Shooting suspect angry over US wars
Source: Agencies |
November 9, 2009, Monday
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IN retrospect, the signs of Major Nidal Malik Hasan's growing anger over the United States' wars in Iraq and Afghanistan seem unmistakable. But even people who worried his increasingly strident views were clouding his ability to serve the US military could not predict the murderous rampage of which he now stands accused.
In the months leading to Thursday's shooting spree that left 13 people dead and 29 others wounded, Hasan raised eyebrows with comments that the war on terror was "a war on Islam" and wrestled with what to tell fellow Muslim solders who had their doubts about fighting in Islamic countries.
"The system is not doing what it's supposed to do," said Dr Val Finnell, who complained to military administrators about what he considered Hasan's "anti-American" rants. "He at least should have been confronted about these beliefs, told to cease and desist, and to shape up or ship out."
Finnell studied with Hasan from 2007-2008 in the master's program in public health at the military's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, where Hasan complained about perceived anti-Muslim sentiment in the military and injected his politics into courses.
"In retrospect, I'm not surprised he did it," Finnell said of the shootings. "I had real questions about what his priorities were, what his beliefs were."
Hasan, who was shot by civilian police and taken into custody, was in intensive care but breathing on his own late on Saturday at an Army hospital in San Antonio. Officials refused to say if he was talking to investigators.
At least 17 victims remained hospitalized with gunshot wounds, and nine were in intensive care late on Saturday. Yesterday, church services honoring the victims were planned both at the base and in neighboring Killeen.
Military criminal investigators continue to refer to Hasan as the only suspect in the shootings but won't say when charges would be filed. "We have not established a motive for the shootings at this time," said Army Criminal Investigative Command spokesman Chris Grey.
A government official speaking on condition of anonymity said an initial review of Hasan's computer use has found no evidence of links to terror groups, or anyone who might have helped plan the shooting attack. Hasan likely would face military justice rather than federal criminal charges if investigators determine the violence was by just one person.
Hasan's family called him a devoted doctor and devout Muslim who showed no signs that he might lash out. "He has never committed an act of violence and was always known to be a good, law-abiding citizen," said his brother Evad Hasan from Sterling, Virginia. "I've known my brother Nidal to be a peaceful, loving and compassionate person."
In the months leading to Thursday's shooting spree that left 13 people dead and 29 others wounded, Hasan raised eyebrows with comments that the war on terror was "a war on Islam" and wrestled with what to tell fellow Muslim solders who had their doubts about fighting in Islamic countries.
"The system is not doing what it's supposed to do," said Dr Val Finnell, who complained to military administrators about what he considered Hasan's "anti-American" rants. "He at least should have been confronted about these beliefs, told to cease and desist, and to shape up or ship out."
Finnell studied with Hasan from 2007-2008 in the master's program in public health at the military's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, where Hasan complained about perceived anti-Muslim sentiment in the military and injected his politics into courses.
"In retrospect, I'm not surprised he did it," Finnell said of the shootings. "I had real questions about what his priorities were, what his beliefs were."
Hasan, who was shot by civilian police and taken into custody, was in intensive care but breathing on his own late on Saturday at an Army hospital in San Antonio. Officials refused to say if he was talking to investigators.
At least 17 victims remained hospitalized with gunshot wounds, and nine were in intensive care late on Saturday. Yesterday, church services honoring the victims were planned both at the base and in neighboring Killeen.
Military criminal investigators continue to refer to Hasan as the only suspect in the shootings but won't say when charges would be filed. "We have not established a motive for the shootings at this time," said Army Criminal Investigative Command spokesman Chris Grey.
A government official speaking on condition of anonymity said an initial review of Hasan's computer use has found no evidence of links to terror groups, or anyone who might have helped plan the shooting attack. Hasan likely would face military justice rather than federal criminal charges if investigators determine the violence was by just one person.
Hasan's family called him a devoted doctor and devout Muslim who showed no signs that he might lash out. "He has never committed an act of violence and was always known to be a good, law-abiding citizen," said his brother Evad Hasan from Sterling, Virginia. "I've known my brother Nidal to be a peaceful, loving and compassionate person."
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