While lawyers argue over whether or not muslim terrorist Major Nidal Hassan should be forced to shave his beard, it remains that three years after his murderous spree, the Obama administration persists in referring to the mass shooting as an incident of "workplace violence". No matter how obvious it may be to anyone else, these guys just can't bring themselves to use the T-word. Ft. Hood wasn't terrorism, Libya was just a protest by a group of film critics that sort of got out of hand.
In the case of Ft. Hood, the difference amounts to more than mere semantics:
Because the incident is not considered an act of terrorism, the victims do not get combat-related special compensation that provides disability pay for medically retired servicemembers. Manning, who was shot six times, was recently denied such benefits.
The victims are also ineligible for Purple Hearts or medals for valor.
Should the government classify the shooting as terrorism, the victims and their families could be eligible for compensation and benefits similar to those received by families of 9/11 victims.
Gotta hand it to Barky and the gang: they're determined to reduce their budget deficits. Where better to start than with our servicemen and women?
