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Massacre at Fort Hood: 13 dead, 30 wounded as Army major opens fire; suspect in custody
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By APRIL CASTRO AND DEVLIN BARRETT
The Associated Press
Friday, Nov. 6, 2009
FORT HOOD, Texas – An Army psychiatrist trained to help soldiers in distress turned on his comrades Thursday in a shooting rampage that left 13 people dead and wounded 30 at the sprawling military base in central Texas.
The suspected assailant, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was on a ventilator and unconscious in a hospital after being shot four times, post officials said.
"I would say his death is not imminent," said base commander Lt. Gen. Bob Cone, a 1975 Manchester Memorial High School graduate who is commander general for the Army's III Corps and Fort Hood, the nation's largest military base.
►Manchester Memorial coach saw Ft. Hood commander's leadership skills (1)
►Ft. Hood's commander: A recent UnionLeader.com interview (8)
►Local coverage from the Killeen (Texas) Daily Herald
►Local coverage from the Waco Tribune-Herald
►Coverage of the suspect's troubled military career from the Austin American-Statesman
In the early chaos after the shootings, authorities believed they had killed him, only to discover later that he had survived.
In Washington, a senior U.S. official said authorities at Fort Hood initially thought one of the victims who had been shot and killed was the shooter. The mistake resulted in a delay of several hours in identifying Hasan as the alleged assailant.
Authorities do not know if Hasan was acting on behalf of some unidentified radical group, the official said. He would not say whether any evidence had come to light to support that theory.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that were under investigation.
Officials are not ruling out the possibility that some of the casualties may have been victims of "friendly fire," that in the mayhem and confusion at the shooting scene some of the responding military officials may have shot some of the victims.
The gunfire broke out around 1:30 p.m. at the Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening. Nearby, some soldiers were readying to head into a graduation ceremony for troops and families who had recently earned degrees.
Pastor Greg Schannep had just parked his car along the side of the theater and was about to head into the ceremony when a man in uniform approached him.
"Sir, they are opening fire over there!" the man told him. At first, he thought it was a training exercise — then heard three volleys and saw people running. As the man who warned him about the shots ran away, he could see the man's back was bloodied from a wound.
Schannep said police and medical and other emergency personnel were on the scene in an instant, telling people to get inside the theater. The post went into lockdown while a search began for a suspect and emergency workers began trying to treat the wounded. Some soldiers rushed to treat their injured colleagues by ripping their uniforms into makeshift bandages to treat their wounds.
Lt. Gen. Cone praised the soldiers for their quick reaction.
"God bless these soldiers," Cone said. "As horrible as this was it could have been worse."
In an interview with the New Hampshire Union Leader last month, Cone said he was about to lead 1,000 soldiers from the base to Iraq.
Video from the scene showed police patrolling the area with handguns and rifles, ducking behind buildings for cover. Sirens could be heard wailing while a woman's voice on a public-address system urged people to take cover. Schools on the base went into lockdown, and family members trying to find out what was happening inside found cell phone lines jammed or busy.
"I was confused and just shocked," said Spc. Jerry Richard, 27, who works at the center but was not on duty during the shooting. "Overseas you are ready for it. But here you can't even defend yourself."
The wounded were dispersed among hospitals in central Texas, Cone said. Their identities and the identities of the dead were not immediately released.
The bodies of the victims would be taken to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for autopsies and forensic tests, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that were under investigation.
There will also be a ceremony at the air base to honor the dead.
Jamie and Scotty Casteel stood outside the emergency room at the hospital in Temple waiting for news of their son-in-law Matthew Cooke, who was among the injured.
"He's been shot in the abdomen and that's all we know," Jamie Casteel told The Associated Press. She said Cook, from New York state, had been home from Iraq for about a year.
Amber Bahr, 19, was shot in the stomach but was in stable condition, said her mother, Lisa Pfund of Random Lake, Wis.
"We know nothing, just that she was shot in the belly," Pfund said. She couldn't provide more details and only spoke with emergency personnel.
Ashley Saucedo told WOOD-TV in Michigan that her husband was shot in the arm, but she couldn't discuss specifics. Saucedo said she and the couple's two children weren't permitted to leave their home at Fort Hood during the shootings.
The motive for the shooting wasn't clear, but Hasan was apparently set to deploy soon, and had expressed some anger about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said generals at Fort Hood told her that Hasan was about to deploy overseas. Retired Col. Terry Lee, who said he had worked with Hasan, told Fox News he was being sent to Afghanistan.
Lee said Hasan had hoped Obama would pull troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq and got into frequent arguments with others in the military who supported the wars.
For six years before reporting for duty at Fort Hood, in July, the 39-year-old Army major worked at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center pursuing a career in psychiatry, as an intern, a resident and, last year, a fellow in disaster and preventive psychiatry. He received his medical degree from the military's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., in 2001.
But his record wasn't sterling. At Walter Reed, he received a poor performance evaluation, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly. And while he was an intern, Hasan had some "difficulties" that required counseling and extra supervision, said Dr. Thomas Grieger, who was the training director at the time.
At least six months ago, Hasan came to the attention of law enforcement officials because of Internet postings about suicide bombings and other threats, including posts that equated suicide bombers to soldiers who throw themselves on a grenade to save the lives of their comrades.
Investigators had not determined for certain whether Hasan was the author of the posting, and a formal investigation had not been opened before the shooting, said law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the case.
The FBI, local police and other agencies searched Hasan's apartment Thursday night after evacuating the complex in Killeen, said city spokeswoman Hilary Shine. She referred questions about what was found to the FBI. The FBI in Dallas referred questions to a spokesman who was not immediately available early Friday morning.
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YOUR COMMENTS
So now we Americans see what Israelis have been contending with for a generation: Nidal Malik Hasan is a garden variety Jihadi murderer. Google news archives for "lone palestinian gunman". BHO and the MSM won't admit that stereotypes are normally true, that's why the human brain is designed to create and depend on them.
This is the tragic price of 'diversity', and the only response is for enough of us to be armed and ready to deny any assailant 4 minutes of unopposed slaughter.
OlEd
- OlEd, Weare
P.S. Johnn in Portsmouth,
I don't think the 'striving to become Americans' worked out as quickly as you imagine it did in the'old days.' Look at how the Irish immigrants in Boston and Portsmouth were treated for 60-80 years. They even spoke English and still were not accepted as 'good' Americans!
- Jim, Manchester
John in Portsmouth,
This Army psychiatrist did speak English and he is American. He was born here. It was probably his first language. He probably did not have an accent. He earned several degrees from English only universities.
Are you attempting to say, in unintelligible misspelled English, that you cannot be a Muslim and be American? See my comments to Jay Collins. His parents or grandparents probably came here fleeing religious persecution at the hand of whatever Islamic sect they were not. How much more American can you get than that? The harassment this guy received for being Muslim was inexcusable and I’m glad at least one guy is going to jail for it.
By the way, how many other languages have you learned? I think you should become fluent in another before demanding others do the same. If our grandparents followed your advice about adopting native languages we’d be speaking Abenaki. But seriously, immigrants should try to learn English if they can, but it’s not easy. In the mean time, try and be patient and understanding with them. Live and let live man.
- Jim, Manchester
The more I read about this guy the more I think a Section 8 discharge, or at least keeping him stateside as a 'conscientious objector,' would have prevented any tragedy like this. We will see but I don't think PC attitudes or 'Islam is a religion of Peace' nonsense played a big role.
- Jim, Manchester
Chris, my comments makes sense to most people i know.I am tired of pressing one for english and not getting a person you can understand.Also having teachers in classes teaching them in spanish In the words of ted nugent "SPEAK ENGLISH OR GET OUT" I don't mind anyone coming to our country but they should do what the immegrants did in the old days and strive to become americans!
- john, portsmouth
Gee guys, maybe we should have all Muslims wear yellow crescent moon patches so we can identify them at all times. Oh, and give them special numbers so we can track them. We can tattoo the numbers on their inner arms for quick identification purposes. You people really amaze me. Tens of thousands of Muslims are right now serving and dying for the USA and you all want to purge and demonize all of them because of one nut job. Read up on the Ft. Carson murders, at least 11 murders since 2005 by returning soldiers from Iraq, not one of them a Muslim. And look, a guy in Orlando just shot a dozen people in an office. Doesn't look Muslim to me. Hmmm...maybe we should all wear patches denoting who we are just to be on the safe side.
- Bill, New Boston
"Hitler would have apparently been insulted at being called Christian.
- Jim, Manchester"
Not so fast, bubba.
Hitler:
"I am convinced that I am acting as the agent of our Creator. By fighting off the Jews. I am doing the Lord's work."
"How terrific was his fight against the Jewish poison.
Today, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before the fact that it was for this that He had to shed his blood upon the Cross.
As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice . . . "
Nothing's ever so obvious or simple as we wish it were.
- Brian, W. Manch
Joanne, Merrimack, NH, they did shoot to kill. That is why soldiers were killed by "friendly fire" during the incident.
- Jeff, Manchester
Why do some people act like we are engaged in a war against Islam?
- Jeff, Manchester
Gee? Did Major Nadal Malik perjur himself when he took his oath as an officer and a gentleman in the Military of the United States of Amertica, can we actually trust these maniacal believers who have vowed to destroy any and all that is not Muslim.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester
You know what I just don't understand?
The shooter, "if convicted" will face the death penalty.
Are you kidding me?
We know he did it?
Why didn't they just shoot to kill?
Why do we have to waste american tax dollars to house him in prison for the next 20 or so years of trials and appeals just to have a court say "Yup, he did it" let's execute him now? Ya, now that it's cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. What a great process.
- Joanne, Merrimack, NH
Chris in Merrimack,
Terrorism is "a deliberate attack on unarmed civillians outside the context of a declared state of war." This attack was against unarmed military personel and thus was NOT terrorism. Never-the-less it was probably inspired by a combination of terrorist ideology, radical Islam, and Army bull-headedness.
According to this definition, the attacks on the Marine barracks in Lebanon, Khobar Tower in SA and the USS Cole in Yemen were also not terrorism but, instead should be classifed as insurgent warfare. According to this definition the US missile attack on the Sudanese pharm plant (but not the same day hit vs the Afghan militant camp) was terrorism, making Bill Clinton a terrorist who should be hung from the gallows for betraying American ideals and inspiring generations of Muslims to see great hypocrisy in America's anti-terror stance.
- Jim, Manchester
Jay Collins,
Charles Martel led a Christian Kingdom. There was no freedom of religion in his lands. Is that what you want for the USA?
- Jim, Manchester
John R in Keene,
I believe every word of the Bible (duly interpreted in its context. Note that some portions of the Bible expressly abrogate other portions of the Bible as part of the whole Old Testament -> New Covenant transition. Only Christ and the earliest Apostles have this authority of abrogation. My take is that 80% of the Bible is intended literally, 10% figuratively and 10% I still haven't (and probably never will) made up my mind about.) (Sorry about the quid-pro-quo).
Speaking as a Baptist myself, the Westboro Baptists are indeed kooks, my Church neither associate with them, nor condemns them. Baptist is a very broad and disorganized denomination (as I believe all organizations of free believers should be). Only God has the authority to judge who are the "real" Christians, but we are still called to be discerning in our associations.
Jesus said two things; "my peace I leave you, my peace I give you" and I come not to bring peace but the sword." The writer of Ecclesiastes explained this apparent dichotomy when he said "a time for peace, a time for war... a time for everything." [don't have time to look up actual quotes right now... slightly and unintentionally paraphrased]
- Jim, Manchester
If only you concerned citizens could form a group to achieve your goals of driving out all those that are from different religions or look different from you. Hmmm, some type of clan. I wonder what you could call it?
- Steve B, Derry
Bin laden has called upon all Muslims to engage in Jihad against America and its allies. We have had "Lone wolves" like John Muhammad the DC sniper and plots against military bases like Fort Dix. Many of these plots and attacks did not receive funding or support from Al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan. So the media and the Feds would not claim them to be acts of terrorism, but they are but only on a smaller scale.
- Chris, Merrimack
Please...Let us just mourn the loss of someones father, son, brother, mother, daughter or sister. God Bless our troops serving here in the states and abroad. Keep my baby girl safe on her base. This is heartbreaking.
- Cheryl, Manchester
Michael from Manchester you need to not rewrite history
it is a fact that Japanese Americans who were deemed proficient enough in the Japanese language
were approached, or sometimes ordered to join the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) to serve
as translators/interpreters and spies in the Pacific, as well as in the China Burma India Theater!! Try another one! Also ADAM from Manchester mentioned about Germans not fighting in Europe, another false hood! No such limitations were
placed on Americans of German or Italian ancestry who fought against the Axis Powers in the
European Theater!
I know my history.. you do not!
- T, Manchester,NH
T. Manchester, Adam did not say Japanese-Americans did not serve. Reread his post.
They were the 442d Combat Team. Served in EUROPE.
I believe you are the one who should study history and not try to rewrite it.
- Michael, Manchester
How many red flags did this guys have to throw up before he went postal? He argued with other officers against the missions in Afghanistan, pro-jihadi internet postings, hiring a lawyer to get out of being assigned to Iraq... If he had been given ‘conscientious objector’ status this tragedy probably would not have happened. Army Intelligence is an Oxymoron.
All the communists (Dan in Kingston, Debra in Bristol, and Liz in Manchester) promoting purges on this site and the US government needs to stop treating all Muslims as if they are the same. Osama Bin Laden and PM Syed Yousuf Gilani are not the same, one is your enemy and one is your ally. Both are Muslim. Some are violent, some are peaceful, and lots are confused/ignorant and silently aid both peaceful and violent Muslims.
We can still hold our core value of freedom of religion if we work closely with moderate Muslims to investigate every Mosque and identify individuals who promote violence. There are laws against that you know.
Certain schools of Islam should be outlawed in the US and treated the same way Satanists and violent Christianity based cults are treated, as long as there is a clear distinction between those sects and mainstream Islam. This will legally enable the government to assist Christian (and other) groups in education [propaganda / proselytizing] efforts to wean people away from (or at least towards less violent forms of) Islam.
- Jim, Manchester
Hitler was Christian, many KKK organizations have Chrisitan in their name. The Inquisition was Chrisitian. The drones dropping bombs on civilians could be called Christian. What conclusions do you people draw from those? Many people here have the same mindset as terrorists and terrorist supporters, which erodes my hope for the future. I wish you could all go to the Wizard and get a brain.
- Brian, W. Manch
Brian, Bow, NH- You just proved my point even more...
It was not that I liked or disliked ADAM from Manchester's comments, it was the fact that his historic comments about the Japanese-Americans and German-Americans not serving in WWII is very incorrect and a slap in the face of those vets who died.
Many Muslims serve in this country's military with pride and fight radicals. Brian, from Bow, NH, and most of these comments on here proved my point.. NH is filled with ignorant people!
- T, Manchester,NH
You people can't be serious. You realize there are thousands of Muslims in the US Armed forces right? You realize that many US Soldiers of the Muslim faith have died fighting for the US right? This MAJOR in the US army has been in military for over 10 years.
Show me what current politician supports any of your bigoted views. You people are so far in the extreme you will not be able to find one. Give me the name of any elected official on the federal level that supports purging the military.
Then let's discuss what makes you believe that Christianity is peaceful. The Westboro bapist church are Christians. They protest at soldiers' funerals and blame gays for all the US ills. They are devout, chapter and verse citing Christians. When it comes to the word of God they know what they are talking about.
The second you think that that those kooks are not "real" Christians is the second you have lost any standing in your argument. Let's debate "real" Christians.
Will anyone here tell me they believe literally in every word of the Bible? Anyone? Step up and tell me it's the word of God and absolutely correct. If the Bible is so righteous and peaceful then this should be easy for you.
Don't put words in my mouth and don't set up straw man arguments. Go just from what I wrote. Let's do it bigots.
- John R, Keene
T, Manchester,NH:
"Wow, people in NH a very ignorant!"
It is you who is very ignorant and a hypocrite when you attempt to criticize people for "unfair" views and then make a statement like this. Ah, yes, the entire state is "ignorant" because you didn't like someone's post on the internet.
Get a life.
- Brian, Bow, NH
Science makes it possible for planes to fly and for buildings to stand tall. Religion makes people fly planes into buildings.
It's time we start believing less in God and start believing more in each other. It's 2009, perhaps the "man in the sky" and "devil in the dirt" ideals are unrealistic.
- Michael, Manchester, NH
JOHN FROM PROTSMOUTH:
You say we need to take america back and all this other crap, this guy was born in america making him american. I am in no way defending him because what he did was beyond words. However I am pointing out out that your comment made no sense.
- Chris, Manchester
my thought,s and prayers are with you all, but with that being said when are we as a country going to wake up that political correctness will destroy this once great nation and the sad part of this is the a.c.l.u will stick up for this type of behavior, i agree we need a commander-in- chief with a military background not a politically correct pacifist..we are being destroy within but hey cap and trade passed and soon health care will to, and the people who want to destroy us will be covered ..
- kevin dumont, nashua
Ah yes, after 9/11, President Bush made one of the dumbest Political Correctness statements ever uttered - even by any bleeding-heart Left-liberal: "Islam is Peace". No it's not! This so-called religion or peace uses our First Amenedment to preach hate in their mosques, "death to America", and isn't it obvious: they live here but they despise America and would jump at the chance to harm this countryany way they can. Think back, the D.C. sniper was a Muslim. AMERICA, WAKE UP! I look forward to that "Pandora's Box" being built off Wellington Rd and what surprises await coming out of it.
- Liz Ardo, Manchester
Gut instinct. When you hear of a massacre of our home grown protectors on their own base by someone with a middle eastern sounding name, what is your first thought? If you didn't think "Muslim terrorist," then you are a small minority. If you think that is presumptive, then ponder why that thought is usually spot on. Sure, there are some peaceful Muslims, but don't kid yourself. Read the Koran for yourself.
Common sense and gut instinct have been replaced and, in some cases, made illegal by political correctness. I'm not sure what the purpose of PC is when it circumvents your own culture and longevity as a society. Makes one wonder who invented it.
- Spencer, New Boston
This man had a history of making outrageous pro-jihadist statements and not getting along with his fellow officers. Apparently some of his statements were so outrageous that the FBI took a look at him. Why was he still on active duty? Obama's PC policies endangering Americans once again?
- Tom, Campton
The entry by Jay Collins of Laconia below is the one everyone should carefully read. Right on, Jay!
- Ed Holdgate, Live Terrorist Free or Die, Sandown, NH
God bless & keep the US military. May we never forget "...all gave some, some gave ALL..."
- Mae, Plaistow
Ahh, the fools on parade are out in force today. Stop him with immigration laws? He is a born and raised American, 39 years old. Purge our nation of diversity? So much for live free or die.
- Steve B, Derry
Our first line of defence are at the borders of those who hate freedom.
That responsiblity falls on the shoulders of a dithering idiot who is more concerned about community organizing.
Our last line of defence is our own front door. Don't dither. Don't count on the Code Pinkos to defend it.
- Michael, Manchester
(especially Afganistan where the Soviets had a 10 year battle and pulled out defeated)
To Don.
The Soviets were not trying to do what we ARE doing... Rebuilding the nation. Tough to compare a Military bent on Conquering a nation to a Military Trying to rebuild its Gov't and Army. Looking at what they did and looking at we have done there really is nothing to compare.
My thoughts are with the Fort Hood Troops and their loved ones.
- Chris, Goffstown
So now what do we do start removing our freedoms for a false sense of security or stand tall and take what's coming and fighting back. This is why an immigration policy that knows who is entering the nation and does background checks is important. But we've already made that irrelevant with decades of not know who or what is entering our nation while having the whole thing controlled by the all diversity is good crowd.
Enjoy blind diversity people it is here to stay. Next will be new laws by our fearless leaders taking away everyone’s freedoms because of the actions of the few. Not to mention the lawsuits for daring to investigate the Muslim community. We need sane leaders who are not so politically correct or radicals who will take our own freedoms away. Maybe our next president could even have some military background to fit the job description of Commander in Chief.
- Deb, Derry
Right-wingers will blame this tragedy on the fact that the man was a Muslim. Left-wingers will blame this tragedy on the fact that he wasn't screened when registering his firearms. Scientologists will blame this tragedy on the fact that he was a psychiatrist.
I, on the other hand, will blame this on all three.
- Tom, Keene
This "man" referred to the suicide bombers as being soldiers. You mean the same suicide bombers who can be nothing more than children when they are "recruited?"
Ahhhhhh, Islam.
Such a peaceful religion.
Such a tolerant religion.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Is that politically incorrect?
- Jim D, Hillsboro
It's bad enough that we're losing dozens of troops a week on two different battle fronts (especially Afganistan where the Soviets had a 10 year battle and pulled out defeated), but to lose as many as 40 more due to death and injuries is sad.
An obvious Muslim in name and actions, a graduate with bio-chemical knowlege, and psychology.
How many more red flags do we need before someone has the stones to stand up against P.C. and question this?
Not only has a base lost resources but also troops to deploy, families hurt, and needless deaths by "friendly fire".
- Don, New Hampshire
HELLO OUT THERE. Are we ready to clean up our country now?
- Debra, Bristol
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me a hundred times, I am your servant.
When are the excuse-makers going to get it? They can't handle the truth.
- Jason Entres, Hollis
@Jake, Manchester
You are absolutely right although I don't think you realize it. Soldiers on a base do not have their weapons and ammo like they would when deployed. So when a maniac starts shooting, you still have to wait for the police to arrive.
When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
- Wayne S, Manchester
It's about time we stopped pressing one for english and took our country back.If you have anti american views leave don't come back.This man should have been booted out along time ago.anbody in the military with his views should be removed
- john, portsmouth
We were warned that our troops are a threat to us but the Right Wing media played this off as antiamerican. We were warned!!!! Not all muslims or american soldiers are terrorists........but all terrorists are muslims or american soldiers.
- Jake, Manchester
What the hell are you all surprised about? This is Islam... This is what we have to look forward to....as most of us witnessed on September 11, 2001
Is Dan from Kingston really the only one here who "get's it"?
- Dave D, Manchester
According to other news services, just before this attack, he gave away all his furniture and handed out Korans to people. On official record, he had been disciplined for proselytizing on bases about Islam, and getting into arguments about the war, which he was opposed to due to his Islamic faith.
But I'm sure that has NOTHING to do with it, right? According to the Houston CAIR rep bleating on the news, Islam is a Religion of Peace. According to the "moderate" Muslims interviewed, well...they're more worried about how this will make Muslims look than about those who were killed!
We. Are. At. War.
What's it going to take? A mushroom cloud over a city? Oh, right, we'll likely apologize for that, too.
- J. Frost, Londonderry
Does anyone think Charles Martel allowed Muslims into his army when he saved Europe & Western Civilization ? Has anyone read Winston Churchill's thoughts on Islam ? Islam is the mortal enemy of the West. Here's the crux of the issue: Leftist believe that "non-discrimination" is the highest good of our society, and if you make any distinctions between people & cultures you are a racist, a bigot, whatever.
Islam is not just a religion......it has its own theory of law, behavior, and ideology that is at profound odds with the West. The West needs to seperate itself from the Muslim world if it wants to survive. If we keep importing millions & millions of Muslims into the West.....the West will be no more.
This is not complicted. The West, by & large, is governed by P.C. geldings who are afraid of being called names by self-hating leftists. Until The West, and Americans can stand up and say enough.....this violence will only get worse.
- Jay Collins, Laconia
Terrorism is as Terrorism does.
Watch the spin today, it won' be called terrorism, of course it is.
- Bob, Salem
My condolences and thoughts are with the family of the deceased.
I'm not sure why this officer given his poor performance was just passed along from one post to another. Given his anti-sentiments I'm not sure why his commission was not terminated and released. I'm sure we're not lacking in qualified men and women who could have stepped in to do this job.
After he took so many lives and injured countless others it's of no small satisfaction he will the end up being court martialed followed by a short stay in Leavenworth and a military execution.
- Jack Alex, Manchester
ADAM from Manchester states "There's a reason why during WWII, Japanese-Americans were prohibited from fighting in the Pacific theater and German-Americans from fighting in the European theater."
Adam you are truly not a student of history so you should keep your mouth shut! One of the most decorated platoons in WWII was an all Japanese-American unit who served in the Pacific theater, and many German-American US soldiers fought in the European campaign. Wow people in NH are very ignorant!
- T, Manchester,NH
How come now mention of what happened not to long ago when white neo-nazis christian who were in the US Army who killed fellow soldiers at Ft Bragg.. Hmm? I wonder why so many people forget that!?
- T, Manchester,NH
There's a reason why during WWII, Japanese-Americans were prohibited from fighting in the Pacific theater and German-Americans from fighting in the European theater. Muslims should not be part of the American forces fighting the current wars in the Middle-East. It's common sense. How many more Americans are going to be fragged? This isn't the first time this has happened.
- Adam, Manchester
Not sure of the part religious preference played in this tragedy, but the murderer had very poor performance reviews while training at Walter Reed. In addition, it is said he expressed anti-American sentiments. Why was he allowed to be armed on one of our miliatry bases? This man went into the military for a free medical degree and is a known problem - he should have been stripped of rank, booted out without a degree, and investigated to the hilt !Officer material ? - Not!
Prayers of comfort be with the families and comrades of those who paid the ultimate price at the hands of this cowardly excuse of a human being.
- Deb, Pelham
PS to Tracy in Manchester--A soldier who is, as I hear, a "recent convert to Islam" should, given our present and likely future enemies, be disqualified from combat duty. However, as we have seen with female soldiers who cannot carry the standard-issue gear and will not shoot to kill, and openly homosexual soldiers whose preferences will disrupt the platoon, it is not whether you can do the work, but how badly you want the job. (Regarding the President, you decide.)
- Spike, Brentwood NH
Tracy in Manchester, yup.
- Allan, Rochester
Noticed that the Left hates Christians and Jews, but has no problem with Muslim terrorists who want to destroy our country.
- Mac Wade, Newmarket
Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the accused assassin at Ft Hood, reportedly is being identified as an ardent Muslim, who’s was disenchanted with his experience in the military.
This is the price of ‘Political Correctness’ and it certainly played a role in not being able to weed this murderer out of the service long before he went off of the deep end.
We are and have been at war with these maniacal believers of Islam and we had better understand this.
- Dan, Kingston, NH
So Dan, are you saying that all who are Muslim should be run out of the military?
- tracy, manchester
This is horrible... I can't imagine the pain of the families who have to deal with the loss of life. The heartbreak, pain, anguish, dropped loot, and misery of this event is overwhelming.
My prayers are with the families, who lost their loved ones.
- Tom, Keene
Dan in Kingston is right. This country better wake up before it's too late.
- John, Dover
Greg of Manchester, the story did mention the shooter's name--in the fifth paragraph. The lead paragraph discusses what could be troubling the young man before it mentions that he killed twelve servicemen. It's typical of the Associated Press to report the news by putting spin before the news itself.
- Spike, Brentwood NH
If only someone had had a gun this could have been prevented!
- Jake, Manchester
Prayers to the Soldiers & their Families.
Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the accused assassin at Ft Hood, reportedly is being identified as an ardent Muslim, who’s was disenchanted with his experience in the military.
This is the price of ‘Political Correctness’ and it certainly played a role in not being able to weed this murderer out of the service long before he went off of the deep end.
We are and have been at war with these maniacal believers of Islam and we had better understand this.
- Dan, Kingston, NH
My thoughts and prayers are for these families and soilders.
- sherry, manchester nh
Hello! You failed to mention the shooters name....Major Malik Nadal Hasan. Fill in your own blanks.
- Greg, Manchester
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