What is known about Nidal Malik Hasan and Fort Hood shooting
A fuller picture is beginning to emerge about what happened at Fort Hood Thursday and who Nidal Malik Hasan is. But at this early stage, answers are still elusive.
By Gordon Lubold | Staff writer/ November 5, 2009 edition
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences/ Department of Defense/ Reuters
In this undated photo, Major Nidal Hasan, the US Army doctor identified as a suspect in the shooting at the US Army post in Fort Hood, Texas, Thursday.
Washington
A complicated picture was emerging Thursday night of both the shootings at Fort Hood that left 12 people dead and 31 wounded, as well as the soldier suspected of carrying them out, Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.
Officials have so far provided only the most basic of facts. Investigators believe Hasan alone was responsible for the attack, and contrary to earlier reports, Hasan is alive and in the custody of authorities, though he was shot by a female first responder, according to Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the commanding officer at Fort Hood.
Cone adamantly refused to discuss Hasan, other than to say that his death was “not imminent.” But media reports throughout the day offered shreds of information that could illuminate potential motives for the attacks.
Hasan was a US-born Army psychiatrist who had never deployed to a war zone but was due to deploy to Iraq soon. Numerous reports suggest that he repeatedly said he did not want to deploy to Iraq and held strident views about US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What happened
The tragedy began to unfold at about 1:30 p.m. local time at Fort Hood, a sprawling base north of Austin. Cone says that only one suspect opened fire at the post’s soldier readiness center, where dozens of American soldiers had gathered for pre-deployment processing.
This contradicted early media reports that as many as three gunman were roaming the post. Cone says three other suspects were also detained and questioned, but all have been released.
Fort Hood was in “lock down” for at least five hours as authorities scoured the base to ensure the safety of the estimated 50,000 to 75,000 residents.
Cone says investigators have not dismissed the possibility that there might have been other accomplices. There are questions about how one person who reportedly had only two handguns could harm so many people. But Cone said the readiness center was crowded, which could account for the high casualty figures. The FBI is on site to investigate, he added.
There is no evidence, however, to suggest the attack was linked to terrorism, he said.
Who is Nidal Malik Hasan?
Seeking to understand why a psychiatrist trained to help soldiers cope with the stress of warfare instead turned on them, news networks patched together fragmentary stories about Hasan throughout the day.
Terry Lee, a retired Army colonel who knew Hasan, told Fox News about a story he heard secondhand. He said a fellow colleague had told him that Hasan had made “outlandish comments” about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and US involvement in them and that “Muslims had a right to rise up and attack Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
“[He] made comments about how we shouldn’t be over there – you need to lock it up, Muslims should stand up and fight against the aggressor,” Lee added.
But the suspect’s cousin, Nader Hasan, gave Fox News a different picture. He said his cousin had never deployed but was affected by the war and had been concerned about his impending deployment.
“He would tell us how he would hear things, horrific things, things from war probably affecting him psychologically,” Nader Hasan said.
Nidal Malik Hasan attended high school in Roanoke, Va., studied biochemistry at Virginia Tech, played sports, didn’t get into any trouble, and appeared to be a normal, well-adjusted individual, the cousin said. He was a psychiatry resident at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington and was apparently working at Fort Hood during the pre-deployment process for soldiers.
The New York Times reports that Hasan felt he was harassed because he was a Muslim. CNN said he was being tracked by the federal government because of inflammatory views about suicide bombings expressed on the Internet.
“It is difficult enough when we lose brave Americans in battles overseas, it is horrifying that they should come under fire on an Army base on American soil,” President Obama in Washington.
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Comments
2. Brown Bear | 11.06.09
do not rush to judment, let us wait and see. just because his name is a muslim name it dose not mean he done for hie faith maybe there are other reasons. who knows?
3. Anne Selden Annab | 11.06.09
some important information from the Arab-American Institute:
http://www.aaiusa.org/
AAI grieves for the victims at Ft. Hood and their families
We at the Arab American Institute are horrified by this tragic and senseless act of violence committed by a disturbed individual. We grieve with the families of those who died and those who were wounded. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Thousands of Arab Americans and American Muslims serve honorably everyday in all four branches of the U.S. military and in the National Guard. Additionally, many of our sons and daughters have willingly stepped forward to fulfill their duty with their fellow soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq and other locations around the globe. Indeed, many are today currently deployed in both countries, honorably serving each and every day.
Please contact your local Red Cross and volunteer to give blood. If you are looking for a loved one from Ft. Hood, please contact the Red Cross’ “Safe and Well” program at https://disastersafe.redcross.org/. You will need the telephone number or address for the person you seek. For more information on how to help through the Red Cross in this crisis: http://redcrosschat.org/2009/11/05/fort-hood-shootings/
For more information about Arab Americans in the military, please visit the Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in the Military. http://apaam.org/
4. IamWhoIam | 11.06.09
Sympathy and Condolences to the other Servicepeople and to their families. God speed to the injured as well.
This is a Terrible Tragedy on American soil.
As I see it, it’s a Tragedy that could’ve been stopped way before it happened since the FBI was watching him due to what he was saying on the internet and to the other servicepeople. The FBI (National Police) are, in this case, just like the regular cops, they don’t stop crime before it happens, even though the FBI does a much better job at keeping us safe than the regular cops do.
Only two comments posted and someone has to say ‘ don’t rush to judgemnent because of a Muslim name! ‘ No one said anything to that but you #2. You didn’t say anything about the fallen/injured though, but brought out the Muslim fact, HE is American (born) thus he is an American first.
6. Mohammed Aslam | 11.06.09
A Terrible tragedy. Heartfelt condoleneces to the family and relatives of the deceased. May God grant them patience to go through their losses.
Also, may God grant some wisdom and patience to the inflammatory news media.
7. TheWatcher | 11.12.09
For the victims and those who loved them:
We extend our deepest sympathy for your loss.
For the media:
We urge you to refrain from tainting the truth. The victims from this tragedy are already too many. Don’t give reason to others who would follow this example.
For the investigators:
Think on these questions: What is the nature of the accused? Why was the location of the attack chosen? How does the attack benefit the accused?
I’m sure you know these things and many others. This message is not really for the investigators.
For The President:
We thank you for your eyes and your heart and your mind that drives them. How said it is when one hand ***** the other. After we have embraced what we love, what we fear, and what we do not know; I think we will find that an act without clear purpose looks a lot like the tragedy at Fort Hood. Thank you Mr. President.
8. Bern | 11.12.09
Hassan sounded his battle cry ” God is great” before opened fire
So let’s face it, Nidal Malik Hassan is a terrorist who penetrated our military installation and caused 13 casualties; we are loosing this battle. All who died at Fort Hood should be considered as battle casualties.
9. Festus | 11.14.09
I didn’t find the “important” information from the Arab-American Institute:
at their website, but I think it is good when followers of a religion speak out about their contempt for violent behavior done in their name.
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1. Jamaicafest | 11.06.09
A terrible tragedy. Condolences to the families of the deceased.