After rereading my blog post above, I realize I did not make myself clear in arguing that it is silly to debate about whether Hasan’s rampage constitutes terrorism. I believe the silliness is related to the use of the word “terrorism,” which has come to be understood as a euphemism for “Islamic jihadism.”

My point is that we should stop using euphemisms. The question should not be “Is Hasan a terrorist,” but rather, “Is Hasan an Islamic jihadist?” Facts are still emerging, but it seems pretty clear the answer to the latter question is yes — at least in his own mind. There’s little evidence yet that he conspired with other jihadists, but that possibility should continue to be explored.

The essay Marie links to above is useful, but I prefer a different page from the same website: http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/023-violence.htm. There you will find the 109 verses of the Qur’an that incite Muslims to make war against infidels. As I’ve written before, there are objectionable passages in the Christian and Jewish scriptures. But among the major religious texts, the Qur’an is uniquely violent. We ignore this reality at our peril.