RSS
Home
Army psychiatrist goes on shooting rampage at Ft. Hood, killing at least 13
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Major Nidal Malik Hassan, an Army psychiatrist recently transferred to the base from Walter Reed Medical Center, took two pistols Thursday and began a shooting rampage that has resulted in the deaths of thirteen people and wounding of thirty others. Twenty-eight of the wounded remain hospitalized following initial treatment and surgery. Hassan received four gunshots before finally falling in a shoot-out with a female police officer. The police officer was also wounded in the exchange of shots with Hassan.
Investigation into Hassan’s life and activities preceding his deadly rampage is still under way. A search warrant has been issued and executed by federal law enforcement in relation to internet postings which appear to be attributed to Nidal Hassan. The outcome of the search has not yet been announced by authorities. Hassan came to the attention of Federal Investigators when several disturbing internet postings were discovered that appeared to be the work of Hassan. Authorities say that there was not enough information to justify the launching of a full investigation or any criminal charges against Hassan at the time but that they were certainly watching him.
One of the internet postings, believed to be the work of Hassan by Federal Investigators, equates Islamic suicide bombers to soldiers who throw themselves on top of hand grenades to protect their friends. The writing indicates a belief that suicide bombers are hero’s to be admired and not scorned. If these writings and Ideas prove to be those of Major Hassan then indeed a very disturbing situation existed which went without challenge after detection.
The rampage lasted for thirty minutes as Hassan entered a Pre-Deployment Processing Center (PDP), jumped on top of a table and began shooting down on the cubicles below. Emergency responders and police responded quickly and an officer was able to confront the shooter and take him down in an exchange of gunfire that left both wounded. Some witnesses to the event have stated that Major Hassan was yelling "Allahu Akbar" (meaning: "God is Great") as he fired at the unarmed people in the area.
Major Nidal Malik Hassan, recently promoted to his rank, had been transferred to Fort Hood, TX in July of 2009. He started his military career as an enlisted man in the Army. This lasted for eight years before he attended ROTC training at Virginia Tech. After acquiring his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, he was accepted at the military’s Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD where he acquired his medical degree. From there, Hassan served as an intern at Walter Reed Medical Center. Following his internship, Hassan became a resident and later a fellow.
Working at Walter Reed wasn't as smooth as would be expected for Hassan, though. He received counseling on his behavior following statements and arguments he had with other military personnel, including PTSD patients returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, regarding his opposition to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is also claimed that Hassan voiced sympathetic inclinations towards radical Islamists and their attacks against the United States and its allies.
People who worked with Hassan at Walter Reed state that he was a very quiet man who kept to himself for the most part. He was only noticed when arguing about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr. Thomas Grieger, a former training director who worked with Hassan, stated that Nidal Hassan had "Difficulties" which required counseling and extra supervision. One former co-worker stated that Hassan often spoke of sympathies for the Afghan Taliban and other Middle Eastern terrorists fighting against the United States and other Western countries. He often referred to the United States as the Aggressor, according to his former co-workers.
Mr. Faizul Khan, the former Imam of a mosque located in Silver Springs, MD, stated that Major Hassan often attended prayer and was in uniform more times than not. He said that Nidal Hassan was seeking a wife through a mosque program and completed a form. Hassan, born in Virginia, USA, listed his nationality as "Palestinian." Khan could not explain why Hassan did that, or perhaps didn’t have a desire to reveal any reasoning behind it. Khan stated that Hassan was a lifelong Muslim.
Many, from the White House down, are asking questions regarding this deadly event and the man behind it. Many are finding it difficult that Hassan’s behavior did not get the attention it deserved while he was at Walter Reed. They are further baffled and asking why Federal Investigators did not dig deeper when Hassan’s name came-up in relationship to a terrorist sympathetic internet posting. Still, other questions abound regarding how the Major got weapons and ammunition past security checkpoints at the entrance points to the main base compound. As tragic as this case is, there are a plethora of errors at many levels and by many people that made easier Hassan’s deadly deed.
Although President Barack Hussein Obama gave an exceptionally short briefing to reporters regarding this incident, he did not even slightly change his agenda to campaign for socialized healthcare and leftist environmental legislation; and issued no directives or inquiries regarding the Hassan Terrorist Incident. The President’s expression and tone inclined many Americans to believe that he was insincere and bothered by having to address it at all.
Seth Millard, a civilian living in Temple, Texas, not far from Fort Hood, stated, after viewing the President’s quick speech, "Hell, he doesn’t care what happens to the soldiers in Afghanistan. Why should he care what happens to them here? If he cared he would have decided to send additional troops long ago and would have acted to supply the Army with what it needs to secure its bases better. But, he hasn’t and he won’t." Others near Mr. Millard were nodding their heads in agreement as he spoke.
Related Articles:
Comments
.jpg)
