November 9, 2009 5:41 PM

Senate Panel to Investigate Ft. Hood Massacre

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
In The News
(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
The Senate Homeland Security Committee will conduct an investigation into last week's shootings at Fort Hood, beginning with a public hearing next week, the committee's leaders announced Monday.

While the investigation will not interfere with the Army or FBI's criminal investigations, "this murderous attack should be examined from every angle to make sure nothing like this occurs again," Committee Chairman Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said in a statement.

The committee will investigate the potential motives of Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the man accused of opening fire at the military base. It will also look into whether the government missed warning signs of the incident and what lessons can be gleaned from the tragedy to prevent such future attacks.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Tragedy at Fort Hood

"As this investigation continues, we would do no favor to the thousands of Muslim Americans who are serving our military with honor and the millions of patriotic and law-abiding Muslim Americans by ignoring real evidence that an individual Muslim American soldier may have become a violent Islamist extremist," Lieberman said.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the ranking Republican on the committee, said Congress owed the investigation to the military, their families and their communities.
"Our military must be prepared to detect the warning signs for potential violence and to intervene and prevent similar attacks in the future," she said. "This hearing is vital to assuring the men and women serving in our military and their families that their safety is a top priority for us."

More Coverage of the Tragedy at Fort Hood:

Obama Prepares to Pay Homage to Fort Hood Victims
Fort Hood Suspect Awake, Army Says
Counseling for Trauma, Grief at Ft. Hood
Ft. Hood Shooting: Composure Under Fire
Report: U.S. Knew Hasan Sought al Qaeda
Radical Imam's Web Site Praises Hasan
Fort Hood Reflects, but Work Carries On
Hasan Computer Shows No Terror Ties
List of Fort Hood Dead, Wounded

Add a Comment See all 11 Comments
by darbi777 November 10, 2009 9:08 AM EST
I agree that Washington needs to allow the agencies (FBI & military) already put in place to handle the Fort Hood tragedy. The senate wastes more time on committees and sub-committees than rowdy teenagers with toilet paper and make just as much of a mess. Year after year important issues are brought to the floor only to be stone walled (e.g. The Physicians Fairness Act of 2010). I'm tired of my tax dollars being spent on blustering politicians who spend all of their time reacting than acting. Lieberman is just another example of a politician out for his own agenda instead of serving his constituents.
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by rightbehind November 9, 2009 11:35 PM EST
lieberman needs to be on the commode commitee. Let him do his investigations from there. He's done as a politician he won't be reelected again. The democrats need to throw him to republicans and get it over with. I can't believe I wasted a vote on that walking pile of ex*******
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by bajajohn1 November 10, 2009 1:29 AM EST
Judas Lieberman is a known liar who campaigned on health care reform. One guess is that he has taken millions from insurance industry lobbyists. He should be stripped of his committee chairmanship asap. It is hard to believe the Hon. Al Gore picked him as running mate.
by burneb November 9, 2009 9:16 PM EST
If any Senate body starts "investigating" this incident anytime before military or law enforcement investigations are completed, they are bound to make a political circus out of it.

Their responsibility is to ensure that Federal legislation mandates thorough, competent, objective investigatations by the military and law enforcement, instead of thwarting them.

This probably has as much to do with headline hunting as avoidance of the work we actually need the Senate to do.
Reply to this comment
by jackbackatyou November 9, 2009 8:18 PM EST
Of course the Senate should hold hearings. Lots of them. This is the most important thing facing our country right now! NOT HEALTH CARE! There are LIVES AT STAKE with what has happened at Ft. Hood. No only our heroic soldiers but every day Americans. The Senate must got to the bottom of this immediately! HOLD THE HEARINGS NOW!
Reply to this comment
by bajajohn1 November 10, 2009 1:31 AM EST
There are many more American lifes at stake for the uninsured in America.
by stn_sage November 9, 2009 7:35 PM EST
The Senate DOES NOT need to investigate this!

The base commander, the Army's Investigative Service out of the Department of Defense, the FBI, and the local police...are MORE THAN capable of investigating this!

The primary reason the Senate wants to 'stick it's nose in this' is to avoid working on the public's work!

There's plenty for them to do...they just need to get off their ARSES and do it! It's NOT necessary for THEM...to deal with Ft. Hood!
Reply to this comment
by pasmalltown November 9, 2009 7:27 PM EST
maybe lieberman doesn't like the healthcare bill because it scares him.............
Reply to this comment
by jgg000015 November 9, 2009 6:51 PM EST
maybe lieberman doesn't like the healthcare bill because it stinks.
and you might want to compare the populations of sweden and france as compared to the US and adjust your infant mortality statistics accordingly. and to bring aushcwitz into your argument is just plain desperate.
Reply to this comment
by bajajohn1 November 10, 2009 1:33 AM EST
Judas Lieberman has been bought and paid by the insurance lobby. Nuf said.
by msimamaji November 9, 2009 6:39 PM EST
Let's not forget. Our infant mortality rate is twice as high as the infant mortality rates of Sweden or France.(Check out the 2009 Face CIA Fact book on Wikipedia.) The CDC recently released a report proving that inadequate pre-natal care would save many of these babies'lives.
The health care reform bill that the House just passed provides extensive coverage for expectant mothers and new born babies. Yet Joe Lieberman vows to kill this bill - and by killing this bill, he will also kill thousands of babies, just as surely as if he had put them in gas chambers in Auschwitz
The real mass murder is NOT Major Nidal Malik Hassan - the real mass murderer is Joe Lieberman.
NEVER FORGET.
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