Obama Urges Congress to Put Off Fort Hood Probe

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Obama urges Congress to put off Fort Hood probe

Posted on November 14, 2009 at 2:16 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Saturday urged Congress to hold off on any investigation of the Fort Hood rampage until federal law enforcement and military authorities have completed their probes into the shootings at the Texas Army post, which left 13 people dead.

On an eight-day Asia trip, Obama turned his attention home and pleaded for lawmakers to "resist the temptation to turn this tragic event into the political theater." He said those who died on the largest U.S. Army post deserve justice, not political stagecraft.

"The stakes are far too high," Obama said in a video and Internet address released by the White House while the president he was flying from Tokyo to Singapore, where Pacific Rim countries were meeting.

Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, was charged on Thursday with the shooting spree at Fort Hood last week. Army investigators have said Hasan is the only suspect and could face additional charges. Obama already had ordered a review of all intelligence related to Hasan and whether the information was properly shared and acted upon within government agencies. Several members of Congress, particularly Rep. Peter Hoekstra, the top Republican on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, have also called for a full examination of what agencies knew about Hasan's contacts with a radical Muslim cleric in Yemen and others of concern to the U.S.

Read more: http://www.wwltv.com/news/national/70089222.html

[glowing]

1. I guess he doesn't want anymore leaks from that idiot puke congressman

[havocmom]

2. to say nothing of the evident communication problems on that base

Too many versions of too many parts of the incidents, and a three star general being given wrong info from the start (re shooter being dead). All adds up to serious need for real investigation by professionals, and that ain't Congress.

[glowing]

3. Does anyone think anyone will ever know the real story? First reports

spoke of 3 shooters. Now its a lone nut.

[pasto76]

4. "eyewitness" accounts are not reliable

"reports" of multiple shooters are common. There was a shooting at a mega church here few years ago, people swopre up and down that there were multiple shooters. Turned out to be just one.

that is where methodical investigation comes in.

[shadowknows69]

5. I don't think we everknow the whole story anymore. By design.

[marshall]

6. We're better off not knowing

No good can come from the nuck raking. It happened. It's over. There's nothing we can do about it.

[Honeycombe8]

7. We learn from knowing, though. So that it doesn't happen again.

[sattahipdeep]

13. Muslims to kill other Muslims

But a counterterrorism analyst who examined the messages shortly after they were sent decided that they were consistent with AUTHORIZED research Major Hasan was conducting and did not alert his military superiors.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/us/15hasan.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

In that presentation, Major Hasan argued that the Koran forbids Muslims to kill other Muslims, placing Muslim American troops in an impossible position. Such soldiers should be allowed to receive conscientious objector status, he concluded.

If they are not, he warned, there might be “adverse events,” citing the case of Sgt. Hasan Akbar, who was convicted of killing two soldiers in Kuwait and wounding 14 others by throwing grenades into their tents and then opening fire on them in 2003.

....
Others argued that with the proper guidance, he could become not just a capable psychiatrist, but a valuable researcher for the Army, given his understanding of the pressures facing Muslim troops.

From March to May this year, Major Hasan was sent back to work in an inpatient psychiatric ward at Walter Reed in what colleagues saw as a remedial stint. Lt. Eric Notkin, a nurse, often joined him on rounds, seeing many patients who had been evacuated from Iraq or Afghanistan after suicide threats or attempts.

....
“The worst we saw were the patients who had shot themselves in the head or face and survived,” Lieutenant Notkin said. “They’d be stabilized and come to us.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/us/15hasan.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1

[question everything]

9. Please enlighten me: which idiot puke congressman are you talking about?

there are so many of them..

Thanks.

[Davis_X_Machina]

10. Pete Hoesktra n/t

[Paladin]

8. What Could Possibly Set The Right-Wingers Off More?

Noble sentiments, Mr. President; poor political move.......

[ShortnFiery]

15. Screw worrying about every little thing the RWers do. How about some JUSTICE and

FOLLOW-THROUGH with regard to finding out what truly happened. Which includes "dereliction of duty" on the part of the alleged killer's military superiors. :grr:

[harkadog]

11. This smells like a cover up

Federal law enforcement and military "probes" will go forever and then the evidence will be sealed for the criminal trial which will go on for years.

[TiredOldMan]

12. Makes no sense to me. Usually you investigate right away for best evidence and recollection.

[ShortnFiery]

14. Another POOR judgment on President Obama's part. Our troops are SUFFERING

but Heaven forbid we say one negative thing about how the hierarchy of the Military is screwing it up.

I sure as HELL want a Congressional Investigation a.s.a.p. This man had High Ranking Officers supervising him, he was a Psychiatrist.

Is the glaringly clear "dereliction of duty" actions on the part of the shooter's superiors LOST on me?

[Honeycombe8]

16. ???? What ARE you going on about? This incident has nothing to do with

strategy for Afghanistan (whether you think we should or should not be there).