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The Department of Defense and the FBI had enough information about the suspect in the 2009 Fort Hood massacre to have discharged him from the military before he killed 13 DOD employees and wounded 32 others, according to a new bipartisan Senate report.
The report on the Texas army base shooting, authored by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman and top Republican Susan Collins, says that both agencies were aware of suspected gunman Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan's radicalization to violent Islamist extremism "but failed both to understand and to act on it."
"Although both the public and the private signs of Hasan's radicalization to violent Islamist extremism while on active duty were known to government officials, a string of failures prevented these officials from intervening against him prior to the attack," it says in its executive summary.
The senators say their investigation found "specific and systemic failures" in the government's handling of the case and cited additional concerns about possible broader systemic issues. "The FBI and DoD together failed to recognize and to link the information that they possessed about Hasan" they write.
Hasan's move toward violent Islamist extremism "was on full display to his superiors and colleagues during his military medical training,” according to the report’s findings. One instructor referred to Hasan as "a ticking time bomb."
"Not only was no action taken to discipline or discharge him, but also his Officer Evaluation Reports sanitized his obsession with violent Islamist extremism into praiseworthy research on counterterrorism."
In a stinging charge against the Defense Department's handling of the matter, the report added, "DOD possessed compelling evidence that Hasan embraced views so extreme that it should have disciplined him or discharged him from the military, but DoD failed to take action against him."
While the inquiry credited one FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force unit for initially flagging Hasan because he was communicating with a suspected terrorist, it criticized a second unit's follow-through. According to the report, the second JTTF unit "failed to identify the totality of Hasan's communications" and didn't inform Army security about them.
"Instead, the JTTF inquiry relied on Hasan's erroneous Officer Evaluation Reports and ultimately dismissed his communications as legitimate research," the senators write.
The report suggests that because the two FBI units had different views of the severity of other unit's findings, the matter was eventually dropped "rather than cause a bureaucratic confrontation."
"The JTTFs never raised the dispute to FBI headquarters for resolution, and entities in FBI headquarters responsible for coordination among field offices never acted. As a result, the FBI's inquiry into Hasan ended prematurely,” it reads.
*** UPDATE *** The FBI responded to the report in a written statement, which reads in part: "The FBI recognizes the value of congressional oversight and agrees with much in the report and many of its recommendations. During the internal FBI review undertaken immediately after the attack at Fort Hood, we identified several of the areas of concern outlined in the report, and, as noted in the report, have implemented changes to our systems and processes to address them. We will review each of the report's recommendations and adopt them, as appropriate."
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Seems the government is too afraid to call a "spade" a "spade". I don't understand why somebody would be afraid to address this problem about him if it was so obvious. Just remember, there is good leadership and bad leadership in the military but in this case it appears that nobody wanted to offend this nut job and address the problem. If somebody wants to place blame on one of the two POTUS in this case I would have to blame Obama since he is afraid to use the word "terror" in any phrase such as the "WAR ON TERROR". I wonder if after he was read his Miranda Rights somebody from social services came over to make sure he got his entitlements such as SSDI etc.
I only see this as another attempt to find a reason not to execute this son of is lam and to let him and his ilk continue to prey on innocent people worldwide. When will we get off our collective rear ends and do something about this threat to life and civility which is growing like a malignant cancer throughout the world. This smear on humanity is not and was not crazy, he is just following his belief that anyone that is not a follower of is lam must be exterminated. Send him to his virgins after you surgically remove his manhood with a hacksaw.
LOL...Don, that would probably hurt! A hacksaw...ouch! Actually, it's better than he deserves.
There are quite a few Muslims serving in the US military and yet...one white guy who turned Muslim justifies that entire belief. Oh sure, you'll say it's based in all the terrorists in the world who happen to be Arab or Persian also being Muslim...a racist and very broad argument to make; it's not PC, it's just fallacious reasoning.
wrap him in bacon after hes put to death an send him back so the rest of them can see what we will do
Isn't someone in charge of homeland security? Isn't someone in charge of the FBI? Did this peaceful Muslim not have superiors? Oh that's right it's not politically correct to point out this man was dangerous, most likely because he was of Middle Eastern descent and we certainly can't have anyone hurting this man's feelings can we? Because That Just Wouldn't Be Politically Correct!!!! Thank you all you progressive liberals all of you should be on your hands and knees begging for forgiveness of the victims families.
Let's include the families of the victims who where harmed by Illegals.
The guy was also a graduate of Virginia Tech, you want to make any stupid references to that too?
We are drowning in political correctness and cultural and moral relativism. Our children have been progammed from K-12 since the 60s by a radical/Liberal academia to apologize for America's past and to hate everything we stand for and have guilt for our very existence. Is it any wonder we are committing societal suicide? We don't have to worry about external threats or enemies bringing us down, we will do that to ourselves. The true enemy is within the gates and the enemy is ourselves!We have become so divided as a people on every single issue we are incapable of governing ourselves!
<sarcasm>Whoa! Wait a minute. We here in the US don't do prevention. We do "after the fact". Why would the FBI or DoD want to stop this guy when they could wait till he killed people? We like looking back at things and just crapping on people we don't actually like doing the preventative work. That would mean we would actually have to use common sense, logic, reason. Screw that. We just like to criticize.</sarcasm>
How nice of the FBI to pat itself on the back for realizing the barn door was open after the horses have escaped. Not confidence-inspiring.
This horrific tragedy was the result of an Islamic zealot. To simply write it off as the act of a deranged individual is to diminish the real intent of the crime; a strike against the evil USA- an act of jihad in order to further the interest of radical Islam. The government and state owned media are trying to spin this in their usual politically correct way, to minimize the real intent and crime that was committed by this Islamic zealot!There are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world and at least 10% are committed radical fundamentalists, that is over 120 million individuals-and that is probably a very conservative estimate. Until the civilized world understands that we are at war with this faction-a faction that wants to install a world wide califphate and Sharia law-we will continue to allow them to grow in power and influence and we will put at risk our standards of living and very way of life-we take for granted!!!!
Anyone watching the events in the Middle East? I'm just overwhelmed at all those peaceful Muslims with their anti-American chants, we hate you Americans go away! May all you liberal progressives open your homes so that they can live with you because God knows you libtards have the answer to everything.
And this is the conservidiots' usual response...finger wagging and nosepicking.
This comment from a person whose whole nation grew and depends on the welfare of the USA after they pulled a cowardly attack on our country. You could not understand the Muslim cult if it was explained to you. (One savage defending another??)
So we have, yet again, another example of the inefficiency and incompetence of the FBI.
Really, when will someone fire the Director of FBI, his toadies, and clean house? When will someone undertake the necessary steps to reform the FBI and bring it into, at the very least, the second half of the 20th Century?
For the FBI, it's still 1968 and everything is groovy.
First they dropped the ball on 9/11 and now this, I think the FBI needs an overhaul. It doesn't matter who was or is President, these guys are in charge of protecting the country.
No; shawn. These guys are in charge of policing federal law and rule violation. Congress made the laws and career affirmative action hired union protected government employees expand the rules. The president only gets to hire the director.
Another "deadly" blunder by those entrusted to protect us:-(
No...they are just the scapegoats for the zealously politically correct politicians!
Ah, Bush level incompetence, no surprise here.
In year 4012 a slob will stagger out of his cave in Maryland and complain that "Bush did not make the hemp grow fast enough this fall".
I didn't assign blame, I assigned magnitude.
Political Correctness equals failure to recognize the enemy. No excuses
All this tells us is that the government is run like a big company. Never let bad news get too high up the ladder.
Who's on first, what's on second and I don't know is on third. Who is up to bat? No who is on first. I don't know, but who is up to bat? What is who doing he is on first. What is still on second and the game goes on.
This present government still doesn't realize that we are in a war and there are people out there that want to kill us. Not to pis- too many people off on this board but it seems Obama can't keep his feet on the ground as he is always in AF One and when he is in DC there is always basketball to be played. This guy is lazy and doesn't take this job serious enough or is in way over his head. He doesn't realize how bad his conduct looks to the rest of the country but he gets away with it do to the very liberal media. Look at this situation in Egypt and the very real possibility that the Muslim Brotherhood might take over that country and all of the latest weapons we shipped there not so long ago. If they decide to take over the Suez Canal we are really screwed and we will be looking at $5.00 gas by summer. I know this is off subject but in a way it is not as this is another example of how short sighted Obama is as his only mission is to convert this nation over to a Socialistic State where we all share everything evenly whether we work or not. Bottom line is he wants to control everything we eat and drink but doesn't want to offend the Muslims who IMO are the real enemy we have.
I just let a nasty, highly gaseous, and very petulant fart out. Obviously that was Obama's fault too.
" String of Failures" you say. Hmmmmm. sounds a lot like, 9-11 analysis, Coal Mine disaster analysis, BP oil disaster analysis, Exxon Valdez analysis, Iraq invasion for WMD's analysis, FannieMae/Freddi Mac disater analysis, Shuttle Challenger disaster analysis, Enron causing brown outs in California analysis, Wall Street fraud and shenanigans. Don't recall the WWII generation having all these excuses when they took on the Axis and defeated 'em, Marshall Planned Europe, built the worlds most powerful economy, fed 25% of the worlds population including the USSR in the 1960's and 70's, started the UN and funded it for 60 years, built the space program putting a man on the moon with primitive computers. I think our Gubmint people have grown used to excuses. Saying them and hearing them. There are no consequences. To this day, there has been no Fed gubmint employee held responsible for 9-11 except the security guy at Boston airport and one other similarly ranked non federal guy. So we'll go to war with countries who harbor Al Qaeda, but we wont rip into our own agencies constantly giving us this "String of Failures" and toss people out and get replacements. And it's not the agents at the bottom I'm talking about - those agents do a great job overall. The technocrat and apparatchik leaders who deliver this constant "String of Failures" really need to be retired without benies. Their replacements may get the idea that it's a win OR lose game. Right now our Apparatchiks win no matter what happens to the rest of us.
Oh please, fifteen minutes in a history book would tell you all sorts of excuses were made for justifying anything during that war.
yeah; they let your father live and there is no excuse for that.
A football on the ground in the middle of the jungle...A monkey (U.S. Government) walks up to it...never seeing one not sure where to mount it from ...Hence a Monkey (U.S. Governemnt) Phucking a football!!!
TRUTH! This is just one more failure of the "politically correct" DOD policy allowing affirmative action for the Muslim officer. Any superior officer who dared to give him an unsatisfactory fitness report would damage his own career. That, pure and simple, is how he advanced to Major and got away with anti- American statements and actions. He is a typical islamic cultist who hates anyone not brainwashed to believe that random killing is the way to their "heaven". Islam is a dangerous political murder cult; NOT A RELIGION!
And yet...over a billion Muslims exist in this "cult" and largely keep to themselves.
Jeez, man, this is like the ninth or tenth post you've...basically saying the same racist thing.
Seriously, grow up, dude.
Actually, they kill each other more than anyone else. If you call that "keeping to themselves", I guess you could look at it like that. My experiences in the Middle East and dealing with Arab immigrants in Europe has shown me that they are quite easily incited to anger based on very simplistic views of the world, while largely being unfamiliar with the detailed tenets of Islam. The only ones who devote themselves to the study of Islam from a pious perspective are clerics, jihadists, working-age males looking for someone to blame for their economic and social plight (who are the recruiting pool for jihad), and very few citizens who hunker down and maintain a productive and non-confrontational lifestyle.
In that part of the world, there is a very significant element of blame, retribution, suspicion, and hatred built into the culture. It's just the way it is. The Sunni Iraqis and many of the Iraqi population were much more advanced than this at a societal level during the 1980's, and had made a lot of strides towards moving their country forward. The Iran-Iraq War helped focus their efforts nationally, while benefiting significantly from Western assistance at developing infrastructure. That was largely ended with the Kuwait invasion and consequential aftermath of bombing.
What I have seen that totally separates the US from that part of the world is that there isn't the same concept of freedom that we in America understand. Freedom there means being able to mete out a humble existence under leadership from a strong, central ruler. As long as you don't rock the boat, and support the ruler, you're good-to-go. Eurasia and the Middle East are very much of this mindset. They are not looking for Western, Ancient Greek-based Democratic principles of government. They need a strong, brutal overlord who will reign with an iron fist, because a ruler must show strength through force, otherwise, he will not be respected at all. Other regional players manipulate crises to etch out financial and limited power in their spheres, but they know their day will most likely come at any time.
To classify the World's Muslim populace as one mind is a far stretch. They are more of a hindrance to each other regionally, and will actually cooperate with outside infidels to exert dominance of their brothers, even if that means Israel, the US, enemy Sunnis or Shiahs-doesn't matter. They are very disjointed.
This horrific tragedy was the result of an Islamic zealot. To simply write it off as the act of a deranged individual is to diminish the real intent of the crime; a strike against the evil USA- an act of jihad in order to further the interest of radical Islam. The government and state owned media are trying to spin this in their usual politically correct way, to minimize the real intent and crime that was committed by this Islamic zealot!There are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world and at least 10% are committed radical fundamentalists, that is over 120 million individuals-and that is probably a very conservative estimate. Until the civilized world understands that we are at war with this faction-a faction that wants to install a world wide califphate and Sharia law-we will continue to allow them to grow in power and influence and we will put at risk our standards of living and very way of life-we take for granted!!!!
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Mick-2181854
Anyone watching the events in the Middle East? I'm just overwhelmed at all those peaceful Muslims with their anti-American chants, we hate you Americans go away! May all you liberal progressives open your homes so that they can live with you because God knows you libtards have the answer to everything.
#59 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 11:28 AM PST
Norman Rogers
So we have, yet again, another example of the inefficiency and incompetence of the FBI.
Really, when will someone fire the Director of FBI, his toadies, and clean house? When will someone undertake the necessary steps to reform the FBI and bring it into, at the very least, the second half of the 20th Century?
For the FBI, it's still 1968 and everything is groovy.
#60 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 11:31 AM PST
SHAWN-1387469
First they dropped the ball on 9/11 and now this, I think the FBI needs an overhaul. It doesn't matter who was or is President, these guys are in charge of protecting the country.
#61 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 11:32 AM PST
palc-3018369
Another "deadly" blunder by those entrusted to protect us:-(
#62 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 11:32 AM PST
YashBudini
Ah, Bush level incompetence, no surprise here.
#63 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 11:34 AM PST
Vermont Vinnie
The FBI and the military were petrified to upset the PC Police. If they had discharged a lunatic radical muslim, the leftwingers would have raised Holy hell.
#64 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 11:34 AM PST
Paul-977599
Such a stupid contention.
#64.1 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 11:39 AM PST
Bud3
All this tells us is that the government is run like a big company. Never let bad news get too high up the ladder.
#65 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 11:39 AM PST
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There are no excuses for whoever was managing the case to not lose her/his job and to held accountable with the appropriate consequences.
As navyvet98 said, it is Political Correctness, pure and simple. What many of you folks do not seem to understand is the the DoD is the most Politically Correct organization you will ever see, even more so than the numersous other government agencies. I'll tell you right now that any officer in the Army or any DoD civilian who would have made any comment about Hassan would have been told to shut up and drop it, purely because Hassan is Muslim. Muslims are currently a "protected class", just as women, minorities, and very soon to be gay people are "protected classes".
This problem is not new. The Army is too scared of offending any Muslim, especially one on active duty. It's all about consideration for others, not being judgemental, being way too careful to throw the Islam card (or any other card) onto the table. Soldiers aren't always promoted on their merits and duty performance, the same is true about disciplining or discharging. Having a Muslim doctor on active duty (radical or not) is good advertising for the Global War On Terror not being a war against Islam. I know these things to be true based on experience and observation.
No one took action because Obama ordered them not to discriminate muslims. It's call the "change". If they took action against him, we would have seen ACLU and Obama calling for his supervisor to be fired, and there would have been a big discrimination lawsuit. This is a real problem in the US. People are affraid to getting fired for doing something they know is right, and as a result of no action, incident like this happened and people died. It was all Obama's fault for support muslims and radical islamics. I wonder when people are going to admit it?
Yellow cake from NIGER, please.
This man was not discharged because it would have created a huge stir in our military. The military would have been accused of profiling, a huge lawsuit would have followed and been all over the news. The political correctness strikes again . I would have much rather had a news story about the lawsuit then all the innocent life taken . Go ahead call me a right wing loon.
You're a right wing loon. Happy?