Staff Reports
The Pentagon has announced that the execution of Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood gunman, will be public and livestreamed — and the predictable howl from the press corps and the usual online sermonizers has already begun. This isn’t subtle. It’s a deliberate move that forces our hand: either we watch and judge a lawful act of justice, or we don’t watch and let the media virtue-signal on our behalf.
The Pentagon Decision and the Facts
The key fact is simple: the Department of Defense will allow a public, livestreamed execution of Nidal Hasan, the 2009 Fort Hood shooter who killed and wounded scores of people. The execution is scheduled for December 3. People are calling this grotesque, barbaric, and “back to the Middle Ages.” Those are dramatic words, but drama is the business model of a lot of today’s commentators.
Predictable Outrage from the Usual Suspects
Of course the cable hosts, podcasters, and political shamers are offended. Some on the Right are squeamish, too — and I get that. Death is ugly. But a public execution is not the same thing as a secret one. Critics argue livestreaming turns state justice into a spectacle. That’s the claim. The counterpoint is also simple: transparency beats secrecy. If the government is going to carry out a lawful sentence, citizens have a right to see it done openly rather than be told what happened after the fact.
Why Livestreaming Makes Sense — and Why ‘Don’t Watch’ Is Fine Advice
There are two strong conservative reasons to accept this decision. First, transparency: livestreaming reduces the chance of messy cover-ups, rumors, and conspiracy theories. Second, closure: survivors and families of victims deserve to see the process to know it was carried out according to law. If you find the idea distasteful, don’t tune in. The practical response — “don’t watch it” — cuts through the moral preening. The outrage merchants will scrounge for clicks; you don’t have to feed them.
Conclusion: Focus on Victims, Not Outrage Theater
This debate will play out across op-eds, late-night rants, and social feeds. That’s fine. But the most important people in this story are the victims and their families, who have waited years for justice. If livestreaming an execution makes the process less opaque and gives survivors a clearer end, conservatives should support it on principle. If it makes you uncomfortable, switch the channel. Either way, stop pretending that public accountability is cowardly or cruel — it’s routine governance. Let the media scream; the rest of us have better things to do.
