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Hasan's family has claimed that he is a peaceful person and a "good American."<ref name="NYDailyNews" />
Hasan's family has claimed that he is a peaceful person and a "good American."<ref name="NYDailyNews" />

[[Anwar al-Awlaki]], now in hiding in [[Yemen]], was the [[imam]] at the mosque in 2001, while a third hijacker attended his services while in California. Al-Awlaki had issued a statement in support of the shootings. The imam was a spiritual adviser to the hijackers, and Hasan has been reported to have deep respect for al-Awlaki's teachings.<ref name="AUTOREF5" />

After the attack, Awlaki praised Hasan for the shooting; on his personal website, he encouraged other Muslims serving in the military to "follow in the footsteps of men like Nidal."<ref name="AUTOREF7" /><ref name="AUTOREF6" /> Hasan sent emails to people associated with Al Qaeda, two U.S. officials said.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,573166,00.html "Investigators Found E-Mails From Hasan to Al Qaeda, Officials Say," ''Fox News'', November 10, 2009, accessed November 11, 2009]</ref>


According to retired Colonel Terry Lee, "He said 'maybe Muslims should stand up and fight against the aggressor'. At first we thought he meant help the armed forces, but apparently that wasn't the case. Other times he would make comments we shouldn't be in the war in the first place."<ref name="Fox 5" />
According to retired Colonel Terry Lee, "He said 'maybe Muslims should stand up and fight against the aggressor'. At first we thought he meant help the armed forces, but apparently that wasn't the case. Other times he would make comments we shouldn't be in the war in the first place."<ref name="Fox 5" />

Revision as of 19:26, 11 November 2009

Nidal Malik Hasan, MD
Hasan in 2007
Service/branchUnited States Army
Medical Corps[1]
Years of service1988–present
RankMajor
Unit

Major Nidal Malik Hasan, MD (born September 8, 1970) is a Palestinian-American military psychiatrist.[1] On November 5, 2009, he was identified as the primary suspect in the Fort Hood shooting and is currently hospitalized at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.[2][3]

Biography

Early life

Hasan described himself as being of Palestinian descent.[4] His parents emigrated to the United States from al-Bireh, a city in the West Bank north of Jerusalem, where his grandfather Ismail Mustafa Hamad still lives.[5][6][7]

He was born in Arlington, Virginia,[8] and raised in Virginia. Hasan was the oldest child of three boys. All of them helped in the family's restaurant in Roanoke, Virginia.

Hasan attended Wakefield High School for a year in Arlington,[9] but primarily attended William Fleming High School in Roanoke.[10]

According to some sources, Hasan is single with no children.[11][12] However, David Cook, a former neighbor, said two sons were living with Hasan around 1997, and attending local schools. Cook said, "As far as I know, he was a single father. I never saw a wife."[4] According to military records, Hasan was unmarried.[13]

His brother Anas is a lawyer who now lives in Ramallah, the administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority near Jerusalem in the West Bank. Eyad, his other brother, graduated from George Mason University and lives in Northern Virginia. He is a human resources officer for a medical research firm in Virginia.[14]

Higher education, military service, and medical career

Slide 49/50 of The Koranic World View As It Relates to Muslims in the U.S. Military, a presentation made by Hasan during a symposium of U.S. Army physicians at Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Hasan joined the Army immediately after high school, and served eight years as an enlisted soldier while attending college. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, and went on to medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.[15] After earning his medical degree (M.D.) in 2001, Hasan completed his residency in psychiatry at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.[16] In 2009, he completed a fellowship in Disaster and Preventive Psychiatry at the Center for Traumatic Stress.[17]

Hasan was promoted from Captain to Major in May 2009.[17][18] Before being transferred to Fort Hood in July 2009, Hasan received a poor performance evaluation.[19] While an intern at Walter Reed, he received counseling and extra supervision.[20]

According to the Washington Post, Hasan made a presentation titled The Koranic World View As It Relates to Muslims in the U.S. Military during his senior year of residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The presentation, which was not well received by some of the attendees, recommended that the Department of Defense "should allow Muslims [sic] Soldiers the option of being released as "Conscientious objectors" to increase troop morale and decrease adverse events."[21][22]

Hasan's cousin claimed that Hasan had been harassed by his army colleagues because of his Middle Eastern ethnicity. Said the cousin, "He was dealing with some harassment from his military colleagues. I don’t think he’s ever been disenchanted with the military. It was the harassment. He hired a military attorney to try to have the issue resolved, pay back the government, to get out of the military. He was at the end of trying everything."[23] Hasan's aunt, Noel Hasan of Falls Church, Virginia, corroborated his cousin's account, stating that Hasan sought discharge because of harassment relating to his Islamic faith.[24] An army spokesman could not confirm the relatives' statements,[25] and the deputy director of American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs released a statement calling the reported harassment "inconsistent" with their records.[26]

In August 2009, according to a Killeen police report, someone vandalized Hasan's automobile with a key, for which repair was estimated at $1000. Police charged another soldier for the incident, and a neighbor who knew both men said that the soldier vandalized Hasan's vehicle because of Hasan's religion.[24]

Religious and ideological beliefs

Hasan's family has claimed that he is a peaceful person and a "good American."[27]

According to retired Colonel Terry Lee, "He said 'maybe Muslims should stand up and fight against the aggressor'. At first we thought he meant help the armed forces, but apparently that wasn't the case. Other times he would make comments we shouldn't be in the war in the first place."[28]

During a psychiatry fellowship at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Air Force Lt. Col. Dr. Val Finnell, a medical school classmate said that while other students' projects focused on topics such as water contamination, Hasan's project dealt with the "whether the war on terror is a war against Islam."[29]

Faizul Khan, the former imam of a mosque in Silver Spring, Maryland, where Hasan prayed several times a week, said he was "a reserved guy with a nice personality. We discussed religious matters. He was a fairly devout Muslim."[4] Hasan often expressed his wish to get married, and Khan said "I got the impression that he was a committed soldier."[24]

According to one of his cousins, Hasan was a practicing Muslim who had become more devout after the deaths of his parents in 1998 and 2001.[6] However, his cousin did not recall him ever expressing any radical or anti-American views.[6]

Prior investigations

Hasan had come to the attention of federal authorities at least six months before the attacks because of internet postings he appeared to have made discussing suicide bombings and other threats, though authorities at the time had not definitively attributed the postings.[29][19] The postings, made in the name "NidalHasan," likened a suicide bomber to a soldier who throws himself on a grenade to save his colleagues and sacrifices his life for a "more noble cause."[29] No official investigation was opened.[19]

ABC News reported that officials were aware that Hasan had attempted to contact Al Qaeda.[30]

Hasan was investigated by the FBI after intelligence agencies had intercepted communications of 10 to 20 emails over several months starting in December 2008 until early this year with al-Awlaki, who was under surveillance. Employees at the Army were informed of the contacts, but there was no perceived threat based on the general questions about spiritual guidance about conflicts between Islam and military service, judged to be consistent with mental health research about Muslims in the armed services.[31]

A joint terrorism task force based in Washington which operates under the FBI was notified. The information was looked over by a Defense Criminal Investigative Service employee in the task force. The assessment concluded there was not sufficient information for a larger investigation.[32]

Despite the two Defense Department investigators on two joint task forces that looked into Hasan's communications, higher ups at the Department of Defense stated they were not notified before the incident of such investigations. Also according to ABC News Hasan had "more unexplained connections to people being tracked by the FBI" than just radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.[33]

Fort Hood shooting

First responders transport a U.S. soldier that was wounded in the Fort Hood shooting
Main article: Fort Hood shooting

Hasan gave away furniture from his home on the morning of the shooting, saying he was going to be deployed on Friday.[34] He also handed out copies of the Quran.[35] He was to be deployed to Afghanistan, contrary to earlier reports that he was to go to Iraq,[36] on November 28. According to Jeff Sadoski, spokesperson of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, "Hasan was upset about his deployment".[37] Hasan's cousin, Nader Hasan, a lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia, said that Nidal Hasan turned against the wars after hearing the stories of those who came back from Afghanistan and Iraq.[38] Noel Hamad said, however, that the family did not know he was being sent to Afghanistan. "He didn't tell us he was going to deploy," she said.[39]

Kamran Pasha wrote about an account from a Muslim officer at Fort Hood who says that he prayed with Hasan on the day of the Fort Hood shooting, and that Hasan "appeared relaxed and not in any way troubled or nervous". This officer believed that the shootings may be been motivated by religious radicalism.[40]

Retrospective analysis

A military activist, Selena Coppa, said: "This man was a psychiatrist and was working with other psychiatrists every day and they failed to notice how deeply disturbed someone right in their midst was."[41]

Hasan's alleged extremist beliefs were apparently a cause for concern among some of his peers. While at USUHS, Hasan was disciplined for "proselytizing about his Muslim faith with patients and colleagues",[42] as well as for an incident in which a lecture, expected to be of a medical nature, became a diatribe against "infidels." Army doctor Lt. Val Finnell complained to superiors about Hasan's statements. Finnell said, "The system is not doing what it's supposed to do. He at least should have been confronted about these beliefs, told to cease and desist, and to shape up or ship out."[41]

Post-shooting

Hasan was placed under guard in Brooke Army Medical Center's intensive care unit, and his condition was described as "stable".[43] News reports on the morning of November 7, 2009, indicated that Hasan was in a coma.[44]

On November 9, Brooke Army Medical Center spokesman Dewey Mitchell announced that Hasan had regained consciousness, and been able to talk since he was taken off the ventilator on November 7.[45] According to the Associated Press, officials plan to charge him in a military court.[46] While Hassan is communicative, he refuses to talk to investigators.[47]

John P. Galligan, a retired United States Army colonel, is representing Hasan.[48]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d McKinley, Jr., James C. (November 8, 2009). "Fort Hood Gunman Gave Signals Before His Rampage". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Carlton, Jeff (November 6, 2009). "Ft. Hood suspect reportedly shouted `Allahu Akbar'". Associated Press. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "Terrorism or Tragic Shooting? Analysts Divided on Fort Hood Massacre". Fox News. November 7, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2009. The authorities have not ruled out terrorism in the shooting, but they said the preliminary evidence suggests that it wasn't. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  4. ^ a b c "A Helper With Worries of His Own". Wall Street Journal. November 6, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  5. ^ Friedman, Emily (November 6, 2009). "Army Doctor Nidal Malik Hasan Allegedly Kills 13 at Fort Hood". ABC News. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c Dao, James (November 5, 2009). "Suspect Was 'Mortified' About Deployment". New York Times. Retrieved November 7, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  7. ^ Lewis, Ori, "U.S. Army gunman's act "impossible"—grandfather," Reuters, November 7, 2009, accessed November 9, 2009
  8. ^ "Hood shooting suspect was set to deploy". Military Times. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  9. ^ "Maj. Nidal M. Hasan", Washington Post, November 7, 2009, accessed November 10, 2009
  10. ^ Hammack, Laurence (November 7, 2009). "Fort Hood shooting suspect Hasan left few impressions in schools he attended". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved November 7, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Twelve dead, 31 wounded in Fort Hood shootings". Stars and Stripes. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  12. ^ "Major named as Fort Hood shooter". Military Times. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  13. ^ Mcfadden, Robert D. (November 6, 2009). "Suspect Was to Be Sent to Afghanistan". The New York Times. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  14. ^ McKinley, Jr., James C, and Dao, James, "Fort Hood Gunman Gave Signals Before His Rampage," New York Times, November 9, 2009
  15. ^ Blackledge, Brett J. (November 6, 2009). "Details emerge about Fort Hood suspect's history". Associated Press. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "License for Nidal Malik Hasan, MD". Virginia Board of Education. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  17. ^ a b "Twelve Soldiers Killed". ABC. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ "Army releases May officer promotions". Military Times. April 22, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  19. ^ a b c Jakes, Lara (November 5, 2009). "Authorities had concerns about suspect". Associated Press. Retrieved November 5, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Gearan, Anne (November 6, 2009). "Army: Shooting suspect was bound for Afghanistan". Boston Globe. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  21. ^ Priest, Dana (November 10, 2009). "Fort Hood suspect warned of threats within the ranks". Washington Post. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  22. ^ Hasan, Nidal. "Hasan on Islam". Washington Post. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ "Fort Hood has enough victims already". Guardian. November 6, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  24. ^ a b c Blackledge, Brett J. (November 6, 2009). "Who is Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan?". Fox News. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ "Aunt: Fort Hood shooting suspect asked for discharge". The Washington Post. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  26. ^ "Muslim Veterans Group Says No Reports of Harassment of Islamic Soldiers". Fox News. November 6, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ Mcauliff, Michael (November 6, 2009). "Fort Hood killer Nidal Malik Hasan opposed wars, so why did he snap?". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 10, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "Fort Hood Shooter Feared Impending War Deployment". Fox News. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ a b c Drogin, Bob (November 7, 2007). "Retracing steps of suspected Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Malik Hasan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 7, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ Esposito, Richard, Cole, Matthew, and Ross, Brian, "Officials: U.S. Army Told of Hasan's Contacts with al Qaeda; Army Major in Fort Hood Massacre Used 'Electronic Means' to Connect with Terrorists," ABC News, November 9, 2009, accessed November 10, 2009
  31. ^ "FBI reassessing past look at Fort Hood suspect". 10 November 2009.
  32. ^ CBS News Nov. 11, 2009 Hasan's Ties Spark Government Blame Game
  33. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/official-nidal-hasan-unexplained-connections/story?id=9048590
  34. ^ "Neighbors: Alleged Fort Hood gunman emptied apartment". Fort Hood, Texas: CNN. November 6, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ "Who is Maj. Milik Hasan?". KXXV. November 6, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  36. ^ Barnes, Julian (November 6, 2009). "Fort Hood victims bound for Dover Air Force Base". KFSM, LA Times. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ Newman, Maria (November 5, 2009). "12 Dead, 31 Wounded in Base Shootings". The New York Times. Retrieved November 5, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  38. ^ "Sources Identify Major as Gunman in Deadly Shooting Rampage at Fort Hood". Fox News. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  39. ^ "Military: Fort Hood suspect is alive". USA Today. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  40. ^ "A Muslim Soldier's View from Fort Hood". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 9, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ a b Allen, Nick, "Fort Hood gunman had told US military colleagues that infidels should have their throats cut," The Telegraph, November 8, 2009, retrieved November 9, 2009
  42. ^ Whitelaw, Kevin (November 6, 2009). "Massacre Leaves 13 Dead At Fort Hood". NPR. Retrieved November 8, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  43. ^ "Hospital: Fort Hood suspect moved to San Antonio". Associated Press. November 6, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  44. ^ "Ft. Hood shooting suspect endured work pressure and ethnic taunts, his uncle says". Los Angeles Times. November 7, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  45. ^ Hospital: Ft. Hood shooting suspect awake, talking
  46. ^ Brown, Angela (November 9, 2009). "Hospital: Ft. Hood shooting suspect awake, talking". Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  47. ^ http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=22&art_id=nw20091110074145585C736332
  48. ^ Roupenian, Elisa, "Retired Colonel to Defend Accused Fort Hood Shooter: Accused Shooter Nidal Hasan Awake and Talking to Hospital Staff," ABC News, November 9, 2009, accessed November 10, 2009

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