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My condolences and prayers go out to the families of those killed and injured at Fort Hood, Texas.

I see zero differences between [the suspect], Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, and suicide bombers who kill innocent women and children. The world will probably always have crazy individuals who expect us to conform to their twisted view of reality.

“ ‘You just don’t expect it here’ ” (article, Nov. 7) reports that a Web posting by [someone using the name] Nidal-Hasan equates a Muslim suicide bomber to heroic U.S. soldiers who throw themselves on grenades to save others. How sick a mind must be to make an obscene connection like that!

From reports, Hasan had a history of unprofessional and erratic behavior. How many of his superiors and co-workers bent over backward to avoid the appearance of prejudice in this politically correct-crazy world? This guy did not jump from being a valuable member of the Army to a “loose cannon” in one day. The signs were there. Let us not be so PC that we cannot defend ourselves.

The idea that this war is a war against Muslims is ludicrous. This is a war against extremists who want to destroy freedom, the same freedom that lets a Muslim serve in the armed forces of the greatest nation on Earth.

I am surrounded by people carrying weapons. I feel safe. Why is it, when these same heroes return home, they have to walk around unarmed? The bravery of civilian officer Sgt. Kimberly Munley, who shot Hasan, is to be honored. But a lot happened before she could arrive. How many laws did Hasan allegedly break in this rampage? How many lives might have been saved if our soldiers had the means to defend themselves? Terrorists love to attack defenseless targets.

Terrence BarlowConvoy Support Center Scania, Iraq

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