SOLID LEADERSHIP was on display in the aftermath of the shootings Thursday at Fort Hood, Texas.
Lieutenant General Bob Cone took the lead in press conferences immediately following the horrific massacre, in which 13 people were killed by the shooter, identified by authorities as Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan. The articulate nature in which Cone dealt with an increasingly complex situation with limited and conflicting data was admirable.
President Obama reacted clearly as a compassionate and strong commander in chief. He invoked empathy while asserting his authority. He said that there is “no greater honor, but no greater responsibility’’ for him than to provide for the safety and security of our men and women in uniform. That speaks volumes about his understanding of his role as the highest executive of our armed forces.
Even the Council on American-Islamic Relations came out with a strongly worded condemnation. It is to be commended for rightly calling out this terrible act of violence.
Altogether, we see a combined reasonable response to an unreasonable act. We can take confidence that right-minded investigators and military leaders will get to the bottom of the issues that led to it. It should not detract from the enormous challenges that continue to face our military, who continue to impress us with their talents and capabilities.
David Payne
Hanscom Air Force Base
The writer is a US Army major.
