someone like her on your show? Don’t we want to have people with sensible opinions? Is there a purpose to air crazy opinions?

    Posted by Sidney Goldstein, on November 11th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
  • From Swords to Ploughshares- former Army sergeant Matthew McCue

    This was such an important and completely inspiring story. It really made me think about how we can do so much good for these countries and maybe it doesn’t need to be in a destructive and violent way. I really was touched by this Sergeants words.

    Posted by jane monaghan, on November 11th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
  • Thomas Ricks – What the heck was that comment about treating officers “different” and his proof was the TV show “MASH”. That was rich.

    Posted by Jon, on November 11th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
  • The chest beating by people like Rabinowitz is so faux and not grounded in actual reality.
    Reality – soldiers have a lot of stress – no matter what their religion
    Reality – psychiatrists are not absolved from having stress
    Reality – we don’t know if the 911 perpetrators showed their ID because everyone died. However, in 2001 – rarely were you asked for ID to get on a plane.

    Rabinowitz and others like her believe in a black and white and that world exists no where but in fundamentalists countries and societies. The rest of the world lives in shades of color, because that is what life is.

    NPR should have responded to some of her rhetoric with a list of facts and had her respond. Letting people spew lies or distortions on a news show does little to promote discussions.

    Posted by Vicki Watson Walker, on November 11th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
  • Dorothy Rabinowitz aside…this guy does sound like a terrorist.

    Posted by Jon, on November 11th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
  • The idea of an incompetent officer who was “shuffled around” and then responsible for the Fort Hood tragedy reminds me of the recent Catholic Church’s dealings with its priests who were guilty of inflicting tremendous mental and physical pain on their victims and their families. Rightly so, those priests and the Catholic Church were shown little mercy… our society and government should treat the Fort Hood killings no differently. Perhaps the military could learn from the Catholic Church leaders about how not to handle senior, trusted officials and steps to take to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

    Posted by Beth, on November 11th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
  • I am troubled by Dorothy Rabinowitz’s anger filled voice in her interview on NPR. She insists, rather than demonstrates through and by example, that it is perfectly clear to all what the motives were of the shooter at Fort Hood. And she shoves her uninformed opinion through the airwaves. She was not held accountable. She completely rolled over the interviewer with her contemptuous responses. With inciters like her holding the airwaves, it is no wonder people reach for the lowest and meanest explanation of behavior.

    Posted by Linnea Larson, on November 11th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
  • Regarding Mr. Gadiel’s memorial: while I sympathize with his loss, I see no reason to specify the religion of his son’s murderers.

    I have a relative who was gunned down somewhere in the South because he was a Jew. Can I demand a memorial listing him as a victim of “Christian Terrorists”? What about the Holocaust? What about the doctors murdered by so-called “pro-lifers”? What about the victims of priestly sex abuse who committed suicide? Are all these examples of “Christian Terrorism”? Should they be memorialized as such? I say No! Neither should 9/11.

    Posted by Etaoin Shrdlu, on November 11th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
  • What was the background music during the end of WED broadcast?

    Posted by j, on November 11th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
  • I share the bewilderment of those wondering why D. Rabinowitz was given time to rail against failure of the media to treat these murders as something more than the act of an individual.

    Her charge that the only reason we do not discuss how the acts of Maj. Hasan are part of a widespread threat posed by Arab-Americans is “political correctness” makes me wonder how she felt about Jonathan Pollard. He is a Jewish-American who betrayed this country by putting his loyalty to Israel over he duty and oath to this country. Anyone calling for a similar witch hunt against Jewish-Americans on the basis of a number of significant cases of Israel using American Jews to spy for them, would be met with charges of anti-Semitism. Judging a group by the acts of an individual is prejudice and contrary to the American ideal of judging individuals by their actions and not ethnic or religious background.

    I agree with the view expressed that those attempting to place the murders as part of our struggle against Islam undermine our efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution in Iraq and Afghanistan. If we are at war with Islam, how can the people of these countries work with us?

    Posted by Donald Mulcare, on November 11th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
  • Thank you for the story about the army seargant turned sustainable farmer, Matthew McCue. It reminded me of my grandfather, a Navy Veteran who I remember as a farmer in southern Ohio. I hope my young relatives and friends serving now consider this profession change as well. I also really enjoyed hearing A Perfect Circle on NPR!

    Posted by Shannon Tubb, on November 11th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
  • As usual, Dorothy Rabinowitz showed her angry, hostile and hateful character. Sheessentially implies that all muslims have a tendency toward disloyalty and should be singled out for screening. What would she say if all Jews (or any other ethnic group) were assumed to have divided loyalties and were scrutinized before they entered into any government entity? Before drawing any conclusions about the motives of Major Hasan, let’s get all the facts.

    Posted by M. Olson, on November 11th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
  • I was appalled by Dorothy Rabinowitz’s rage-filled voice and misinformed comments yesterday. Her performance discredits the Wall Street Journal, and stains Here and Now.

    Posted by Harriet Brickman, on November 12th, 2009 at 10:06 am
  • Dear J,

    The music you’re asking about is by the group “A Perfect Circle”, called “Peace, Love and Understanding”.

    Thanks for your interest,

    Jill

    Posted by jryan, on November 12th, 2009 at 10:08 am
  • Robin, what is your agenda???? You were interrupting your guests yesterday and were very combative. As a reporter, I know sometimes you need to play “devil’s advocate” but you should also know that this MONSTER killed and wounded a lot of people, therefore should not be shown mercy or questioned the motives. He is a cold blooded killer and that’s it!

    Posted by Susan M., on November 12th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
  • [...] on PRI Hear & Now; by producer Alix Blair, “Swords to Plowshares” (0:00 mp3): var [...]

    Posted by Swords to Plowshares : HearVox, on November 15th, 2009 at 10:43 am
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