Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
Last week, U.S. Park Police detained Marine reservist Yonathan Melaku for suspicious activity near the Pentagon. He's a fellow resident of Alexandria and local papers here noted he'd been arrested late last month for breaking a bunch of car windows out in the exurbs.
But now federal law enforcement officials say they're about to charge him with a string of shootings at military installations in the area. Last October and November, shots were fired at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., at the Pentagon, at the Marine Corps recruiting center in Chantilly and at the Coast Guard recruiting station near Potomac Mills.
At the time of those shootings, I seem to recall officials saying they suspected a member of the military. Melaku fits that definition. I do find it interesting how few news reports indicate other characteristics that might be in play here, such as his religion. This NPR report is typical in the way it avoids discussing Melaku's religious affiliation. I wonder why the media generally avoids including such details in its reporting. This was the only story I found where it was mentioned. (He's not Methodist, in case you were wondering.)
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Dec '10
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
It's important enough to be stamped on his dog tags but not important enough to consider as a motivation for particular acts? Right.
Jan '11
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
The first victim of political correctness is truth.
Jun '10
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
Crap, not another Episcopalian terrorist.
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
No sphere within this country is more politically correct these days than the United States military. Its back was broken long ago by Pat Schroeder.
Oct '10
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
Heaven forbid the media should disclose hard facts. Might upset the narrative.
If this fellow had been a member of some Right Wing Christian Militant Group With Guns, it would fit nicely on the medias TV dinner plate.
Oct '10
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
Did come across an article some time ago about the Swedish Army. Now there is an example of P.C. run amuck. The situation may have been rectified. Unsure.
Not likely the US would fall that far...
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
wilber forge
Did come across an article some time ago about the Swedish Army. Now there is an example of P.C. run amuck. The situation may have been rectified. Unsure.
Not likely the US would fall that far... · Jun 22 at 4:59pm
It has fallen very far. Remember that Muslim Major who gunned down the soldiers at the American military base. Had you been working with the evidence that the authorities had, you would have intervened. They didn't.
I have a post coming on the Naval War College that will curl your toes.
Jan '11
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
wilber forge
Did come across an article some time ago about the Swedish Army. Now there is an example of P.C. run amuck. The situation may have been rectified. Unsure.
Not likely the US would fall that far... · Jun 22 at 4:59pm
I fear you'd be surprised. It's fallen further than I ever would have imagined before I experienced it myself. I don't know how it compares to Sweden, though.
Jan '11
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
Paul A. Rahe
wilber forge
...Not likely the US would fall that far...
It has fallen very far. Remember that Muslim Major who gunned down the soldiers at the American military base. Had you been working with the evidence that the authorities had, you would have intervened. They didn't.
I have a post coming on the Naval War College that will curl your toes. · Jun 22 at 5:30pm
Dr Rahe, I'm reminded of an incident that occurred in the aftermath of MAJ Hasan's rampage, in which a Soldier was commanded by his NCO to delete his cell-phone video of the attack (and did so). It didn't particularly surprise me when I learned of it, and I can almost imagine the NCO's reasoning: anything that reflects negatively on any aspect of a protected identity group is a Very Bad Thing, so the simplest response to the existence of video showing MAJ Hasan shouting "Allahu Akbar" as he gunned down his comrades was to delete it. That, wilber forge, shows you how far we've fallen.
Aug '10
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
A long time ago, a thought occurred to me about how the military turned out to be so susceptible to feminist intimidation:
Traditionally, women have generally found warriors attractive. In the Vietnam War era, this all changed: for the first time in history, celebrities like Jim Morrison became the male ideal, and crew-cut soldiers were reduced to figures of ridicule and contempt. Since then, unconsciously, many in the military hierarchy have been trying to wheedle their way back into the good graces of women--and have managed to look pretty foolish in the attempt. They haven't figured out that it's not worth it for men to try to appeal to feminists.
Aug '10
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
I have a sneaking suspicion they didn't leave out his religion because they assumed everyone would have already guessed.
Jun '11
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
wilber forge: Heaven forbid the media should disclose hard facts. Might upset the narrative.
If this fellow had been a member of some Right Wing Christian Militant Group With Guns, it would fit nicely on the medias TV dinner plate. · Jun 22 at 4:51pm
it would have fit nicely, very nicely.
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
It won't be posted until tomorrow -- at a different site I write for -- but I've written something wondering how we know this chap really is Muslim. His name sounds awfully non-Muslim. And the details on this story have been shifting a lot.
May '10
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
I don't know for sure, but I suspect Melaku's motives might be more personal than religious. He joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 2007 and he's still a lance corporal? He sounds like a pretty crappy Marine with some serious mental problems and a chip on his shoulder.
Re: Has The Mystery Of The Military Shootings Been Solved?
Here's what I wrote up for GetReligion.