Daniel Pipes on The Jihad army assassin

The jihadi school, still
in the minority, perceives Hasan's attack as one of many Muslim efforts to
vanquish infidels and impose Islamic law. We recall a prior episode of
sudden
ial> jihad syndrome in the U.S. military, as well as the numerous cases of
non-lethal Pentagon
jihadi plots and the history of Muslim
violence on
American soil.

Far from being mystified by Hasan, we see overwhelming evidence of his
jihadi intentions. He handed
> out Korans to neighbors just before going on his rampage and yelled
"Allahu

Akbar," the jihadi's cry, as he fired off over 100 rounds from two pistols.
His superiors reportedly put
him on
probation for inappropriately proselytizing about Islam.

We note what former associates say about him: one, Val
ov07,0,3477020,print.story> Finnell, quotes Hasan saying, "I'm a Muslim
first and an American second" and recalls Hasan justifying suicide
gnsAheadOfUsArmyShootingUs/37485/> terrorism; another, Col Terry
d-shooting-Nidal-Malik-Hasan-said-Muslims-should-rise-up.html> Lee, recalls
that Hasan "claimed Muslims had the right to rise up and attack Americans";
the third, a psychiatrist
who worked
very closely with Hasan, described him as "almost belligerent about being
Muslim."

Finally, the jihad school of thought attributes importance to the Islamic
authorities' urging American Muslim soldiers to refuse to fight their
co-religionists, thereby providing a basis for sudden jihad. In 2001, for
example, responding to the U.S. attack on the Taliban, the mufti of Egypt,
Ali Gum'a,
issued a fatwa stating that "The Muslim soldier in the American army must
refrain [from participating] in this war." Hasan himself, echoing that
message, advised a young Muslim disciple, Duane
ov07,0,4710653.story> Reasoner Jr., not to join the U.S. army because
"Muslims shouldn't kill Muslims."

If the jihad explanation is overwhelmingly more persuasive than the victim
one, it's also far more awkward to articulate. Everyone finds blaming road
rage, Accutane, or an arranged marriage easier than discussing Islamic
doctrines. And so, a prediction: what Ralph
zdsJ31vnJ> Peters calls the army's "unforgivable political correctness" will
officially ascribe Hasan's assault to his victimization and will leave jihad
unmentioned.

And thus will the army blind itself and not prepare for its next jihadi
attack.

Mr. Pipes is director of the Middle East Forum and Taube distinguished
visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University.