Salon.com > Jamie Stengle

Fort Hood suspect condemned ’09 shootings

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:56:00 +0000

As Pfc. Naser Abdo beseeched officials to grant him conscientious objector status and release him from the military, he condemned a fellow Muslim soldier accused of shooting 13 people to death at Fort Hood. Such acts, he wrote, "run counter to what I believe in as a Muslim."

Less than a year later, officials say Abdo has admitted planning to launch another attack on Fort Hood with a bomb in a backpack and weapons stashed in a motel room where he was arrested Wednesday, about 3 miles from the Texas Army base's main gate.

The 21-year-old's writings, including the essay obtained by The Associated Press in which he deplored the 2009 shootings, portray a devout infantry soldier struggling with his faith while facing the prospect of deployment and what he felt was the scorn of his peers.

"Overall, as a Muslim I feel that I will not be able to carry out my military duties due to my conscientious objection," Abdo wrote in his application for the status. "Therefore, unless I separate myself from the military, I would potentially be putting the soldiers I work with in jeopardy.

"In this instance, I would be failing in my duty to my unit, my army and my god."

American Heart Association: Require students to get emergency training

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:47:00 +0000

The American Heart Association wants all students to know how to do CPR and use a defibrillator by the time they graduate from high school.

In an advisory released Monday, the heart group says state legislatures should mandate that students know how to perform CPR and how to use an AED, which shocks the heart back into a normal rhythm.

The heart group said at least 36 states either require the training or at least encourage it.

At Shaker Heights High School in suburban Cleveland, ninth-graders learn the life-saving skills as part of their physical education class. Teacher Stuart Gilbert says they're at a perfect age because they're starting to babysit and take other jobs that require the skills, like lifeguarding.

Bush praises Obama during Facebook broadcast

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:44:31 +0000

Former President George W. Bush has pledged not to publicly criticize his successor, Barack Obama, but he did offer some praise Monday during a live broadcast on Facebook to promote his new book.

Bush participated in an hour-long discussion on Facebook Live with the site's founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and was asked what he thought the current administration was handling well. The former president responded that he liked Obama's policy on Afghanistan.

"I think the idea of putting more troops in was something that I can applaud," Bush said. "I also appreciate some of the education position. As I understand it they do believe strongly that accountability is necessary in order to achieve excellence in the classrooms."

As the discussion started, Zuckerberg asked Bush why he decided to appear on Facebook. Bush quipped: "Because you've got a lot of people paying attention to us, and I'm trying to sell books."

He then told Zuckerberg that he loves entrepreneurship and a country that could help make someone like Zuckerberg able to realize his dream and, in turn, create jobs for many people. "Yours is a really interesting company, and plus: I'm shamelessly marketing," he said.

George W. Bush breaks ground on presidential center in Texas

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:20:00 +0000

Former President George W. Bush, joined by former administration officials including a noticeably thinner former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, broke ground Tuesday on his presidential center.

More than 3,000 people, including friends, supporters and former administration officials attended the event under a giant white tent at Dallas' Southern Methodist University. Outside, there were around 100 protesters joined by a handful of counter-protesters.

"It is hard to believe there is this much excitement about shoveling dirt," quipped Bush.

The George W. Bush Presidential Center, located on the campus of former first lady Laura Bush's alma mater, will include a library and a policy institute and is expected to open in February 2013.

"Today's groundbreaking marks the beginning of a journey," Bush said. "We take the first step toward the construction of the presidential center, which will be a dynamic hub of ideas and actions, based upon timeless principles."

Cheney, who used a cane and looked much thinner after having had heart surgery over the summer, introduced the president. The former vice president told the crowd he wasn't surprised by the "robust sales" of Bush's book "Decision Points," which was released last week.

Texas court hears state’s appeal in gay divorce

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 22:20:00 +0000

A lawyer for a Dallas man trying to divorce the man he married in Massachusetts told a Texas appeals court Wednesday that his client is entitled to a divorce because he had a valid marriage.

But the Texas Attorney General's Office argued before the three-judge panel that the marriage isn't recognized by Texas, so they cannot get a divorce. Jimmy Blacklock, an assistant Texas solicitor general, said the men's union can only be voided.

"The parties lack standing to file a divorce case because they're not married," he said.

The Dallas men wed in 2006 in Massachusetts, where gay marriage is legal, and separated two years later.

Jody Scheske, who represents the man listed in court records only as J.B., said his client doesn't want to overturn the state's marriage ban, but only wants to end his own marriage.