A shooting rampage Thursday afternoon at the Army's Fort Hood in Texas killed 11 and wounded 31 before the gunman was killed and two suspects taken into custody.
All three of the people believed to have carried out the shooting were soldiers, Lt. General Bob Cone told reporters Thursday evening, though the motive remains unclear.
AP cites an unnamed source saying the gunman was Major Malik Nadal Hasan, though authorities have not publicly identified him.
via www.foxnews.com
May God comfort and strengthen them, may the truth be revealed quickly that the guilty may be punished. May the families and friends of those who were murdered be blessed with loving help from all around so their hearts may be eased.
I'm also rather concerned with the extremely quick assertion by the FBI that this wasn't>/em> an act of terrorism...
The fact is that the one name coming out of Fort Hood happens to be an Army Major. This is either an extreme act of spur of the moment shooting or an act of terrorism with a potent agent to carry it out. You don't get promoted to a Majority if you're dumb or crazy... the Army weeds those pretty effectively, or at least used to. I agree with you Cat that this is WAAAAY too early for any preliminary conclusions in either direction. The bean counters at the Hoover building need to can it.
Posted by: Charlie Fugate | November 05, 2009 at 06:15 PM
I do confess to a worry, Charlie, that the Major's name is so Arabic. I realize that not all - and not the majority, especially here in the States - Muslims have terrorism on their minds, but it is a concern. I hope and pray that this is not the case, because it would make things so difficult for the thousands or Muslim men and women who serve so honorably and so well for this country.
But there is that paranoid element in my mind, unfortunately.
Again, for any one who reads this comment and tries to slam me for it - I PRAY this is not the case, because so many do serve so bravely and well. I would NEVER want something like this to stain them with someone else's twisted hate!
Posted by: Kat | November 05, 2009 at 06:23 PM
I'm inclined to agree with you Cat, but I just hope that officials will investigate all possible contingencies and follow where the evidence takes them. This investigation has to be straight up by the book, no hem hawing around (Southwest Virginia phraseology.) That said, this man had to know that his name would be brought out into the public eye and if it was a spur of the moment deal, he has no consideration for people of his own ethnicity, much less his fellow soldiers and American citizens. Should it prove to be an act of lone wolf terrorism (no sponsoring authorities) then I believe it could prove more problematic for the Army.
Posted by: Charlie Fugate | November 05, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Yeah, I think we're thinking along the same lines, Charlie. Either way, it's been a terrible day, and I pray the families and the survivors have a good support network around them!
Posted by: Kat | November 05, 2009 at 06:39 PM