Speaking to the defense attorney for Ft. Hood shooter Major Nidal Hasan on Friday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith asked: “Do you think – and this is not from a scientific or even legal standpoint, but just as you’ve been able to speak with him, do you think he’s competent to stand trial?”
In his first question to Hasan’s attorney, retired Army Colonel John Galligan, Smith wondered: “First things first, you met with Hasan at some point yesterday. Is he coherent?” Galligan replied: “He’s coherent.” He then lamented: “I learned from, actually members of the media, that apparently he was going to be charged yesterday. I was surprised by that and I was saddened by the manner in which it occurred, because I – I received belated notice.”
Smith seized upon that statement: “How unusual is it for a case as important as this one is, for the suspect to be charged with a crime and for his attorney not to be present?” Galligan admitted: “Well, there’s no legal requirement that I have been present when the charges are preferred, under the manual.” He then added: “I was extremely upset to learn that they were going about this important step in the pre-trial procedural process without formally notifying me....my first five minutes with the client were spent almost apologizing for the manner in which it went down.”
After Smith questioned Hasan’s competence, Galligan explained: “...he understands who I am, we can talk, he knows what time it is. But, again, I was only there for an hour and could I tell at the end of that one hour session I was kind of pushing the limits in terms of my ability to keep him fresh and alert in a discussion with me. His medical condition is extremely serious.”
Smith first spoke with Galligan on Tuesday, and was similarly concerned with Hasan’s mental state: “Is he coherent?....Does he know what he is alleged to have done?” At that time Smith also asked Galligan: “You said yesterday you don’t think the Major can get a fair trial. Why not?” Galligan replied: “Well, I don’t know if I said that he can’t get a fair – I – I think that would be difficult to achieve at Ft. Hood given the – the national media attention that’s been focused on the Ft. Hood community.”
Smith went so far as to cite a terrorist who praised Hasan’s actions:
Right. The – the military feels like the Major acted alone, that’s why this is going to be a military trial. Yet at the same time, he – we know now that he has exchanged these many messages with this radical cleric named Anwar Al-Awlaki. Awlaki said over the last couple of days, he called Major Hasan a hero: "He’s a man of conscious who could not bear living a contradiction of being a Muslim and serving in an Army that is fighting against his own people." Are you satisfied that Major Hasan acted by himself?
Smith later suggested a possible legal strategy to Galligan: “Is it possible the government failed to defuse a ticking time bomb and might that end up being part of your defense?”
Here is a full transcript of the Friday segment:
7:07AMHARRY SMITH: One week after the Ft. Hood massacre, the suspect, Major Nidal Hasan, has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder as he lay in his hospital bed. Joining us from Ft. Hood, Texas is Colonel John Galligan, a retired Army officer who is Hasan’s civilian attorney. Good morning, Colonel.
GALLIGAN: Good morning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Facing the Death Penalty; Hasan’s Atty. Speaks Out On Murder Charges]
SMITH: First things first, you met with Hasan at some point yesterday. Is he coherent?
JOHN GALLIGAN: He’s coherent and I – you’re correct, I did meet with him. I was totally surprised to learn that there was going to be a major press release or a meeting with the disclosure by PAO officials. When I queried about that, I wasn’t too sure what time it was going to occur, what it was going to be about. But I learned from, actually members of the media, that apparently he was going to be charged yesterday. I was surprised by that and I was saddened by the manner in which it occurred, because I – I received belated notice.
SMITH: Here’s the important question. How unusual is it for a case as important as this one is, for the suspect to be charged with a crime and for his attorney not to be present?
GALLIGAN: Well, there’s no legal requirement that I have been present when the charges are preferred, under the manual. However, given, as you’ve noted, the high profile nature of the case, given his location and status, still in an ICU unit, and described by me, based on the last time I saw him, in a medical condition that I would describe as guarded, I was extremely upset to learn that they were going about this important step in the pre-trial procedural process without formally notifying me. And by that I mean ensuring that I knew that it was going to be done, coordinating it in advance. That would have permitted me to be down there. In all honesty, my first five
minutes with the client were spent almost apologizing for the manner in which it went down.SMITH: Right, let me-
GALLIGAN: This that wasn’t, I don’t think, my responsibility, but that’s what happened.
SMITH: Right. Let me ask you this. Now that you’ve had the opportunity to speak with him a couple of times, do you think – and this is not from a scientific or even legal standpoint, but just as you’ve been able to speak with him, do you think he’s competent to stand trial?
GALLIGAN: Well, his competence, and that is not mental responsibility or culpability for any charged offenses, but his competence, his ability to relate with me, he understands who I am, we can talk, he knows what time it is. But, again, I was only there for an hour and could I tell at the end of that one hour session I was kind of pushing the limits in terms of my ability to keep him fresh and alert in a discussion with me. His medical condition is extremely serious.
SMITH: Colonel Galligan, thank you very much for your time this morning.
GALLIGAN: You’re welcome, sir. Thank you.
SMITH: You bet.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















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we will hear more of this . . . .
November 13, 2009 - 17:46 ET by Gat New York". . . do you think he’s competent to stand trial"
Not just Hasan.
We will hear this refrain from KSm and all the other September 11th plotters.
I never saw Rudy Guiliani more agitated than he was on Neil Cavuto this evening.
Obama and his anti-American thugs are intentionally disespecting the will of the people and the memories of the victims of 9/11 by parading KSM in a New York court and the New York media.
Everyone should sign this letter demanding that Obama not proceed with what Holder announced today:
https://keepamericasafe.wufoo.com/forms/z7x4z5/
I have a better question...
November 13, 2009 - 17:50 ET by Patriot IIIs Harry Smith competent to be a newscaster???
Not no but HELL NO
November 13, 2009 - 18:05 ET by ricklailSemper suprene nitens
There is no point dwelling on all the foolish mistakes we have made in our lives. For one thing, it can be very time-consuming. Dr. Thomas Sowell
Ah, bummer
November 13, 2009 - 19:57 ET by CO2MakerYou took my own reply, almost verbatim.
I was going to say, "Is Harry Smith competent to ask questions?"
In the eyes of the Won and his many Czars...
November 13, 2009 - 19:57 ET by Army Brathe is supremely competent...
islam is a lie and Truth is killing it.
I was just going to enter
November 13, 2009 - 23:26 ET by BuxomAnnieMcGreggorI was just going to enter the very same! Man! You gotta' be quick around here lately!
We retort, you decide!
The 9/11 murderers will
November 14, 2009 - 08:00 ET by ThisnThatThe 9/11 murderers will have a field day in court. They will be decked out in long beards and robes -- a look their followers revel in. Cameras will zoom in when they, in unison, get their cushions and kneel down for "prayer" -- 5 times a day. And the headlines will begin: "These are very religious men. They have probably atoned for what they did".
And then the circus will begin. Their cushions won't be soft enough. They will complain their toilets don't face Mecca. They will get on the stand and wonder why we, the U.S., think ours is the only God, and besides we're godless anyway. And the whole trial will be about GWBush and torture. The MSM will want to see the torture scars, and whether this has affected their mental abilities. Our Constitution will be torn to shreds -- first by twisting it to defend these bastards; second by revealing all its "faults and inflexible canards".
And in the meantime -- attention will be diverted from obama, and Congress -- and obama will begin the next installation of his scheme to dismantle America.
__________
"mmm, mmm, mm. Barrack-Hussain-Øbama↓." - The liberals coolaid drinking song
Harriet, get your butt down there and donate blood for Hasan
November 13, 2009 - 18:00 ET by SickofLibsAnd make sure to bring along one of those new "Terrorist Teddy" Bear-Grams.
Relax Harry, you'll have
November 13, 2009 - 18:01 ET by BKeyserRelax Harry, you'll have ample opportunity to contribute to the KSM Defense Fund.
Harry
November 13, 2009 - 18:09 ET by ricklailIt is a shame that you learned nothing from 9/11. Will it take a personal attack on you or one of your loved ones to shut this crap up? If they do attach I hope is with a club or something so you can't scream about gun control. I am sick and tired of you libs feeling sorry for criminals.
Semper suprene nitens
There is no point dwelling on all the foolish mistakes we have made in our lives. For one thing, it can be very time-consuming. Dr. Thomas Sowell
Did we all not see this
November 13, 2009 - 18:50 ET by RowaneDid we all not see this friggin' crap coming? I know I did. These worthless cowardly libtards will do anything they can to hurt America. I'm so fed up with libtards.
"You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you
know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would
necessarily skyrocket" - Barack Hussain Obama
If I ever become insane enough.....
November 13, 2009 - 19:00 ET by Kingfish17If I ever become insane enough to the point where I murder 14 innocent people, please put me down.
At this time
November 13, 2009 - 19:14 ET by sevenWe are dealing with the Army. This lawyer really doesn't matter. he thinks he does. I suspect the liberals and his lawyers have just begun with their drama.
Harry Smith speaks to terrorist Hasan's attorney
November 13, 2009 - 19:25 ET by Gary HallHarry Smith speaks to terrorist Hasan's attorney
(;~/ gary
My first five minutes in
November 14, 2009 - 08:24 ET by BDMy first five minutes in the killing zone with the client were spent almost apologizing for the manner in which it went down.”
In reality who cares Harry?
November 13, 2009 - 19:29 ET by rockyracoonIn reality who cares Harry? Most people I know only care if he can stand up straight long enough for the rifiling squad.
Facts are like kryptonite to the liberal.
I'm with you, Rocky
November 13, 2009 - 19:38 ET by FranksamIf he can't stand trial, just prop him up for target practice.
Once the trial is over I'm all for shaving his head...
November 13, 2009 - 19:46 ET by Army Bratdrowning his worthless ass in pigs blood, feeding him to some wild hogs, and were it possible, collect what remains of him from the numerous piles, burn same and spread the ashes over a hog farm in Israel.
islam is a lie and Truth is killing it.
Uh ... have you looked at him?
November 13, 2009 - 20:11 ET by CO2MakerShaving his head wouldn't take very long. Now, maybe shaving his teabag and tracking pole ...
Update: Oops. You were referring to Hasan. I thought you were still talking about Smith!
I can't stop myself...
November 13, 2009 - 19:40 ET by Army Brat"my first five minutes with the client were spent almost apologizing for the manner in which it went down.”
muslim apologist?
sorry...
islam is a lie and Truth is killing it.
MSM Mentality - or lack thereof ..
November 13, 2009 - 19:41 ET by LisaTxUsaI cannot understand the mentality of the MSM and frankly, some defense lawyers. I truly don't get the almost sympathetic way that they're portraying this murderer. This man, in cold blood, murdered 13 people and an unborn child, and wounded countless others, yet the defense attorney is APOLOGIZING to him because of the way he was charged for his crime? The Dallas Morning News site's headline is Lawyer: Fort Hood Suspect Paralyzed. The article is sympathetic to the pain Hasan is in and how his attorney wanted his close family to be with him and also how he seemed to be stricken when his brother heard he was paralyzed. The whole tone of the article set my teeth on edge. From most of the comments on the story from Dallasites, they concur. I have been a long time NB lurker (about 3 years!) but have never posted anything. This one just really sent me over the edge and I had to comment. It's enough to make this poor little Texan's head explode.
Welcome Lisa...
November 13, 2009 - 19:51 ET by Army BratI have found Duct Tape to by useful when contemplating/discussing the events of the last 9 months or so. I find if I wrap it tightly aroun' my head, the risk of explosion thereof reduces significantly. Particularly when arguing with a Kool-aid intoxicated liberal.
islam is a lie and Truth is killing it.
Thank you!
November 13, 2009 - 20:03 ET by LisaTxUsaDuct tape use #102 since January 2009! Thank goodness it comes in so many pretty colors now. I may have to start color coordinating.
My government says you should fear me.
Don't hate me, but...
November 13, 2009 - 20:04 ET by ghblogI know that I'll catch some flack from this, but I don't think that he should stand trial. He obviously suffers from second degree post traumatic stress syndrome. It is Bush's fault.
Rather than stand trial, let's let one or more of the victims have some "alone time" with him.
Male Julia Childs
November 13, 2009 - 20:07 ET by SkipperMLMHe needs to go back to the kitchen where he belongs.
Even if he is not competent to stand trial...
November 13, 2009 - 20:49 ET by MightyMouthHe is certainly "competent" enough to lay on Dexter's table.
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
obviously smith is showing his ignorance of the military
November 13, 2009 - 21:07 ET by lunaticcringeradiowhat i've noticed out of so many concerned progressive socialists propped up as news readers is that they know nothing of the military(understatement). major terrorist was an officer in the us military, and as a military member your rights change a bit as compared to the common civilian, you lose some of your rights to be exact. the other wonderful stooopidity i see falling out of the mouths of such caring openminded and understanding news readers is how i suspect they are trying to "taint" public opinion and a potential jury pool by arguing this guy has this right, that right, contemplating on how a trial will play out. oh how wrong can they be. this ass is going to be tried under the uniform code of military juctice and it will not be subject to the silliness that reporters are hoping for such as with oj simpson. military tribunals are nothing like civil or criminal court, in fact i'd say the ucmj is probably the purest of forms of justice as i've ever seen and i'm more or less expecting a conviction and execution, and with any luck, our oh so wise and knowing president will act stooopidly and poke his toe into this and really piss of the american public. anyone want to place a bet that big o will grant him a pardon?
lunaticcringeradio
pardon me
November 13, 2009 - 23:36 ET by ToenexNot even BO would do that, a phone call to court and life will be the push.
People were mean to him after all. did you hear someone scraped off a bumper sticker on his car!
Authority isn't truth, truth is authority
"Les Moore"
i pray obama stooopidly pokes his nose into fort hood
November 14, 2009 - 10:12 ET by lunaticcringeradioi think if obama got involved in the terrorist shooter at fort hood like he did with the "professor" up in cambridge, it would turn public opinion on him so much it would solidify a single term. i don't think even the "poor and cheated" that voted for him don't have sympathy for terrorists. he oh so wants to demostrate the need for social justice that only himself, the great socialist leader, can lead us all to with this example laid out in front of him to play with. i pray obama is naive and egotistical and dumb enough to think he can inject himself into this to set a juicey example of the self proclaimed caring tollerant understanding and openminded nature of progressive political correctness. pray obama did not learn his lesson from cambridge and pokes his nose into this. because i think he will fail, and his failure is americas success.
lunaticcringeradio
Uniformed Code of Military Justice
November 13, 2009 - 22:25 ET by docjohn52It looks to me that he's competent to stand trial in two languages.
(Fortunately the UCMJ never askes that question.)
And he's coherent enough for that laser sight.
Question is, would Harry Smith, be a man of his convictions, and stand-up to the injustice of it all, and defend the terrorist to the end?
Preferably, two feet in front of the black dot.
Can someone please enlighten
November 13, 2009 - 22:47 ET by Old EuropeCan someone please enlighten me on the difference between Islam and National Socialism? They both want world domination, they both hate the Zionists and Jews, they both hate freedom and Christianity....but what are the differences again?
smith is a douche bag.
November 13, 2009 - 22:57 ET by right of waysmith is a douche bag.
What a coinkadinky - so is
November 13, 2009 - 23:07 ET by nwahsWhat a coinkadinky - so is Jon Stuart
Here's a tip. There are a lot better insults than feminine hygiene products.
did you mean quinkydink?
November 13, 2009 - 23:16 ET by MightyMouthI think "coinkadinky" is like change for a dollar.. in like.. rupees or something.
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
:)
November 13, 2009 - 23:22 ET by nwahsProlly so. I've said it a few times - don't think I've ever written it before now. Hope this doesn't lead to a "nwahs doesn't pay his debts" forum topic.
Hope this doesn't lead to a "nwahs doesn't pay his debts" forum
November 13, 2009 - 23:52 ET by MightyMouthNot from me. "Just try not to be arrogant"--My dad.
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
No, Mighty
November 13, 2009 - 23:22 ET by BlondeI think he meant...."my sock puppet is sooooo busted I better do something kinda cute to distract everyone here. I feel like such an idiot."
I hope he fails, too.
Another one
November 13, 2009 - 23:29 ET by nwahsAnother one that invents conversations of me in their mind. I must be absolutely terrifying.
nwahs/Palin 2012
Hardly
November 13, 2009 - 23:38 ET by BlondeYou're a bloody fool. But I loved your sock puppet routine earlier.
Ta ta.
I hope he fails, too.
Fools are as fools do
November 13, 2009 - 23:40 ET by nwahsAnd fools try to change things with deleting posts and not arguing points.
Tata, ZsaZsa
And your point would be?
November 13, 2009 - 23:56 ET by BlondeLame little sock puppet.
Keep it up tho. You are such a pathetic coward.
***little chicken peeping sounds*****
I hope he fails, too.
Good evening Blonde
November 13, 2009 - 23:34 ET by cocodrie"Inkydinkydoo, good night Mrs. Calabash wherever you are."
Jimmy Durante
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
"Jesus Loves You so much He died for you"
November 13, 2009 - 23:40 ET by MightyMouthNot with the eternal result, but so does the American Solider. :-)
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Good evening Mighty
November 14, 2009 - 00:00 ET by cocodrie"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Jesus Christ - John 15:13
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
cocodrie
November 14, 2009 - 00:10 ET by MightyMouthMany people refuse to deal with their mortality. I dealt with mine at the age of 11. I knew there must be a God and I sought Him out. I was saved and baptized at age 12. I just could not comprehend my own "non-existance". I think it was the HS telling me something.
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
cocodrie
November 13, 2009 - 23:41 ET by BlondeOn that, my friend, I shall sign off for the evening.
Tomorrow is football Saturday, time for all good things in the SEC to come to a head.
Nu'Keese is in jail, too bad the Kitten isn't.
The Tide shall Roll, and the Gators shall chomp....and we'll meet soon in December for all of the marbles.
GO GATORS!!!!
Good night all...it's been a bizarro day.
I hope he fails, too.
As a fan of the 3 Stooges and Curly in particular...
November 14, 2009 - 04:28 ET by Army BratI can tell you it's coinkidink...spelling not withstanding. Ko-ink-e-dink.
My ears could be lyin', but I doan thin' so.
islam is a lie and Truth is killing it.
yes i prefer
November 14, 2009 - 04:14 ET by lunaticcringeradioi like douche bag nozzle myself. it doesn't roll off the tongue as fast as just douche bag, but to take the time to add nozzle to the douche bag, and to do so without trying to rush out the insult but rather to take the time to let it present itself, i think, seems to invoke a stronger insult and causes bystanders and the one to be insulted to think about it more and to envision how bad they must really be.fyi thanks to an ole lady who's a nurse, douches are not only used for feminine hygiene, but in other orifaces too.
now if i want to compare someone to any type of bag, i prefer the colostomy variety. as in the case of harry smith, example harry is such a big colostomy bag, but he so full of it there's no more room left for any knowledge on the topic he's talking about.
lunaticcringeradio
I have never read anything where the term douchebag...
November 14, 2009 - 04:43 ET by Army Bratas an insult, was written about so eloquently.
You are correct. The business end of the whole assembly tends to conjure up...more graphic images than just the bag itself and is certainly a more fitting and descriptive element of the assembled whole if the insultee is truly deserving of the modified form . Better, the recipient of the modified douchebag insult, is reduced to silence whilst trying to figure out just how badly they have been slammed. "Nozzle? Douchebag? Hmmm..."
I'm gonna follow in the footsteps of any good comic and start using the modified form, and claim it as my own.
islam is a lie and Truth is killing it.
So, I'm guessing
November 14, 2009 - 08:43 ET by nwahsThere's a usenet news group on this? alt.douchebag.nozzle
The subtext (the stuff even
November 14, 2009 - 11:57 ET by RR GOPThe subtext (the stuff even the obnoxious Libtards probably won't say on air) is that these were soldiers so were "fair targets" and the term "soldier" implies armed and able to defend themselves/shoot back.
The reality is that this was just as much pure murder as if the monster had walked into a mall or a movie theater and started shooting unarmed civilians.
I've been saying this for years: The politics and PC of these Communists are going to translate into real people losing their lives.
But yet we want to be so sure not to be too mean to them, and certainly don't want to physically harm anyone. Oh, nooooo, that's just so over the top. Have faith in the "system"...vote!...play by the rules...maintain the social order.
So, let's just sit back and become targets. But, we'll go down knowing we did the right thing, that we indeed turned the other cheek and will be buried or cremated with all knowing we were good sheep...not bad sheep.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.