Posted on 11/05/2009 12:18:55 PM PST by DCBryan1
Edited on 11/05/2009 2:37:55 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
January 15, 2010
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel10/fthood_011510.htm
Results of FBI Review of Fort Hood Investigation
The FBI continues to work closely with the Department of the Army and others in the ongoing investigation into the November 5, 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. Given the pending nature of the case, we must continue to protect the ongoing investigation and the integrity of the prosecution.
Immediately after the tragedy, FBI Director Robert Mueller ordered a preliminary review of the FBI’s actions, as well any relevant policies and procedures that may have guided the FBI’s actions before the shooting. In addition, the Director asked for recommendations as to what changes should be made as a result of that review.
Also, on December 8, 2009, Director Mueller asked Judge William H. Webster to conduct a more comprehensive, independent review of FBI policies, practices, and actions. That review is currently underway. The goal of these reviews is to look at both the actions of individuals involved and the systems in place at the time of the tragic events at Ft. Hood and while ensuring that investigators have the tools they need to effectively carry out their responsibilities in today’s evolving threat environment. The paramount concern in this process is to make sure that the systems and policies that are in place support public safety and national security.
While the outside review being led by Judge Webster continues, as a result of the internal review, the FBI identified four areas for immediate adjustment and improvement:
Protocols with the Department of Defense (DOD)
Although information-sharing has dramatically improved since September 2001, there is still room for improvement in certain areas, especially given the changing nature of the terrorist threat, and the need to constantly recalibrate approaches and response. Working with DOD, the FBI has formalized a process for centrally notifying DOD of FBI investigations involving military personnel. This should streamline information-sharing and coordination between the FBI and all components of DOD, where appropriate, and as permitted by law. Improved processes for exchanging information will help ensure that FBI task forces, agents, and analysts have all available information to further their investigations.
Additional Levels of Review
The FBI determined that intelligence collected in connection with certain threats–particularly those that affect multiple equities inside and outside the FBI–should have a supplemental layer of review at the Headquarters level. This redundancy in the review process will limit the risk of human error by bringing a broader perspective to the review. In this way, the FBI should have a better institutional understanding of such threats.
Technological Improvements
During the course of the internal review, the FBI identified information technology improvements that should be made to our systems. Those improvements, which are being engineered, should strengthen our agents’ and analysts’ ability to sift through information by automatically showing certain connections that are critical to uncovering threats.
Training for Members of Joint Terrorism Task Forces
Expanded and strengthened training addressing legal restrictions which govern the retention and dissemination of information. The FBI also is increasing training for members of JTTFs on the use of FBI’s databases to better ensure JTTF members know how to maximize access to all available information and to best utilize existing tools to identify and link critical information.
The above changes reflect the findings of the FBI’s internal review, conducted in the weeks following the shooting. Judge Webster’s review is continuing and will evaluate additional areas, including whether current laws and policies strike an appropriate balance between protecting individuals’ privacy rights and civil liberties while detecting threats. The findings in the DOD review likely will also identify other areas that can be strengthened.
http://www.investigativeproject.org/blog/#1685
“Superiors May Face Reprimands in Hasan Case”
SNIPPET: “He openly placed religious law above the U.S. Constitution, accused the United States of being at war with Islam and justified the signature act of modern terrorism.
Yet, Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, routinely received favorable performance reviews, rose through the ranks and maintained his security clearance. The Defense Department’s review of how that happened was released Friday morning. It finds Hasan’s superiors ignored warning signs in his performance and religious zeal.
Sections of the report dealing with Hasan’s November 5 massacre at Fort Hood will not be released due to the ongoing criminal investigation.”
(Posted January 15, 2010, 11:15 am)
Quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2432579/posts
RADICAL YEMENI CLERIC’S EXTENSIVE AMERICAN CONTACTS A SOURCE OF MAJOR CONCERN
INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT - IPT News ^ | January 19, 2010 | n/a
Posted on January 19, 2010 6:08:57 PM PST by Cindy
SNIPPET: “U.S. intelligence officials believe there are dozens — perhaps hundreds - of Americans who have been in e-mail contact with the radical Yemeni cleric who is believed to have inspired and directed both the Fort Hood shooter and the failed Christmas Day airline bomber, the Investigative Project on Terrorism has learned. Efforts to learn the details of that communication, or even to target Anwar Al-Awlaki militarily, may be hindered by his status as an American citizen.”
(Excerpt) Read more at investigativeproject.org ...
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=9921&page=0
(YaleGlobalOnline)
“Terrorism’s new avatars - part II”
By Gabriel Weimann - posted Thursday, 14 January 2010
SNIPPET: “One of the little-noticed facts that connects many recent acts of terrorism - from Nidal Malik Hassan, the Fort Hood Shooter, to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Christmas day bomber, is the growing use of the Internet by terrorists not only to spread their propaganda but also to recruit and raise funds.”
http://www.aifdemocracy.org/news.php?id=5493
#
http://www.investigativeproject.org/blog/#1717
For The Record - The IPT Blog
“Jasser: Don’t Scapegoat Officers over Fort Hood”
(January 19, 2010)
SNIPPET: “According to Jasser, chairman of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy and a Navy veteran, the malfeasance of Hasan’s superiors was not the primary reason for the military’s failure to act before the massacre. The crux of the problem, Jasser says, is the military’s “political correctness in its handling of Islamist radicalization issues.”
The military needs to come up with “specific guidelines and directives for supervising officers” that provide what “has been glaringly missing: guidance and support with regards to various ideological warning signs which Islamists may harbor in the ranks of the military, DoD and other branches of government, “ Jasser writes.”
#
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/18/muslim-question-persists-in-army-shooting/print/
Monday, January 18, 2010
“Muslim question persists in Army shooting”
by Bill Gertz
SNIPPET: “Fear of offending Muslims or being insensitive to religion was likely a key factor to why Army supervisors missed signs that the suspect in the deadly Fort Hood shooting rampage was a Muslim extremist, according to national security experts.”
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=57594
Hall of Remembrance Honors Fallen Troops
By Heather Graham
Special to American Forces Press Service
FORT HOOD, Texas, Jan. 19, 2010 – Army Spc. Jonathan Emard, 20, was killed June 4, 2008, in Tikrit, Iraq, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire and hand grenades.
At Fort Hood, his is one of 97 photographs of fallen servicemembers enshrined in the survivor outreach services program’s Hall of Remembrance.
The photos reflect the faces of fallen soldiers and Marines following their weddings, combat missions or other photo sessions. Some are in uniform, some are dressed casually, but all are represented the way their families wanted them to be remembered.
The hall has room for more than 700 photos, and staff members hope more survivor families choose to honor their soldiers on the walls of the hall. Whether their deaths were due to combat, homicide, suicide, training or vehicular accidents, all of them died while serving on active duty.
The soldiers pictured are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters whose memories live on not only in the hearts and minds of their loved ones, but now also in a solemn room here dedicated to their service and in memory of their sacrifices.
After their son was killed, the Emards were contacted by Fort Hood’s survivor outreach services – known as SOS — but the family didn’t have time to deal with it. “That first year, there was just too much going on,” said Debbie, Jonathan’s mother. “We were just sort of overloaded.”
Later, the Emards got involved with the Fort Hood SOS program after learning about the Hall of Remembrance. “We wanted to see what it is all about,” Debbie said. The Emards liked the idea, so they contacted SOS and submitted a photo.
“It is honoring our son,” Debbie said. “It’s a good way to honor him.”
For their submission to the Hall, David and Debbie Emard chose a photo of their son wearing his uniform. “It’s how we wanted him remembered,” the soldier’s father said.
The Emards attended the private opening for the hall Dec. 22 and returned for the official opening Jan. 11, when Jonathan’s sister, Jennifer Marler, sang two original songs she wrote following her brother’s death.
Since their initial visit to Fort Hood SOS, the Emard family has become involved with the program, mostly for shared experiences with other surviving families.
“A lot of times we pick up something from other families,” David said. “It helps to help others.” For example, they said, they have learned their emotions of continued grief for their son’s loss are normal and are shared by many families who have lost a soldier.
Widow Denisa Thomas also has found much-needed support and assistance at the SOS office. Her husband, Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Terry Thomas, an Apache helicopter pilot, was killed Sept. 19, 2006, during a training mission in Germany.
In the aftermath of his death, Denisa said, she initially sought assistance for herself and the couple’s two children, now 12 and 10, from a post at Illesheim, Germany.
Following a friend who helped her after her husband’s death, the German-born Bosnian came to Fort Hood in July. When she contacted SOS, Denisa said, she found the information and support she had sought. Her questions were answered, she found help enrolling her children in school, and found a group of people who understand her situation and experiences.
“It’s the kind of support everybody wishes and hopes for,” she said. “I really felt taken care of.”
Denisa attends meetings at SOS to share her experiences and listen to others’ stories. “We are all trying to move forward,” she said.
SOS staff members helped Denisa get her children enrolled in school here and provided a smooth transition for their move from Germany. The program also provides family life consultant services, financial and survivor benefits services and support groups to survivors.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors shares office space and resources for comprehensive care and support to surviving family members. The SOS program continues to expand as part of the Army Family Covenant, the Army’s commitment to care for families.
“The program is in place and going strong,” said Janeth Lopez, the SOS program manager. “We are keeping our promise that the families are not forgotten.”
For most surviving families, that is the promise they seek – that their soldier is remembered and never forgotten. The Hall of Remembrance is for all active-duty casualties, and for all survivors, Lopez stressed.
“What better way to honor the fallen and their sacrifice?” she asked.
For the Emards, memorials and events have slowed since Jonathan’s death, and David and Debbie have had a chance to absorb the events of the past 18 months, but the grief process continues with the war and current events.
“You don’t get to a point where it stops,” Debbie said.
(Heather Graham writes for the Fort Hood Sentinel.)
Could you take me off your ping list? Thanks
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=57633
Evaluations Matter, Fort Hood Panel Says
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2010 – Leaders must take action when servicemembers display indicators of committing violence against their comrades, the co-chairs of a review panel appointed to assess the causes of the Fort Hood shootings said here today.
On Nov. 19, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates appointed former Army Secretary Togo West and retired Navy Adm. Vernon Clark, a former chief of naval operations, to head a review panel to determine, among other things, why an allegedly troubled Army medical officer apparently slipped through the military’s evaluation process.
“Evaluations make a difference,” West told members of the House Armed Services Committee. “And, we can’t do the job of leading or protecting against threats if honest evaluations are not done by those who have the duty, the information and the authority to do so.”
The panel provided its report to Gates on Jan. 15.
Much of the report addresses “violence by a servicemember against his or her colleagues,” West said.
Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is charged with killing 13 people, 12 military and one civilian, and wounding 43 others during a Nov. 5, 2009, shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas.
The alleged assailant was shot and disabled by a Fort Hood civilian police officer, who also was wounded in an exchange of gunfire. Hasan, who is hospitalized and under detention, has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 specifications of attempted premeditated murder under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The UCMJ is the U.S. military’s legal system for servicemembers.
It is imperative, West told committee members, that military leaders be alert to indicators that servicemembers under their charge might commit acts of violence against their comrades.
It’s also necessary to document and catalogue such indicators of violence, West said, in order “to make them available for the persons who need to know what are the indicators and where have the indicators been noted, and then to prepare ourselves to act when that evidence is before us; to make it available to our commanders so that they can act, and to be clear about their authority.”
Hasan, a Muslim, allegedly became radicalized and complained to colleagues about his role as a U.S. military officer when he was posted at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here before being assigned to Fort Hood in July 2009.
Gates directed the panel to review military personnel policies, procedures for force protection, and emergency response measures, West said, as well as policies that apply to those who provide medical care to servicemembers.
The panel also was tasked to “take a look at how the Army applied its policies and procedures to the alleged perpetrator,” he said.
The military, West told committee members, also needs “to pay attention” to potential dangers as the war against global extremism continues.
“The fact is that we need to understand the forces that cause an individual to radicalize, commit violent acts and thereby to make us vulnerable from within,” West said.
A key focus of the review was “on violence that comes from any kind of behavior,” Clark told the committee. “But, what we found, especially, was that policies on the internal threat are inadequate.”
Prohibited behaviors and actions “need to be addressed,” Clark said. And, he said, barriers to information sharing among the chain-of-command need to be removed.
Regulatory guidance on improper servicemember behavior already exists, Clark acknowledged. But, he added, such guidance “is incomplete for the day in which we live.”
West and Clark both praised the rapid response provided by Fort Hood’s security personnel.
“We were impressed by what we saw at Fort Hood,” Clark said, noting the actions of first responders that stopped the alleged shooter “prevented greater loss.”
“With that response, lives were saved,” West agreed. “And yet, 13 people died; scores more were wounded.”
The military, the former Army secretary said, must do a better job of being ready for the unexpected.
“We can prepare better,” West said. “We must plan with greater attention. And we must make the effort to look around the corners of our future and anticipate the next potential event in order to deflect it.”
Related Sites:
Protecting the Force: Lessons from Fort Hood
Related Articles:
Prompt Fort Hood Response Saved Lives, Clark Says
Report Finds Shortfalls in Countering Internal Threats
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=57684
Army Secretary Directs Fort Hood Accountability Review
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2010 – The Army will conduct a review to determine if leaders were negligent in their supervision of accused Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, Defense Department officials announced yesterday.
Army Secretary John McHugh has directed Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe, “to conduct an accountability review to identify whether any personnel were responsible for failures or deficiencies in applying Army programs, policies, and procedures to the alleged assailant,” according to a Defense Department news release.
McHugh also has tasked Ham to provide personal observations he may have developed as a senior Army leader and as a member of the independent panel that investigated the shooting that he believes may be of help to the Army in charting a way ahead.
The independent panel — co-chaired by former Army Secretary Togo D. West Jr. and retired Navy Adm. Vernon E. Clark, a former chief of naval operations — provided its report to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Jan. 15.
Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, is charged with killing 13 people, 12 military and one civilian, and wounding 43 others during a Nov. 5 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. The alleged assailant was shot and disabled by a Fort Hood civilian police officer, who also was wounded in an exchange of gunfire.
Still hospitalized and under detention, Hasan has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 specifications of attempted premeditated murder under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The UCMJ is the U.S. military’s legal system for servicemembers.
Hasan, a Muslim, allegedly became radicalized and complained to colleagues about his role as a U.S. military officer when he was posted at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here before being assigned to Fort Hood in July 2009.
This week, West and Clark discussed the findings of their report with legislators on Capitol Hill. Gates directed the panel to review military personnel policies, procedures for force protection, and emergency response measures, West said during Jan. 20 testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, as well as policies that apply to those who provide medical care to servicemembers.
The panel also was tasked to “take a look at how the Army applied its policies and procedures to the alleged perpetrator,” West told House legislators.
The military, West told committee members, needs “to pay attention” to potential dangers as the war against global extremism continues.
“The fact is that we need to understand the forces that cause an individual to radicalize, commit violent acts and thereby to make us vulnerable from within,” West said.
It also is imperative, West said, that military leaders produce honest appraisals of their subordinates.
“Evaluations make a difference,” West told House committee members. “And we can’t do the job of leading or protecting against threats if honest evaluations are not done by those who have the duty, the information and the authority to do so.”
The Army is an organization based “on disciplined and established standards,” McHugh said in his statement.
“Leaders at every level are responsible for ensuring that our policies and regulations are followed and that appropriate action is taken if they are not,” McHugh added.
The Fort Hood incident, he said, is an opportunity for the Army “to reinforce the basics of leader involvement with soldiers.”
Biographies:
John M. McHugh
Army Gen. Carter F. Ham
Related Sites:
Defense Department News Release
Special Report: Tragedy at Fort Hood
Related Articles:
Evaluations Matter, Fort Hood Panel Says
Fort Hood Shooting Task Force Reports for Duty
#
“Louay Safi at Ft. Hood: a testament to willful cluelessness about jihad and national security”
(February 9, 2010)
WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "ARMY WARNED ABOUT JIHADIST THREAT IN '08 Specialists say advice ignored" by Bill Gertz (SNIPPET: "Almost two years before the deadly Fort Hood shooting by a radicalized Muslim officer, the U.S. Army was explicitly warned that jihadism -- Islamic holy war -- was a serious problem and threat to personnel in the U.S., according to participants at a major Army-sponsored conference. The annual Army anti-terrorism conference in Florida in February 2008 included presentations on the threat by counterterrorism specialists Patrick Poole, Army Lt. Col. Joseph Myers and Terri Wonder.") (February 9, 2010)
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/61232
“Administration ‘Just Not Responding’ to Questions on Fort Hood, Said Vice Chair of Senate Intel Committee”
Thursday, February 11, 2010
By Terence P. Jeffrey, Editor-in-Chief
SNIPPET: “(CNSNews.com) - Sen. Kit Bond (R.-Mo.), the vice chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, told bloggers on a conference call on Wednesday, Feb. 3, that the Obama administration still had not provided his committee with all the information it had requested on the November terrorist attack at Fort Hood in Texas.
“They still haven’t come through with all the information that we need,” Sen. Bond said.”
Quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2406392/posts?page=22#22
To: All
http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/nefa_forthood.pdf
#
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/Cohen_Hasan.htm
#
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/199632.php
#
Note: Graphic - capture included.
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/Hasan_protoge_friends_cohen.jpg
Blog:
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/201048.php
February 16, 2010
“Report: ‘Hasan did not seek to conceal his extremist views’”
SNIPPET - Quote: The report also explains Hasan’s friendship with Duane Reasoner who justified Hasan’s mass murder to reporters. Reasoner used the online name “oooklepookle”.
In addition to pushing lectures by Anwar al-Awlaki, the American born al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula member who Hasan communicated with via email, “ooklepookle” also was a follower of New York online jihadis Yousef al-Khattab’s “Revolution Muslim” website.
Oddly, Khattab frantically removed all evidence that he and “ooklepookle” were friends (archive here) shortly after the MSM picked up on his praising of Nidal Hasan for murdering his fellow soldiers. A few weeks after we showed that he and “ooklepookle” were friends and that Hasan himself may have been one of his followers, Khattab announced his retirement from “Revolution Muslim” and now claims to be living abroad.
By Rusty “Asadullah Alshishani” at February 16, 2010 12:28 PM
22 posted on February 16, 2010 3:59:42 PM PST by Cindy
blog:
http://jarretbrachman.net/?p=537
“Two Debates: One Productive, One Not So Much”
(Posted February 16, 2010)
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OWI5NjMwOGI2Mzc3ZTcyNzE1NjI0NzY0ZjQ4YWU0NDc=
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
“Celebrate Diversity Unto Death”
By Mark Steyn
SNIPPET: “I pretty much said what I had to say about the Fort Hood massacre in the first couple of weeks, because it was perfectly obvious within about 48 hours that 14 people (including an unborn child) had died so that “diversity” might live. As is the way, the official version is taking longer to catch up to what anyone not marinated in brain-eating PC mush could see from the get-go.”
SNIPPET: “You’ll recall the cringe-making response to the massacre by the embarrassing General Casey, the Army’s chief of staff:
“What happened at Fort Hood was a tragedy,” said Gen. Casey, the Army’s chief of staff, “but I believe it would be an even greater tragedy if our diversity becomes a casualty here.”
The fact that a grown man not employed by a U.S. educational institution or media outlet used the word “diversity” in a non-parodic sense should be deeply disturbing. “Diversity” is not a virtue; it’s morally neutral...”
02/23 08:42 AM
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
