TheMassacreatFortHood

Report #24 in the Target: America Series NEFA Senior Analyst Madeleine Gruen mgruen@nefafoundation.org February 2010

Overview
Atapproximately1:30pmCTonNovember5,2009, MajorNidalMalikHasan,anArmypsychiatrist, openedfireontheSoldiersReadinessProcessing CenteratFortHood,Texas.TheCenteriswhere soldiersareprocessedfordeploymentoverseas. Hasan,whowasdressedinuniform,shoutedAllahu Akbar (GodisGreat)andproceededtoshootfora 10minuteperiodkilling12soldiers,onecivilian,and injuringmorethan30others. Hasanwasconfrontedbytwocivilianpolice sergeants.SergeantsMarkToddandKimberlyMunley bothrespondedtothesceneinseparatecars.Sgt. Munleywaswoundedinanexchangeoffirewith Hasan.WitnessreportsconfirmthatSgt.Toddshot anddisabledHasan,endingtherampage. Hasanremainsparalyzedfromthewaistdown.

Sgt. Kimberly Munley

Sgt. Mark Todd

[Source: New York Times]

Overview
TheattacktookplacefourmonthsafterHasans arrivalatFortHood. Hefaces13countsofpremeditatedmurderand 32countsofattemptedpremeditatedmurder. Hasanwasscheduledtobedeployedto AfghanistanonNovember28,2009.Hehadnot beenpreviouslydeployed. Afterregainingconsciousnessinthehospital, Hasanrefusedtospeaktoinvestigators.However, hequicklyrequestedalawyer,whotoldreporters thathisclientwouldnotbespeakingwith authoritiesabouttheincident. Hasanwillberepresentedbycivilianattorney JohnGalligan,whoretiredfromtheArmyasa Colonelin2001.

Major Nidal Malik Hasan

Victim being carried to ambulance

The site of the shooting: Soldiers Readiness Processing Center

FN-Herstal pistol

Gun shop in Killeen, Texas, where Hasan purchased a FN-Herstal pistol.

[Source: New York Times]

HasanboughtaFNHerstaltacticalpistolfromGunsGaloreinAugust2009. Astandardbackgroundcheckwasconductedatthetimeofthepurchase.

NidalMalikHasan
NidalMalikHasanwasborninArlington,Virginiaandhad aprofessionalandpersonallifepepperedwithdifficulties andfailures. HisparentswereJordaniansofPalestiniandescent.They movedfromArlingtontoRoanoke,VAin1985,where theywererestaurateurs. Skippedfromschooltoschool,spendingonlyoneyearat WilliamFlemingHighSchool,fromwhichhegraduatedin 1988. Neverparticipatedinanyschoolclubsorsports. FirstattendedBarstowCommunityCollegeinCalifornia, thenattendedVirginiaWesternCommunityCollegefrom 1990 1992,graduatingwithanassociatesdegree. GraduatedfromVirginiaTechwithaBSinbiochemistryin 1997.WasamemberofROTC.Reportedlyreceivedgood grades. Obtainedaconcealedweaponpermitin1996. Hisfatherpassedawayin1998andhismotherpassed awayin2001.Hasonebrother.

William Fleming High School photo of Nidal Hasan

NidalMalikHasan
HasanwasadmittedtoUniformedServicesUniversityofHealthServicesinBethesda, Marylandin2001. Studentsreceivethefullsalaryandbenefitsofauniformedofficerinexchangeforaseven yearcommitmenttomilitaryserviceaftergraduation. AccordingtotheadmissionsrequirementsdescribedontheSchool website,studentsmust physicallyqualifyforthemilitaryservicesuponentering,andtheymustundergoasecurity investigation. HasandidhisresidencyattheWalterReedArmyMedicalCenter. Hasanexperienceddifficultyduringhisresidencyinpsychiatry, withsuperiorsoftennoting hisabsenteeismandhispoorrapportwithpatients.OneinstructornotedthatHasanmight beatriskfordevelopingapsychosis. In2007,Hasansmilitarysuperiorcitedhimforunprofessionalbehavior,including inappropriatediscussionofreligion;underperforminginhisresidency;andbeing overweight. Accordingtohisfamily,HasantriedtogetoutoftheArmy,consultingalawyerandoffering torepaythecostofhiseducation. In2007,Hasandeliveredalecturetofellowmentalhealthstaff memberstitledTheKoranic WorldViewasitRelatestoMuslimsintheU.S.Military.HasansaidthatMuslimsshouldnot serveinanycapacitythatexposesthemtothepossibilityofhurtingotherbelievers.

ExcerptsfromHasansPresentation:TheKoranicWorld ViewasitRelatestoMuslimsintheU.S.Military

ExcerptsfromHasansPresentation:TheKoranicWorld ViewasitRelatestoMuslimsintheU.S.Military

ExcerptsfromHasansPresentation:TheKoranicWorld ViewasitRelatestoMuslimsintheU.S.Military

ExcerptsfromHasansPresentation:TheKoranicWorld ViewasitRelatestoMuslimsintheU.S.Military

NidalMalikHasan
Despitepoorperformancereviewsandreportsofunsettlingbehavior,Hasan continuedtobepromotedthroughthemilitaryranks.Hewaspromotedtothe rankofcaptainin2003andtomajorin2009. HeattendedtheMuslimCommunityCenter(MCC)inSilverSpring,Maryland. MCCservesalargecommunityandoffershealthservices,Arabiclessons,and youthprograms.ItalsooffersaSundaylectureseries.OnJanuary24,2010,a representativefromMuslimsforaSafeAmerica spoke.Theorganization, locatedinChicago,seekstoeducateAmericanMuslimsaboutnationalsecurity issues,sothatAmericanMuslimscanresolvethetensionstheyfeelbecausetheir countryisatwarwithsomeoftheirfellowMuslimsaroundtheworld. Their programincludesahandouttitledShouldAmericanMuslimsBeLoyaltoAmerica? whichprovidessixargumentsarticulatingwhyMuslimsshouldbeloyalandsix argumentswhyMuslimsshouldnotbeloyaltotheUnitedStates. HasanisadevoutMuslimwhohadbeenlookingforawifewhowas equally devout;howeverhewasnotsuccessfulandremainedsingle.Hesignedupfora matrimonialservicethroughhisMarylandmosque.Hewrotethathewasbornin Arlington,Virginia,butsaidthathisnationalitywasPalestinian.

NidalMalikHasan
HasanalsoattendedtheDaralHijrahmosqueinFallsChurch,Virginiaatthesame timeAnwaralAwlakiwasanimamthere. AlAwlakiisaU.S.citizen,whoservedasanimaminColorado,California,andFalls Church,VA,andworkedasaMuslimChaplainatGeorgeWashington University.He wasthespiritualadvisor to9/11hijackersNawafalHazmiandKhalidalMidhar. AwlakiisassociatedwithAlQaidaintheArabianPennisula(AQAP)andhasalso beenlinkedtoUmarAbdulmutallab,theNigerianwhoattemptedto blowup DetroitboundNorthwestAirlinesFlight253onChristmasDay,2009. Hasanexchangedapproximately20emailswithalAwlaki. AccordingtoaninterviewwithalAwlakionalJazeera,thetwometinpersonat theDaralHijrahmosque. Also,accordingtoalAwlaki,HasaninitiatedemailcommunicationonDecember 17,2008. AlAwlakistatedthatHasanaskedwhetherkillingAmericansoldiersandofficersis lawfulornot... Further,accordingtoalAwlaki,Nidalexplainedhispointofview aboutkillingIsraelicivilians...andthroughtheselettershementionedShariabased andrealisticexcusesfortargetingtheJewswithrockets. Aftertheattack,AwlakipostedastatementcallingHasanahero, andstatingthe onlywayaMuslimcouldIslamicallyjustifyservingasasoldier intheUSArmyisif hisintentionistofollowthefootstepsofmenlikeNidal.

NidalMalikHasan
WhileinTexas,heworshippedattheIslamic CommunityofGreaterKilleen. Theimamatthemosquetoldreportersthat Hasanwasnearlyincoherent inthesecondof twoconversationsthetwohadthesummerprior totheattack. Hasantook18yearoldMuslimconvertDuane Reasonerunderhiswing,takinghimtodinner severaltimes.ReasoneralsoattendedtheIslamic centerinKilleen. ReasonercondonedHasansattacktoreporters, sayingthatthesoldierswereontheirwayto AfghanistanandIraqtokillfellowMuslims. Reasonerhasseveralsocialnetworkpagesunder theusernameOoklepookle.Severalofthose pagesfeaturejihadiimagery. Bymostaccounts,Hasanwasnotseensocializing. HisfriendshipwithReasonerwouldbeoneof veryfewhehadwhilelivinginTexas.

Duane Reasoners MySpace page. He also uses the names Duane Edward, and Salah ad-Din.

Reasoner, Hasans young convert friend, maintains a YouTube page that features Awlaki lectures.

Reasoner also maintains a page on Stickam, a live stream chat platform. His page features a slide presentation that includes an image titled Future Washington that depicts the Capitol Building in ruins.

Investigation
TheFBIsWashingtonfieldofficereceivedafileonHasanfromtheSanDiegoFBI fieldofficeinFebruary2009.ThefilecontainedHasanspersonalrecordsandonly 2oftheapproximately20emailsHasansenttoAwlaki. TheWashingtonfieldofficeconcludedthatHasanwasworkingattheWalterReed ArmyMedicalCenteratthetimetheemailsweresentandthecontentappeared tobeconsistentwiththeresearchhewasconducting.TheSanDiegofieldoffice didnotforwardadditionalinformationonHasantheyhadpickedupaftersending theoriginalfile. FBIfilesarereportedtohavecontainedinformationthatHasansoughtto prosecutesomepatientsforwarcrimes heclaimedtheyhadconfessedto duringcounselingafterreturningfromIraqandAfghanistan. Itisuncertain,however,whethertheFBIwouldhavecometoadifferent conclusiononHasanhadthetwoofficescombinedalltheinformationtheyhad.

Implications&Indicators
NeighborssaidthatHasangaveaway possessionswhichincludedfurniture,food, andclothinginthedaysleadinguptothe attack. Hasanlivedaverysimpleandisolated existence.

Interior of Major Nidal Hasans Killeen, Texas apartment

[Source: Telegraph]

Hasan on 7-Eleven CCTV the day of the shootings

Exterior of Hasans Killeen, Texas apartment complex

[Source: Associated Press]

Interior of Hasans apartment

[Source: Associated Press]

Interior of Hasans apartment

[Source: ABC News]

Interior of Hasans apartment [Source: Associated Press]

Various items, including a stamp and the book "Dreams and Interpretations" by Allamah Muhammad Bin Sireen lay on the table in the kitchen in Hasans apartment
[Source: Austin American-Statesman]

IndicatorsandImplications
Itisclearthatasadepartment,wehavenot doneenoughtoadapttotheevolving domesticinternalsecuritythreattoAmerican troopsandmilitaryfacilitiesthathas emergedoverthelastdecade. Defense SecretaryRobertGates OnMarch23,2003,ArmySgt.HasanAkbar killedtwofellowU.S.militaryofficerswith grenadesandwounded14othersatCamp PennsylvaniainKuwait,located25milesfrom theIraqborder. LikeMajorNidalHasan,Akbarappearsto havebeenmotivatedbyextremistIslamist beliefs,anger,andoppositiontoU.S.military actioninMuslimcountries.

Sgt. Hasan K. Akbar

MajorNidalMalikHasan

IndicatorsandImplications
AlQaidainstructsitsmemberstoinfiltrateenemyarmies,andtooccupyother influentialpositions.However,thetwomilitaryshootingincidentsarenot necessarilyindicativeofthepresenceofafifthcolumn.Hasanscommunications withAnwaralAwlakilikelyindicatehissympathyforAlQaida;however,Akbar wasmorelikelytohavebeeninfluencedbytheNationofIslamsideologythanAl Qaidas. ItdoesnotappearthatNidalHasanwasaffiliatedwithanyterroristorganization, butthathesubscribedtoSalafiJihadiideology. TheredoesnotappeartobeaclearmomentoreventinHasanslifethatindicates whenhebecameradicalized.Rather,itappearsthathemayhavebeenexposedto radicalideologyconsistentlythroughouthislife,eitherpassivelyatmosques,or activelyonline. Hasandidnotseektoconcealhisextremistviews.Hesoughtthe companyof otherswhosharedhisbeliefs.However,theredidnotappeartobeanyclear indicationofhisdesiretocommitaviolentact.

Decrow Seager

Cahill

Hunt

Warman

Gagganey

Xiong

Lt.Col.JuanitaWarman,55,HavredeGrace,MD Maj.LibardoCaraveo,52,Woodbridge,VA. Cpt.JohnP.Gagganey,54,SanDiego,CA. Cpt.RussellSeager,41,Racine,WI. StaffSgt.JustinDecrow,32,Plymouth,IN Sgt.AmyKrueger,29,Kiel,WI Spc.JasonHunt,22,Tillman,OK Spc.FrederickGreene,29,MountainCity,TN PFCAaronNemelka,19,WestJordan,UT PFCMichaelPearson,22,Bolingbrook,IL PFCKhamXiong,23,St.Paul,MN Pvt.FrancheskaVelez,21,Chicago,IL MichaelG.Cahill,62,Cameron,TX[civilian]

Nemelka

Krueger

Caraveo

Pearson

Greene

Velez

References
AlJazeerainterviewwithAnwaralAwlakiregardinghisrelationshipwithNidalHasancan befoundathttp://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/NEFAalAwlaki12092.pdf. AnwaralAwlakistatementaboutFortHoodshootingscanbereadhere, http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/FeaturedDocs/nefaawlakiforthoodshooting. pdf ShouldAmericanMuslimsBeLoyaltoAmerica? leafletbyMuslimsforaSafeAmericacan befoundathttp://muslimsforasafeamerica.org/?p=3,lastaccessedonJanuary22,2010. LaurenceHammack,etal.,FortHoodShootingSuspectHasanLeftFewImpressionsin SchoolsheAttended, TheRoanokeTimes,November7,2009. Profile:MajorNidalMalikHasan, BBCNews,lastaccessedfrom http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr//2/hi/americas/8345944.stm ,January23,2010. AngelaBrown,AccusedShooterDeeplyConflicted, WallStreetJournal,November8, 2009. IHadQuestionsAboutWhatHisBeliefsWere, IrishExaminer,November9,2009. JohnDoyle,IntrigueDeepensasMassacreMonsterShootsOffHisMouth, NewYorkPost, November10,2009. ChrisCuomo,DetailsofFortHoodBattleBetweenHasan,CopsStillMurky, ABCNews, November12,2009,lastaccessedfromhttp://abcnews.go.com/GMA/fbiinvestigatesmaj hasangunpurchaseherocop/story?id=9062138 onJanuary22,2010. RichardLardner,TroublesatEveryTurninHasansMedicalTraining, AssociatedPress, January19,2010.

References
FortHoodSuspectParalyzedChestDown, UPI,November23,2009. RichardLardner,EmergingPictureinFortHoodReviewisOneofSupervisorsWhoVoiced Concerns,butDidntAct, AssociatedPress,January11,2010. InvestorsBusinessDaily,Gates:DangerisWithintheRanks, January19,2010. NidalHasansPowerPointpresentation,TheKoranic WorldViewasitRelatestoMuslimsin theU.S.Military,canbeseenathttp://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/Hasan2.pdf AlJazeerainterviewwithAnwaralAwlaki, http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/NEFAalAwlaki12092.pdf DinaTempleRaston,MixupDeniedOfficialsInfoAboutFortHoodSuspect,NPR,December 1,2009. CluesLeftByFortHoodSuspectRaiseHauntingQuestion:ShouldArmyHaveSeenIt Coming?,WashingtonPost,January10.2010. JosephRhee,MaryRoseAbraham,AnnaSchecter,andBrianRoss,Officials:MajorHasan SoughtWarCrimes ProsecutionofU.S.Soldiers, ABCNews,November16,2009.