Hasan Computer Reveals No Terror Ties

But Paper Says in 2001 Ft. Hood Shooting Suspect Attended Same Va. Mosque as Two 9/11 Hijackers

(CBS)  A preliminary review of the computer of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the accused shooter in Thursday's rampage at Fort Hood in which 13 people were killed, has revealed no evidence of any connection to terror groups or conspirators, according to law enforcement officials.

CBS News correspondent Bob Orr reports that an examination of the computer has revealed Hasan visited Web sites promoting radical Islamic views, but investigators have not found any e-mail communications with outside facilitators or known terrorists.

One senior official told CBS News, "Everything continues to indicate that Hassan acted alone."

The official, though, said the investigation is "fluid and still in its early stages."

As part of a continuing background check the FBI is reviewing Hasan's actions and associations during his time in the Washington, D.C. area, where the psychiatrist worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Orr says that the FBI is aware of and is investigating reports (described in the London Telegraph) that in 2001 Hasan attended the same Virginia mosque as two of the 9/11 hijackers.

[The Telegraph does misstate that the Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center is in Great Falls, Va., when it is actually in Falls Church.]

Investigators do not yet know if Hasan ever had an encounter with the hijackers Nawaf al-Hamzi and Hani Hanjour, but "... since all were in the area at the same time, it's possible," sources said.

Special Section: Tragedy at Fort Hood

More importantly, investigators are trying to determine what relationship, if any, Hasan developed with the radical Imam Anwar al-Awlaki, who was the spiritual leader of the mosque at the time. Even if Hasan had no direct relationship with al-Awlaki - a known extremist, now living in Yemen, who's been accused of aiding the 9/11 plot - investigators want to determine if al-Awlaki's teachings may have helped foster Hasan's radicalization.

"We need to look at potential inspiration" as a factor, sources said.

Officials say all of these potential leads, "need to be checked out before we attempt to attach any weight to them."

The FBI still has not interviewed Hasan, who was reportedly taken off a ventilator at the hospital where he is recovering, under guard, after being shot four times during Thursday's firefight.


More Coverage of the Tragedy at Fort Hood:
Army Says Hasan Taken off Ventilator
Fort Hood Suspect Said Methodical Goodbyes
Hasan Reportedly Felt U.S. Attacked Islam
Neighbor: Ft. Hood Suspect Packed Up Home
Hasan's Remarks Worried Muslim Leader

[cwb4life13]

I hope they stick is ass with the rest of the inmates and not in cell by him self. and i also hope he gets life and not death hes a Muslims and he would want death. life would be a worse punishment for him instead of death. make this **** some ones *****

[jasperlily]

When the first reports of this horrific shooting were aired on tv, it was stated that Hasan's fellow soldiers had continually ridiculed and harassed him, damaging his vehicle and calling him a camel jockey and the like, even though he was born in the US. There has been no mention of these things since that one time. While it is obviously no excuse for his terrible actions, one might be able to see that he finally snapped from sheer frustration, hurt and resentment.

[a1106foothil]

Hmmm. An ABC investigative report just said that there is now evidence the good Major actually had direct communications with an Al Qaeda recruiter in Yemen. It was the result of that awful CIA wire tap stuff. Guess what, CBS. Trying to avoid calling this a terrorist attack to protect Obama from the first homeland attack since 9-11 will not work. Call it what you want, CBS. But there are a 12 murdered American soldiers down in Texas standing testament to a fanatic Muslim who yelled Allah Akbar before firing about 100 times. And trying to split hairs trying define the word "is" will not change that. Your politically correct B.S. is disguting and does not serve this country well.

[wheatfield2]

ALSO, please google ""911 attackers strip joint"". You will find this is EXACTLY the behavior exhibited by the 911 attackers...recent obsession with sex prior to their martyrdom.

[wheatfield2]

Of course Hasan had planned this well in advance, so is no surprise there would be any evidence on his computer. But what about his neighbor's computer? The neighbor surrendered his computer to authorities, as Hasan had "borrowed" it, hijacked his "wifi" and changed passwords. What about that???

[mljohns00]

He obviously shouldn't have been assigned to a place where he'd be killing Muslims. He should have been sent to one of our other combat zones, where he'd be killing blacks, hispanics, or asians.

[cwb4life13]

if you didnt know military officer can quit the military any time they want. If he didnt want to go to iraq/afgan then he could have just left the military. It doesnt matter what religion/race we are fighting if you join the military then its your job to fight where ever we have to fight.

[AOCGUY]

cwb4life13 - Not quite true, especially in the case where that officer has incurred active duty service committments as a result of military funded training.

[Hosheen]

Not finding anything of note on his computer proves little either way. Perhaps he was jut smart enough to not leave anything on his hard drive (anything can be deleted so it can never be found).

Him yelling out "God is great" as he started shooting is really no different that a Christian Reich fanatic yelling "Praise God!" as he murders people at an abortion clinic.

The fact is that religion is, and always has been, the source of most of the world's problems. As long as people are so simple-minded and illogical to be taken in by the great lie of any religion, we will have problems with it. If only they would all kill each other... But wait, that's hat they're trying to do.

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01]

by stryker54 November 8, 2009 10:16 PM EST
I don't hate anything or anyone.
==============================================================

by stryker54 November 8, 2009 8:43 PM EST
Lets see how honorable they are when more of the same goes on and they take over the military. Just what Obama want's. Our pres. is on there side. He was raised muslim, just because he says he is a christian doesn't make it so, plus the Rev. Write, another winner.

by stryker54 November 8, 2009 8:27 PM EST
f u muslim trash.

by stryker54 November 8, 2009 8:30 PM EST
last I heard it was illegal to kill, which is all these Muslim pricks want to do. a bunch of murdering thugs

by stryker54 November 8, 2009 8:24 PM EST
Hey raghead, take your sorry excuses somewhere else.
Muslims suck, lie and KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE.

by stryker54 November 8, 2009 10:24 PM EST
My grandfather fought in the middle east and felt the Arabs are lower than sh*t,
================================================================

LOL!!! Don't hate anything or anyone? Well, with THAT sort of kinder, gentler machine gun hand, I'd be wary of seeing hate.

Your last statement kind of ties things up into a nice little bow. The sins of the (grand)father...

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01]

by stryker54 November 8, 2009 10:24 PM EST
Hey Jeff, I know nothing about the porn business, you must. I don't have to say how much my house is worth, I live on Maui, Ha,
==============================================================

LOL! Anybody really from Hawaii or lives with his parents there would know it's abbreviated HI.

[sero5]

This murderous thug is an agent of Iran.

[50BMS13]

he very well may be. Speaking of Iran, if Obama lets them go Nuclear watch out. 911 will look like a picnic on a sunny Sunday at the beach compared to what they want to do to us...

[AmzingGrace]

Ok how about some basics here:
1) Not all terrorist are stupid - Leaving a record of your internet activities on your computer is not smart behavior if you are about to commit a crime - You might die but those trails might lead investigators back to someone else in a stateside terrorist network. Not saying I believe he is a part of some group just the facts on that.
2) His other pre-attack behavior makes it clear that this was very much a pre-meditated act. That means he would have cleaned evidence off his computer just as he gave away his possessions. So cleaning evidence off his computer is a logical behavior - he is not totally stupid.

[50BMS13]

sounds right to me...makes sense

[50BMS13]

Who would stick up for muslims who think that there are virgins in heaven waiting for them if they kill americans? Who wants to know these people? Who needs them? Get them off the North American continent. Nasty and arrogant people. They exude calmness and show peace because they are ENTIRELY CERTAIN that they are better than the rest of us and the only ones worth living. Wake up people.

[band3x]

It kinda defines how American Indians might feel about white man. In your exact words.

[50BMS13]

band3x can't argue with that....good point

[stryker54]

You van tell CBS is Obama's news. Every other news station or whatever you call them have this hasan worshiping with some of the highjackers in virginia.Personally, till we end the war with fanatics I would rather see all Muslims sent back to the middle east. It's time to clean up this country and take the trash out, including the liberals that want socialism. Woody Guthrie is spinning in his grave.

[salmoc44]

If you don't like Muslims, then you must be for pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan. After all, our soldiers in both countries are fighting along side Muslims in those countries.

[stryker54]

Yes we have no business there. All we really need to do is find Bin Laden. Really how hard would it be to find this lunatic. They have spotted him before and told to stand down. Wrong all the way around.
And NO I don't care for the ragheads after all they have done and their arrogant behavior.

[salmoc44]

If this is terrorism, then the DC sniper attacks were also terrorism. That means that Bush didn't keep us safe after 9-11 because there were the anthrax attacks and the DC sniper attacks.

[bill0bob]

"That means that Bush didn't keep us safe after 9-11 because there were the anthrax attacks and the DC sniper attacks." -- salmoc44

Even bigger than that, Bush didn't "keep us safe" ON 9-11!!! He was a total failure in everything, but that won't change any repukes' minds about him. And being impervious to reality proves that "conservatism" is a mental disease.

[drthvader]

Why does this have to be about Bush? Bush is OUT.

[salmoc44]

"Why does this have to be about Bush? Bush is OUT."

Because, some Republicans are already trying to frame this as a terrorist attack. The point is to try to push this as the first terrorist attack since 9-11 and placing it on Obama's watch. Therefore, Republicans will then run around saying that we were safe until Obama came along. So, it's fair to point out that the anthrax attacks and the DC sniper attacks were also terrorism, if the Ft. Hood shooting was terrorism.

[50BMS13]

911 was formulated and put into action on Clinton's watch. I loved Clinton but he as well as Carter and Obama project the US as weak and vulnerable. Reagan and Bush project strength. We are safer if our enemies know we are strong. Clinton let Osama Bin Laden bomb 2 US Embassies and did'nt go after him. Then the USS Cole. Nothing done. Then 911 planned and into George Bushes newly formed administartion that happened. No terror attacks on Bushes watch. They will happen on a Liberal presidents watch. Iran hostage crisis? Carter did nothing. When Ronald Reagan won the election he gave the Iranians a date to release by or be bombed. They adhered.

[salmoc44]

"No terror attacks on Bushes watch"

Wow. 9-11 happened on Bush's watch. The Anthrax attacks happened on Bush's watch. The DC sniper attacks happened on Bush's watch. 4K Americans troops died needlessly in Iraq on Bush's watch. Our embassy in Iraq was attacked thousands of times with mortars during the Iraq war on Bush's watch. Hey, could you tell us exactly what steps Bush took to address the threat of Bin Laden prior to 9-11? Tell us exactly what he did in those first months of his administration.

[50BMS13]

4000 didn't die needlessly in Iraq. If Saddam was not overthrown, Libya would still be a state of terror, the IRA would still be bombing....there have been many good sides to the Iraq war...they are just never thought of by some. Who knows where we would be now if not for Bush being tough on the terrorists or any that support them. Saddam Hussein killed more than 500,000 of his own people. The sacrifice made by American soldiers saved countless thousands more.

[salmoc44]

50BMS13,

4K+ American troops have needlessly died in Iraq to protect us from fictional WMD and fictional ties between Iraq and Al-Qaeda.
Terrorism since the start of Bush's War on Terror has increased worldwide. Evidently, Bush was so tough on terror that it actually increased while America was held hostage to the Bush foreign policy.
And, one more time, please tell us exactly the steps Bush took in his first 8 months of office to address the threat of Al-Qaeda and Bin Laden. You forgot to address that point for some reason. When Bush got that Bin Laden PDB, what concrete steps did his Administration take to deal with the threat addressed by that PDB?

[50BMS13]

I'm not sure if you remember but I do...2 days after 911 when all the countries on earth were extolling sympathies over the attacks to America, Saddam Hussein on tv broadcasted that it was punishment from god for US foreign policy and that the US deserved it. If I was president and looking for a target in those dreadful days this would have come on the radar. Of course we know Bush has oil interests there and maybe no real proof of Al-Qaeda ties there, but Saddam bragged it up that he had stuff that he didn't have. This was foolish but he did it. He miscalculated gravely. As far as the first 6 months of his administration goes, I know the transition from the Clinton's was one of the worse ever in history of presidential transitions. I don't know who was to blame or if both, but what went on at military levels for briefing I do not know. So there may be some culpability there.

[salmoc44]

50BMS13,

"Saddam Hussein on tv broadcasted that it was punishment from god for US foreign policy and that the US deserved it."

Pat Robertson with an agreeing Jerry Falwell said we deserved the punishment as well. Still, it's no reason to blow a trillion dollars and needlessly get thousands of American troops killed with the result of strengthening Iran and Al-Qaeda by invading Iraq without any serious occupation plan or exit strategy.

[Thorum]

"One senior official told CBS News, 'Everything continues to indicate that Hassan acted alone'", with the inspiration and direction of the Koran and the blessings of Mohammad.

[SusanStoHelit]

Incorrect. He was told, by fellow Muslims, by Muslim scholars - that what he was saying about Islam was wrong. The Koran is entirely against killing innocents and suicide bombings, etc. - and he was told this - and quite upset by it. He wasn't inspired by the Koran any more than Tiller's murderer was inspired by the Bible - he was perverted by a perverted bunch of lies masquerading as Islam.

We've thousands of Muslim soldiers. They fight and die for America - they're good honorable people. It's not the religion - it's just the murderer.

[stryker54]

Thats because they don't want you to know there was a terrorist act on your "NOT SO GREAT OBAMA'S watch. This is more Islamic BS. I wouldn't believe a Muslim any more than some japanese in WW2. People that want to hurt Americans are nothing but liars and murders. END OF STORY. f u muslim trash.

[stryker54]

How do you know what he was told, by what they told the press. You think they would tell the press YES we told him to go ahead in Allahs name. Are you a dip sh*t or what?

[WSUEEPS]

Stryker54, I forgive you. I hope you open your heart and see that hate begets hate and violence.

[jgg000015]

let's not also forget that even though he may have been deploying to afghanistan he never would have been near combat. Doctors, especially psychiatrists, are "in the rear with the gear" as they say.

[Rexaholic]

Get all Muslims OUT of our Military!!

[sandy19731]

Actually, we need all we can get because they are invaluable with the local populations. Understanding and even translating for other military personnel. Besides this is the land of the free, remember? Free to worship however we like, remember?

[jwesel1]

Even more important, get our military out of Muslim countries!!

[SusanStoHelit]

There are thousands of them, serving honorably. One nut job does not change who they are - only who you are. We recently had a Christian soldier go nuts and start shooting innocents on an Army Base - did you suggest then that all Christians should be removed from our military?

Get all bigots out of our Country - that sounds far better.

[SusanStoHelit]

There are thousands of them, serving honorably. One nut job does not change who they are - only who you are. We recently had a Christian soldier go nuts and start shooting innocents on an Army Base - did you suggest then that all Christians should be removed from our military?

Get all bigots out of our Country - that sounds far better. They're unAmerican, and suggest that we should judge people by the color of their skin, or by their religion - things our founding fathers were entirely against.

[stryker54]

Right Sandy19731, however last I heard it was illegal to kill, which is all these Muslim pricks want to do. They would kill you also and never think about it. Is this what you want? a bunch of murdering thugs saying it is ok with Allah? Great religon.

[stryker54]

Sandy you sound like a liberal idiot to think we need them.

[JSG2208]

It's tempting to blame Islamic extremism for this, but 10-1 we will find out this guy was a balding, almost 40 virgin with no friends and isolated from family. Already signs of it. Mass shooters with a christian background have similiar flags. No...the Muslim v. America stuff was just a lame excuse for this guy. Wake him up, make sure he was on his own and then send him to hell, be it Allah's or Jesus'

[nowhiningallowed]

This guy was practicing his shooting. This was all premeditated murder. He knew exactly what he was doing and didn't snap. If anything made him go over the top, it was his "religious" beliefs and his hatred towards the military being engaged in two wars involving radical Muslims. I do hope that when a thorough and in-depth investigation is completed that if it is declared as an act of terrorism, that the authorities aren't muzzled about telling the truth and ordered by the WH not to reveal the truth out of fears on how the citizenry will consider his laxity on matters of terrorism and Muslims, and also political correctness.

[stryker54]

Want the truth, go anywhere but CBS. Obama's buddies.

[aubfmet]

You don't get that many shots off unless you have done a lot of practice in preparation for it.

[jgg000015]

Although it is probably best not to alarm people and set off a panic, I have some serious questions. How did the UK Telegraph get the story about Hassan, the Virginia mosque, and the 9/11 bombers and our news not, or just not report it? Wouldn't a guy who gave away his furniture and frozen broccoli in advance of his attack also think about erasing incriminating evidence from his computer? Why did people under attack shout "two more"? I don't buy the explanation of "two more bullets".
Why was he originally pronounced "dead" when he was clearly known to be the shooter and definitely alive to be handcuffed and described as having a "steady pulse"? How does having Allah Akbar written on your apartment front door, being reprimanded by your superiors fpr islamic proslytising, and shouting "Allah Akbar" as you shoot people dismiss islam from being involved? Sorry, I don't have any sympathy for this slug. He used the US to pay for his college education, medical school, his internship, and his respected lifestyle. He didn't snap. Why don't other doctors or nurses "snap"? They see horror and death every day, too. Actually, a rule of the Hippocratic Oath is "Do no harm to people".
If Hassan was such a gentle, good American as his cousin describes, why didn't he just kill himself a la the Hippocratic Oath that we paid for him to take? This was a pre-meditated terrorist act pure and simple despite whatever spin you may want to put on it. And what is alarming is that an enemy of this country was able to rise to the level of major in our armed forces and carry out a terrorist attack within the walls of a US military compound. Portraying this filth as a "victim" disgusts me.

[SusanStoHelit]

To answer your questions:

Frankly, UK papers are often better than USA papers.

Erasing information from a computer is not so easy as you think - and it'd show signs of being erased that would be clear and easy to see.
Any scene where there's been a mass shooting will be chaotic and plenty of false rumors will float around - this is as true of the office park shooting as it is this one.

If a Christian goes on a mass shooting, due to workplace frustration, has a crucifix on his door, and concludes with asking God to bless him - is it a Christian inspired shooting? Nope - it's merely the normal behavior of a Christian, combined with a nut shooting because he's mad about work - as this guy was mad about his deployment. It's not proof that this was about religion. It's likely - but it's noteworthy that he's had these radical beliefs for some time - but only started shooting when he couldn't get out of his deployment.

Obviously, he wasn't a good and gentle American. But family members see a different side, of course, and that's all they know. You can find the same types of statements from family members of all kinds of mass murderers.

Undersanding does not equal sympathy. To understand is to figure out how we can detect anyone else like this guy, maybe stop them before they start shooting. There's nothing to have sympathy for here - once he started shooting, he lost all claim on sympathy. He used the military for money, got disillusioned and extremist, didn't want to pay back his debt, got upset he was being deployed, and murdered a bunch of innocent people.

No one is remotely portraying him as a victim - that's a myth of your own mind.

[jgg000015]

I beg to differ. When Hassan's act is portrayed as PTSD and that he "snapped" because he was against the wars he is most definitely being portrayed as a "victim". Nor can I buy your blowoff explanation that european newspapers are simply "better". Obviously, the information was out there and our news sources chose not to cover it.
While I can agree that there is confusion in a situation like this the difference is that this was a US military base not an office park.

[AOCGUY]

jgg000015 - How does SusanStoHelit's commets "...UK papers are often better than USA papers..." and your question your comment that US news media failed or chose to ignore contradict each other. If one paper misses an important strory or choses not to report it while another does cover it, would you not consider the second a better news outlet?

And as someone who has either been in or associated with the military for over 37 years I will tell you that the similarities between an office park and the processing center at Ft Hood are alot closer than you may think. The soldiers had no more reason to think they were about to bettaked thna those in the Orlando office park and in the case of the office park shooting the likelyhood of someone carrying a weapon is greater since we have concealed carry and castle laws in Florida whereas the soldiers would not have been carrying any weapons.