Fort Hood shooter is 'special'

Colbert King:

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... Nidal Malik Hasan's alleged killing spree gives him special status simply because his actions involved not only violence: His was an act of unforgivable betrayal.

What Hasan unleashed at the shooting scene was tantamount to a teacher opening fire on the classroom, a cop shooting down fellow officers at roll call, a church deacon blasting away during communion.

Hasan, trained and called upon to help relieve suffering, instead heaped suffering upon the unsuspecting. He was an assassin in place.

Driven by what?

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Measure Maj. Hasan against the standards of the Army's Seven Core Values. Do that, and it becomes clear that, a jury's verdict notwithstanding, Hasan has failed on every score that matters most to those with whom he served.

Loyalty? Hasan wore the uniform but he did not bear true faith and allegiance to his fellow soldiers. His devotion was to himself and his version of his beliefs. He had no loyalty to the Army.

Duty? He wanted to renege on his obligations and abandon his responsibilities. He said yes to medical training, but no to being part of a team deployed overseas.

Respect? He claimed not to get any, even as he failed to treat others with the dignity and respect due them. Thirteen caskets and 38 victims with bullet wounds tell the tale.

Selfless service? "Go a little further, endure a little longer, and look a little closer to see how you can add to the effort" is the way the Army puts it. The country's welfare matters. Hasan put his own above that of the Army or his comrades.

Honor? There was no honor in what he did. Hasan sat in the readiness center, deceiving others into believing he was one of them.

Integrity? His piety was demolished by his immoral, criminal and hate-filled behavior.

Personal courage? It took no physical courage to open fire on the unprotected. Where is the moral courage in seeking refuge in Miranda protection after a murderous rampage?

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Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan betrayed that trust. That is his unforgivable sin.

King gets it. The only thing that I would add to the betrayal is that this guy should also be tried for treason. There were certainly plenty of witnesses to his act and all but 13 survived to tell about it.