Fort Hood shoot-out: "I knew the killer"

On Wednesday a Muslim army psychiatrist shot and killed 13 soldiers in a Military Base in Fort Hood, Texas. Our Observer Ernesto Haibi knew the shooter: he worked as a medic in the same base.

Haibi was not on the premises when Major Nidal Malik Hasan went on rampage in the huge Texas base of Fort Hood, gunning down and killing 13 fellow soldiers and wounding 30 others. The killer himself was seriously injured, and is in intensive care at the base's hospital unit.

Hasan dealt with troops returning from combat and faced his own imminent deployment to Afghanistan. The shooter's cousin, who expressed shock and grief at the tragic attack, told the New York Times that his cousin was "mortified by the idea of having to deploy" and had been harassed by other soldiers for being a Muslim, particularly since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Ernesto Haibi, an army medic based at Fort Hood, regularly met Nidal Malik Hasan when he escorted wounded soldiers returning from combat to be examined at the psychiatric ward. He tell us his story.

Contributors

"I noticed doctors didn't seem too happy to send him soldiers"

Ernesto Haibi is an army medic and blogger who lives in Copperas Cove, Texas.

I knew Nidal Malik Hasan on a work-related basis: we met when I escorted wounded soldiers who returned from combat to the psychiatric ward. He was a bit of an odd duck, very stand-offish and not overly friendly. I took his aloofness for arrogance, but neither I nor any of the people I spoke to who also knew him could ever have guessed this would happen.

He was in charge of writing the narrative summaries with the diagnostic of soldiers coming back from combat with post traumatic stress disorder. I noticed that other doctors didn't seem too happy to send him soldiers.

In theory, nobody carries a weapon around in a military base except the police. Hasan must have managed to slip in his personal weapons, which isn't impossible given that you can't realistically check every single car that comes into the Fort Hood base - there are about 5 or 6 thousand every morning. Once the guards get to know you,  they'll just look at your ID and let you through. Although there are thorough searches on a random basis, those can't be foolproof.

The Fact that Nidal Malik Hasan is a Muslim does of course raise suspicions that Islamic fundamentalism is the main motive, especially when we hear reports that he shouted "Allah Akbar" ['God is Great' in Arabic]. This in a way makes the killing even worse, because it shines a negative light on the thousands of Muslims in the US or those who are serving in the army and who have done nothing at all. I have unfortunately heard reactions to the shooting with negative comments against "towel heads" [a pejorative term to designate Muslims] but I don't think the shooting will spark more anti-Muslim sentiment - it may just make those who use terms like "towel heads" more vocal.

 

 

Army Psychiastrist Major Nidal Malik Hassan

 

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Ernesto Haibi

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  • U.S. Army medic

Comments

Yeah! its the victims

Yeah! its the victims fault!

just like when a woman gets raped its HER fault!,NOT the rapists! she shouldnt have been wearing that miniskirt!

Unregistered user

think about what you said

Dude realy it is the victims fault. Sorry but no one told him to go berserik or pulled the trigger for him he made a consius decision to sneak wepons on to a millitary base and kill inocent people, just like when a women gets raped it is not here fault everyone should be able to were what they want without the fear of someone getting a hard on and forcing it in them

Unregistered user

Shooter in Texas

There have been other massacres in the US, at some places of work, schools and of course the bombing in Oklahoma, and the one in Iraq by an American with an english name, besides the one in Texas. Most all by ones who have been Harassed, tormented, or bullied, and pushed to the breaking point by imature mean spirited people. The shooter in Texas received that kind of treatment just because he is a Muslin with an Arab name. Ever since the previous president of 8 years, took over, the Muslims have suffered the same hate and discrimination that was once placed upon the Jews, by another leader, but in Germany. If the shooter did have a name like Smith it would be consider a terrible tradegy, but others with a British name would not be targeted. The US is creating a future as once in Germany by the radical tea party group, it that is scary.

Unregistered user

Wow the prefect defence of a

Wow the prefect defence of a murderer,disgusting!

Unregistered user

"especially when we hear

"especially when we hear reports that he shouted "Allah Akbar" ['God is Great' in Arabic]. This in a way makes the killing even worse, because it shines a negative light on the thousands of Muslims in the US"

what a twisted demented person you are to think this,you are so political,so bent over backward to prove yourself before the world that you honestly think the shootings wouldnt be "as bad" if he were just a normal average everyday killer,YOU DONT SEE YOUR DOUBLE STANDARD? youre a sad joke no wonder you write for a french antiAmerican rag.

Unregistered user

RE: "especially when we hear"

Dear Unregistered user,

You are welcome to give an opinion on any subject on The Observers. Direct attackshowever, are not welcome. Please refrain from personal insults. Otherwise your comments will be removed.

Team Observers

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Team Observers

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  • Journaliste

"You are welcome to give an

"You are welcome to give an opinion on any subject"
except the ones you dont want us to give an opinion on lol

"Direct attackshowever, are not welcome"

ofcourse they arent welcome because you are propogating this kind of hatrid and xenophobia on your website,you should be sued.

Unregistered user

"especially when we hear

"especially when we hear reports that he shouted "Allah Akbar""

Gee ya think?

Unregistered user

"The Fact that Nidal Malik

"The Fact that Nidal Malik Hasan is a Muslim does of course raise suspicions that Islamic fundamentalism is the main motive,"
Geen ya think?

Unregistered user

This guy must have been sick!

I was shocked when I heard about the incident. As a Muslim, I just wish this individual act won't spark more hatred against Muslims in the US. I think a thorough investigation must be conducted, so people don't jump to conclusions that ALL MUSLIM AMERICANS are bad guys or whatever. I know some media will work so hard on that, and they may overlook that there might be reasons behind this attack (not justifying it).But, if there were provocative actions against the assailant, someone should do something so no shootings like these happen in the future.

Unregistered user

Not an issue abou a religion, but rather a psychopat murderer

It's not about being a muslim or not, but a psychopat-murder who got his mind all screwed emanating fear all of his life then baam, today - we saw a gruesome reality of what he really is capable of.. The only question remains, Now that he is alive? Shall we expect the unexpected? I wouldn't be surprise if a week from now a tabloid will report "Ford shooter bites the dust"

detailed sources: Updated: News about the Fort Hood Shootout - Heartbreaking

Unregistered user

"It's not about being a

"It's not about being a muslim"
thats like saying terrorism isnt about being a muslim.

Unregistered user

What's being Muslim got to

What's being Muslim got to do with terrorism? Do you think that IRA members were Muslim too? Fool.

Unregistered user

What's being Muslim got to

What's being Muslim got to do with terrorism?

yes,youre right,all the poor muslims who shoot,blow ppl up all over the world are just misunderstood,we need to protect them and their identity,those poor poor muslms from the religion of peace,theyve brought us so much,and we have given them so little.

"Do you think that IRA members were Muslim too?"

Yes "Reports have surfaced which indicate that the Real Irish Republican Army (ira) terrorists and Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network are in collusion."

http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=581.0.37.0

Unregistered user