The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

‘Who’ Is First of 5 W’s; ‘Why’ Is Last UPDATE: Wade Michael Page … MORE: Reported Discharged From Army in 1998

Posted on | August 6, 2012 | 37 Comments

This ABC News story annoys me:

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms Special Agent Thomas Ahern said the suspect had tattoos and that authorities were investigating whether he was a “skin head or “white supremacist” as two ABC Sources said.
“It is being investigated. And what his tattoos signified is being investigated. They are all pieces of a possible puzzle to learn what was his motive in carrying out such a horrific act,” Ahern said.

Who, What, When, Where, Why — it is irresponsible to present a speculative motive, until we have the name of the suspect.

UPDATE: Jana Winter of Fox News reports:

CUDAHY, Wis. – The man authorities say killed six in a Milwaukee-area Sikh temple before police shot him was a heavily-tattooed, 40-year-old ex-Army soldier, sources told Fox News, but what triggered his rampage remains unclear.
Sources identified the dead suspect as Wade Michael Page, who was at one time attached to the Fort Bragg Army installation in North Carolina. Local authorities have scheduled a 10 a.m. press conference, where more details may emerge about Page and what the FBI is treating as an act of domestic terrorism in the temple, in the Milwaukee suburb of Oak Creek. Six people were killed and four wounded, including a police officer, before the man being identified as Page was shot dead by a police officer.

UPDATE II: Fort Bragg is home to the 82nd Airborne Division, as well as to an elite Special Forces unit, but we do not yet know whether Page was a member of either of those outfits.

UPDATE III: Headline at Wizbang:

Sikh Temple Investigated As Domestic Terrorism,
Ft. Hood Shooting Is Still Just “Work Place Violence”

When Army troops are killed in a shooting spree by a guy named Nidal Hassan — no, that can’t be “terrorism.” But let a guy with an Army background commit a shooting spree . . .

UPDATE IV: There is a report, attributed to military sources, that Page served six years in the Army, from April 1992 to October 1998, and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, before subsequently being stationed at Fort Bragg. This is an unconfirmed report, however.

UPDATE V: OK, now CBS News has it confirmed:

According to sources in the U.S. Army, Page enlisted in April 1992 and given a less-than-honorable discharge in October 1998. He served at Fort Bliss, Texas, in the psychological operations unit in 1994, and was last stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, attached to the psychological operations unit. The details of his discharge were not immediately clear.

This is intriguing for three reasons: First, “psy ops”? Hmmm. Second, it is known that there was an investigation in the 1990s of soldiers at Fort Bragg involved in white supremacist activity. Third, what was the cause of his “less-than-honorable discharge”?

UPDATE VI: Here’s a 2005 Pentagon report (PDF) about possible security risks presented by extremists — including both white supremacists and Islamic jihadis — in the armed forces. Please see “Appendix A” for some disturbing evidence about how many neo-Nazis boast of their military status.

UPDATE VII: This story illustrates why it is so important to wait for facts before jumping to conclusions based on partial information or, even worse, politically-motivated speculation.

Before we knew anything about the perpetrator, some liberals rushed to blame this atrocity on Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann (who had called for investigation of alleged Muslim Brotherhood influence at the State Department). Last night, we had a report that the suspected shooter recently had broken up with his girlfriend. And now we have the report that the suspect was less-than-honorably discharged from the Army.

Meanwhile, the usual suspects continue to play “Pin-the-Tail on the Republican” — as if the only important thing about any news event was what political purpose it might serve: “Natalie Portman Wedding: Is This Good News for Anti-Gay Marriage Movement?”

Why the hell must we politicize absolutely everything?

Look: If it were to turn out that Wade Michael Page was chairman of “Wisconsin Neo-Nazis for Romney,” and that the last Web site found on his computer’s browser was RushLimbaugh.com — or even my own blog — I would report that fact, and let the chips fall where they may.

Facts are more important than politics, at least in the news business.

UPDATE VIII: PRESS CONFERENCE: ‘Heroic Actions’ of Police Saved Lives in Oak Creek Shooting

PREVIOUSLY:

Category: Crime, Wisconsin

Comments

37 Responses to “‘Who’ Is First of 5 W’s; ‘Why’ Is Last UPDATE: Wade Michael Page … MORE: Reported Discharged From Army in 1998”

  1. Lady Liberty 1885
    August 6th, 2012 @ 8:07 am

    Oh goodie. NC connection.  /sigh

  2. Bob Belvedere
    August 6th, 2012 @ 8:08 am

    Exactly, but, of course, most reporters ‘know’ that Truth is whatever helps one towards his goal.

  3. The Crawfish
    August 6th, 2012 @ 8:11 am

    The Administration is calling this “domestic terrorism”, but still calls the Fort Hood massacre “workplace violence”.  Evidently, it can only be terrorism if the shooter is white and the victims aren’t.

  4. robertstacymccain
    August 6th, 2012 @ 8:20 am

    Democrats are having their convention in North Carolina, so we should blame Debbie Wasserman Schultz, right?

  5. smitty
    August 6th, 2012 @ 8:20 am

    It helps if you view all reporting through a propaganda lens.
    Here, we’re going to go after vets, who, don’t-you-know, tend to show up at Tea Party events quite a bit.

  6. Patch.com Reporter Jessica McBride Gets Scoop on Sikh Temple Shooting Suspect UPDATE: More Details Emerge : The Other McCain
    August 6th, 2012 @ 8:28 am

    […] killers to act on any logical or rational basis in choosing their targets.UPDATE IV: The suspect has been identified as Wade Michael Page, 40.Category: Crime, WisconsinComments http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/EU5DQWQTTHTPO4A4ZYSL3AAV2U […]

  7. OldNuc
    August 6th, 2012 @ 9:29 am

    The MSM is a socialist propaganda institution, not a hard news and opinion institution.  This has been true for many years.

  8. uncleduke
    August 6th, 2012 @ 10:03 am

    Googled my way on to this blog, and dear christ, you are one sick imbecile.

    Is your life really so sad and pathetic that you just sit around waiting for tragedy to strike so you can complain that psychopaths who are vets are called terrorists?

  9. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 6th, 2012 @ 10:16 am

    You said it.  

  10. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 6th, 2012 @ 10:19 am

    Yes that is true.  But we know Fort Hood was terrorism because we know the FH shooter was in contact with al Qaeda before the attack.  If a Neo Nazi lone wolf goes off, is that terrorism or is it a lone wolf going off?  I guess it depends on the underlying facts.  

  11. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 6th, 2012 @ 10:20 am

    Oh STFU until you know WTF you are talking about.  

    Thank you.  

  12. robertstacymccain
    August 6th, 2012 @ 10:23 am

    GK, last week you were on Mediaite commenting, “GOP … #1 with racists” and also accusing Chick-fil-A of a “bigoted point of view.”

    Just so we know where you’re coming from, OK?

  13. Film Ladd
    August 6th, 2012 @ 10:23 am

    I was under the impression that Sikhs and Islamists didn’t really get along very well. I know a few Sikhs, and they seem pretty cool folks who take great pains to point out that their turbans etc. has NOTHING to do with Islam. So why would Bachmann’s concern over the Muslim Brotherhood at the State Department have anything to do with an evil freak shooting up a Sikh church? I guess multiculturalists aren’t too keen on, y’know, studying multiple cultures.

  14. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 6th, 2012 @ 10:23 am

    We also have to accept the truth for what it is.  The ABC story has an informant.  If it is a cop at the scene that told them:  “Yeah dead suspect was bald and had neo nazi tattoos…”  That is a pretty good indication he might be a neo nazi.  If it is just Brian Ross speculating…well it is not such a great source.  

  15. uncleduke
    August 6th, 2012 @ 10:35 am

    Wow, you can use Google too! Your little website seems like the perfect place to teach, coddle and inform a psycho mass murderer. You bitch and whine about the media, then you skew everything to fit your own narrative.

  16. uncleduke
    August 6th, 2012 @ 10:36 am

    Funny, some people call that prejudice or prejudging, and it’s odd that you would be so against that because this blog relishes prejudging so much.

  17. Observations In Passing | Daily Pundit
    August 6th, 2012 @ 10:38 am

    […] In Passing Posted on August 6, 2012 7:38 am by Bill Quick ‘Who’ Is First of 5 W’s; ‘Why’ Is Last UPDATE: Wade Michael Page … MORE: Reported Discha… Sikh Temple Investigated As Domestic Terrorism, Ft. Hood Shooting Is Still Just “Work Place […]

  18. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 6th, 2012 @ 11:03 am

    uncleduke, maybe this guy was an unhinged neo nazi who attacked a Sikh temple solely because of xenophobia and hate.  Maybe there are other motives at play.  We do not know yet (that is RSM’s point).  And neither do you.  

    But instead you here and accusing this place of prejudging.  I guess irony is not a concept you grasp very well.  

  19. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 6th, 2012 @ 11:04 am

    The Raw Story is a great community for you uncleduke.  

  20. Bob Belvedere
    August 6th, 2012 @ 11:10 am

    What is truth?

  21. Bob Belvedere
    August 6th, 2012 @ 11:17 am

    Quid est veritas?

  22. Wombat_socho
    August 6th, 2012 @ 11:21 am

     And that’s about enough out of you, you oxygen thief.

  23. PRESS CONFERENCE: ‘Heroic Actions’ of Police Saved Lives in Oak Creek Shooting : The Other McCain
    August 6th, 2012 @ 11:27 am

    […] and “was ineligible for re-enlistment.”EXPECT FURTHER UPDATES . . .PREVIOUSLY:Aug. 6: ‘Who’ Is First of 5 W’s; ‘Why’ Is Last UPDATE: Wade Michael Page … MORE: Reported Discha…Aug. 5: Patch.com Reporter Jessica McBride Gets Scoop on Sikh Temple Shooting Suspect UPDATE: More […]

  24. Liam
    August 6th, 2012 @ 12:10 pm

    It’s because there have been several instances since 9/11 where racist dummies see bearded men in turbans, mistake them for Muslims, and target them for hate crimes. See http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/08/06/timeline-hate-crimes-against-sikhs-in-the-u-s/

  25. Film Ladd
    August 6th, 2012 @ 12:12 pm

    Now now pontius

  26. SDN
    August 6th, 2012 @ 12:57 pm

     Given your first comment, you have a certain unfortunate first impression to overcome.

    In the meantime, the depth of my concern for your opinion will need a nano-scale micrometer.

  27. Bob Belvedere
    August 6th, 2012 @ 1:29 pm

    Sorry it took me so long to reply, I was at my daily pilates session.

  28. Obligatory Post-Massacre Finger-Pointing Scapegoating Blame Game Open Thread : The Other McCain
    August 6th, 2012 @ 3:16 pm

    […] Jessica McBride Gets Scoop on Sikh Temple Shooting Suspect UPDATE: More Details EmergeAug. 6: ‘Who’ Is First of 5 W’s; ‘Why’ Is Last UPDATE: Wade Michael Page … MORE: Reported Discha…Aug. 6: PRESS CONFERENCE: ‘Heroic Actions’ of Police Saved Lives in Oak Creek Shooting UPDATE: […]

  29. PaulLemmen
    August 6th, 2012 @ 3:22 pm

    You are too kind Wombat, I’d have nuked him after 1 …

  30. Shawny Lee
    August 6th, 2012 @ 4:17 pm

    Hell yes!  I was so stunned by the total disconnect (as in WTF?) response to the actual article it hurt my brain.  They must not recognize actual investigative reporting when they see it.  Or maybe they were connected with one of the politicized, presumptive reports Stacy mentioned. 

  31. Shawny Lee
    August 6th, 2012 @ 4:25 pm

    LOL…..the perfect response to that troll meets the perfect summary of Stacy’s article.  You are a blogger godess. 

  32. Wombat_socho
    August 6th, 2012 @ 4:27 pm

     Took me a while to get around to my moderation duties today.

  33. PaulLemmen
    August 6th, 2012 @ 5:28 pm

    You remind me of a line from Pink Floyd: “How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?”
    Of course, I understand the British concept of a pudding, but I prefer to use the American view of a sweet congealed dessert for this example.
    You, like most liberal idiots, want the sweet goodies that Libety provides (in fact demand that it be provided to you by government) without consuming the “meat” of Liberty, that is, sans any actual effort to fulfill the obligations of Liberty. You are a deluded, self-important anal orifice of a man.

  34. Groty1
    August 6th, 2012 @ 5:39 pm

    The media insists on referring to the shooter as an “ex-Army” veteran, presumably hoping to subconsciously make the reader associate him with a “right wing militia” group.

    I suggest conservatives refer to the shooter as an “ex-government employee”.

  35. uncleduex
    August 6th, 2012 @ 6:35 pm

    Hahahaha…you should talk to the owners of this blog, because they are so afraid of someone not walking in lockstep with these insane ideas, they banned me from commenting.

    Freedom of speech indeed people…you really do love the Constitution!

  36. PaulLemmen
    August 6th, 2012 @ 10:32 pm

    You want freedom of speech? Start your own fucking blog! We won’t stop you … that’s freedom of speech.

  37. The Morning Links (8/7/12) | Lady Liberty 1885
    August 7th, 2012 @ 6:30 am

    […] ‘Who’ Is First of 5 W’s; ‘Why’ Is Last UPDATE: Wade Michael Page […]