Automatic CO's?

The suspect in the Fort Hood shootings - that left 13 dead and wounded 42 others - had reportedly asked the military to let Muslims claim conscientious objector status when it comes to going to war against other Muslims.

That came from the Washington Post, which first reported a slide presentation Army Major Nidal Hasan, who is Muslim, made as a psychiatric resident at Walter Reed back in 2007 was supposed to be about a medical topic, but instead Hasan lectured about Islam, suicide bombers and threats the military could face from Muslims conflicted about fighting Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan:

"It's getting harder and harder for Muslims in the service to morally justify being in a military that seems constantly engaged against fellow Muslims."

Hasan was set to leave soon for Afghanistan, and a relative says he had asked not to be deployed. But Army officials say Hasan never formally requested to leave the military as a conscientious objector or for any other reason.

Jack's question: "Should Muslim members of the U.S. military be forced to fight against other Muslims?"

Sample viewer reaction at CNN's Cafferty File, November 11.

Obama's Muslim Problem
Has he been too conciliatory?

When it comes to any issue that involves Islam, President Obama starts with an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is that he's seen as sympathetic to Muslims. The disadvantage is also that he's seen as sympathetic to Muslims.

Explore Jacob Weisberg's perspective at Slate.com.