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Possible Terrorist Attack at Ft. Hood TX (UPDATES)

Posted by HOLLY IN CINCINNATI, Copy Editor in Breaking News, Politics, Religion, Society, War.
Nov 5th, 2009 | Comments

There have been multiple shooting attacks at Fort Hood according to MSNBC, KCEN-TV and KTVT-TV. At least 7 people are dead and 30+ are wounded. One shooter is in custody and 1-2 more are being sought. FBI is on the way. Both the shooters and victims are believed to be military rather than civilians, at least the shooters were wearing military fatigues.

4:30 pm EST: More shots just reported according to MSNBC-TV.

4:40 pm EST per MSNBC: “Two suspects were captured and four swat officers were wounded, NBC News and KCEN, based in Waco, Texas, reported.”

4:48 pm EST per MSNBC: Death toll has gone up to 9 and one of the captured shooters is an Army major with an “Arabic-sounding name.”

4:52 pm: News conference going on now. One shooter reported to have been killed.

4:45 pm: Now I hear that 12 are dead and 31 wounded.

5:01 pm EST: Reportedly the shooters are/were actual US soldiers, not people posing as soldiers.

6:00 pm EST: Suspected gunman, now dead, was Major Malik Nadal Hasan, a recent convert to Islam who was about to be deployed to Iraq and not happy about it.

6:20 pm EST: Hasan was an “Army mental health professional”

6:28 pm EST: Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, was promoted to major in May

6:33 pm EST: Reputed to be shooter Hasan’s FB page:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1008970609&ref=nf

6:48 pm EST: Photo being shown now on MSNBC does not look like the guy on the FB page. Name is slightly different as well.

9:55 pm EST: Latest press conference from Ft. Hood, Gen. Cone says that Major Hasan is alive and in stable condition. He is currently believed to be the only shooter, the other soldiers who were detained have been released. Terrorism cannot be ruled out or confirmed.

From other sources, there are reports that Major Hasan had been under investigation for Internet posts related to suicide bombings. He is a US citizen, an American-born Muslim of Jordanian descent.

10:15 pm EST: “Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who allegedly killed 11 people before being shot and wounded by police at Fort Hood, had said Muslims should “rise up” and attack Americans in retaliation for the US war in Iraq, a former army colleague said.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6511591/Fort-Hood-shooting-Nidal-Malik-Hasan-said-Muslims-should-rise-up.html

11:26 pm EST: Troubling portrait emerges of shooting suspect: Walter Reed training director said Hasan required extra counseling
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33695256/ns/us_news-military/

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Patrick E

New updates say death toll at nine and may go into double digits.

Twenty plus wounded

Reports do say that shooters (or one of them) were/was wearing uniforms but it is not confirmed that they are military.

vey9

Nobody competent is using the "T" word. "Competent" doesn't include Fox News.

"Retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis told Fox News those at the base are trained for combat and it is not unusual to see armed people there.
"It could be a terror attack, it could be a disenchanted soldiers, it could be a varity of people," said Maginnis. "
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,572305,00.h...

AustinRoth

This is a terrible tragedy for those dead and wounded soldiers. As you can imagine, it is the only thing on the TV or radio right now out here.

AustinRoth

Does everything have to turn into a partisan slam? F-off vey9.

vey9

Who said anything partisan? I carefully reviewed all the reports from AP plus all the other ones I could find (about 20) and came back telling what I discovered.

Paul Wartenberg

No speculation, please. These crazy shootings are always rife with rumor and BS, so let's just focus on the things we CAN do: pray and pray.

AustinRoth

11 dead now, including the shooter, who was definitely a US soldier, possibly an officer (not confirmed).

Shit.

shannonlee

This sucks, I have family serving there.

shannonlee

Slain gunman identified as Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan....unreal.

kathykattenburg

12 dead, 31 injured is the latest number I heard. One of the shooters was killed, I think the other one is in custody.

Shannon, I hope your family members are okay. Please let us know when you find out.

kathykattenburg

Does anyone know where JeffersonDavis is stationed?

shannonlee

Family safe...on base, but safe. My prayers to the lost and injured.

kathykattenburg

Thank God for that, shannon.

kathykattenburg

Some fact details I learned reading an ABC news article about the shootings:

Fort Hood is the largest U.S. military installation in the world. It's also suffered the most deaths in Iraq: 483.

Also, a lot of people may have known this, but I did not: Fort Hood is only 60 miles from Austin. So AR really is nearby.

Polimom

I, too, have lots of friends at Fort Hood. Pretty much everybody who's ever served in the Army and kept in touch with folks does.

A hideous, horrible event. I can hardly wrap my mind around it.

Editing to add: Didn't realize JeffersonDavis was active duty. Hope he's not there. shannonlee -- glad your people are safe.

kathykattenburg

The boyfriend of one of my neighbors is in Texas right now doing military duty. He's been gone for several months, and my neighbor said he would be home in January. He wasn't shipping to Iraq, so hopefully he was not in that building. I just knocked on her door, but there's no answer.

Actually, I missed a step. I don't even know if he is at Fort Hood. I know he's in the military, and in Texas.

T-Steel

Looks like the alleged shoot is Dr. Nidal Malik Hasan (an Army Major) according to CNN. And he was a mental health professional. Wow...

kathykattenburg

I know, T. That one stunned me as well.

kathykattenburg

Polimom, I'm pretty sure he is career military. I don't know if that's the same as being active-duty.

Editing to add: And the fact that he is not here in this thread worries me.

Don Quijote

See, if the soldiers had been armed, they would have been able to defend themselves...

Polimom

No, I don't like it that he's not here also. Hopefully he'll pop in soon and reassure us.

One can be career military but retired. Active duty just means currently in active service. If he hasn't said he's retired, then likely he is active duty.

Polimom

I'm not even sure how to respond to DQ without violating the terms of TMV's commenting rules.

AustinRoth

I doubt you would get in much trouble for doing so.

AustinRoth

Blow me DQ.

Who the hell do you think shot him? Soldiers.

I hope you die of some hideous, slow, and very painful illness, alone. Soon.

thomaswii4life

It already was reported that it was an Army Officer that didn't want to get shipped out to war. It's a sad dad. I hope that the remaining survivors and the lost ones families are all right and get the help they need.
Two Voices Blog Crazy

Don Quijote

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You' re not my type...

I am not sure why you are so offended, I am only telling you what conservatives (NRO & Human Events) told us when there was a similar shooting spree at <span id="apture_prvw1" class="aptureLink "><span class="aptureLinkIcon" style="background-position: 100% -1346px; "> </span>Virginia Tech</span>...

Father_Time

You are correct DQ.

I remember the argument that ensued after.

Polimom

DQ, this is not at all similar.

shannonlee

The problem here is the disconnect between how liberals/conservatives view our military. Liberals think they are just like the rest of us. Conservatives put them above us....at least in their minds...lets not get into actual actions.

I once heard a conservative tell a liberal talk show host, either Maher or Stewart, that vets should get better health care than the average american....the host couldn't believe it...even asked the con. to say it again, which he did without flinching.

So, to some this is a greater tragedy..much like when a police officer is killed on duty.

Polimom

AR -- stop. Seriously. I, too, was offended by the comment. You can voice it without being crude or hostile. I know you can cuz I've seen you do it.

Father_Time

Exactly the same.

Exactly.

T-Steel

Yes please let's try to keep things relatively cool. Tragedies like this always evoke much emotion. Let's not press each others' buttons, OK?

kathykattenburg

DQ, this is not at all similar.

Actually, Polimom, there are similarities. The specific details of who, what, where, when, and maybe why are not precisely the same, but what is the same is that a lot of people got killed and even more got injured by a crazed gunman.

DQ's timing may be off, but he does have a point. And Austin's response that it was soldiers who shot him so of course they were armed only underscores that point: Yes, there were weapons available and the soldiers did use them and were able to stop the man -- but not before he got off a lot of shots that killed a dozen people (as of now) and injured 31.

The fact that the soldiers were there and had guns and used them did not result in an outcome that was stunningly different from Virginia Tech.

Polimom

shannonlee, there's some truth to what you say, although you're generalizing too far with the "liberals/conservatives".

I don't know whether this is the right thread for discussion on this, but it would be a fascinating dialogue on a less-tense post. Because there is definitely a different view of the military from different parts of society.

ThurmanHart

The title on this should be changed. It is incredibly irresponsible to leave it when the facts show that it was never anything related to terrorism.

kathykattenburg

This reaction is extraordinarily out of proportion to any offensiveness in what DQ said.

Polimom

Since reports are suggesting multiple shooters, Kathy, I'm not sure how far down the 'similarity' road this will ultimately go.

But if it turns out that this was just the 'lone crazed gunman' scenario again, then yes, I concede the similarities.

Father_Time

I would also point out that nobody appointed "polimom" den mother.

The very thought is offensive.

Polimom

Excuse me? W.are you talking about?

kathykattenburg

There were three, according to the reports I've heard so far. Some reports said two, but several others said three.

I take your meaning that it's harder to fight back against 3 shooters than 1, but I think there still is a larger point that is not completely unreasonable. Which is, that when an event like this (multiple shootings and killings at random with no apparent or obvious explanation, just shooting everyone in sight) happens, the availability of guns is not necessarily going to prevent a tragic outcome.

Polimom

Now we're back on calm ground I think. Phew!
:-)

I wasn't suggesting that the difference was because it's harder to fight against 3 shooters (though that's certainly true). The reports of more than one shooter changes the scenario radically for me because that indicates that the attack was NOT random. That is what was behind my 'not similar' comment.
Editing -- or rather, the targets may have been random, but the attack would not be the same as the lone crazed gunman scenario with multiple people involved. At the very least, it suggests orchestration at some level.

kathykattenburg

Bruce McQuain has some interesting updates:

http://www.qando.net/?p=5631

kathykattenburg

Actually, you may be right that the attacks were not random. One of the things Bruce has heard is that the gunman was shooting people he knew.

kathykattenburg

F_T, *you* are offensive. That remark was completely un-called for.

Father_Time

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is very real and stays with you for life, but this guy had only been in clinical practice one year. Makes you wonder if this guy had even been to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Looks like he got bad evals at Walter Reed, where he did his “1 year”.

Quack?

Father_Time

No it wasn't.

Father_Time

I find it interesting that the heaviest military loss for Afghanistan and Iraq in one day occurred in Texas, U.S.A.....an attack by another American soldier.

Don Quijote

DQ, this is not at all similar

Yes, it is... A wack-job with a gun decided to commit suicide by cop, and kill as many people as possible in the process.

AustinRoth

This reaction is extraordinarily out of proportion to any offensiveness in what DQ said.

And I disagree. He wanted a reaction, and I gave it.

I tend towards responding to crudeness with much, much worse crudeness, and to gross insensitivity with much, much worse insensitivity.

AustinRoth

This is disconcerting if it turns out to be true. I hope not. No good will come from if it is.

Don Quijote

And I disagree. He wanted a reaction, and I gave it.

And it was a good conservative reaction, full of thoughtfulness and insights...

AustinRoth

Hasan is apparently alive after all. That is going to make this play out very differently now, I would think.

kathykattenburg

The photographs on that article you linked to are very moving. Upsetting, too. That first picture of the woman trying to contact her husband -- breaks your heart.

I don't understand the bit about Hasan still being alive. I mean, the article headline says he was "wounded" but the text of the article refers to him in the past tense.

Very confusing.

kathykattenburg

I wouldn't have known. :-)

VinceP1974

The title is clearly not irresponsible. It's entirely appropriate.

Perhaps if one is totally ignorant of Islamic Jihad and their actions in the past few decades can one think that terrorism had nothing to do with this attack... those who pay attention know all to well that an attack like this is something they've wanted to do for a long time.

VinceP1974

I'm glad hes' alive. That means he's still in pain.

T-Steel

Oh yes AR. Much differently.

keelaay

Why is the headline of this entry "Possible Terrorist Attack at Fort Hood"? I heard no such speculation today. There was a shooting with multiple casualties at a military base. Bad enough news. But why the terrorism angle?

ProfElwood

Check out the "Same Sex Marriage Rights" thread. He's back!

Father_Time

This guy is a medical doctor, a graduate from Virginia Tech, (of all places), a field grade military officer, a medical doctor Phd in medicine, and, licensed psychiatrist.....Muslim Convert.

The man killed and wounded, (I think), more soldiers in one day than our worst one day loss in all of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Either nobody picked up on the massive red flags flying over this screwball, which has got to be SOMEBODY’S incompetent negligence, or, our military is scraping bottom barrel when finding people to actually help our mentally ill military people.

I’d like to know how long this lunatic academic has actually been in the Army. More than likely he got a direct commission. Apparently he had never seen or even been close to combat. I find it difficult, not completely unbelievable, but difficult to believe that this man turned into a complete screwball after one year of listening to horrible stories from war veterans.

Then I think about a man educated to a lesser level of discipline, whom maybe having emotional trouble also. Maybe a little government hate going on inside excited by a little Beck or Limbaugh or whatever, another military officer, a pilot, a bomber pilot carrying a load of bombs to a bombing range somewhere in the U.S…..takes a little deviation and drops the ol’ bomb load over a major city…..starts screaming incoherent rants on the radio and crashes his bomber into who knows what mass of people….

I mean….what the hell can possibly be next after Ft. Hood???

D. E.Rodriguez

"I mean….what the hell can possibly be next after Ft. Hood???"

Perhaps some reflection, more civil debate, less rhetoric. and less demonizing...by all sides?

Father_Time

Why whatever do you mean?

I made a perfectly resonable analogy. Considering the ever increasing violence we witness.

rhetoric?

ThurmanHart

Only a hate-filled moron or an ignoramus who has not kept up with the story at all would say something like that, Vince. Which one are you?

There is no terrorist connection. It is not part of any war. By the very definition of the word, the title is both irresponsible and playing on fears. At the very least, the title should be changed. It is shameful to continue to hawk fear and hatred in a time of horror and sadness.

CStanley

Actually that's not accurate. The regulations on a military base for carrying weapons is quite similar to a college campus, and the soldiers are not walking around armed. The 'soldiers' who shot and wounded Hasan were first responders- basically law enforcement officials assigned to security patrol.

I don't know that the argument of allowing people to be armed in either situation holds water- but the fact is that in both situations the majority of the victims and potential victims were in the exact same situation, having had no choice but to be unarmed and to rely on security officials to protect them against the attack.

CStanley

How do you define terrorism? Your comment about this not being part of any war is puzzling because reliable reports are that this shooter was at least in part motivated by his objection to the Iraq and Afghan wars. It's also not clear to me why a definition of terrorism would necessarily be related to a 'war'- isn't it true that instances like the shooting of abortionist Tiller are considered domestic terrorism? Or the Oklahoma City bombing?

I understand the concern that we not overstate this as the type of terrorism that is organized, state sponsored, or more coercive in nature. But I don't understand the overblown criticism of those who would use the word terrorism to describe it either.

Overgeneralizing is the problem. In the abortionist killing, there was legitimate concern expressed that the killer held an ideological belief that his action was heroic because he would prevent fetal deaths by killing Dr. Tiller- but anyone who overgeneralized to think that this was a widely held belief among abortion opponents, or that this idea would be sanctioned by most Christian groups, was wrong to do so. In the current instance, there's emerging evidence that the killer may have believed that he was acting heroically by killing soldiers who would be sent to kill Muslims- and again, we can and should acknowledge that a minority of people might believe that even while we take care not to paint most or all Muslims with that broad brush.

DLS

"what the hell can possibly be next after Ft. Hood???"

Another smaller event and place like the one in Arkansas some time ago? Don't people recall that?

[sigh]

Here, people:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/0...

Polimom

Glad to see you CStanley. Really.

CStanley

Thanks...you too, Polimom.

ThurmanHart

The problem is over-sensationalizing things. It's very clear that this was the act of one very mentally disturbed individual. The writer was irresponsible to hype this as being connected with war or with terrorism.

Polimom

ThurmanHart, you're kind of wearing out the rug on this. The first reports on the story, if you'll look back at yesterday, were of several shooters. At one point, we were told that two were in custody and one was dead. I think the title was precisely right, given the early reporting, right down to the "possible" -- which you seem to be consistently overlooking.

It was written at a point in time, with the current information, on a breaking story. Give it a rest already.

ThurmanHart

So sorry that insisting on honesty, facts, and good reporting is "wearing out the rug." Publishing things comes along with a tiny bit of responsibility. Unfortunately, that seems to have been missed by a few people.

I'll give it a rest right after the families of the dead get over their soldiers being killed. Sorry if that is inconvenient.

ThurmanHart

Oh, hey, the "possible" thing. Well, it was "possible" that the Russians had invaded us, too. Why not put that in the title? The only thing that was known was that an attack had occurred, and the responsible way to report it would have been to say "an attack has occurred." Why immediately go after terrorism? Why tag it as war? Oh, "possible." Yeah. Well, not to worry then.

Polimom

ThurmanHart, are you being deliberately obtuse? Seriously. Reports of several shooters, implying a coordinated event. On an Army base that deploys soldiers to two wars. And you ask why somebody might suspect possible terrorism?

Jeesum!

ThurmanHart

Serious. I'm being obtuse? Seriously. I understand fully well why someone might suspect terrorism. Everyone who spoke about it yesterday mentioned terrorism. It would be incomprehensible not to think about terrorism.

But this site led with a title claiming terrorism. Yes, I know - "possible." Every responsible reporter said, "Nothing can be ruled out, not even terrorism." This site leads with the idea it is terrorism. See - one way includes terrorism but urges caution because it isn't known. The other way heightens fear and urges people to be afraid. It's known as fear-mongering. I know you understand this, because I've read enough of your writing to know you do.

But I'm being obtuse? It is irresponsible to leave that title. Even Fox News knows when to issue a retraction.

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