Nidal Hassan sentenced to death
Thirteen senior Army officers have sentenced Maj. Nidal Hasan to death for carrying out the horrific 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood Army base.
The panel’s recommendation will now go to a convening authority, the general responsible for assembling the capital court-martial, for review and approval. The convening authority can approve or reduce the sentence.
On Friday, Hasan was unanimously convicted on 13 charges of premeditated murder and convicted of 32 charges of attempted premeditated murder. His conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison and the panel was authorized to consider the death penalty.
This is no surprise. I think it is probably what Hassan wants, as well, although here’s what the prosecution had to say about that:
The government argued against the idea that a death sentence would result in martyrdom for Hasan. “He will never be a martyr because he has nothing to give. Do not be misled. Do not be fooled. He is not giving his life. We are taking his life. This is not his gift to God; this is his debt to society. This is not a charitable act. He is not now and never will be a martyr. He is a cold-blooded murderer,” argued prosecutor Col. Michael Mulligan.
It will take quite a bit of time to go through the appeals (no military executions have taken place since 1961, despite 16 military death penalty convictions since 1984), and I make no predictions as to whether the sentence will hold. But if it is overturned, it will probably be because Hassan had inadequate counsel: himself.
My idea of proper punishment for Major Hasan would be to sentence him to life in a cell where they played Christian hymns all day and fed him bacon for breakfast, ham for lunch, and pork chops for dinner.
Prosecutor Col. Michael Mulligan’s need not have made the appeal for death in the context of martydom. No-one believes that nonsense but muslims. How glorious the justice if Hassan was executed, and thinking himself on his way to a rendezvous with 72 virgins (I’ve never gotten the appeal of that) found himself in that circle of hell reserved for murdererss, just a few circles away from his prophet.
Or Obama pardons him one day before leaving office sometime in the near/distant future.
Col. Mulligan’s assertion that Hassan is not a martyr will not be shared by jihadists and dissuading future domestic jihadists is of far more importance than American’s individual opinions.
Sentencing Hassan to life in prison will not be viewed by domestic jihadist terrorists as obviating his martyrdom. It will be viewed as evidence that America is weak and an invitation to further aggression. As predators do not pass by the weak.
Thus, IMO we should give Hassan his wish and execute him but… in the interests of nullifying his martyrdom in the eyes of future domestic jihadists, Hassan’s manner of execution should be appropriate to the situation. Islam’s own tenets declare that Hassan drowning in pig’s blood would both prevent his martyrdom and prevent him from entering paradise. That is deterrence on jihadist’s terms.
If I were judge, drawing and quartering would be my choice. Or maybe beheading with a dull knife- the method of choice by his friends.
One more martyr is hardly going to make a difference to them, might as well make it painful.
I favor life in solitary confinement (24/7) without a copy of the koran or any indication of the location of mecca.
The blood of a pig is too precious to touch the body of Hasan.
He should die a ghastly death and his rotten carcass thrown into Gehenna. He should be tortured. It should be slow.
Yes, execute him. Sentencing him to life in prison will only make him a potential bargaining chip for terrorists.
Suppose, for example, they take an elementary school hostage and demand his release?
As noted, nothing will happen any time soon. Who knows what situation may develop in the interim? Obama may even pardon the SOB.l After all he was exercising the tenets of his religion.
At any rate, work place violence is a terrible thing. Of course terrorism is worse.
Interesting outcome on the sentence. I was Senior member of a General Court Martial in a murder case back in the Carter Administration. We were not allowed to sentence death. As I recall, it was not an option in a court martial at that time; but, I confess that my memory may be faulty and it may have simply been a lesser charge than First Degree murder. It was premeditated. It was black vs white and we had to sit through a very long psychological justification due to disadvantaged childhood, etc.; none of which explained why the culprit shot his fellow Marine and room mate.
Hassan craves death. Life, instead of ‘martyrdom’, is the punishment he fears. Allahu akbar, may that phrase become bitter dust in the mouths of all who utter it.
George Pal, 6:20 pm — “How glorious the justice if Hasan was executed, and thinking himself on his way to a rendezvous with 72 virgins . . . .”
How glorious the justice if Hasan was thinking himself on the way to a rendezvous as described in this now-shopworn good news / bad news joke, adapted for this forum by M J R:
From Nidal Hasan’s standpoint . . .
The good news: Hasan will be surrounded by 72 virgins.
The bad news: Those virgins all look like Yasser Arafat.
May he turn on a spit in Hell for Eternity. May Yasir Arafat be in close anal proximity.
Well, Chelsea is taken, so maybe he can change his name to Hayah, which is a muslim woman’s name meaning ‘life’ (may it be short).
This is what I said about Hasan on my blog in 2009:
Barry will pardon him at the last hour of his Presidency.
That’s a given.
Much can be relied upon for clear direction. But in this case, because Muslims don’t “really” hate bacon (or much of anything prohibited by the Quran including homosexuality, rape, alcohol . . . and Western movies), Hasan should not be force fed bacon. That would result in bacon induced glory!
Giving Hasan bacon is a double beauty for him: He gets to enjoy bacon while claiming he doesn’t. That, my “not taqiyya understanding” readers, is taqiyya.
I’ve read elsewhere that Obama will have to sign in order for him to be actually put to death, so we know that will never happen.
This notion that Obama would pardon Hasan is silly. I hope those saying that aren’t being serious.
But as far as signing off on the execution order, I would be surprised but not shocked if Hasan’s death sentence was commuted to a life sentence.
I don’t know that the execution order would be on Obama’s desk anyway. I’ve read the appeals process takes years, although that may be expedited in Hasan’s case, especially if he waives his right to appeal. (I don’t believe, but also don’t know whether, all possible appeals are required to be exhausted in a UCMJ death sentence case irrespective of the defendant’s wishes.)
I expect the appeals process, long, and to the taxpayers quite costly, will occur despite Hasan’s wishes. That is what our legal system has become. We fund infinite debates by lawyers paid by someone to do so. No justice, just debates.
On Wall St, such used to be called “churning”, to make money only for the brokers. Move ’em into a position, move ’em out, move ’em into something else flippable, keep ’em as clients and collect the commissions.
Ethics? Justice? Nah, just about money.
No justice, no peace.
The expectation that Obama will do evil and support Islamos is fact. Whether the specific prophecy comes true or not, whether it is proven by the fire or proven to be a joke, remains to be seen.
Generally speaking, it is better for people to over estimate their enemies than underestimate them. For what truly matters is the soul and spirit, not the methods evil uses to produce evil.
Yes, he should be executed. Despite our fantasies of withholding the koran and feeding him pork products, our military jailers would treat him with respect (see Gitmo, where the prisoners have better accommodations than their guards). And what an image of weakness that would be.
Since the military would likewise not give him our desired gruesome and/or disrespectful send-off, I would suggest that it be something with less fanfare than a martyr would desire, such as the Terry Sciavo method: starvation and dehydration, where he just fades away. Make sure there are witnesses and a photo of his dead body, but no glorious snuff clip that can be used to recruit more martyrs.
I think some of us are concerned about Obama pardoning Hasan based on his enthusiasm to work with the Muslim Brotherhood and the Taliban and habit of making big gestures. He secretly released five Taliban prisoners from Gitmo in July as a nod of willingness to open peace talks. Who’s to say he wouldn’t likewise pardon or release Hasan as a goodwill gesture? Or worse, release Hasan as some show that America doesn’t mistreat its enemies (similar to his ‘we’re above torture’ gestures of releasing the Bush admin’s enhanced interrogation memos and implementing a policy of Mirandizing enemy combatants on the battlefield).
Eric:
I agree with you. Obama would not pardon him; that would be political dynamite. I don’t think he’ll bother with him one way or the other. The appeals process, by the way (if other people sentenced to death by military courts since the 80s are a guide) will go on for decades.
kit,
Torture and a painful death alone, makes him a martyr for Islam. Regardless of how ‘precious’ pigs blood may be…it would effectively prevent Hassan in both Islam and its adherent’s eyes from gaining his 72 virgins. Which is why it would be a deterrent.
Lizzy,
While I agree that none of these suggested consequences are even remotely likely, I was not fantasizing. I’m completely serious and my suggestion would act as a deterrent. Jihadist terrorists knowing that, if they are captured alive, they are not going to paradise will reduce martyrdom’s appeal.
Okay, Geoffey Britain, whatever it takes to escort him off the planet and make a mockery of his jihadist faith and deter other Islamists from messing with the US. You may have hit upon something.
Geoffry Britain – I wasn’t making light of your suggestions at all, just at a time when people are arguing that lethal injection is cruel and unusual, there’s no hope for a more fitting execution for Hassan.
Considering what was spelled out in the AQ torture manual that was found a few years ago, and the treatment that the koran specifies for infidels, it would behoove us to implement some similar tactics. Instead, we have Obama showing our hand by revealing our interrogation tactics and doing everything he can be kinder & gentler to those who live to kill or maim us.
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