The man is a believing Moslem who praised suicide bombers. This was an act of well planned terrorism and we have to face up to it.

We should probably wait and see what the Army decides neh? I think they probably will have more information than you do :)

I already know what the army will say; he was insane. It would stir up too much trouble to admit that this was an act of terror. Do you really think that the army will conduct an honest investigation? Recent history has shown that the opposite is the case. I don't need the army, I have already watched interviews with neighbors and relatives and co-workers who clearly have stated that he expressed sympathy with terrorists. Pretending that a problem exists doesn't make it go away.

While I agree, everyone in the MSM and Government Officials are bending over backwards not to utter the words Terrorist Attack, that is an obvious aspect of this crime.

I suspect we will discover it is a hybrid action. A disturbed individual who has invested himself in fanatical beliefs.

What exactly would be changed by using the term "terrorist"? Portioning of the blame?

Hunter,

From what we know at this time, it certainly does appear that this guy was driven by the very same beliefs and rages that animate the average Islamist bus bomber in Kabul. Yeah, it's just fine to call this guy an "Islamic terrorist." He probably considers himself one (or rather, a "jihadist").

But what the Army will call it has to do with the utility of labels. If it helps the Army to call this guy a "terrorist," the military will call him that. If it helps the military to call him "insane" and "a lone wacko" they will use that label.

Some times a strategic decision to not try to elevate an act to anything like a political/religious act of war, but rather denigrate it as the gruesome act of an insane animal.

Let's not kid ourselves. That call will not be made by the Army. It will be made by the President, Barrak Hussein Obama. No doubt Rahm and David are running the numbers to see which story works best.

Really, what difference does it make what they call him? Will less people be dead?

Actually it does make a difference. Maybe next time a serving officer who publicly praises our enemies will be investigated and perhaps discharged, instead of being allowed to stay in the Army beacuse of the Army's fear of being labelled antiMoslem

hunter14:

Actually it does make a difference. Maybe next time a serving officer who publicly praises our enemies will be investigated and perhaps discharged, instead of being allowed to stay in the Army beacuse of the Army's fear of being labelled antiMoslem

I could be wrong, but wasn't he already being investigated for having tried to contact Al Qaeda?

Does the army really "fear" being labelled anti-Muslim, especially after an incident like this? What exactly do they have to be afraid of? Why all the speculation? As Early Bird points out--if it is advantageous to the military to call it "terrorism," they will do so. If it is not, they will call him insane.