The TRI-NEXUS Report
By
Velandy Manohar, MD,
Distinguished Life Fellow, and President Asian American caucus of the
Am. Psychiatric Association
04 03 11
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A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR OUR HEROES BOTH DEAD AND LIVING
As of Friday 04, 01 11(Source DOD) Reported in Hartford Courant 04 03 11.
There are close to 50,000 dead and wounded. This is how the distressing categories break down and appear in impersonal black and white symbols.
OIF: Deaths 4,444, Combat 3,502, Non Combat 942, Wounded 32,501
OEF: Deaths 1,511, Combat 1,176, Non Combat 335, Wounded 10,749
May God bless the US Military, May God bless the USA
“Non nobis, non nobis Domine, Sed Nomini tu da Gloriam.”
Not to us, not to us O Lord But to your name give glory- Motto of Knights Templar
Here are nearly 50,000 reasons for me to keep the needs of our service members closest to my heart and on the front burner in my mind as well as front and center in the public square.
One of the heroes who gave his life is Staff SGT James M. Malachowski, USMC. He was 25 when he died in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was in 2nd BN, 8th Mar. Regiment, II Marine Div. II Marine Expeditionary force, based in Camp Lejeune, NC.
I picked his name out of the list of heroes because I have two powerful links to the II Marines and Camp Lejeune.
1. I am father of USMC Officer who saw action in the Al Anbar Province when the II Mar Div. took over this totally broken-down region. (2006-2007) and
2. The Spearhead Insignia which was a shoulder patch when it was introduced during action in Pacific theater relates very well to the Surname of our family namely Velandy which is a Tamil word meaning bearer of the Spear. The Hindu deity who is referred to as Velandy is revered especially in South India and Sri Lanka. This deity is both a scholar and warrior who like Pericles lead the forces of Good to a great triumph over the forces of evil. I could hardly contain myself and felt extremely gratified when I fully appreciated this link between our Surname Velandy- the Spear bearer and the Spear head Symbol of the II Marine Division. This Division stabilized the once deadly and desperately chaotic region of Iraq- the vast badlands of the Al. Anbar province a couple of years ago and handed over control to the Iraqis.
Many heroes sacrificed their lives and limbs to protect people they had never met in land they had never expected to visit. There is another link between the Marines in Iraq and this report. Lt. Gen. R. Natonski, who prepared the report on the deadly debacle at Wanat for Gen. D. Petraeus, was the most decorated Marine at the time he retired and had lead extra-ordinarily aggressive and successful campaigns in Fallujah during OIF operations. I will also cite the accomplishments of 4 other Marine officers who were extraordinary human beings and great leaders because some of the mal-occurrences adversely affecting thousands of our service men and women that I write about appear to demonstrate significant lapses of judgment and lack of commitment to due diligence, equity and justice of the Chain of Command.
Three of the 4 officers I single out were performing at their best under fire namely Col. John Ripley, Lt. Gen Ernie C. Cheathem and Lt. Gen. G. Ron Christmas, and the fourth is Maj. Gen R. Alles who demonstrated what Lt. Gen R. Natonski did he showed uncompromising commitment to assess situations fully and assign responsibilities and take adequate and appropriate disciplinary and remedial actions..
Before I begin to introduce you to this report, I wanted to add some urgency to and provide a context for my research, clinical work and commentary that began in 2008 and gathered steam in the past 3 years. This is the most recent of my reports.
At least three Major DOD failures were coming to fruition at about the same time when the horrible impact of the involuntary separation of 23,000 services members under Chapter 5-13 of AR 200- 635 was being reported besides the terrible betrayal of the Tillman family and besmirching of his heroic sacrifice and meritorious service to our Country. His commanding officers’ comments about Cpl. Pat Tillman’s religious practices in connection with the so called friendly fire event and Gen McChyrstal's deceptive conduct vis a vis the award of the Silver Star to Cpl. Pat Tillman remain to this day among most reprehensible dishonorable and unworthy acts taken by a superior officer in the US army in past 235 years. His firing by President Obama was only the second example I can think off since the Korean War when President Truman fired McArthur that a Commander of a theater of operations was relieved of his command. There are others who could be considered for separation from their command for dereliction of duty.
These are the three additional areas of ongoing concern besides the Chapter 5-13 Discharges:
I. Major Nidal Hasan: “The ticking time bomb”*
*This is how a colleague at WRAMC assessed Nidal Hasan. It is part of the title of the report issued by Sen. J. Lieberman and Sen. S. Collins.
The multiple inexcusable deadly systemic (DOD and FBI) failures in the case of Major Nidal caused even more havoc than the Chapter 5-13 discharges in a short space of time. After the smoke cleared and the shooting ended because of the valor of Sgt. Kimberly Munley and Sgt. Mark Todd who ended the rampage by an American Mujahidin the extent of devastation became clearer. Sgt Kimberly Munley was wounded in the exchange of gun fire.
There were tragically 43 casualities,12 dead service members including a pregnant service member, I dead civilian Physician’s assistant and 30 wounded (including the wanna be mujahid Major Nidal Hasan in a matter for a few minutes on 11 05 2009. He was wounded but survived. He expected to die.
It is my hope based on the 02 17 11 posting by Mr. Charles Keyes the CNN Senior National Security Producer that after 15 months Secretary of Defense Mr. Gates will be releasing a report on the dramatic rise of Major Hasan to the title of Major despite indisputable evidence that he had undergone auto-radicalization and that Nidal Hasan was a clear and present danger to the US military effort and to the lives of our unsuspecting service members that will assign responsibility and hold all those who had endangered Force security and forsaken National interest accountable. I believe he had to do something like this in 2007 when the Washington Post published a series of investigative articles which outlined serious shortcomings in the care and treatment of our warriors at the WRAMC.
II. Military Sexual Trauma
The ongoing intractable and demoralizing problems associated with MST has not been addressed effectively and fairly to the detriment to health well-being and morale of our military especially our women warriors. There are several service men who have been victimized as well. The callous and dismissive response to the extremely traumatizing wounds associated with rape and sexual assault inflicted by military colleagues are as much a cause of concern and anger as the sexual assault they suffered. The Class action suit filed by SWAN (Service Women’s Action Network) on the matter of Sexual Assault and Rape against Mr. Rumsfeld and Current Secretary of Defense Mr. Gateswhich is long overdueto force the military to take a really hard objective look at the problems experienced by women in a broad range of inter-phases with men and the command structure can bring to light the systemic problems and identify those who have sought to institutionalize sexual harassment, intimidation, assault and rape. I will attach documents based on my earlier efforts to bring MST to the attention of our leaders.
III. Battle at the VPB in Wanat, Afghanistan.
From Wikipedia
The Battle of Wanat occurred on July 13, 2008, when about 200 Taliban guerrillas attacked NATO troops near the village of Wanat in the far eastern province of Nuristan. The position was defended primarily by U.S. Army soldiers of the 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
The Taliban surrounded the remote base and its observation post and attacked it from the village and the surrounding farmland. They destroyed much of the Americans' heavy munitions, broke through U.S. lines, and entered the main base before being repelled by artillery and aircraft. American casualties included nine killed and 27 wounded, while four Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were wounded. The U.S. combat deaths represent the most in a single battle since the start of U.S. operations in 2001.[7]
The Battle of Wanat has been the focus of widespread debate, generating "a great deal of interest and scrutiny among military professionals and from outside observers." This is primarily due to the relatively "significant number of coalition casualties".[8] Several investigations were launched into events leading up to the battle. The initial investigation was completed in August 2008. In July 2009, Senator James Webb requested that the U.S. Army formally investigate the battle and previous investigation. Lieutenant General Richard F. Natonski conducted another investigation in late 2009 which led to orders of reprimand for the chain of command. In June 2010, the U.S. Army revoked the reprimands—stating that no negligence was involved and that the actions of the chain of command were reasonable.
The officers of the troops in the Wanat Base could have learned enough from the actions and accomplishments of Col. John Ripley who coordinated efforts with elements of the US Army and the VN Marines who saved the day for Viet Nam on April 2nd 1972 at the Dong ha Bridge and from the studying the outstanding leadership and aggressive as well as adaptive tacticsof Lt. Gen Cheathem and Lt. Gen Christmas when they were with the 2/5USMC who were fighting the PAVN ( North VN)and the NLF forces( Viet Cong) during the Battle for Hue and trying to reach their ARVN allies and elements of the US Military trapped in Hue to give the troops in their command a fighting chance to withstand the attack and launch a successful series of counterattacks.. The lessons learned from these three leaders would have been invaluable in preparing for the battle that ensued at Wanat which ended in a terrible defeat even though the officers had 10 months to prepare for this battle. Maj. Gen Alles could also teach them important lessons on investigating and developing remedial and disciplinary measures.
Personality disorder based discharges and MST are the two core problems that drove my research in the past two years-since 2009
Re: the 23,000 AR 635-200, Chapter 5-13 discharges for Personality Disorder:
This is of vital interest to the Military as a whole and to the lives, fortune and the sacred honor of 23,000 of our service members who were betrayed and booted out ignominiously and sometimes through deceit and at other times by coercive means to the great detriment of their families and their lives out of the military.
In addition to waiting eagerly for constructive developments in the three areas of deep concern I am impatient to find out what the Federal Court’s decision will be in the matter of the FOIA litigation filed by the decorated service member Sgt Chuck Luther to force the DOD to release his complete medical record.He was tortured in Iraq and made to sign the Chap 5-13 discharge document, then spirited away to Fort Hood the home base of storied 7th Cavalry. (Remember the battle in the IA Drang Valley, Pleiku Campaign VN Oct –Nov 1965where the 7th Cav. redeemed their name) There in Fort Hood he learned the dirty secrets of the Chapter 5-13 discharges. He was left waiting out in the rain outside Fort Hood while his wife Nikki drove down to take him home.
It is important to consider these problems also to gain insight into the problem solving and conflict resolution mechanisms that seems to be ingrained in the DOD. The reports that have been published on both these domains indicate to me the command structure attempts to protect those who are in charge and expect those who are at the bottom of the pecking order to hold their chin up and take it as part of their service to the country.
In these four situations:
1 The AR 635-200, Chapter 5/13 Personality disorder based discharges,
2. The massacre at Fort Hood perpetrated by Major Nidal Hasan and
3 The protracted and demoralizing problems of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rapes against our service members
4. The Sham Silver Star award citation and the debacle at Wanat despite multiple studies and evaluations and various pronouncement of making the factors affecting the lives of the victims devastated by these terrible events that unfolded over time a command priority no systemic changes have been planned and implemented to address the recurring problems, nobody has been identified and brought up on report, subject to a court martial or otherwise sanctioned.
Further the victimized service members and their families have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves under very adverse circumstances. To the best of my knowledge no Army commander has been sanctioned for their lapses in judgment since President Truman sacked Gen. Douglas MacArthur except for Gen. S. McChrystal by President Obama.
The rule of thumb for the Army has been to find an NCO or a Lieutenant and pin the blame for the whole disaster on this hapless service member whether it is Abu Garaib or death of prisoner in custody in Afghanistan or massacres of civilians. To date I can think of only one LT Col who was brought up on charges. This was done by the USMC during the inquiry into the massacre at Haditha during OIF. The USMC handled a tragic crash of an F/A 18 Hornet in University City, San Diego which killed 4 members of a Korean Immigrant family. This is what Ms. Peggy Noonan wrote on Mar. 6, 2009.
“The Marines launched an investigation of themselves. This Wednesday the results were announced. They could not have been tougher, or more damning. The crash, said Maj. Gen. Randolph Alles, the Assistant Wing Commander for the Third Marine Aircraft Wing, was "clearly avoidable," the result of "a chain of wrong decisions. “Twelve Marines were disciplined; four senior officers, including the squadron commander, were removed from duty. Their military careers are, essentially, over. The pilot is grounded while a board reviews his future.
Is it too much to hope and too naive to except that currently there are only four Generals in the US military who believe in the honor code and hold themselves and those in their command accountable.1. Two in the 235 year old Army: Gen Petraeus, Gen Schlosser, and 2. Two in 237 year old USMC Lt. Gen. R. Natonski and Maj. Gen. R. Alles.
I will now provide more in-depth analyses of the three major sections of the report
- Major Nidal Hasan- “The Ticking time Bomb”
I will present the information that I have collected on the rapid inexplicable rise of major Nidal Hasan and explosive fallout from the grave errors that have been documented in several reports including the report from US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Govt. Affairs and the DOD Report April 15 2010. “The Ticking Time bomb” is an appellation used by this report of the Committee headed by Senators Lieberman and Collins. There are several parts to t report:
- The names of our brothers and sisters ambushed by wanna- be Shahid (Jihadi- martyr who dies to save fellow Muslims) Major Nidal Hasan. He appeared to be quite interested in this subject- It was part of his e-mails to his preceptor US born Master mind of several plots to harm our neighbors and communities Anwar Al Aulaki, discussions with Clerics and his presentations during his 6 years in WRAMC.
- I will present documents that suggest his preceptors and especially the Director of Training Major Scott Moran had very grave concerns and raised questions such as: Is this person capable of fratricide? Would you want to be in a foxhole with him-None of senior staff volunteered. But they had no qualms about inflicting and inserting such a dangerous person into lives of the unsuspecting service members based at Fort Hood. They also sanitized the official evaluations. This has some parallels to the actions of Bernard Cardinal Law of Boston who shuffled pedophile parish priests from parish to conceal their pedophilia and thus enabled these priests to prey on the most vulnerable members of their congregation.
I will share a copy of Transcript of the report prepared Major Scott Moran- the Director of Residency Training. He tried to get Hasan kicked out but was rebuffed and ultimately he signed off on the promotion of Nidal Hasan to a higher rank and kept his career going thereby unwittingly he and his superiors including Col John Bradley-Chair of the DOP at WRAMC signed the death warrants for the 13 heroes at Fort Hood and the suffering of hundreds of our country men and women. The senior WRAMC staff packaged this ticking time bomb in sanitized filler material (which doubled as Truth filter- kept the facts from the FBI for instance) and dispatched him off to the Fort Hood Base apparently because they had more MH staff and could keep an eye before he was passed on to the Military Command in as far away as possible destination in the mountains of Afghanistan. As far away as possible from the staff at WRAMC who didn’t volunteer to be in the fox hole with him because they were concerned he was psychotic and could be fratricidal. He would still have been with fellow service members from Fort Hood.
At each fork in the road at every nodal point the administrative staff at WRAMC and USUHC took steps to save Nidal Hasan’s career and their own skins and programs e.g.: nominating Hasan to fill the fellowship slot.
- I will provide a series of reports that attempts to identify major failures in many different domains and determine what lessons can be learned to enhance the counter terrorism capabilities of nation.
- A. The wannabe Shahid or jihadi or mujahid Major Nidal Hasan's victims are listed below.
Fatalities
The Honored dead who were shot and killed in Fort Hood beginning at 1330 CT on Nov 5th 2009 are:
Name |
Age |
Hometown |
Rank or occupation |
Michael Grant Cahill[43] |
62 |
Spokane, Washington |
Civilian Physician Assistant |
Libardo Eduardo Caraveo[44] |
52 |
Woodbridge, Virginia |
|
Justin Michael DeCrow[45] |
32 |
Plymouth, Indiana |
|
John P. Gaffaney[46] |
56 |
Serra Mesa, California |
|
Frederick Greene[43] |
29 |
Mountain City, Tennessee |
|
Jason Dean Hunt[43] |
22 |
Tipton, Oklahoma |
Specialist |
Amy Sue Krueger[43] |
29 |
Kiel, Wisconsin |
|
Aaron Thomas Nemelka[43] |
19 |
West Jordan, Utah |
|
Michael S. Pearson[48] |
22 |
Bolingbrook, Illinois |
Private First Class |
Russell Gilbert Seager[41] |
51 |
Racine, Wisconsin |
Captain[49] |
Francheska Velez ‡[50] |
21 |
Chicago, Illinois |
Private First Class |
Juanita L. Warman[41] |
55 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
|
Kham See Xiong[43] |
23 |
Saint Paul, Minnesota |
Private First Class |
‡ Francheska Velez was pregnant at the time of her death.[52]
May God keep them in His loving embrace and assuage the grief of the loved ones they left behind and keep them free from want and their spirit brimming with hope.
- B. Major Nidal Hasan’s training and career at WRAMC
I will attach the following documents:
- A report that the DoD Secretary is close to making a decision what his final answer will be fifteen months after the murder of the heroes listed above to this question from Hon Senator Susan Collins who is the ranking member of the Senate Committee that investigated the Fort Hood massacre.
"When will the supervisors that filed such misleading officer evaluation reports regarding Major Hasan be held accountable?" Collins asked Gates. Hasan is charged with killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in November 2009 at a medical building at Fort Hood, where he and others were preparing to ship out to Afghanistan and Iraq.”
- There are reports suggesting that the DoD may be targeting Major Scott Moran, MD who was the immediate supervisor of Major Hasan especially he appeared to have been pressured to sign on to the promotion orders despite the fact his scathing report on Major Nidal Hasan was on the record I will provide a copy of the frank assessment offered by Major Scott Moran.
- These are the names of the key DoD officials who knew about the auto-radicalization of their trainee:
- Dr. John Bradley Chair of Dept. of Psychiatry (DoP) WRAMC,
- Dr. Robert Wisano, Chair, DoP US UHS,
- Dr. Charles Engel, Asst. Chair DoP US UHS and Director of Nidal Hasan’s fellowship training,
- Dr. David Benedek, MD Asst. Chair, US UHS,
- Dr. Carroll J. Diebold- a psychiatrist, WRAMC and
- Dr Scott Moran, MD who was Director of Residency training at WRAMC.
- In February 2007 The Washington Post published a series of investigative articles about the WRAMC documenting substandard medical care and physical deterioration of the plant and bureaucratic boondoggles. The scandalous revelations lead to the forced resignation of LT. General Kevin Kiley, Commanding General from 2002 to 2004 and acting in 2007 the firing of the Major Gen. George W. Weightman ( Commanding General from 2006-2007), resignation of the Secretary of the Army Francis J. Harvey.
- To this day senior policy making positions are unfilled I hope I am wrong about this and so many other pieces of information that makes quake in my boots and tremble with bated breath as I helplessly watch and wait for the thud of the other shoe dropping while praying at the same time by some miracle the other shoe will not drop.
The top Civilian Health position of Asst. Sec. of defense for policy is vacant. A temporary appointment has been made but this person does not have the authority political appointee has or should be able to exercise.
Three other top positions are also not filled that of Principal Deputy, the Deputy for Clinical programs and the Office of CFO.
The following individuals were in Command of the WRAMC during Major Nidal Hasan’s career in the WRAMC:
Maj. General Carla G. Hawley-Bowland 2007-?
Maj. General Eric Schoomaker, 2007,
Maj. Gen George Weightman, 2006 -2007,
Maj. Gen. Kenneth Farmer, Jr. 2004-2006,
Lt. Gen. Kevin C. Kiley 2002-2004 and acting in 2007,
Maj. Gen Robert Bernstein: 1973- 1978.
I have commented on Maj. Gen. Eric Schoomaker’s role in the various assessments of the Chapter 5-13AR 635-200 discharges. There is strong similarity between the steps taken to assess the situation in that major debacle and this catastrophic failure. The striking similarity is this nobody was held accountable for specific egregious actions in both domains even though substantial information was gathered that documented major short comings.
Another important person is Major Gen Gina Farrisee, Army’s Chief of Personnel who has not commented on the well documented problems of Major Nidal Hasan nor has she provided any documentation of the actions she or other officers under her command developed and implemented in response to the report of Major Scott Moran. I have commented on Major General Farrisee’ s testimony on the Chapter 5-13 discharges to the Full Committee on Veterans Affairs on Sept 15 2010 under the Chairmanship of Hon Rep. Bob Filner leaves much to be desired. I have commented on her testimony and will provide a copy of this document that I sent to Chairman Filner.
- The Military according to information we have, chose not to share the Training Program file and full record of all the emails that Nidal Hasan had exchanged with the Radical Islamist Anwar Al Aulaki who mentored other terrorists to take up Jihad against the US and the interests of Western nations, as well as people of other faiths. This file was allegedly kept in cabinet behind the receptionist in the Office of the residency Program hidden from prying eyes. Aulaki is associated with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and has mentored the following known terrorists: 1. Nawaf Al-Hazmi 2. Khalid Al-Midhar. Both are 09-11 terrorists who worshipped at the Dar Al Hijrah mosque.3. Umar Abdul Mutallab. The Nigerian wanne be Mujahid who tried to blow up the Detroit bound North West airlines Flight 253 on Christmas Day 2009. 4. Ahmed Omar Abu Ali who was convicted of providing material support to Al Qaeda and conspiracy to assassinate President George w. Bush.
Before they took up the Imam- penitent roles Nidal Hasan had met Anwar Al Aulaki at the Dar Al Hijrah Mosque in Falls Church VA, where the latter was an Imam. It is vital to note that two of the Sept 11 bombers and Anwar Al Aulaki and Nidal Hasan worshipped and learned what they felt was important for them to know in order to be faithful to their God and true to their faith. The Fort Hood officials received sanitized versions of the record from the Personnel files kept in the Office administered by Gen Farrisee as well as the Training file. But it was clear that a staff member felt the need to call an official at Fort Hood to alert them to the fact the WRAMC was sending them “one of their worst” Only 2 of the approximately 20 e-mails exchanged by Nidal Hasan and Anwar Al Aulaki between Dec 2008 and June 2009 were forwarded by DoD-WRAMC to the FBI. In one of these e-mails Nidal Hasan wrote,” I can wait to join you in the After Life.”
Subsequently additional records may have been sent but the FBI and other agencies never put them all together with the Training Directors appraisal and act expeditiously to determine the full potential of the malicious motivations and murderous intentions. The first set of files went to the Washington DC FBI office and the second set to the San Diego FBI office. To date nobody has been held responsible for the cover up, white wash, the award of the fellowship and recommendations for promotions up the ranks of the military medical service despite senior officers asking this question, “Is he capable of fratricide?”
- The most damning of all evidence was offered by Nidal Hasan who made no pretense about his loyalty in his three presentations: The most prominent one is entitled “The Koranic World View as it relates to the Muslims in the US military”; the second one equally provocative entitled “Is the War on Terror a war on Islam” and the third that we know about is entitled “Religious conflicts facing US Muslims.” In his PPP on the Koran he that Muslims should not serve in any capacity that exposes them to possibility of hurting other believers so he planned the murder of US service members and perhaps of him so that he wouldn’t be in a position to kill other Muslims and he eliminated as many US service members who could potentially kill numerous Muslims if he could help. This would be justifiable since he viewed himself as a SoA- Soldier of Allah (SWT Subahu WA Ta Ala- Glory be to God). In addition his e-mails and discussions with members of the Military medical staff, Imams and fellow worshippers at the Mosques and religious organizations and his disciple named Duane Reasoner who was well long in being radicalized and being predisposed to become a wanna be Mujahid like Nidal Hasan had planned to become. This disciple was as apt student his web page features a slide presentation that includes an image titled “Future Washington” that depicts the Capitol Building in ruins is known
He identified himself as a Palestinian even though he was born in Alexandria Virginia. His business card did not indicate that he was a physician in the US Military but displayed these letters SoA (SWT) which represents two phrases that makes it clear to everyone where his loyalties lie.SoA stands for Soldier of Allah and SWT in Arabic proclaims” Glory to Him the Exalted. It is clear that in his heart he believed what he proclaimed that he was a Muslim first and a Palestinians national and not a loyal American military officer. At US UHS he told his fellow military master degrees students that he was a Muslim first and American second. He tried to proselytize to his peers and patients too and convert them to Islam.
- The night before the shooting at dinner Nidal Hasan felt that he should not go to Afghanistan, and that he was supposed to have quit. In the Koran it says you are not supposed to have alliances with Jews or Christians, and if you are killed in the military fighting against Muslims you will go hell” He made such assertions in presentation on the Koran. In his PPP on the Koran in front of dozens of US military personnel and doctors He said non-believers should be beheaded and have boiling oil poured down their throats. That non-Muslims were infidels condemned to hell and should be set on fire.” Nidal asked Anwar Al Aulaki in his e-mail “whether killing American Soldiers and Officers is lawful or not…” Nidal explained why he believed killing Jews was justified under Sharia law. Aulaki posted a statement after the murderous attack in Fort Hood on unsuspecting unarmed service members and civilians. He called Nidal a hero and state that the only way a Muslim could Islamically justify serving as a soldier in the US Army is if his intention is to follow the footsteps of men like Nidal and become a SoA.
- In one of the slides #13. Malik Hasan reported on the adverse effects of a Muslim having to choose between his faith and loyalty to his nation. He offered these examples of people who he admired because they stood up for their beliefs against the aggressor namely the USA:
a. A Muslim USMC Capt. Wasif Ali Hassoun deserted in Iraq. He disapproved of the war on Muslims.
b. A Sgt. In the 101st Airborne who had converted to Islam killed two officers at Camp PA in Afghanistan in 2003.
c. He was very interested in and admired Abdul Hakim Mujahid who murdered two recruiters in Little Rock Arkansas. He was indignant that this murderer was being treated as a criminal. He was extremely angry with OIF and OEF. He wanted to see Muslims stand up and fight against the aggressor referring to the USA. He frequently argued and got agitated when he advocated for the victims of US aggression with fellow soldiers.
d. Nidal Hasan was keenly interested in the attempted bombing of US targets by a Muslim convert in 2009. Michael Fruton was an Al Qaeda member.
e. Sharif Mobley an American who was member of Al Qaeda in Yemen which is led by the Anwar Al Aulaki was suspected in the killing of a Guard
F. Bryant Neal Vinas who is an American who converted to Islam was convicted in 2009for participating in Al Qaeda plots against US interests in Afghanistan
g. The female terrorist Aafiq Siddiqui who is convicted of tempting to kill US personnel in 2010.
h. Najibullah Zazi, an Al Qaeda member and US resident pleaded guilty in the plot to carry out a suicide bombing in the NYC subway.
i. Operation Arabian Knights. Arrest of two Muslim men from NJ on charges of terrorism
j. Army Sgt. Abdullah William Webster refused to deploy to Iraq base on his religious beliefs and
k. Kareem Abdul Jabber turned into a CO to avoid military duties. This resulted in the arrest of two Muslim men in NJ on Terror charges. Nidal Hasan made it clear to all he communicated with that he opposed the wars against Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan andhe said “ we( US) should get out of Iraq and Afghanistanand if we didn’t we should expect except to see more people like Abdul Hakim Mujahid Muhammad strap bombs on themselves and go into Times Square.”
- Nidal Hasan had come to the attention of Federal authorities at least 6 months before the Fort Hood massacre because of Internet postings he appeared to have made discussing Suicide Bombings and other threats. For some unknown reason authorities didn’t tie the postings to him even though the postings were made in the name of Nidal Hasan. One of these postings liken a suicide bomber to a soldier who throws himself on a grenade to save his colleagues and sacrifices his life for a more noble cause in terms of its strategic impact The killing of US soldiers by mujahid protects other Muslims who may have been killed by the now dead US service members.
- ABC news reported that Nidal Hasan had attempted to make contact with Al Qaeda and that he had “ more unexplained connections to people being tracked previously by the FBI” than just Anwar Al Aulaki.
- I will offer you a link to the Washington post website which allows you to read and digest the content of the of the PPP on the Koranic World View as it applies to the Muslims in the military as well as the sources of the information I have used so far.
- Hasan on Islam: PPP on Koranic World View
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2009/11/10/GA2009111000920.html?referrer=emaillink - The memo sent by the Residency Director Dr. Scott Moran, MD about Nidal Hasan to the Credentials Committee at WRAMC. Incidentally he ranked 25th from the bottom among 86 trainees.( attached)
- Gates: Army near a finding on Fort Hood suspect's rise through ranks
February 17, 2011|By Charley Keyes, CNN Senior National Security Producer
- Army going after Dr. Moran? (attached)
- NPR report 11 11 2009. Is he capable of fratricide?( attached)
- NPR report 11 25 2009. FBI didn’t get all the files on Major Nidal Hasan.(attached)
- NPR report 11 18 2009 Damning Memo and file that was withheld from FBI was sent to Fort Hood ( attached)
- Wikipedia report on Major Hasan with slide 49/50 from the PPP and information pertaining to Auto radicalization of Nidal Hasan catalyzed by Anwar Al Aulaki
- “Walter Reed Army Medical Center Neglect scandal”. In February 2007 The Washington Post published a series of investigative articles outlining cases of alleged neglect at WRAMC as reported by outpatient soldiers and their family members. These reports include the names of the officers who commanded the WRAMC during the period of time when Chapter 5-13 discharges were the rage regardless of the consequences and validity of the assessment and the time that Nidal Hasan was being nurtured and groomed to be a US army medical officer regardless of his performance as a psychiatrist and clear indications since 2005 of his auto radicalization. Two sets of personal records were kept. Only the sanitized version without Dr Moran’s damning assessment was available outside the office of the Residency program at WRAMC and was shared with the FBI and only 2/18 e- mails with Al Aulaki were initially shared with the Authorities.
I. C. Reports on Major Nidal Hasan,
- MSNBC.com. Security fixes ordered after Fort Hood report. In the wake of the scathing report DOD will institute new threat protocol including training. Jim Miklaszewski April 15, 2010
- A Ticking Time Bomb: Counter Terrorism lessons from the US Govt.’s Failure to prevent the Fort hood Attack. A special report by Hon Sen. J. Lieberman, and Hon Sen. Susan Collins.US Senate committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. 02 03 2011. There are three main parts besides the excellent Executive summary plus the comprehensive appendix starting on page 83. The three main parts are: Part 1: Introduction, Part 2: Home grown Radicalization and the string of govt. failures to intervene against him prior to the Fort Hood Attack. Part III: recommendations for improving US defenses against violent Muslim Extremism. Federal authorities ignored warnings that could have prevented a 2009 massacre at an Army base, two U.S. senators said in a report on Thursday that outlined intelligence failures similar to those in the September 11, 2001, attacks
- Reuters: “Federal Authorities ignored Warnings…” 02 03 2011 by JoAnne Allen and Thomas Ferraro. “ Although neither the DOD nor the FBI had specific information concerning the time place or nature of the attack, they had collectively sufficient information to have detected Hasan’s radicalization to violent Islamist extremism but failed both to understand and act on it.”
- NBC News:” A String of Failures by FBI, Defense in failing to discharge Hasan” by Ken Strickland. The Senators found specific and systemic failures in the Govt.’s handling of the case and cited additional concerns about possible broader systemic issues. “Hasan’s move towards violent Islamist extremism “was on full display to his superiors and colleagues during his military medical training,” according to the report’s findings. One Instructor referred to him as a Ticking time Bomb. “Not only was no action taken to discipline or discharge him, but also his Officer Evaluation reports sanitized his obsession with violent Islamist Extremism into praiseworthy research on counter Terrorism.”
- “Ticking Time Bomb” Fort Hood Massacre could have been prevented. Leslie Phillips 02 03 2011. 202- 224-2627” A slip shod FBI investigation into Hasan, coupled with internal disagreements and structural flaws in the Agency’s intelligence gathering operations also contributed to government’s failure to prevent the attack. There were three main parts 1. DOD failures, FBI failures and Recommendations.
- NEFA Foundation. www.nefa foundation.org. “The massacre at Fort Hood This document provides 10 references.
This group published in 2010 a comprehensive narrative by starting with the ten minute murderous spree that was mercifully stopped by two civilian Police officers Sgt. Kimberly Munley and Sgt. Mark Todd. Sgt Munley was wounded. Sgt Todd shot and disabled Hasan and perhaps prevented him from killing more soldiers and himself so that he could achieve his dream of going up to paradise for achieving a strategic victory over the aggressors by becoming a fully committed self-sacrificing Mujahid. He had mentioned how he was waiting for the day when he could be in Paradise awaiting the reunion with his mentor Anwar Al Aulaki. This narrative covers his personal and family history educational preparation and vocational history. This describes his major problems during his Residency, Fellowship and as a Psychiatrist at the WRAMC. It also documents systemic problems within the DOD and the FBI and between the two agencies.
There are important data about his involvement in certain Islamic centers and participation in a program conducted at Muslim Community Center (MCC) in Silver Spring Maryland which provided 6 arguments why Muslims should be and should not be loyal to the United States. This narrative also documents his involvement with other Islamic Centers e.g. in VA with Al Aulaki and the Islamic Center of Greater Killeen in TX. In MCC he was a disciple of Imam Faizul Khan who also ministered to Chechen jihadists. He may have been impressed that the US and the UK supported Global Jihad as long as it was directed against the Soviet Union in the past and Russia in the present . If Jihad is directed against US and British interests and populations then it becomes an abomination. He may have found out that a major Chechen leader who was a working associate of a former National Security Adviser was living in one of the posh areas of Washington DC completely secure and in plain view.
He worked with his mentor Al Aulaki through his tutorials between Dec 2008 and June 2009 to resolve his doubts on how he as an American soldier should conduct himself. If he had to choose between betraying Islam by fighting and killing other believers and betraying the US military he would choose to betray the latter. Why so because his preceptor Al Aulaki had convinced him that fighting against the US Military was an indisputable Islamic duty. Nidal Hasan in turn taught this theology to his disciple Duane Reasoner. (The PPP have several slides on this subject) By all accounts he does not appear to have been a member of a Terrorist group but he appears to have subscribed to the Salafi- Jihadi ideology. He didn’t seek to conceal his extremist beliefs in fact eh actively promoted and advocated for them with his patients and colleagues.
It is chilling to learn that in the days prior to the massacre he gave his possessions including his furniture, food and clothing.
- NYT: Nidal Hasan’s Motives remain an enigma 10 15 2010. This provides 38 clues to his motives to carry out the massacre. It offers 3 main references including the PPP on the Koranic World View which I have touched on repeatedly and the NEFA Foundation Monograph which I have provided for you.
- Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
There are several parts in this section. I will start with the most recent development which is filing of the suit against Current and past Secretaries of Defense and follow this up with reports of prevalence of sexual assault and rape in the Military and over views of the nature and extent of problems that seem to be intractable and deeply ingrained in the way our military manages violence against women and some men when it involves a sexualized context.
II. A.
“Women at Arms”
“A Peril in War Zones-Sexual Abuse by fellow GIs”
Published: December 27, 2009
Kassie Bracken also contributed to this series
Articles in this series explore how the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have profoundly redefined the role of women in the military
Hon. Rep. Jane Harman,” A Woman in the Military is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than be killed by enemy fire”
“ The military can no more eradicate sexual abuse than can society in general, but soldiers, officers and experts acknowledge that it is particularly harmful when soldiers are in combat zones, affecting not only the victims but also, as the military relies more than ever on women when the nation goes to war, the mission.
“For the military the potential costs are even higher as it can also negatively impact mission readiness,” the Pentagon’s annual report on sexual abuse said, referring to sexual violence. “Service members risk their lives for one another and bear the responsibility of keeping fellow service members out of harm’s way. Sexual assault in the military breaks this bond.”
The Pentagon, facing criticism, maintains that it has transformed the way it handles sexual abuse. In the wake of the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as highly publicized cases and revelations of rampant abuse at the Air Force Academy in 2003, the Pentagon created a single agency to oversee the issue and rewrote the rules of reporting, treatment and prosecution. Beginning in October 2007, the Uniform Code of Military Justice expanded the provision that once covered rape — Article 120 — to include other offenses, such as indecent exposure and stalking.
The Army, which has provided the bulk of the forces in Iraq, has increased the number of investigators and lawyers trained to investigate accusations. Most bases now have kits to collect forensic evidence in rape cases, which was not the case immediately after the invasion in 2003.
Larger field hospitals in Balad and Mosul now have the same type of sexual assault nurse examiners widely used in the civilian world, as well as a dozen other examiners who are not nurses but are trained to conduct forensic examinations.
The military has set up a system of confidential advisers women can turn to who are outside the usual chain of command — an avenue Sergeant Phillips said she had been denied.
If they want to, the women can now seek medical treatment and counseling without setting off a criminal investigation. And all the services have started educational programs to address aspects of a hierarchical warrior culture that some say contributes to hostility toward women. Posters for the campaign blanket bulletin boards in offices, chow halls and recreational buildings on bases across Iraq.
The military’s efforts, however well intentioned, are often undermined by commanders who are skeptical or even conflicted, suspicious of accusations and fearful that reports of abuse reflect badly on their commands. The Pentagon task force also reported that victims of assault did not come forward because they might “have engaged in misconduct for which they could be disciplined, such as under-age drinking, fraternization or adultery.”
It is very painful, complicated and a Gordian knot type of entanglement that cannot be unraveled by one swing of the sword.
II. B.1. The Feb 15, 2011 Law Suit- Military Rape Litigation
Lawsuit claims Pentagon turned blind eye to military rape victims. Fourteen people charged in a lawsuit that the Pentagon turned a blind eye when they reported being sexually harassed, assaulted and raped while on active duty in the military. This was filed in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of VA against Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Current Secretary of Defense who is Hon. Richard Gates.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41598622/ns/us_news-life/from/toolbar
II. B. 2. The Military Rape Litigation.
SWAN is a consultant for Burke, PLLC on a lawsuit on behalf of military and former military victims of Military Sexual Trauma (MST), including persons who were raped by their military colleagues. By clicking on the blue highlighted word you can get to the entire text of the Military Rape Litigation.
II. C. DOD response to The Law Suit
Response to litigation by SWAN
Military Doesn’t Tolerate Sexual Assault, Leaders Tell Congress
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2011 – The Defense Department has zero tolerance for sexual assaults and is making headway in preventing them and taking aggressive action when they occur, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress today.
II. D.
Hon. Nikki Tsongas of the Fifth Congressional District in Massachusetts is a member of the house Armed services Committee. She wrote this editorial in the Boston Globe. She argues that the military must provide the same protection to service members as are provide to civilians outside the military.
II. E.H.R 930
Based on SWAN's recommendations, Hon. Representative Chellie Pingree (D - ME) has introduced legislation to mandate that survivors of military sexual violence get the same service-connected disability compensation for their mental health conditions and physical injuries that combat veterans are currently awarded for wounds of war. H.R. 930 is the first public step our policymakers have taken in recognizing the gross double standard that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) forces upon veterans who survive military sexual violence.
We applaud Representative Pingree's leadership and urge her fellow legislators to embrace legislation that finally forces the VA to stop blaming the women and men of our armed forces for the brutal assaults and harassment that are perpetrated upon them, and to instead give them the health care, benefits, and justice they so rightly deserve.
Anu Bhagwati, Capt. USMC
Executive Director, Service Women's Action Network SWAN
II. F. “S.B. 658”
Dear Supporters,
Congress is listening!
On Monday, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced Senate Bill S. 658, The Support for Survivors Act, which requires the DOD to establish a unified system to permanently store and retain digital records in all cases of military rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment, and allow lifetime access to these records by the survivor.
Under current DOD policy, data, forms, forensic evidence and even entire investigations are destroyed entirely in one to five years. This presents massive problems for service members who later seek disability compensation from the Veterans Administration for PTSD or other health issues caused by sexual trauma, and for those who seek to pursue legal action against their perpetrator.
“On behalf of servicewomen and men across the country, we applaud Senator Klobuchar for her leadership on this issue,” said Anu Bhagwati, a former Marine Corps Captain and executive director of the Service Women’s Action Network. “Never again should a service member who has been a victim of military rape, sexual assault or sexual harassment have to hear that his or her records were lost or destroyed due to the serious level of incompetence in the current system.”
SWAN first recommended permanent digital records retention during a March 2010 Congressional hearing, and has been instrumental in the creation of this legislation.
This legislation comes in the wake of Representative Chellie Pingree's (D-ME) introduction of H.R. 930, legislation to help survivors of military sexual violence obtain their well-deserved disability benefits.
Your overwhelming support of SWAN’s tireless work is sending a clear message to Congress that “business as usual” is no longer acceptable in cases of military rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. We the People demand the DOD change for the better and treat our servicewomen and men with the respect they have earned.
Anu Bhagwati, Capt. USMC
Service Women’s Action Network
II. G. Who or What is SWAN?
SWAN supports, defends, and empowers today’s servicewomen and women veterans of all eras, through groundbreaking advocacy initiatives and innovative, healing community programs.
SWAN advocates for all military women, in order to increase their visibility and access to equal protection, opportunities and benefits. Our public education campaign presents the human rights obstacles and realities that military women experience to both national and local audiences, and across a variety of media outlets
Policy
While Congress has made some strides in their attention to and effort towards including the needs of military women and veterans in policymaking, gender-specific concerns are more often than not invisible and ignored in the policymaking process. SWAN works to educate policymakers at the local, state, and federal level about the needs of military women and ensure that legislation that would adequately address their needs is supported.
Litigation
SWAN partners with other organizations and Law firms to pursue changes in policies and institutions through the courts.
II.H
MSNBC News: Military recruiters prey on potential enlistees
More than 100 young women who expressed interest in joining the military in the past year were preyed upon sexually by their recruiters.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14434936/ns/us_news-military/from/toolbar
II. I.
DOD Sexual Assault Report-March 17, 2009 3:01 PM
Go to http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2009/03/dod-sexual-assa.html
ABC News' Luis Martinez reports:
The Pentagon's annual report on sexual assault shows a sharp 8 percent increase overall in reports of sexual assault over last year's survey, but data compiled for the report show an even sharper 26 percent increase specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan. Defense officials attribute the increase in part to greater awareness to report sexual assault and rules that make it easier to report sexual assaults.
In fiscal year 2008, the Pentagon says the military services received a total of 2,923 reports of sexual assault involving service members as victims or assailants, an 8 percent increase compared to the 2,688 reports filed in fiscal year 2007. 63 percent of all the reports filed in fiscal year 2008 involved allegations of rape or aggravated sexual assault
II.J
AP report: Frequency of occurrence of various types of unwanted sexual interaction in the Navy, Army, Air Force and USMC and differences in the rates between males and females.
Source; Defense Manpower Data Center: 2006 report on Gender relationships survey of active duty members. There is no way for me to verify the rate of occurrences and what proportion of the reported contacts were unwanted or consensual.
The categories of contacts surveyed: 1. Sexual touching 2. Attempted Sexual Intercourse, 3. Completed sexual intercourse, 4. Attempted oral, anal, or object penetration, 5. Completed oral anal or object penetration. In only one category it appears males reported a higher frequency of occurrence of attempted oral, anal or object penetration by small margin.
II. K.
Missing Marine told stepmom she was raped.
A pregnant Marine who vanished before she was to testify in a military probe claimed "a senior officer ... had raped her," according to new court documents.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22579604/ns/us_news-military/from/toolbar
II. L.
Why Soldiers Rape
Culture of misogyny, illegal occupation, fuel sexual violence in military
By Helen Benedict
An alarming number of women soldiers are being sexually abused by their comrades-in-arms, both at war and at home. This fact has received a fair amount of attention lately from researchers and the press -- and deservedly so.
But the attention always focuses on the women: where they were when assaulted, their relations with the assailant, the effects on their mental health and careers, whether they are being adequately helped, and so on. That discussion, as valuable as it is, misses a fundamental point. To understand military sexual assault, let alone know how to stop it, we must focus on the perpetrators. We need to ask: Why do soldiers rape?
Rape in civilian life is already unacceptably common. One in six women is raped or sexually assaulted in her lifetime, according to the National Institute of Justice, a number so high it should be considered an epidemic.
Click here for the full article:
http://www.inthesetimes.com/main/article/3848/
II. M.
Female soldiers raise alarm on sexual assaults.
With troops fighting on foreign soil since late 2001, the United States is learning about the long-term toll of modern war on the home front - including cases of sexual assault in the military.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25784465/ns/us_news-military/from/toolbar
"There are three types of women in the Army," says Rebecca Havrilla, a former sergeant and explosive-ordnance-disposal technician. "Bitch, dyke, and whore." During the four years that Havrilla was on active duty, she was called all three-by fellow soldiers, team leaders, even unit commanders. Once, during sexual-assault prevention training, the 28-year-old South Carolina native claims, she watched a fellow soldier-male-strip naked and danced on top of a table as the rest of the team laughed. While deployed in Afghanistan, Havrilla spent four months working under a man she alleges bit her neck, pulled her into his bed, and grabbed her butt and waist-on a daily basis. When, on the last day of her deployment, she alleges she was raped by a soldier she considered a friend, it was, she says, "the icing on the cake."
II. N.
The following appeared on Boston Globe.com:
Headline: Sexual assault in the armed forces
Date: Mar 3, 2011
"The military needs to provide the same victim protections as civilians."
To see this recommendation, click on the link below or cut and paste it into a Web browser:
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- Battle at Wanat, Nuristan OEF
- What really happened on July 13 when Taliban Fighter attacked an outpost in Eastern Afghanistan being established by the US Army soldiers? By Tom Ricks
This was an unmitigated disaster even though the Company, Battalion and Brigade Commanders had 10 months to prepare for expected assault on the base. Nine of our bravest and best killed in the battle. Gen. C. Campbell absolves top military brass of all culpability to save the future of military and in the process he pinned all the blame for the catastrophic defeat on a Lt. Brostrom who died heroically in the battle. He had tried to alert his superiors about the problems the Airborne soldiers faced in securing the base. This in spite of the fact the Report by Lt. Gen. R. Natonski, USMC which was endorsed by Gen. Petraeus held the senior officers at the company, Battalion and Brigade level accountable and ordered GOMRs be issued to them because of the dereliction of duty they demonstrated.
In almost all of these cases the Senior officers were shielded by the those who prepared the reports and protected by procedural tactics from being called to account for their actions e.g. not releasing the records generated contemporaneously on the service members discharged with a Dx. of PD and all other records pertaining to specific decisions and actions taken in response to identifiable events that were evident in all these three colossal military failures.
These superiors in the Battalion HQ a mere 4.5 miles away never came to visit the site or arrange for the appropriate resourcing in terms of men, weapons, materials and construction equipment. Their superior was the disgraced Gen S. McChrystal. (This is the person responsible for the despicable cover-up of the Tillman murder and the disgusting aftermath). These are the heroes who sacrificed their lives in a glorious manner and whose hallowed memory is being besmirched by the biased one sided report that Gen. Charles Campbell prepared. The kill ratio could be as high as 52:9 and ratio of wounded could be 45:27
– Jonathan P. Brostrom, 24, of Aiea, Hawaii
– Israel Garcia, 24, of Long Beach, California
– Jonathan R. Ayers, 24, of Snellville, Georgia
– Jason M. Bogar, 25, of Seattle, Washington
– Jason D. Hovater, 24, of Clinton, Tennessee
– Matthew B. Phillips, 27, of Jasper, Georgia
– Pruitt A. Rainey, 22, of Haw River, North Carolina
– Gunnar W. Zwilling, 20, of Florissant, Missouri
– Sergio S. Abad, 21, of Morganfield, Kentucky
The report of Lt. Gen. R. Natonski (USMC) who was delegated by Gen. D. Petraeus and an earlier report by Cubisson clearly indicated that the culpability for the horrible conditions under which the troops in their command were trying to establish a VPB in Nuristan- a very dangerous part of Afghanistan lay on the shoulders of the three commanders at the company, battalion and brigade level.Gen. Peter Chiarelli and Gen. G.W. Casey Jr. can repudiate the report of Gen. C. Campbell for one important he didn’t take testimony from the 48 troops who were involved in the battle but talked only to the top three officers who by the way at that time were charged with dereliction of duty and facing letters of reprimand. Gen. C. Campbell’s basic premise of kicking accountability down to the lowest ranks and assigning authority to the highest ranks who are indemnified against any loss of command or authority over service men and women is a cowardly and dastardly tactic. It is like Brutus’ betrayal when he stabbed Caesar. Gen C. Campbell’s report packed the most damaging impact on our service members while asserting the need to protect the chain of command from GOMRs because it turned out to be the unkindest cut of all.
2. Army accused of Covering up Mistakes in Afghan Battle.
Editor's note: For more on this story, watch Drew Griffin's report on CNN's "In the Arena," tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
By Drew Griffin and Jessi Joseph, CNN Special Investigative Unit
It will go down in history as one of the U.S. military's worst battles in Afghanistan. And according to the families of the soldiers who died there, the history written by the U.S. Army is biased and inaccurate.
Relatives of those killed in Wanat, at a combat outpost in the rugged mountains of northeastern Afghanistan, say the Army is covering up mistakes made by the dead men’s' commanders and placing blame on a junior officer who was simply following orders.
It is interesting that US Military Surgeon General Gale Pollack did the same sort of investigation on her own about the PD discharges and didn’t care to talk to talk to the services members and their family members who were directly by the Chapter 5-13 discharges and chose not only to absolve the infamous Col. Knorr from Fort Carson to rebut all charges. The latter just as these three officers in command at various levels were was once again the lastperson the military should delegate the responsibility to provide an accounting of what was happening to the troops in his command who were being dumped on the side of the road with the Dx of PD and who had told his subordinates not to Dx Personality disorder( there is tape on this subject and reports of other officers in his command affirming this)and because he had clearly articulated and proclaimed to the world in the form of memorandum which hung on the wall in his office the utter contempt and malicious disregard he had for service members who were ailing with TBI and PTSD and other emotional disorders.
Gen. Charles Campbell chose to completely disregard the report of Gen Natonski which was supported by Gen Petraeus on the basis of the self-serving statements of the three officers who were facing letters of reprimand for their dereliction of duty that paved the way for terrible military outcome. I have spelled out the actions of key military physicians and the chain of command with respect to the Chapter 5-13 Discharges. I shall provide several pieces of data to support my comments on the events leading up to disastrous battle of Wanat which was characterized by glorious conduct of our troops and the aftermath which has resulted in Lt being blamed for the whole debacle and the superiors being given a free pass to secure the future of the US Military. “Gen. C. Campbell told family members of the deceased that the letters of reprimand would have a chilling effect on other battlefield commanders, who often must make difficult decisions with limited information, according to a tape of his remarks. He also concluded that the deaths were not the direct result of the officers’ mistakes.” Based on “Assigning Blame in the battle of Wanat” by Herschel Smith. Jeff Gaffey- Washington Post who posted this on 01 03 11
There is a General who stands up tall in the midst of the appalling cover- up. He is Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, who has reportedly retired because he was overall Commander in Eastern Afghanistan (where Nuristan is located) because the three of his subordinates apparently got GOMRs in the Wanat debacle and he was left scot free. He wants to hold himself accountable even the Army doesn’t for what happened to extra ordinarily brave and highly skilled warriors who gave such a brilliant account of them even though they were outnumbered 10:1( 500:48) and abandoned by their superiors to do or die and don’t look- to- us- for- help attitude.
I can only hope that Gen. P. Chiarelli and Gen. G.W. Casey Jr. who incidentally put out the AR 635-200 regs of which rules under Chapter 5-13 were apparently maliciously and negligently misused by Officers in his overall command while they dumped 23,000 of our bravest and best on the side of the road with a Dx of PD and more directly under Gen. P. Chiarelli and Maj. Gen. Eric. Schoomaker’s command has the same degree of internal commitment to the creed of West Point- Duty, Honor, and Country that Gen Schlosser has demonstrated.
Now if these three individuals namely Lt. Gen R. Natonski, Maj. Gen J. Schlosser and Major Gen. R. Alles ( Asst. CO-III MarineAircraft Wing- vide-infra) exemplify these same touch stones of greatness for a Military officer then there must be others who are a cut above the rest like they are whocan help resolve the questions about accountability and justice( now delayed ) in the matter of the PD discharges, the urgent matter of Military Sexual Trauma, the issues pertaining of Cpl. Pat Tillman and others who families were victims of double talk and military speak- characterized by obfuscation and settle the matter of the dueling reports Cubisson report and Gen. Natonski’ s reporton the one hand and the deplorablebiased report similar to Gen. Gale Pollack that Gen. C. Campbell released.
Like Gen. G. Pollack he talked only to the officers who were soundly discredited and recommended to receive GOMRs. The report of the Army Combat Studies which drew up the official history of the Battle at Wanat toes the line drawn in the sand by Gen. Charles Campbell. This report in fact is in urgent need of a rewrite to include the facts reported by the troops on the ground who were not interviewed by Gen. Charles Campbell who based his conclusions on a very narrow set of premises favoring the command structure and threw out the data and the conclusions of Lt. Gen Richard Natonski, USMC which are supported by Gen. D. Petraeus regardless of its validity and relevance to the Military’s effort to identify lessons to be learned by attempting tounderstand what went on in the 10 months before the battle and how things went so wrong when the battle was joined in Wanat. Gen. C. Campbell had decided that his role and therefore his report would adjust the scales of justice to favor the senior officers in the chain of and kick accountability down on the least of his brethren.
The Gen. C. Campbell influenced version of the Battle of Wanat robs the military of a great lesson to be learned on how a superior power can still lose to insurgents and how the insurgents can spike the efforts of a superior military force to come between the local people and the insurgents and make common cause with the local population take the upper hand and the higher ground. The chain of command failed to achieve these goals even though they had 10 months to achieve these goals and failed to plan and implement a successful assertive campaign against the insurgents who are experts in asymmetric warfare.
Note: Vanity Fair Dec 2011 “Echoes from a Distant Battlefield” by Mark Bowden provides an excellent over view of what happened at Wanat and in its aftermath
This see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil approach of Gen. C. Campbell resembles Gen. G. Pollack’s approach when she was addressing the imbroglio associated with the Chapter 5-13 discharges is a far cry from steps taken by the USMC and the 7th Cavalry to methodically deconstruct and study the 28 days of the Battle for Hue (Jan. 30-Feb 29, 1968) and develop the military doctrinal plans (MCDP-1) that can enhance readiness and the capacity to improvise and adapt rapidly and effectively.
These two publications( there are many others) provide valuable insights into the operational aspects and fighting philosophy of the USMC particularly when they are co-coordinating operations with the ARVN and the I Corps and the lessons learned from the one of toughest battles of the VN war.
“Battle for Hue” Notes from the 23 Jan 1998 meeting in Hue City on Professional Military Education briefs presented by two key figures in the USMC operations Lt. Gen. Ernie C. Cheathem (In 1968 he was a Lt. Col and CO of 2/5) and Lt Gen. G. Ron Christmas (In 1968 he was a Capt. and CO of Hotel Company 2/5) and “Battle for Hue City” 2nd LT Andrew J. Later. USMCR Proceedings-July 1999.
I am adding an essay by Ms. Peggy Noonan from March 6 2009 on the manner in which the USMC approached a major catastrophe to illustrate how the military can successfully conduct an investigation. This in turn can repair the human weakness as well equipment failures that lead to tragic consequences and rebuild its effectiveness and efficiency, readiness and resilience in a way that builds trust and confidence of the American People in its service men and women from the buck private to a General officer who are held to account by one and the same honor code. The report on the response of Mr. Dong Yun Yoon whose family perished tragically when the Jet crashed into his home emphasize the importance of due diligence and total transparency when it comes to assigning responsibility and recommending appropriate sanctions and remediation measures.
Maj. Gen R. Alles, USMC Asst. Wing Commander of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing conducted the investigation. The USMC could not have been tougher, or more damning. The crash, said Maj. Gen. R. Alles, "clearly avoidable," the result of "a chain of wrong decisions." Mechanics had known since July of a glitch in the jet's fuel-transfer system; the Hornet should have been removed from service and fixed, and was not. The young pilot failed to read the safety checklist. He relied on guidance from Marines at Miramar who did not have complete knowledge or understanding of his situation. He should have been ordered to land at North Island. He took an unusual approach to Miramar, taking a long left loop instead of a shorter turn to the right, which ate up time and fuel. Twelve Marines were disciplined; four senior officers, including the squadron commander, were removed from duty. Their military careers are, essentially, over. The pilot is grounded while a board reviews his future. This wasn't damage control, it was taking honest responsibility. And as such, in any modern American institution, it was stunning. (Ms. Peggy Noonan)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123629513232645561.html
Ms. Peggy Noonan’s essay about the USMC jet fighter crash in University City section of San Diego and the approach taken by the USMC to investigate the crash and assign accountability.
http://articles.cnn.com/2008-12-09/us/military.jet.crash_1_jet-pilot-crash?_s=PM:US
This is an article about Mr. Dong Yun Yoon, the gentleman who lost his wife, two daughters and mother in law in the fiery crash. His words are amazing in light of the tragedy.
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With respect to the Chap. 5-13 discharges justice demands that the military prove their assertions as is the custom in the US – he who asserts must prove. Officers in the Command of Gen. P. Chiarelli and Gen G.W. Casey Jr. using the regs he endorsed and distributed assert that in every instance their Dx of PD was valid and the discharges were in accordance with the regs.Gen Casey ought to live up to this basic tenet of common law- he who asserts must prove and the victims of such assertions must have the right to confront the person who made the assertions which were very degrading and disabling. This I believe should be done before the upcoming trial in the New Haven Federal Court where an FOIA case has been filed by the VVA on Behalf of the SSGT Chuck Luther against the DOD.
It will be a gracious and courageous act of leadership for which he is known if Gen. G.W. Casey Jr. before he retires would take upon his broad shoulders to undertake the tasks of “finding of facts in legally tenable manner” and resolve the legal issues to settle the charges in the Suit brought by SWAN on behalf of specific service women and men who were victims of Sexual Assault against the current and past Secretaries of Defense because these four problems bloomed, blossomed and came into fruition during his watch. This is tough time for the General in other ways.
1. He was born in Sendai, Japan which has been devastated and is going through major turmoil. Furthermore the US military is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the various tasks they have accepted responsibility for as we speak and may extend over an uncertain period of time.
2. Major Nidal Hasan murdered people associated with the First Cavalry division which is based in Fort Hood.
3. His father a Major General commanded the 1st Cavalry in VN and died in a helicopter crash en route to a visit with wounded soldiers in his command on July 7th 1970.
4. Gen. G.W. Casey Jr. is also a Ranger and one wonders if elements of the US Rangers were part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade combat team or the 503rd Infantry regiment (Airborne.) who were left poorly prepared and inadequately supported by their chain of command when they were subject of savage attacks in Wanat VPB in Nuristan.
Some of this could give him pause when it comes to choosing between the dueling reports of Lt. Gen. R. Natonski that is endorsed by Gen. D. Petraeus and the report by Gen C. Campbell and making recommendations about the GOMR’s and requiring changes in the Military doctrines that failed so miserably in both force protection and forceful application of Combat power to annihilate our enemies who seek to harm us over there, over here and everywhere else( meaning civilians residing in the home lands of our Allies)
Through all this documentation and analyses, which can never be the last word or the one path to a just and equitable outcome to the difficult problems we face as a Nation I have been thinking about these inspirational words of W.E. B. Dubois that have kept me going taking one step after another,
“The prayer of our souls is a petition for persistence,
Not for the one good deed, the single thought,
But Deed on deed and thought on thought,
Until day calling into day shall make a life worth living” (At least one I can attest to VM)
There are no easy answers to questions my research raises for me and everyone else but we all have to persist and seek solutions individually and collaboratively to vexing and tenacious challenges which don’t yield any ground to the faint hearted or offer any salient to achieve a breakthrough for the uninspired. I have thought of these words often when I take up such challenges as the ones I have documented here. It is from “All’s well that ends well” by William Shakespeare. Helena muses thus “Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky Gives us free scope, only doth backward pull our slow designs when we ourselves are dull. What power is it which mounts my love so high, that makes me see, and cannot feed mine eye? The mightiest space in fortune nature brings to join like likes and kiss like native things. Impossible be strange attempts to those that weigh their pains in sense and do suppose what hath been cannot be: who ever strove so show her merit that did miss her love? The king's disease--my project may deceive me, but my intents are fix'd and will not leave me. Act I, sc. 1
This report has outlined several challenges that must be addressed with resolve and a great degree of urgency but the scope of the problems and complexity of the tasks are daunting but we must rise up to challenge and enlist the support of all men and women of good faith and courage to rally around and focus their energies of getting it done. It will not be completed in one feel sweep but one step at a time. This is the process I took to document these challenges to the health and wellbeing, dignity and sacred honor of our service members and point out the urgency of their needs since about 2008. I leaned on the spiritual power that is addressed in Mahatma Gandhiji’s favorite hymn. These words of prayer are essential to this kind of effort “Lead Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead thou me on. The night is dark and I am far from home, Lead thou me on. Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene one step enough for me.” Cardinal J. H. Newman.
All the time I have been thinking about and writing up this analysis of catastrophic events during the course of OEF and OIF I was wondering how should this essay be brought to close, on what note should this debilitating read end and after some internal debate I decided to end t with this ballad that is special for me and certainly for a great many people I work with for whom my optimistic outlook about their future suggests all is not lost and their life has a chance to put out more fresh shoots in the days to come.
A CHANGE IS GONNA COME – SAM COOKE.
This song was performed extremely evocatively in New Orleans by the incomparable street musicians Clarence baker and Grandpa Elliot of New Orleans. La.
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown somebody keep telling me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
Ohhhhhhhhh.....
There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will!
May God grant this hope for change will be realized for all those who have been adversely affected during OEF and OIF. VM
To the fallen heroes for whom there is no chance to see the dawn of new day when their valiant efforts to advance the causes they believed in dignity, justice and liberty for all bear fruit for not only the people of Iraq and Afghanistan and but will go far to enhance the wellbeing of the surviving brothers and sisters in arms and the families of all who served so selflessly in all our battles I offer this Scottish ballad that offers homage to “Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie of the Sea forth Highlanders, who along with many others gave up his life So that we can live free.” This is included in the Soundtrack of the movie “We were Soldiers once… and Young”. This movie is based on the book with the same name by Lt. Gen This movie is based on the book with the same name by Lt. Gen Harold G. Moore and Mr. Joseph L. Galloway about the 7th Cav. and several other combat teams who were engaged in the heroic battle in the IA Drang Valley in Oct –Nov 1965. This first battle of the American War in VN ended in a great victory for the American military.
This is an English Translation of a Scottish ballad
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
When they come I will stand my ground
Stand my ground I’ll not be afraid
Thoughts of home take away my fear
Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears
Once a year say a prayer for me
Close your eyes and remember me
Never more shall I see the sun
For I fell to a German’s gun
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Where before many more have gone
In memory of Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie
Seaforth Highlanders
Who along with many others gave up his life
So that we can live free
We will remember them
“We will remember them” Semper Fidelis.
May God Bless our service members and their families.
May God Bless the USA.
Velandy Manohar, MD
Distinguished Life Fellow and
President Asian American Caucus
Am. Psychiatric Association.
- Sept 12 reports. (Compilation and analyses of health issues of our service members)
- My Report AAAA 04(Challenges posed by the Personality disorder based discharges.)
- Sept 15 2010: Full House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on the PD discharges-My response to Chairman Hon Rep Bob Filner on the testimony submitted to the Committee. I had helped to convince him this hearing the second (the first one was in 2007) on the matter of Personality discharges was very important to attempt to correct the errors involved in the application of Chap 5-13 of ARR 635-200 regulations and to restore the Veterans benefits to 23,000 service members who are along with their family members suffering various privations and health concerns.