Ft. Hood: Workplace Violence or Terrorist Attack?

[Turtle]

What do you think? When Army psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Hasan opened fire at Ft. Hood, killing 13 people and wounding 29 others, was it the desperate act of workplace violence of a man freaking out over being deployed to Afghanistan, or was it a full-blown terrorist attack?

The Army clearly knew that Hasan had become more radical in his Islamic faith in recent years, but admitted political correctness on the part of superiors prevented them from taking decisive action. Evidence points to Hasan was acting individually because he doesn't want to deploy overseas, but he also had a history within the military of open displays of violent Islamist extremism, which is a violation of military rules calling for good order and discipline, and political correctness prevented the military from taking the normal course of action.

42 people were shot or killed, and now 148 victims and family members are suing the federal government for compensation. Terrorist act, or workplace shooting?

Fort Hood shooting victims sue government - U.S. News

On the third anniversary of the Fort Hood rampage, 148 victims and family members sued the government Monday for compensation for the attack that authorities say was carried out by an Army psychiatrist.

The shooting at the Army base in Texas killed 13 people and wounded more than two dozen others.

The lawsuit alleging negligence by the government said that the Defense Department is avoiding legal and financial responsibility for the killings by referring to the shootings as "workplace violence" rather than as a terrorist attack.

The group also is suing the estate of Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born Islamic cleric who the victims say inspired the Army psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Hasan, to carry out the attack. The two men exchanged emails before the shootings.

A year before the attack, the FBI uncovered the communications between Hasan and al-Awlaki, but failed to disclose the information to the Defense Department.

Al-Awlaki was killed in Yemen last year by a U.S. drone strike.

Hasan is awaiting trial and could face the death penalty if convicted.

The victims and families said the U.S. military knew four years before the Nov. 5, 2009, mass-shooting that the accused killer was a fanatic Islamist extremist who supported jihad, suicide attacks and violence.

The lawsuit attributed the government's alleged inaction to elevating "political correctness" over national security.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Last year, 83 of the victims and family members filed administrative claims that sought $750 million in compensation from the Army. Neal Sher, an attorney for the victims, said the government has "ignored these claims and under the law we really have been left with no choice" but to sue.

In a conference call with reporters, former Staff Sgt. Shawn N. Manning, who was shot six times by Hasan, said that the terrorism designation sought by the victims would cover the cost of the medical services that he requires. The designation would mean that the wounds the victims suffered qualify as combat-related, resulting in "a huge difference in benefits," said Manning, who was medically discharged from the military about a month ago.Manning and Sher spoke during a telephone conference call that linked lawsuit participants from several locations.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

 

[BigCat]

My question is how are 148 suing for 42 shot? Is every member of the victims suing? I don't know whether it was just workplace violence or an act of terrorism but whether it happened here or over seas that is a chance that those guys are taking by enlisting.

Yes it is bad but I still don't see why there are 148 lawsuits for 42 victims especially when only 13 passed. I think the survivors should be compensated to some extent but not parents or siblings.


If it was terrorism there isn't much that could have been done to prevent it unless the shooter had let his intent get out. Act of workplace violence can sometimes be detected by behavior change but still can't always be prevented.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

My question is how are 148 suing for 42 shot? Is every member of the victims suing? I don't know whether it was just workplace violence or an act of terrorism but whether it happened here or over seas that is a chance that those guys are taking by enlisting.

Yes it is bad but I still don't see why there are 148 lawsuits for 42 victims especially when only 13 passed. I think the survivors should be compensated to some extent but not parents or siblings.


If it was terrorism there isn't much that could have been done to prevent it unless the shooter had let his intent get out. Act of workplace violence can sometimes be detected by behavior change but still can't always be prevented.

One word... negligence. The military KNEW this was happening, and declined to act... declined to do their duty. When people enlist, they entrust that the military is not going to be reckless with the lives these people are handing over. The military, and the government in general, were reckless. They knew they had a ticking timebomb on their hands, and decided to experiment with political correctness, instead of doing their duty.

 

[davekc]

Could argue it both ways but I would lean towards terrorism only because of the shooters motives and intent. Circumstances are alittle different than someone just going postal at the workplace.

 

[layoutshooter]

One word... negligence. The military KNEW this was happening, and declined to act... declined to do their duty. When people enlist, they entrust that the military is not going to be reckless with the lives these people are handing over. The military, and the government in general, were reckless. They knew they had a ticking timebomb on their hands, and decided to experiment with political correctness, instead of doing their duty.

The military was under orders from the civilians that control them to be more accepting of certain religious and racial thinking. The good of the military was never taken into account. The loss of soldiers is not a concern of this administration.