ABC's Brian Ross reported Monday that suspected Fort Hood shooter Nidal Halik Hasan tried to contact people connected to the terrorist group al Qaeda.
Even worse, U.S. intelligence officials were aware of this months ago, and "it's not known whether the military was ever told by the CIA or others that one of its majors was making efforts to communicate with figures under electronic surveillance."
Given media's discomfort with discussing Hasan's Muslim ties, as well as their desire to never point fingers at the Obama administration, it's going to be very interesting to watch how Ross's exclusive report on "Good Morning America" Monday will be covered in the coming days (video embedded below the fold with full transcript):
ROBIN ROBERTS, ABC: We're going to turn now to the attack at Fort Hood. Authorities are actively investigating whether the suspected gunman, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, had links to any terrorist organizations. Our chief investigative correspondent Brian Ross has learned that Hasan was most-likely trying to just do that, forge that kind of link?BRIAN ROSS, ABC: Indeed, Robin. As Major Hasan's road to increased radicalization becomes clearer, ABC News has learned that U.S. intelligence agencies became aware months ago that he was attempting to make contact with people connected to al Qaeda. Two American officials who have been briefed on classified information say it's not known whether the military was ever told by the CIA or others that one of its majors was making efforts to communicate with figures under electronic surveillance by the U.S. Congress has now asked the CIA and other intelligence agencies to preserve all documents that relate to Hasan, as it appears a full investigation is now likely into whether the warning signs were missed.
Officials say they suspect Hasan was in contact with the former Imam of a mosque in Falls Church, Virginia, who now operates out of Yemen. Anwar al Awlaki, an American, runs an English language website that advocates worldwide jihad, and overnight called Major Hasan a hero and a man of conscience who did the right thing. Awlaki left for Yemen after he come under investigation by the FBI for his ties to two of the 9/11 hijackers. He denied any involvement in their plot, but continues to urge violence against the U.S.
We also heard this weekend from one of the Army doctors who studied with Hasan, Dr. Val Finell, who says he complained to his superiors about Hasan and his strident views on the war and religion.
(VIDEOTAPE):
DR. VAL FINELL: He would frequently say that he was a Muslim first, and an American second. And that came out in just about everything that he did at the university. And we questioned how somebody could take an oath of office, be an officer in the military, and swear allegiance to the Constitution, and to defend America against all enemies foreign and domestic, and, and have that type of conflict.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROSS: Shortly after that, Hasan was promoted to Major, and scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan.
ROBERTS: (Inaudible) the military is being very cautious, worried about any possible backlash.
ROSS: This just seems to be a lone wolf serious emotional troubles.
ROBERTS: All right, Brian, thank you for your investigation.
Fascinating stuff which obviously raises questions about how these new details will be reported in the coming days.
In particular, as our media loved to question whether the Bush administration did a good job of connecting the intelligence dots to try and prevent the 9/11 attacks, will the Obama administration be scrutinized for not preventing this massacre?
After all, if U.S. intelligence officials were aware that Hasan was trying to contact al Qaeda representatives, and may have been in touch with someone alleged to have ties with the 9/11 hijackers, shouldn't the military have been informed as soon as this information was obtained?
As the answer is definitively "Yes," will the intelligence agencies that dropped the ball take heat from the press for missing such obvious warning signs, and will any fingers be pointed at the Administration that currently oversees these agencies?
Stay tuned.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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→ Absolutely stupefying
November 9, 2009 - 10:38 ET by Cool ArrowPanetta must have thought if he ignored the problem it would go away.
Of course, the CIA was sort of under the microscope for its "horrifying" treatment of Muslim detainees.
Holder wants some heads? That one either goes backburner as he fears the American backlash, or frontburner as the President goes on another apology tour.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Terrorist?
November 9, 2009 - 10:37 ET by iveseenitallNow don't jump to conclusions or act "stupidly". Maybe when the guy gets out of the hospital, Barry should have a beer with him.
Seriously, as Col. Ralph Peters said the other night, this is terrorism and we'd better stop the PC in our armed forces.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
When this guy gets out of
November 9, 2009 - 10:49 ET by mattmWhen this guy gets out of the hospital he should be court martialed and shot, but when we're being ruled by the 12th Imam, I wouldn't expect justice to be done.
hmmmmm.... The UCMJ used
November 9, 2009 - 13:04 ET by NL207hmmmmm....
The UCMJ used to prescribe hanging for capital murder committed outside a combat zone. This penalty has been recently changed to lethal injection, but nobody has been executed since the change was instituted.
IIRC, the firing squad was and still is reserved for battlefield capital offenses. The last American executed by a US military firing squad was Pvt Eddie Slovik for desertion in the face of the enemy, 1945. The last soldier executed for any offense was Pvt John Bennett, who was hanged in 1961 for rape and attempted murder.
Mark Steyn as usual hits it out of the park....
November 9, 2009 - 10:42 ET by Prester JohnFor the purposes of argument, let's accept the media's insistence that Major Hasan is a lone crazy.
So who's nuttier?
The guy who gives a lecture to other military doctors in which he says non-Muslims should be beheaded and have boiling oil poured down their throats?
Or the guys who say "Hey, let's have this fellow counsel our traumatized veterans and then promote him to major and put him on a Homeland Security panel?
Or the Army Chief of Staff who thinks the priority should be to celebrate diversity, even unto death?
Or the Secretary of Homeland Security who warns that the principal threat we face now is an outbreak of Islamophobia?
Read it all.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/
question
November 9, 2009 - 12:04 ET by Marat"The guy who gives a lecture to other military doctors in which he says non-Muslims should be beheaded and have boiling oil poured down their throats?"
Should not one pour the boiling oil down their throat BEFORE beheading them?
just an inquiring mind
It is about their religious nutty beliefs.
November 9, 2009 - 13:59 ET by JWFThe whole beheading thing is because they think it screws up your happy times in the afterlife. Need to be buried whole.
Oil? I don't even want to look. Maybe they think you will be mocked in the afterlife as a ready made popcorn cooker.
They are all nuts. It is not about torturing someone before death. But defiling the body afterward.
It is just a big death cult. But hey, let's pretend it is the religion of peace so we can concentrate on health care, global warming, card check and doing away with term limits for the President.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
So what? We're a muslim
November 9, 2009 - 10:44 ET by mattmSo what? We're a muslim country, isn't that right Mr. Hussein Obama?
God, I wish people would wake up.
American "Muslims"
November 9, 2009 - 10:52 ET by iveseenitallWhere's the outrage from American Muslims? As usual, they put out a weak condemnation, which leads one to believe that they really don't mean it. Anyone who has friends or relatives in France or England, for example, surely knows where we are headed in this country. It will soon be too late for us too.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Amen
November 9, 2009 - 11:16 ET by DingbatNot just "American Muslims"...all muslims. I'm tired of hearing this BS that it is just a tiny % who are nutcases...someone said 1%. Well, if that is true then the 99% ought to be able to quash the 1%...IF...they wanted to.
Sorry, but I have flipped in my assumption: I now assume a muslim is a terrorist until he/she proves otherwise. Until the followers of the "Relgion of Peace" <gag> police their own ranks, that's the way its going to be,
Me, too
November 9, 2009 - 12:32 ET by FranksamIf you're not part of the solution...
As far as I am concerned, any Muslim that refuses to...
November 9, 2009 - 11:40 ET by R D Helm...loudly condemn their more "radical" brethren are no less guilty of terrorism than are those who actually carry it out.
I am about through being told I have to tiptoe around these people in order not to offffffffffend them.
To Hell with them, and their lefty enablers, and I don't give a rat's left gonad how offended they are.
-Dave
Our elected representatives have failed us.
Very good Dave
November 9, 2009 - 12:07 ET by general companyI have been saying since 9 11 that we should be ridiculing Islamic fascist at every turn. I think this would help eliminate recruitment and undermine the overall culture of the movement. But instead we do the opposite, witch encourages the phycos.Who the heck cares about a fatwa, when the kill indiscriminately anyway. We let muslims threaten our citizens, then pay them off. They should had been made an example of, fined and tried for terrorism, but no,, not us, we give em a big check and ask them polity, "please do not hold it against us". As if it will end with them, stupid liberal socialist dont even understand things like this, lead to massacres like Ft Hood.
I am so chapped, I can hardly express myself with coherence
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
I hear you, gc
November 9, 2009 - 12:10 ET by BlondeI didn't realize the airlines had "settled". Disgusting.
Political correctness may end up killing us all.
I hope he fails, too.
Come, now. The media is
November 9, 2009 - 10:47 ET by chessplayerCome, now. The media is still going to say his actions had nothing to do with his religious beliefs or terrorism. They have convinced themselves he is the victim (not the troops and their families) who snapped because of PTSD.
→ Pity him
November 9, 2009 - 10:48 ET by Cool ArrowHe was a "troubled man".
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
PTSD???...
November 9, 2009 - 10:53 ET by c5thenIs that Pre-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
He hadn't been deployed anywhere yet.
Throw 'da bums out!!!
Before it's too late.
www.loyaltoliberty.com
→ But c5 ☻
November 9, 2009 - 10:58 ET by Cool ArrowHe was teased.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Pre-Post Traumatic Syndrome
November 9, 2009 - 11:19 ET by Paul Gthe first case
c5~
November 9, 2009 - 14:24 ET by Georgia GirlYou know, in today's ridiculously dangerous PC and "blame game" climate, I can almost picture his defense attorney arguing "Pre-Traumatic Stress Disorder." It's not that much of a reach. They might even throw in a box of Twinkies. *_*
"Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold."~Helen Keller
I wonder if Charles Gibson
November 9, 2009 - 10:48 ET by GlennI wonder if Charles Gibson has even heard of Hasan? He did not know of the Acorn videos? Wonder if he is caught up yet on current events?
Folks the way this will be spun is not that Hasan was trying to contact Al Qaeda...it will be that the CIA was SPYING on an American....
In ONE day, TWO British reporters
November 9, 2009 - 10:51 ET by Jack BauerIn ONE day, TWO British reporters based in London uncovered the fact that Hasan was in the same "radical" (i.e. terrorist supporters) mosk as the 9/11 mass murderers. AT THE SAME time in 2001.
Isn't that just STUNNING?
Stunning is right. The
November 9, 2009 - 11:06 ET by SeashellStunning is right. The media here will try to dust this part of the story under the rug as much as they can. You can "bet your sweet bippy" that if this guy had been a "right-wing religious fanatic" they would be all over it like they were on Palin during the campaign.
How surprised should we be...
November 9, 2009 - 10:50 ET by c5thenAfter all the talk of prosecuting CIA employees for doing what they were told to do and that was approved by DOJ lawyers? After radical liberals were talking about disbarment proceedings against those DOJ lawyers because they disagreed with their legal opinion?Now we are supposed to be surprised that inteligence agencies are playing cautious?
Welcome to the world that Eric Holder has created.
Throw 'da bums out!!!
Before it's too late.
www.loyaltoliberty.com
Big Jump?
November 9, 2009 - 11:07 ET by iveseenitallI don't believe it's too big a jump to connect all of this to PC and the election of Obama. I've often said that the one good that has come from Barry's triumph is that so many more Americans are finally waking up to what has happened to our once-great nation. But if the "liberal" relativists get away with spinning this one, we are in for it. The CIA is being dismantled. Obama couldn't even take time from his campaigning to express genuine sympathy for his fellow Americans. Right on --- let's keep waking up. If we go back to sleep, it's over.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Back on November 7th,
November 9, 2009 - 10:52 ET by Roger the ShrubberBack on November 7th, genius liberal/Mooslim apologist NWAHS posted this pearl of wisdom:
...I think religion was just the handy tool available, but I see no difference between this guy and the mall shooter. I think he felt the act was going to elevate him from what he felt a meaningless existence, like the Omaha mall shooter, like the Columbine shooters. I think he felt the act was going to connect him to a larger purpose. His problem was a lack of spirituality, not religious fanaticism.The problem with all this news coverage is it confirms the notion of going out famous. Now its an option for people feeling meaningless and want to off themselves. They've seen dozens of others make news for a week by doing it.
Wow.
Blind and Sick
November 9, 2009 - 11:16 ET by iveseenitallDenial of the truth is another trait of the modern "liberal". They are blinded by their own ideology. It is dangerous. But what, exactly, is their motivation? I believe it is a disease. When they die, we need to do research studies on their brains. My guess is that a chemical imbalance will be found. (seriously)
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
shrubbo -- oh yeah, I
November 9, 2009 - 14:01 ET by Jack Bauershrubbo -- oh yeah, I remember reading that pearl of douchebaggery... it was part inspitation for my newest tag line!
Do you think that he will be
November 9, 2009 - 10:55 ET by Wall WatcherDo you think that he will be charged with a hate crime? I guess not because hate crime protection for soldiers was not allowed in the hate crime bill that was put into the Defense Authorization
The MSM will try to find a
November 9, 2009 - 10:58 ET by Guapo DiabloThe MSM will try to find a link to Bush or some group of conservatives to share the blame.
Religion of Peace Nonsense
November 9, 2009 - 11:19 ET by slickwillie2001I found someone that I agree with on islam:
"Freedom of religion has become America’s 'Achilles heel' stabbed through with the sword of Islam. From where does this 'suicidal' freedom of religion 'mental block' originate? It comes from our 'knee jerk' compulsion to blindly believe that all prophets are extreme pacifists like Jesus."
At War With Islam: http://righttruth.typepad.com
Isn't this just ducky?
November 9, 2009 - 11:27 ET by StarAZThe guy was running his mouth--ALLEGEDLY--hired a lawyer to spring him out of the military, was counseling soldiers about killing Muslims and they needed the CIA to call and say..."Uh, you know this guy...?
Sneaking Suspicion
November 9, 2009 - 11:36 ET by ShanghaiRayCall me paranoid but I have a sneaking suspicion that Obama and his minions actually want a larger and more widespread terrorist attack to occur on U.S. soil and his boy in the CIA (Panetta) and his gal in HS (Napolitano) are just ignoring the data coming across their desk. Why you ask? Because I believe that all of the things they accused Bush of trying to do were in fact things they think they would do if they were in charge. In other words projecting their own evil minds. I think Obama wants to implement a harsher and more widespread Patriot Act but this time he will use it against the wrong people and his political enemies. I'm not a conspiracy theorist but I've got this funny feeling deep in the pit of my stomach.
"Race doesn't matter..liberals are only one color - YELLOW"
Ok, Pres. Obama...Gibson, Sawyer etc etc
November 9, 2009 - 11:36 ET by Paul GWow... we idiot middle Americans called this days ago. HE WAS A TERRORIST!!! and because of P.C.ness YOU!!!!, not US let him 'slip' through the cracks. When wiil you idiots in the MSM believe in this Country instead of your agenda?
I'm sick and tired of needing NBs to get the 'real' news on what the MSM is reporting. We shouldn't need NBs...But unfortunatly we do.
Obama has time to go to Sweden to pick up his Nobel Prize...has time to 'fight' for the Olympics...BUT HE HAS NO TIME FOR THE BERLIN WALL???? I love Rush!! but we've lost,,,,, we've lost.
JANET...GET REAL!
November 9, 2009 - 12:15 ET by reelman46DXXX IT JANET…GET REAL!
“Janet Napolitano says her agency is working with groups across the United States to try to deflect any backlash against American Muslims following Thursday’s rampage by Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a Muslim who reportedly expressed growing dismay over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
=====
Its way past time that the secular socialist party (aka democrats) stop the distractions (aka straw dogs) as far as islamic domestic terrorists!
Bill Klinton did nothing but embolden the cultist islamic murderers but now the PC-diversity-islamophilic democrats are at the end of sanity.
The islamics are NOT victims so stop painting those that choose to come here, be educated here and work here under our freedoms as some sort of “victim”. Who do you think you are fooling?
Its not about the media stress template, its not about being a moslem, its not about Iraq…its about the decades-old jihad against America trumpeted by pseudo-clergy across this nation week after week under the guise of “peace or love”.
Can you imagine any christian religion here acting on “death to infidels” in their Bible and getting a “lib pass” over and over as they kill innocents and kill innocents again?
This bootlicking and excuse-making for any “pet minority” by democrats has got to stop. This moslem nutcase was known for months but due to PC-ism (aka liberalism)…nobody risked the wrath of what the truth would bring upon them.
Obama has appointed so many radicals that we can expect a torrent of excuse-making and America-bashing instead of taking nationwide precautions against this deliberate organized hate that always leads to the murder of innocents. Yes, profile them 24-7.
If terror had a 25 year history of being done by a “Norwegian Zion-Pentacostal Church member” (for example) then what is wrong about profiling that group 24-7?
Even Hollywood loons fear any islamic insults so movies are cleansed while the cultists demand America change schools and the workplace to accommodate their ways.
Do you see massive condemnation of this mass murderer by CAIR and such via the media this week? What does that tell you?
One thing you can count on…the modern liberal never runs out of excuses…. or into reality.
http://conservablogs...
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish
only in the world of liberals
November 9, 2009 - 12:18 ET by Candance Mooredoes someone massacre 13 people and still recieve sympathy.
So far his rampage has been blamed on possible teasing, burnout from a war he never fought in, and emotional troubles.
And it never occurs to them that maybe, just maybe, he was a Muslim terrorist who would have committed jihad regardless of any teasing.
Here we sit with growing evidence he was a hardened Muslim bent on killing soldiers to help al Qaeda, and still they are trying their darndest to portray him as a victim, and keep on with perpetual whining about conservatives and their nonexistant persecution of Muslims.
Don't expect this to get much traction in the MSM, and even if it does it will still be conservatives' fault for teasing him too much.
everyone seems to be overlooking the real "story" here
November 9, 2009 - 12:32 ET by lotrThat it was ABC that actually broke this story! I still don't believe it. Noel, you sure FNC didn't break it first?
"Steady." -- Keith Olbermann to Chris Matthews
You're on the right track, lotr
November 9, 2009 - 13:05 ET by Jack ColemanIt was fear of FNC breaking it first that has ABC (and other news outlets) working much harder these days
What's most important now ...
November 9, 2009 - 13:06 ET by Jack Coleman... with Hasan regaining consciousness, is that interrogators preface every question with words "pretty please." And needless to say, no Zionists allowed.
Don't forget
November 9, 2009 - 13:21 ET by Sestren_NKIf they merely look at him the wrong way Hasan will probably see it as "harrassment", and leave it to our good friends in the MSM to spin it into "torture".
If history is any indicator...
November 9, 2009 - 13:08 ET by lotr...then one can predict with great accuracy where this is going to go. Let's recap....
From these, I predict the following:
"Steady." -- Keith Olbermann to Chris Matthews
Re Conspiracy
November 9, 2009 - 13:46 ET by slickwillie2001Not to forget –President George W. Bush lives only 30 MILES AWAY! What more do you need.
Not to
November 9, 2009 - 14:12 ET by UpNorthmention, but if you put glasses on Hasan, he has a strong similarity to VP Cheney. And, Bush is controlling everything that goes on around him, so the shootings are his fault.
Hasan tied to 9/11 Mosque
November 9, 2009 - 14:42 ET by celatorHere's a couple of disturbing headlines:
"Fort Hood, TX - Army Major Gunman Linked to Mosque Attended by 9/11 Bombers"
http://www.vosizneia...
and
"Imam tied to 9/11 hijackers praises Hasan"
http://www.msnbc.msn...
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
→ Ain't it lovely?
November 9, 2009 - 14:48 ET by Cool ArrowBut it's a proven fact people are capable of sitting in radical churches, listening to hatred-based sermons, for as long as 20 years without it having any affect on them.
In other news, Obama called us all a bunch of homos this weekend. I find the term "teabag Americans" to be equally disgusting as "queer"
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
"But it's a proven fact
November 9, 2009 - 14:56 ET by celator"But it's a proven fact people are capable of sitting in radical churches, listening to hatred-based sermons, for as long as 20 years without it having any affect on them."
So it has been said..;+}
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
What the hell does the
November 9, 2009 - 14:46 ET by ConservativeRexWhat the hell does the media care about what happens in the Army? They loathe the military.
I knew the brass in the Army were the butt kissingest bunch you'll ever see, but their recent actions are ridiculous. They should resign tomorrow. They are more worried how the mooslims in the Army are going to be treated in the future because of this murderers act? It appears they are about as crazy.
Anyone else see a pattern? Am islamofascist rolls a grenade in a tent, (but that's an isolated act Per: State controlled media. Now this. There are Trojan horses all through our Army. What in the living hell are they thinking? from this point on you'll not be able to trust a single mooslim no matter how he acts or professes how he feels. Ask yourself: Would you trust them from here on out? Your life depends on whether you do or don't. Hell, they're all in sleeper cells, every damn single one of them, women, kids, men.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum
Turnabout is ...
November 9, 2009 - 14:50 ET by Crash"What did the Obama administration know and when did they know it?"
"only in the world of
November 9, 2009 - 15:38 ET by chessplayer"only in the world of liberals November 9, 2009 - 12:18 ET by Candance Moore does someone massacre 13 people and still recieve sympathy."
If Charles Manson did today what he did in 1969, he would receive sympathy from libs.
NEVER HAPPENED UNDER BUSH
November 9, 2009 - 15:47 ET by Lord ErondBUSH PROTECTED US FOR 8 YEARS
IMPEACH OBAMA.
"Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge."
Timothy 6:20
BUSH KEPT US SAFE
November 9, 2009 - 15:50 ET by Lord ErondNO TERRORISM ON AMERICAN SOIL FOR 8 YEARS AND THIS JERK AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.
IT NEVER HAPPENED UNDER BUSH
IMPEACH THIS STUPID DOPE SOB
"Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge."
Timothy 6:20
IMPEACH B HUSSEIN O NOW!
November 9, 2009 - 15:53 ET by BO STINKS"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the Plain Meaning of Words!" ~Sam Adams
Lord Enrod
November 9, 2009 - 15:57 ET by MrShyJust to preempt all the dopy libs and trolls out there, Bush kept us safe for 7 1/3rd years.
This country, all/any Presidents aside (including Bush), had no idea what was going on right up to 9/10/2001, and sadly had to get a wake up call. Much of this was thanks to the do-nothing Presidents preceding him on this issue. So, it was the culture coming in.
But after that, it was a new ballgame and Bush made it his calling and kept us COMPLETELY SAFE. He was immediately proactive, and it paid great dividends
Sad and scary, what we're left with now. Too many citizens of this country forgot way too fast about 9/11.
Shaking Out The Loonies
November 9, 2009 - 16:26 ET by DoktorFrankenA great litmus test of the people that you know is what they think about this guy and what he did. If anyone starts with giving ''extenuating circumstances'' or making some kind of psychological case defending this guy (or his Muslim Death Cult Cause), then you know you are in the presence of pure stupidity.
JMHO, you understand.
If Saul Alinsky owned a news channel it would be MSNBC. ---- Me
When Is It Terrorism?
November 9, 2009 - 18:51 ET by hwm98264hwm982xx: Read the following article linked below. It tells this story as it should be told.
"Call this horror by its name: Islamist Terrorism" By: Ralph Peters Last Updated: 12:44 PM, November 7, 2009 Posted: 3:25 AM, November 7, 2009
http://www.nypost.co...