Is this the end of a politically correct state of mind? That is the question that some are now confronting in the aftermath of the Fort Hood massacre. Since the shooting, many officials have argued claims of Nidal Hasan’s involvement with a recognized al Qaeda individual. According to American Officials, U.S. intelligence agencies were aware, months prior to the November shootings, of Hasan’s successful contact with a radical Yemini-American with ties to al Qaeda. Yet, such evidence did not prompt the FBI to further investigate Hasan’s suspicious activities. In fact, federal authorities dropped the examination of Hasan’s communications, all together, after deciding that the e-mails warranted no further action.
How can conversations between a spiritual adviser to several 9/11 hijackers as well as a subject if continual federal investigations and an Army Major with an already suspiciously keen interest in Islamic extremism not be suspect?
In a speech given at The Heritage Foundation last week, former Homeland Security Advisor to George W. Bush, Frances Townsend, spoke on this very topic. In her remarks she touched on whether political correctness contributed to the lack of further investigation into Hasan. According to Townsend, while information sharing has proven successful in post 9/11 society, the events at Fort Hood exemplified a weakness in the chain of transparency.
“We need to persuade people with the facts,” said Townsend. “I am not suggesting profiling, but we cannot be intimidated by a culture of political correctness.”
Townsend has a very valid point. Facts are facts. Allowing political correctness to get in the way of providing evidence, and possibly prevent mass casualties, is a sign that the pc movement has gone too far. More could have been done, were it not for people’s fear of being labeled as ‘profilers.’
There is a continual squabble among lawmakers and government officials about what was known prior to the shootings, where the information went, and why nothing was done earlier. However, some remain reluctant to admit that they sat on such information. In my opinion, the facts still add up to valid suspicions and to claim otherwise is foolish.
As an Iranian-American I am not spared from racial stereotyping. Throughout middle school I faced immature comments about the affiliation of my last name, and in high school, post 9/11, I received the occasional question, “Are your family members terrorists.” While I did not take such comments to heart, I can empathize with subjects of ethnic profiling. Nidal Hasan’s behaviors prior to the Fort Hood massacre were more than red flags. They were indicators of instability, and on that front alone, should have been brought into question. Understandably, officials will naturally exemplify more caution when investigating an individual of Muslim decent. But, is it not more important to risk the opinions of peers for the lives of 13 innocent individuals? No more lives should be lost as a result of the pc movement.
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Kathleen Someah previously attended Kenyon College where she studied English and Political Science. She is currently an intern with a political think tank where she focuses primarily on issues relating to homeland security.
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