Probe of Ft. Hood murders

Since most soldiers are not violent or murderers I expect that any particular individual soldier will not me violent or a murderer.

Except, of course, for all the other facts that Hitchens lists, which would raise the probability that Hasan (not some other soldier) would do what Hasan actually did. There were warnings all over the place.

Very few people are not violent. Military or otherwise.

Further, every member of the United States Armed Force, regardless of branch, endures a period called 'basic training', a time in which psychological abuse is used in order to instill a sense of unquestioning obedience to superior officials, including the unquestioned use of violence. Not only including violence, but violent practices are a focus of this training.

Thus, every member is taught and trained to be violent.



What were the red flags for William Casey and the other 26 soldiers involved in the My Lai massacre?

None of them exhibited the "warning signs" Hitchens attributes to Hasan, yet they managed to commit an atrocity far more barbaric than Hasan, at least in scope.

Besides, purchasing extra-military weapons is pretty common among soldiers.

Look folks, it's the military: it teaches and trains people to be violent. What else do you expect?

Soldiers are trained how to be violent. But not to be violent. There is a difference. It was William Calley, not Casey. And, I don't know the answer. What has that to do with it? Are you arguing that because there were no red flags, or we knew of no red flags at My Lai, that there were none in the case of Hasan? Or, what are you arguing?