Disclaimer:  This column is my personal opinion, and not an official AIP position.
(That said, I suspect that a majority of AIP members -- and others -- would agree.)

Questions have arisen as to whether those killed or wounded during the recent Fort Hood massacre deserve to be awarded the Purple Heart -- the military decoration that honors persons killed or wounded in combat.  I say "yes"!

Criteria: The Purple Heart is awarded for wounds or death as result of an act of any opposing Armed Force, as a result of an international terrorist attack or as a result of military operations while serving as part of a peacekeeping force.  (Source:  Web site of the Air Force Personnel Center.)

So, do those killed or wounded in the Fort Hood massacre meet the official criteria?

There is no doubt that military personnel were killed or wounded.  There is no doubt that Dr. (Maj.) Nidal Malik Hasan was armed.  That leaves the question of whether he constituted an "opposing Armed Force", or whether the event constituted "an international terrorist attack".  Let's consider both questions.

Not only was Hasan armed, but he was also in opposition to his own country and organization.  This has been proven by his repeated and consistent comments in support of Islamist jihad and against the United States military.  It is amazing that military authorities, having been previously warned about Hasan's anti-American and anti-military rants (both verbally and online), did not file a formal charge against Hasan for the crime of solicitation (inspring others to commit mutiny).  Solicitation is covered under Article 82 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  Specifically, because he attempted to inspire fellow Muslim-American troops to avoid or refuse combat against Muslims in other countries, Dr. (Maj.) Hasan violated paragraph (b) of Article 82.  That paragraph refers to UCMJ Article 99 -- Misbehavior before the enemy.  The pre-massacre rants by Hasan are addressed by paragraphs (3,4,8, and 9) of Article 99.  Such behavior is punishable by death, as is the crime of murder (UCMJ, Article 118).  If the military prosecutor charges Hasan with murder, but does not charge him with solicitation, then I would consider that prosecutor to be derelict in his duty (see:  UCMJ, Article 98 -- Non-compliance with procedural rules.)  Hasan declared himself to be opposed to the United States and to our military, and he used force.  Further, Hasan has been documented to have reached out to al-Qaeda, the very organization against which our country is at war.  Thus, one could construe that Hasan had secretly joined al-Qaeda, an opposing Armed Force.  Therefore, a reasonable argument could be made that the Fort Hood casualties deserve the Purple Heart because of the actions of an opposing Armed Force.  (The Obama regime would have to concede this argument, because they have just given the same courtroom rights to al-Qaeda members as belong to American citizens.  Therefore, Obama has elevated al-Qaeda to the status of an opposing Armed Force as defined under the International Laws of War.  Therefore, if Hasan committed acts on behalf of al-Qaeda, then the Fort Hood casualties* deserve the Purple Heart under the "opposing Armed Force" rule.  Obama cannot have it both ways.)

(*They are not "victims" -- except of political correctness.  They are casualties of an ongoing war with Islamist terrorism.  This distinction is vital to properly honoring them.)

Or, we could consider Hasan's actions to be a terrorist incident.

Again, Hasan had reached out to al-Qaeda, which is a recognized terrorist organization.  (At least, it was -- up until the minute that Obama transferred some of that group's members to a Federal courtroom in Manhattan.)  Thus, by reaching out to al-Qaeda and then performing as a member of al-Qaeda would be expected to perform, it can be reasonably construed that Hasan considered himself to be a member of al-Qaeda.  And, if he was such a member, then his murderous rampage would qualify the Fort Hood casualties for the Purple Heart under the "international terrorist attack" rule.

But, what if the Obama regime tries to dodge honoring the Fort Hood casualties by claiming that it was not an "international" terrorist attack?  That argument must fail, and here is why.  First of all, al-Qaeda is an international organization.  Secondly, the event received international news coverage -- which is one of the goals of international terrorists.  Thirdly, the actions of Hasan meet the definition of terrorism.  In short, terrorism is the use of a seemingly random act of violence to effect change in policy or procedure.  Hasan specifically declared that he was attacking his fellow soldiers because he wanted to influence the United States to stop fighting against Muslims in the predominantly Muslim countries where we now have combat operations.  In other words, he was trying to influence both American foreign policy and American military procedures.  Thus, there is no doubt that Hasan meets the definition of a terrorist.  And, because the troops that he attacked were returning from overseas combat operations, and because al-Qaeda is an international organization, then the event was "an international terrorist attack", regardless of the fact that Hasan was an American-born military member and his rampage occurred on American soil.

Interestingly, the administrative procedures for awarding the Purple Heart to the Fort Hood casualties are potentially more nimble than the procedures for the court-martial of Dr. (Maj.) Hasan.  Therefore, if the folks in the Pentagon move quickly and decisively, then they can award the Purple Heart (and, thus, declare Hasan to be a "terrorist") before his court-martial begins.  If the Obama regime tries to negate that decision, then he will paint himself into a very uncomfortable corner.)

Please join AIP and help to support my effort to honor the Fort Hood casualties.

Tom Kovach (rhymes with "watch") is an inventor (the "Kovach Klip" -- a piece of military field equipment), a horse wrangler, a certified paralegal, a former network talk-show host, and a former USAF Blue Beret.  Tom is the Tennessee state chairman of America's Independent Party. He has also run for Congress. To learn more, click: www.TomKovach.US.