The US military psychiatrist suspected of going on the shooting rampage that killed 13 people and wounded 30 others in a US army base in Texas, is of palestinian origin.
A military official told the AP that Hasan’s family has Palestinian roots. ABC News reported on Friday that Hasan’s grandfather moved to the United States in the 1940s.
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Relatives said he felt harassed because of his Muslim faith but did not embrace extremism. Others were not so sure. A recent classmate said Hasan once gave a jarring presentation to students in which he argued the war on terrorism was a war against Islam, and “made himself a lightning rod for things” when he felt his religious beliefs were challenged.
Investigators were trying to piece together how and why Hasan allegedly gunned down his comrades in the worst case of violence on a military base in the US The rampage unfolded at a center where some 300 unarmed soldiers were lined up for vaccines and eye tests.
Soldiers who witnessed the shooting rampage at Fort Hood that reported that the gunman shouted “Allahu Akbar!” before opening fire, the base commander said Friday.
Lt. Gen. Robert Cone said officials had not yet confirmed that the suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, made the comment, which is Arabic for “God is great!” before the rampage Thursday, which left 30 people wounded, including the gunman.
Faizul Khan, a former imam at a mosque Hasan attended in Silver Spring, Maryland, said Hasan, a lifelong Muslim, was a committed soldier, gave no sign of extremist beliefs and regularly wore his uniform at prayers.
“I got the impression that he was a committed soldier,” Khan said. He spoke often with Hasan about his desire for a wife.
On a form filled out by those seeking spouses through a program at the mosque, Hasan listed his birthplace as Arlington, Virginia, but his nationality as Palestinian, Khan said.
“I don’t know why he listed Palestinian,” Khan said, “He was not born in Palestine.”
(So what? Even the UN includes in its definition of a “palestinian refugee” those not even born in “Palestine.”)
Then there’s this:
Hasan’s relatives who live in the Palestinian territories have said they had heard from family members that Hasan felt mistreated in the Army as a Muslim.
“He told (them) that as a Muslim committed to his prayers he was discriminated against and not treated as is fitting for an officer and American,” said Mohammed Malik Hasan, 24, a cousin, told the AP from his home on the outskirts of Ramallah, a Palestinian city north of Jerusalem. “He hired a lawyer to get him a discharge.”
Meanwhile (and alarmingly), the terrorist was apparently an invited guest to a public address in Washington by the Israeli Ambassador to the US, Sallai Meridor earlier this year.
From a poster on Free Republic (hat tip: RBP).
Nidal Malik Hasan was apparently an invited guest to a public address in Washington by the Israeli Ambassador to the US, Sallai Meridor. Shooter Hasan took a seat in the second row nearly across from the Ambassador and one of the participants Yonah Alexander of Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies (also professor of international studies and director of the Institute for Studies in International Terrorism at the State University of New York)—the program ironically called “Combating Terrorism”. It is my impression or at least some level of concern that the Israeli Ambassador, other anti-terrorist officials and VIPs at that event may have been in some level of danger. I have analyzed the video in detail. In addition to the link above, I provide my own outtakes from said January event in Washington.
The poster links to this C-Span video (non-embeddable) with the following commentary:
Details: Hasan had been an active participant, and invited general guest, to such policy seminars featuring VIPs on the issue of TERRORISM and HOMELAND SECURITY, between the period of June 2008 and February 2009. As has been reported on FR and elsewhere, his name is listed in the proceedings. On one of these occasions, which may well be on tape, terrorist Hasan asked a question which apparently turned into either a ramble or a rant, and he was cut off by the Director of the policy group. (This may well have been in support of Islam or against US policy). On two known occasions, both on 3 December 2008 and again on 9 January 2009, Hasan took a position close to the speakers dais at these by invitation events, and appears in photographs and videos in his US Army BDU uniform. I am not sure of the specific executive security situation at GWU in Washington not far from the White House the day of this event, if there were metal detectors or what not, but it does appear the Israeli Ambassador had personnel protection nearby which may have hindered a possible attack by Maj. Hasan, who nevertheless could well have been armed and dangerous at the time—knowing what we know now. I invite you to look at his movements and demeanor of Hasan in this video, and follow my comments. Others may also have comments or notice things I did not. This is a group effort, let us all try our best to interpret events.
00:13 Shooter in second row from front directly in front of Ambassador and Dr. Alexander.
06:24 Video shows, in the upper center, US Army Major dressed in BDU, looking down, as he is seated in the second row. Either taking notes, or in deep thought.
31:40 to 32:03 Clear view of Hasan from back of room, looking down the whole time, on right in military uniform.
75:00 to 75:25 Very Clear close up view of Major Hasan! It is him.
84:10 Moderator asks, in accordance with security measures, that everyone “please remain seated” while Ambassador Meridor leaves
84:23 Moderator demands AGAIN, that everyone remain seated as Ambassador leaves the event, followed closely behind by one special detail agent, either Secret Service or more likely Israeli Embassy protection (green shirt/tie).
84:35 Hasan, relatively close to the departing Ambassador, one of a few to disregard the request, slowly starts to rise, as some VIPs in front of him are shaking hands with the leaving diplomat, provoking the moderator a THIRD time to tell him and the audience to sit down as told. Hasan can be seen sitting down, through the crowd, as told.
85:12 Hasan looks straight into the camera, he is in the center of the view, spotlight on his bald head which shines. His demeanor and facial manner have an odd, dark nature about them. The Ambassador has left the immediate area and is exiting the auditorium.
Whenever this Hasan appears in the video, he did not look like a happy camper. We may suspect, in his Salafist Fundamentalist rage, he may well have been seething inside at the positions expressed by the Ambassador; this event was right during an Israeli flare up with Hamas Palestinian terrorists on the Gaza Strip (Operation Cast Lead) due to their terrorist rocket attacks on civilians in Israel.
Shown at the very end of the video even appears to be Amb. Paul Bremer, who served as chief of the Coalition Authority to Iraq, and other VIPs well within close range of Major Hasan.
Or, if you do not have the patience to go through the video, you can see the Cliff Notes edition here:
(That’s Hasan standing up at 0:12).
And here (that’s him on the left):
