OH PLEASE - AT 10:26 A.M. ET:  The Army chief of staff gives us the benefit of his wisdom about Fort Hood.  Wasn't this the guy who was kicked upstairs after having gotten pretty low grades in Iraq?

WASHINGTON – The Army chief of staff says it's important for the country not to get caught up in speculation about the Muslim faith of the alleged Fort Hood gunman.

Gen. George Casey says he's instructed his commanders to be on the lookout for that reaction to the killings at the Texas post.

He says focusing on the Islamic roots of the suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan (nih-DAHL' mah-LEEK' hah-SAHN'), could "heighten the backlash" against all Muslims in the military.

Casey says diversity in the military "gives us strength."

Casey declined to answer questions about the investigation into the shooting, but said evidence to this point shows that Hasan acted alone. He toured Fort Hood on Friday with Army Secretary John McHugh.

COMMENT:  Maybe a little more concern about the victims and their families, especially from the commander in chief, would be in order, and a little less concern about a backlash.

There is no backlash against innocent Muslims, but there damn well sure is a backlash against an ideology that has led to one incident after another in this country, and a series of recent arrests, and there should be. 

Political correctness in the Army - and I received an e-mail just recently from a serving officer, complaining about it - may well have led directly to this mass murder.  What was a man like Hasan doing in the Army at all?  Why was this wacked-out crazy allowed to treat our soldiers? 

Casey's remark pretty much guarantees that we won't get an honest investigation, at least from the Army.  And there are now reports that the Department of Homeland Security is also on the case - to protect against a backlash.  (Maybe an actual interest in security would be a good use of their time.)  The U.S. Government is also assuring Muslim countries that we're working to prevent bad feelings.  Of course, no questions are being asked of these countries about what's being taught in their schools.  Mustn't be insensitive.

November 8, 2009