re: Americans draw the line at livestreaming ‘spectacle’ of Fort Hood shooter's execution

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Human beings are incapable of dispensing "justice," as we are insufficient as a basis for objective morality.

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We aren’t the basis. Scripture and Jesus are the basis. But we all have a sense of right and wrong, and for wrongs to be made right. This is the communicable attribute of justice given to us by God.

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ETA2: Do we have an example in the Bible where Jesus would want us to show and watch a public execution? Perhaps there is, I just don't know.

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He probably wouldn’t have been as famous if it didn’t happen to him…

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Why give them what they want?

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Great question, but to play devil's advocate...what can we do to respond that doesn't give them some sort of propaganda to spread around? If we send a six man team to kill a terrorist leader, do you believe that word isn't spread throughout their community? If we shoot one civilian that a terrorist is hiding behind, will they let that pass? And on the other extreme, if we bomb the crap out of say a training facility, would that not be used to promote their message? Not to mention, is there much doubt that whatever message they promote isn't filled with outright lies?

They're playing by a different set of rules than we are. But this isn't a "tea and cookies" sort of engagement where we have to remain polite. Our side establishes rules about how to engage, when to engage, and where it's acceptable to engage, and before you know it, we've tied our own hands. It's tragic that humans can do this to each other, but at some point, restraint isn't enough. Unless you are willing to accept more of the same.

Well, we would be in interesting company: Iran and Afghanistan…

Maybe Trump couldn’t get a cut of livestream revenue?

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Respectfully, you're being obtuse.

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There is nothing about my view that is obtuse. On the contrary, it is so principled, straightforward and simple that it is almost shameful.

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The livestream IS the spectacle.

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Only if it were made so. A live broadcast of a funeral or man landing on the moon or an inauguration are not "spectacles" in and of themselves. Nor would this necessarily have been. And I agree they all could be. You think it would've been; I don't think it had to be that at all.

And even now, do you think there won't be Hasan execution parties all across the fruited plain? There were for Ted Bundy. Should these all be forcefully suppressed lest they become propaganda and assist "their recruitment efforts" with "potential national security consequences?" They will inevitably become that (in your view).

I am not arguing for it to be televised, period. But once Hegseth announced it would be, I don't think any of the reasons to oppose it pass muster. I don't know how to state that more succinctly.

northshorebamaman, you ask good questions and write well. Where (IMHO) the wellspring of your view is flawed is you make a distinction between the jihadist and Islam. I don't. If I were to airdrop the so called moderate Muslim into the shoes of the "jihadist," it would be a natural fit and the formerly moderate Muslim would blossom into the jihadist. The jihadist is not gonna change back into the moderate Muslim. That's the ideology we're dealing with.

So that, the cauldron of Islamic violence is already boiling. Whether the execution of Hasan is broadcast or not, is irrelevant.

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And why are you so fixated on "poetic justice"?

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And why are you so vexed by it and opposed to it?

You have a worldview. I have a worldview. As a follower of Jesus Christ, my worldview is shaped by the Bible. I believe the Bible teaches that God has a design for nations and civil societies. And since God is a god of justice, and more specifically poetic justice, I believe societies should incorporate the concept into their justice system.

Ps. 7:16, “His harm will return on his own head, And his violence will descend on the top of his own head.”

Ps. 9:15-16, “The nations have sunk down into the pit they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.
The LORD has made Himself known;
He has executed judgment.
A wicked one is ensnared in the work of his own hands.

Respectfully, there's nothing obtuse about it.

They've also done a great job at beating us in information warfare. Why give them a bullet. Do the job and be done with it. Remember, pictures are worth thousands or millions of words.

Well, my point was we don't NEED to give them a bullet. They will propagandize anything they can, and even some stuff they can't. If you're worried about pissing them off, see 9/11. I personally don't give a damn what they think. My frustration lies in the fact that we should be well past worrying about what they think or say. If a televised execution pisses them off, that's a check mark that goes in the "pro" column.

Wrong.

There is a reason we executed those convicted at Nuremberg in private and did not make them spectacles. Of course, those Americans were soft too so there is that.

My only regret in this case is that it has taken so long for justice to be served.

I think even the military is infested with lawyers.