What was Fort Hood Shooter's Motive?

Cousin Hasan had Been Harassed for Ethnicity by Fellow Troops, Associate Says He Was Angered by U.S. Wars

(CBS/ AP)  Why did the man accused of opening fire at Fort Hood snap? Reports indicate that he was both angry at the U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and had also been harassed because of his Mideastern background.

A man who said he was a first cousin of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan told Fox News that his cousin had been harassed by other military due to his Mideastern background.

Military officials first said Hasan was killed by their response, but later Thursday night said he was wounded and in stable condition.

More coverage of the tragedy at Fort Hood:

Ft. Hood Suspect ID'd as Army Psychiatrist
Sources: Hasan Posted Internet Threats
Fort Hood Rampage Suspect Sill Alive
Soldier Opens Fire at Ft. Hood; 13 Dead
What was Shooter's Motive?
U.S. Army Base Violence Has Bloody History
Obama: Fort Hood Shooting "Horrific"
Fast Facts: Fort Hood
Tragedy at Fort Hood

"Things from the war probably affected him psychologically. He dealt with some harassment from some of his military colleagues … and he hired a military attorney to have it resolved," said the cousin, Nader Hasan.

"It was the harassment that got to him," said the cousin, saying other soldiers "referenced his MidEast ethnicity, even though he was born and raised here. Went to high school in North Virginia, went to Virginia Tech., never been in trouble, played sports."

A man who work with Hasan at the Fort Hood psychiatric ward said Hasan was angry about the U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"He said, first of all, we should not be over there," said Col Terry Lee to Fox News. "There were several comments he made." Lee said he told Hasan to "lock it up," and that it was the time to make his views public.

"He said precisely that maybe the Muslims should stand up and fight against the aggressors. And at first, you know, we thought he was talking about that Muslims should stand up and help the armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, but, apparently, that was not the case, because there was other times he would make comments to other individuals about how we should not be in the war in the first place," Lee told Fox News.

"He was hoping that President Obama would pull troops out and that things would settle down, and when things were not going that way, he became more agitated and more frustrated with the conflicts over there, and he would just -- he made his views well known about how he felt about the U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hasan's anger may have reached boiling point when he found out he was soon to be deployed.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said Hasan was about to be deployed overseas. Hutchison says she was told about the upcoming deployment by generals based at Fort Hood. But it was unclear if he was headed to Iraq or Afghanistan and exactly when he was scheduled to leave.

Federal law enforcement officials said Hasan had come to their attention at least six months ago because of Internet postings that discussed suicide bombings and other threats.

One of the Web postings that authorities reviewed is a blog that equates suicide bombers with a soldier throwing himself on a grenade to save the lives of his comrades.

[wheatfield2]

http://www.70news.com/shocking-details-fort-hood-triggerman-muslim.html

a quote from link...

""""A cousin, Nader Hasan, told Fox News Malik Hasan has "always been a Muslim" and was not a convert as had been reported.
Nader Hasan said his cousin, of Middle Eastern descent, was born in the U.S., attended high school in northern Virginia and graduated
from Virginia Tech.


Hasan's name was on a list of officers who received promotions in May, published by the Army Times.


Retired Maj. Gen. Robert Scales told Fox News the massacre did not appear to be the act of a mentally ill or extremely stressed person.
"This was a deliberate act of execution," he said.""""

[rocketjl]

Crap. I'm 71 yrs old and spent 22 years in the Army. I don't remember anyone who had the guts to harass an Army major. A major is a field grade officer and carries a lot of power. Majors can take care of them selves. There are only a few officer grades above a major, so only a few folks could 'bother' him. Even if a colonel or general chewed out this major, going around killing a lot of soldiers does not float. Sounds like those other nuts in VA who had planned to attack an Army post and kill as many soldiers as the could. This guy was operating under someones directions.

[John_Merritt]

First, my sympathies to the families of the those who died and those who are suffering presently, so they will be healed and back on their feet again soon and healthy. A special one for Sheriff DeBeery whose nephew is fighting for his life as well.

I am reminded that communication is so important because it affords us opportunities to disemminate information. There is a RUMOR this man had expressed his thoughts over the internet days/weeks prior to this attack. Accuracy? What happens when we have information and don't follow through with affording the appropriate authorities or any person in due time?

There is a specific lady in Cleveland who knew about the serial killer of those ladies months prior, and yet said nothing. There are 'rumors' there were people in the military who knew about the plight of the warship Indianapolis when it was shelled, but yet the men stayed in the water for days without help. There is rumor that some people knew about Pearl Harbor prior to the bombings and either failed to inform or ignored the warnings. There is rumor that people knew about Amelia Earhart when she went down but yet her disappearance remains a mystery today. In WW1, all they had were telegraphs and letter carriers, do you think anything was lost or intercepted/non-delivered?

I was listening to a radio program this morning and they were laughing about their 'doofy' mailman who would just keep letters without delivering. Every once in a while we read where a letter is delivered to a residence 40-50 years after it was sent. The consequences of non-delivery of information can mean the difference between life and death and I would hope I would be cognizant of any information availed any forward it. With today's technology and delivery systems it appears this should not happen.

If in fact this gunman gave telltale signs and stated his feelings or intentions over the internet as it was RUMORED, than how did anyone miss it without saying anything? I know I have sent numerous letters and correspondence to people and do so not on a whim but with a purpose.

The bottom line is we need to be cognizant of the messages we receive through first hand knowledge, and deliver the message/feelings to the appropriate authorities and not after the fact. Can you imagine if people could have changed events in the cases of Pearl Harbor or the Indianapolis, what impact would have been created? That is heavy when you think about it. Have a good day.

[barbaram99]

I want to say some thing about VAMCs. I am not a vet. I do live with a vet. He is grateful for the care he get at VA hospital. Vets earnt that care. My late father got care at VAMC. Some staff are rude to vets. My friend has brought that up with me. We thank them for the care they give the vets.

[bubbadubba]

"What was Fort Hood Shooter's Motive?' HEADLINE.
He didn't have a motive. That's why people like him are called insane.
Still, I want him shot in front of a firing squad.
I was never one to forgive murder because someone was insane, that just makes it more likely they will go insane again after being "cured" and released and then kill even more people.
Give him death, no, I really mean it.
If that guy is not shot in front of a firing squad our troops should refuse to do their duty until he is.

[mikezarinski]

Typical raghead. Pinko Dr Phil was rinning his choppers about stress and other B.S. No one believes that crap. except maybe a few commie Democrats. He is a R A G H E A D

[finkfurst]

...... so what do you think should be done about 'ragheads"?

[hungry1968-17]

This coming from a trailer trash, redneck POS.

You kiss your sister with that mouth? I bet you do - with lots of tongue action too.

[finkfurst]

by hungry1968-17 November 6, 2009 7:41 AM EST
This coming from a trailer trash, redneck POS.
You kiss your sister with that mouth? I bet you do - with lots of tongue action too.
--------------
............. and that post proves you are mindless trash too.

[U_S_Drug_Addict]

Typical Sh.t kicking cowboy hat wearing trailer rat.

[I_am_me1953]

From the above article, "Hasan's anger may have reached boiling point when he found out he was soon to be deployed."

____________________________________

May have rreached boiling point?

Me would thing he over-boiled.

You'd think being a psychiatrist he'd have realized he was going nuts. Right?

[sbelknap01]

It's often said that if you think you might be going crazy, you probably aren't - it's the person who sees nothing wrong with his violent fantasies that is in trouble. Sadly, psychiatrists as a profession exhibit one of the highest suicide rates of any -
"May have" reached the boiling point is pretty funny, so is "He's in stable condition" which is currently being reported. really?

[barbaram99]

tool,and I have not read every one say. The one thing one over looks is bulling in the home as well. Some never put their foot down and stop that behaviour and parents and children bully. They have never stopped hthe bully mind set. The bully is on a power trip. The bully has issues. The don't care who they hurt. The bully think he/she controling others if allowed. Rage is a form of bullying. Ye brought places.. It happens every where. The home,school,church,business,etc. Why do bullys gain power. They form gangs. No one bothers to stop the bullys/gangs. Their rights. That is why the prisoms are full. there are other crooks there.
I partly blame the home and the govt. Bully starts in the home and the parents are blind to it. They think *not my child*. Yep. Bullying needs to stop at all ages. Adults should know better. Those people in the military raised their right paw to join. I do not like war. I never have. I live with a vet. I HATE WAR. I do want to thanks the vets and troops. I may address one person on the boards but every one is free to read it.

[Dgunner]

I never tolerated bullying OFF the battle field.At 6f6 and 270 lbs Ijust shake hands with the bullying and tell them to find a new hobby before I tore thier f---in arm off and beat them over the head with it. Maybe a little harsh but in the 50s I was considered a big man.

[solidoak]

Viet Nam era protesters fled to Canada because they didn't want to be drafted and serve in the military. Of course their chances of being deployed to that country would have been likely if they were drafted. So why didn't this guy just flee to another country if he didn't wish to be deployed to Iraq? No, he had other motives, and we now see his actions were most likely formulated long ago. I'm not buying the political correctness slung around by the media.

[finkfurst]

CBS - "Why did the man accused of opening fire at Fort Hood snap? Reports indicate that he was both angry at the U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and had also been harassed because of his Mideastern background."

Both stem from American injustice and xenophobia. He was obviously wrong to resort to using a weapon, but was he wrong? Should America ask itself the same question?

[solidoak]

They have said that they will destroy us from within. And with our leaders heads in the sand it could very well happen.

[Re-HorakhtyofSweden]

Cyber998 said "The Nazi's had similar problems with troops turning on their comrades whilst they were illegitimately invading other countries. Now we are the hostile aggressors, we had to expect the same to happen to here."

TETIGISTI ACU

"you have touched it with a needle"

[riptide213]

Pathetic terrorist from within, feeble coward, and dejected zealot.

Claiming he was battling racial harassment because of his "Middle Eastern ethnicity" is a rebuff to avoid confronting some deep rooted truths and repugnant smoke screen pretext.

Once background facts are investigated it will be increasingly obvious that certain danger signs were consistently presented by this embittered Muslim who voluntarily entered and continued to serve in the US military during the easy times, yet when it was his time to endure true hardship of a call to duty, to put service above self; he unmistakably felt more earnest allegiance to personal religious beliefs than his obligation to sworn duty as a military officer and creed as a medical professional.

His security clearance, post access, and licenses to own a firearm should have been revoked long before this raging outburst of discriminate violence.

Were any risk flags raised or if so just ignored?

Use this profile to reveal, watch, and vet any other latent threats from within the security services.

Unceremoniously drum out of the military or government any disgruntled public servants who wish to pursue their own personal exasperated inclinations or indoctrinations against nation policy.

External threats pose enough challenges so leaders must now work even more robustly to reduce trauma from insider threats.

[Cyber998]

The Nazi's had similar problems with troops turning on their comrades whilst they were illegitimately invading other countries. Now we are the hostile aggressors, we had to expect the same to happen to here.

[White_Duck]

With no allusion to his heritage or religious beliefs, I do believe that this was a total foul up on the part of the Army. Not the shootings, but his "job description". As is stated in these articles, the Army had to know, full well, about this mans views. To have someone treating soldiers that came home from a war that he was opposed to seems anti-productive. That he was the "mind Doctor" that treated these soldiers is assinine. And as a Vet who depends on the VA Medical, I too often see Doctors that scarf up that free training the VA gives them. And trust me, too many are here just "doing the time" so they can return to their own country with this knowledge.

[pensacola8-2009]

We all ask what his motive was, but I am not so sure most of us can stomach the answer. The USA involvement in WW-II didn't last this long. This is the first time we have sustained a war on a deregulated economy.

Now, we have the signs of decaying mental health in the senior leadership of the military. Officers are humans, too.

We need to hang on until March 2010, when the winter begins to thaw. If we can't finish off alQueda by then, we never will.

[KPeters_from_UK]

"The name tells us a lot, does it not, senator?" Fox News's Shep Smith said while interviewing Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Texas senator.

I can see it now, not too far in the future: the black shirts of Fox News lumping in all together every American Muslim. Soon there will be white cresent moons hastily painted on shop windows; windows broken, then Muslims won't be able to teach or police due to fear that they will indoctrinate or shoot more "innocent" victims. Come on people this has happened before. Not just with Jews but the Japanese.

We have the Facist voice in place! We are now waiting for instructions!

[maggiecosta]

Well the Muslims don´t have a very good track record. They treat their women as chattal, cut off their clitori and don´t even allow them to go to school , vote or drive a car. I´m not making this up, this is fact. It´s a backward Religion and presents itself to the world as such. How many Catholic or Christian schools are permitted in Muslim countries??? About zero. If they can´t integrate themselves into Western society they should live in their own countries and stop criticizing the West.

[AttentionDeficit]

Not just Muslims. My brother (we are from Lebanese Christian parents) was attacked by a co-worker during Desert Storm. The co-worker didn't see (or didn't care) the difference between Lebanese Christians and Iraqi Muslims. To them, it was just an Arab. My brother embraced no part of the culture (other than the cuisine), and personality wise had more in common with Cheech Marin than a Muslim extremist.

[stryker54]

"He said precisely that maybe the Muslims should stand up and fight against the aggressors. And at first, you know, we thought he was talking about that Muslims should stand up and help the armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, but, apparently, that was not the case, because there was other times he would make comments to other individuals about how we should not be in the war in the first place," Lee told Fox News.

This man was at the top of the medical profession, my Uncle is also a shrink and has for 30 some years. The only thing I htink snapped was a religious man bent on those principles.
Read what he said, if that doesn't convince you, well, keep drinking your kool-aid.

[luvheat]

God, my only prayer for this coward is for there to still be "Death by Firing Squad" in the Army judicial system

[AttentionDeficit]

He is already dead

[armyoftwelve]

What was Fort Hood Shooter's Motive----religion???

[Peace_Tranquility]

I believe his motive had to do with the fact that America is in a Muslim nation. Keep in mind that the shooter was a Psychiatrist, and so it is also probable that he listened to a lot of anger against fellow Muslims from returning soldiers.

He did exactly what every American soldier is trained to do, kill. The man probably snapped and couldn't take the harassment of his people anymore. Hearing the stories of Iraqi girls being raped, the men being tortured, maybe making naked human pyramids. His people were humiliated and harassed beyond his capacity to bear.

Regardless of his motives, there were clearly wrong and my sympathy lies with the families of those who were killed today.