Note: Updates provided at the end of the article.
Although most responsible news outlets are withholding the name of the deceased shooter in the Fort Hood military base massacre in Texas, we can confirm that he was a military officer, an Army Major from Virginia, who had converted to Islam.
Sources state that the officer was to be deployed to the Iraq War and was extremely upset about it.
(AP Photo/Karim Kadim, file)
It is unclear as to any direct connection between the deceased suspect and Al Qaeda. We do know, however, that radical Muslims will often recruit military personnel not only for conversion to Islam but for carrying out acts of terrorism against the U.S. military...from within.
The objective is to infiltrate military bases and the ranks of the armed forces for the specific purpose of 'taking them out from within.'
As a group of soldiers were preparing to be deployed to Iraq from Fort Hood in a special commissioning ceremony today, the officer opened fire killing 12 follow soldiers and injuring 32 others. A local police officer who was on contract with the military to provide law enforcement at the base shot and killed the suspect. At least 2 others involved in the shooting have been apprehended. It is unclear as to the level of involvement of the 2 or whether or not other suspects are at large.
Always a reliable source when it comes to Islamic terrorism, Pamela Geller at Atlas Shrugs, is providing continually updated information.
For commentary on other issues, visit my blog at The Liberty Sphere.
Update 1: The shooter was not killed but wounded and is undergoing treatment at a nearby medical facility.
Update 2: The shooter is a lifelong Muslim rather than a 'Muslim convert.'
Update 3: The shooter seemed to grow disillusioned with military service after the attacks on 9/11, making increasingly frequent references to the need to Muslims everywhere to stand up to the 'aggressors.' That means us!
Update 4: The shooter had repeatedly requested to be released from military duty. The Army should have obliged him long ago.
Update 5: The 2 others who were detained by law enforcement were released but a 3rd was detained.
Update 6: Sources on the ground close to the shooting report that they heard M-16 type weapons being fired along with small arms fired. This seems to contradict official reports that only 2 handguns were used.
Update 7: The shooter ran into difficulty with the Army over his overt proselytizing of non-Muslims and his statements regarding the need for Islamic people everywhere to take action against any individual or nation engaged in 'war against Islam'--translation, those who fight Jihadist terrorists.
Update 8: Just a few days prior to the shooters massacre at Fort Hood, Al Qaeda issued a generalized call for Muslims everywhere to perpetrate acts of violence against anyone or any country who is involved in 'the war against Islam' (terrorism) by being willing to blow up trains, bridges, and 'residential compounds.'
Comments
This is the second such attack in as many months, if not closer together, is it not?
"Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, and the third time, it's enemy action." -- Ian Fleming
Something is wrong with this story. He would have had to get off at least 43 shots, which means reloading at least once. Not possible in a room full of trained soldiers.
“?IT IS UNCLEAR AS TO ANY DIRECT CONNECTION . . . WE DO KNOW, HOWEVER?”
No you do not know and your comments are mongering speculation that demonstrates a willingness to be guilty of what is implied.
You people on this site are the terrorists. This man was a United States soldier who went nuts, he was born here, served his country in an intellectual capacity. Instead of getting behind him and trying to understand the madness that he might have been going through, you people look at his name, the color of his skin, his religion, and then you go on national television, on blogs, and you brand him a terrorist.
I am NOT proud to be an American today, and until this man's superiors repudiate the divisive and racial commentary by the media, I will NOT support our other troops. It's "All for one and one for all" not "All for one, accept..."
Sure smells like another Death-to-America Muslim misfit to me.
Strange coincidence, if not.
If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, quacks like a duck ...
But what amazes me is that Edward in GA says he's not going to support the troops until the man's superiors "repudiate" the racial and divisive commentary by the media.
You sound like those libs who won't be satisfied until EVERY WORD emanating from the media is anti-American, pro-terrorist propaganda. Why should his superiors repudiate that the man's religion played a part in the murder of these soldiers, if the man's religion DID play a part in the murder of the soldiers?
Do YOU know for a fact that it didn't, Edward from GA? And if you do know, HOW do you kwow? And why are you so willing to ascribe wrong to Americans instead of to their murderer?
And yes; it should be "All for one, one for all EXCEPT when a soldier opens fire on his fellow soldiers and mows them down as though they were the enemy."
Im unsure how he was able to fire over 40 rounds....and muslim or not he killed American soldiers and he got his just deserts. Its sad that we have to second guess those in arms with us and whether they are going to turn on you and instead of having your back they are shooting you in the face....damn shame this is
What about when Christian terrorists strike? What about when Christians oppress millions of people and create apartheid in a supposedly secular country?
Major Hasan needs our sympathy not our hate. Please support your most important member who passed this tragic day as he was not present. This is an intelligent person who is being persecuted for what his views were. Obviously his attempts were useless and he made them known the only way possible. You must first be in that situation in order to appreciate it. God bless the major. Hooah!
Why you jump to religion when anything happens has to do with Muslims? Why you don't assume that he was sick in his mind or had problems with his superiors? Are you a radical Jewish? Can you be more specific on what you want exactly? I'm sure that you don't not like to see people label by your religion like.. YOU ARE CRISTIAN OR WHATEVER, AND DID THIS OR THAT!! You'r such a sick person, mister!
Mr. Martin, please get the facts straight before you publish. I know that's never seemed to make much difference to you in the past, but perhaps you should try it. I mean, if credibility is important to you.
Let me help.
The shooter was NOT a Muslim convet, but was in fact ALWAYS Muslim.
The shooter is NOT deceased. He is in custody.
Also, exclamation marks in the title of an article are considered unprofessional, and are only used in tabloid-style journalism. Maybe you should consider making that move, especially since credibility doesn't seem to be an issue for you.
Other than that, and the fact that you didn't even bother to report the shooter's name, great article!
horrible news reporting. Get the facts straight before reporting. He is not dead and he wasnt a convert but was born and raised muslim. That should not even matter his religion anyway.
I read many people jumping all over you for not getting your facts straight.
In the time-line of this shooting, I wonder when you wrote your article vs when they replied? Not much was known at first, but more and more information was released later.
So, to all you out there who are quick to castigate for a supposedly ill-written article, get a clue. You go with what you have at the first, and correct and update later as more hard information is released.
B Woodman
III-per
To those who are critical of this preliminary report:
Chill. The story was based upon info as we had it at the time, widely reported on all major media outlets. The link I provided to Pamela Geller at Atlas Shrugs provided continuing updates as they became known, which I clearly stated.
I have been alway from the computer since early last night until now...I was thus unable to update anything until today.
I expect liberal sites such as The Huffington Post to censor comments, but a "seasoned journalist" like yourself? Surely you can handle a little honest criticism, Mr. Martin?
CONFIRMED!
1. Lack of writing skills
2. Unable to handle opposing views
3. Deletes facts if they contradict false statements
4. Heats meat pies in tin pots
Smokin',
I didn't censor your comments, I deleted them along with my own response. I do not wish you engage you in the manner you are taking it. Personal insults are usually deleted unless I decide to leave them up as examples of what those of your ilk will do and say before you know any facts and background.
So, post away...have at it...I simply will not respond.
Deleting comments is censorship, Mr. Martin. Nothing I posted was a personal insult. Everything in my post was a fact. If you took anything I posted as a personal insult it only proves my contention that you can't handle honest criticism. My whole point was that you are very quick to point a finger, but when the finger is pointed back at you, well, your reaction speaks for itself. The fact is we are in total agreement on most issues. I still believe that when you place blame on Obama for every little thing that happens it hurts efforts to show him for what he really is. People just stop listening. When they stop listening, he wins and America is finished.
LOL!!! I can't believe you actually said "chill" in one of you comments. A stuffed suit Republican saying "chill" is so hilarious I think it completely overshadows everything else you wrote. Next time maybe you can "lay down a beat" for us!
CONFIRMED! The Ft. Hood shooter used real bullets! This proves all Muslims are radical jihadists who intend to kill us all! Rise up right-wing Christians, follow Anthony Martin! He will lead us fearlessly into certain victory over these homicidal fanatics! Obama will try to stop us, but with Anthony "Reagan Revolution" Martin in charge we will emerge victorious!
But first pack another bong hit!
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helo don la gec fekete budha g emir gore global nato militari had emir a global antiterorista háborubol a haldoklo atom kamikaze a teror zugbol .gps===hungari dabas segsevári ut 1.lala..a hadurek vezéreként meg parancsolom katonáinak hogy j?jenek ide és vegyék fel a hej?rséget a katona uruk megvédése és az atom problémánk okainak megsz?ntetésébe segiteni..a katonámnak ugy is k?telesége házam táján rendet terteni .csinájanak rendet de t?stént .és mindig it legyenek meletem a katonáim ne hagyanak el lásák majnem kihalt az emberiség ....ojan rend legyen hogy megszolajon .és ne kucsuják el a parcsaim takonyok.és a had kirájaként jogomvan használni katonám hadi felszerelésem koregt keretek k?z?t bárhol bármikor ..edig nem látem el?nyét a világ legnagyob had urának leni de ahogy rend lesz és vigyáznak rám rendesen ujra .és tarcsák a szeméjes kapcsollatot és utána járnak a dolgoknak .látom van értel
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