I'm afraid I am not sympathetic to the Fort Hood shooter. It sounds like another case of selfish "suicide by cop". Why do these jerks feel they have to take so many people with them?

Dont ya just love that wodl allegdly? Especially when they catch the guy with gun in hand......

If more people would actually serve in the military, they'd understand how bad (and sometimes violent) harassment can be and how very little is done to stop it. They'd also know that psychological illness is still mostly treated as a "weakness" and there isn't much done to help those who need treatment, even if there are problems that are ... See Morerecognized. Often, psych patients are called liars by those who are supposed to treat them, because psych is viewed as a "way to get out" of the military.

The guy snapped. The fact that the wingnut media is making this out to be a Muslim thing is disgusting. Then again, the right rarely gets off their butts to serve their country, so how would they know what it's like?

@Cathie...WELL SPOKEN!!! Couldn't agree with you more.

Cathie, I so appreciate your very thoughtful comments. I wish people would actually take the time to consider the complexity of the issues raised in this tragic situation.

If this guy Kenniff is typical of what Hasan faced when he tried to take action against harassment, I can see how it might eventually have driven him nuts. What a self-righteous, racist jerk, and he doesn't even have the self-awareness to know what he's showing about himself.

Overly sympathetic looking for excuses for this shooter. As far as I can tell at this point it's just another justification of the seperation of church and state and why there is no justification to tolerate people injecting their theological views on others. Especially when it involves anything having to do with govt, policy, ect., theology is a personal choice and we see all to often what happens when people being personal views into situations where those views effect others.

@Cathie! I totally agree with you!...Yesterday I commented on one of NY times update on what was going on in fort hood, and some guy emailed me saying, stop misinforming people and being an active member of the military he can say that "The military as a whole is a large LOVING family full of support from the top down and bottom up."..that maybe ... See Moretrue for some..but my bf is in the military, and he happens to be stationed where suicide rates are at its highest..and i've heard stories not only from him but also from his buddies how shitty they get treated....I'm not sympathetic to the shooter at all, cus it seems premeditated..but for someone whos a pyschiatrist to snap like that.....he must have been really tired of whatever he was going thru and also of being abused.

your military is what keeps your country safe...and the shooter was no more thana terrorist... how appreciating the hand that protects you instead of biting the hand and canabolizing our truely brave men and women in uniform

Cathie you speak the truth and so eloquently at that. One of my Daughters was in the Army and her Daughter is in Army ROTC at University of Cincinnati. She will be going in the Army not only as an officer, but an Aerospace Engineer and possibly a pilot. And, She is only 16! How very proud this grandma is.

Maybe we should all wait until the investigation is completed and we find out a little more from a reputable news source (as in NOT the Faux Losers, Glen BeKKK or Rush Limburger)?

LMAO, you're so clever. Oh yeah, the KKK and islam agree with you gender bender about the "whole death to jews and American infidels, unfortunately for you the rest of America doesn't. You're a DOUCHE BAG who cannot spell... at least not in english

I AM MAD AS HELL AND JUST NEED TO VENT! SO BARE WITH ME WASHINGTON POST!

Everyone that claims to serve our country is not completely brain washed about this war thing! This patriotic praises of protecting our country is a lot of bull!

We can't even protect ourselves in our own country! This great serviceman was educated and trained to study the mind of the military family and he SNAPPED! ... See More

What do you think is happening to these KIDS who are not mentally prepared to do anything except to follow orders..., even if it means walking off a cliff. Our babies are shipped over there to sit and wait for an unexpected bomb to blow then to bits and pieces!

THIS IS MADNESS..., and people are preaching daily .. to continue to send troupes off..., not to a war.., but to be slaughtered..., ALL IN THE NAME OF PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY?

TO ME...,PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY MEANS OUR FIGHTING IN OUR AIR SPACE, IN OUR WATER SPACE, AND AT OUR BORDERS TO AVOID AN INVASION.
BUT ..., NO!

We are being sent to a country to wait on an attack.., just like the one that happen in Fort Hood! Only he used a gun, not a bomb.

How can you fight a war against people in a country whereas the soldiers you are fighting.., look like the citizens you are standing next to..., the people you claim to be supporting? Most countries have a uniform..., you can almost tell when the enemy is approaching..., but what can you tell when the good and the bad all look alike. Maybe the best strategy is for our soldiers to dress like the people of that country.

The attack at Fort Hood..., unexpected! because you can't tell who your enemies are. This makes it a CIVIL WAR. I remember the old days when we were having a CIVIL WAR IN THIS COUNTRY..., you could tell by the sheets and the hoods, who would be more liable to attack you! You knew how to get out of DODGE! The hardest part about that was smiling and grinning in the faces of what you thought were good people... during the day..., and running from the same people during the night.

This is the same kind of civil war they are having in Afghanistan and Iraq. The people they are communicating with at some point..., are the same ones that can walk back upon then with a bomb strapped to their body later on that day.

What we need to do is round up all of the Republicans.., and let McCain and Cheney lead them off to battle.( ...and whats - her- name, can go too)If they think it is such a great deal..., fighting for our country..., then they should be on the FRONT LINE!

Let's stick to the facts: 1. MAJOR NIDAL HASAN IS AMERICAN. He was born in Arlington Virginia. 2. HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF MAJOR LAST MAY. Clearly indicating that he has been serving in our military for sometime. 3. THE BASE COMMANDER OF FT. HOOD LAST NIGHT ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING, "THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT WOULD LEAD US TO CONCLUDE THAT ... See MoreTHIS WAS A TERRORIST EVENT." 4. Other statements report Hasan's effort to remove himself from the army due to "BEING HARRASSED BY FELLOW SERVICEMEN". Racial Bigotry is rampant in our country and the republicans would love to continue dividing our country through fear. Major Hasan was more than likely bullied because of his name and Middle Eastern heritage. That, compounded with the horrific stories he's had to listen to through the soldiers he was treating that were returning from the Middle East made him snap and go "postal". He's a disgrace to the uniform, a murderer, a traitor, but he is still AMERICAN and not some covert foreign cell terrorist extremeist that faux news and the republicans will attempt to poison your mind.5. SEVERAL AMERICAN AND FOREIGN MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DENOUNCED HASAN'S ACTIONS AS DISGRACEFUL. Use your heads and do not speculate with the ill conjecture and lies faux news and the republicans will spew to continue fear mongorring and dividing our country. Remember, he's an AMERICAN born here and if military justice prevails ...he will also die here for his crimes.

Victor Del Mar I agree with you. The truth will set us free. Thanks for stating it.

Hey Victor, thanks for telling it like it is! We all know that what you say is REAL. All these lying azz Republicans are about to make a whole lot of folks SNAP!

These people do not care about facts! They appear to get a kick out of making up lies! Just like that Rush fellow on the radio..., and those right -wing haters in congress. They don't ... See Morecare about the truth..., they just want to divide and conquer..., they want to WIN! They want more money in their own pocket and their friends pocket. These people are dangerous! I am sure this man had problems and I don't doubt that someone triggered him...and took him over the edge! I can't feel sorry for him..., because we are all at war...,and these are the casualties of war. I do hope the people who were killed and the ones who survived are decorated as if they were in war territory..., Give them the purple hearts...,

Victor-I agree with your cogent comments-the only thing I have trouble conceiving of is an Officer being bullied....Yes, there are people who happen to be Officers (and for this matter Psychiatrists) of all types and psychological make ups-but as a Retired Medical Services Corps Officer myself.
Without knowing all the details, which will never ... See Moreall be know, the bullying story is a cover for wanting out before facing the horrors of War, of which this tragic event is just one more horror. I have compassion for the killer, and for all of us, but compassion is not mean I have to buy his story without question. Yesterday afternoon, listening to the NPR update on this tragedy, it finally hit me very hard. I cried as it brought up all of the crap that I have worked so hard at leaving behind since retiring form the Army. War is Hell, and every Hell is very personal and unique.

Did Nidal Malik Hasan stage this massacre to coincide with the scheduled execution of the jihadi sniper called John Allen Muhammad who's slated to be executed on November 10, 2009 in Virginia.

William Beverley- Blanco...no amount of words can express my sympathy towards the baggage you carry for serving defending our country. I am completely in your debt and know humbly appreciative of your service. I have a friend who served two tours in Iraq and lost a kidney. His wife has to deal with his sudden outbursts in the middle of the night ... See Moredue to his experience in the Middle East. War is Hell. We may never know all the details about Major Hasan's tragic event. Still, it remains evident that our serving men and women deserve the greatest attention before being deployed and when they return. God bless you for being a true American, honest and civil with your comments I sincerely thank you.

Wm. Beverly-Blanco, thank you for your service and I related so much to what you stated. I had a very good friend in the Vietnam war and due to him being specialized in some field he couldn't tell me about, he totally went berserk one night when we were giving him a going-away party the 3rd time he was being deployed. We found him in a ditch, ... See Moreshivering, incoherent and absolutely thinking seriously of going AWOL. I will never forget that night as long as I live. War is hell. My middle son was in the Marines for 8 years and honestly, I feel as though I walked it with him. He tried to keep stuff from me but I'm a nosy parent and wanted him to get it out instead of it driving him crazy being locked up inside. I was angry when hearing about the tragic events at Ft. Hood and so many people were speculating about a motive. A motive is kind of crazy in itself, there is no motive that could justify killing innocent people. None. I am sorry that you still have to deal with all the stuff going on inside of you. I can tell by your comment your war that you're fighting every day still has not beaten you. Thank God, you have compassion and a depth that a lot of people won't understand. Bc going thru that kind of stuff either makes you or breaks you. I am glad that it made you the person you are. God bless you and yours always.

To Victor and Teresa-Thank You for your kind words.
In the midst of chaos we must be still and reserve judgement...(Easier said than done) just this morning I read in the Post about Maj. Hassan being bullied and harrased at his off-post apt in a seedy part of town-his car being keyed etc. So I stand corrected and will endeavor to learn from this.
... See MoreThe repercussions of these Wars upon American will be with us long after they are over(if they ever will truly be....) far longer than the Debt and the Destruction. The repercussions will be with us in the Veterans, who have survived physically but are maimed, both physically and psychologically. How we as a nation care for and treat our veterans in our communities, not just our grossly underresourced VA hospitals, will be a greater testament of who we are as a people, than all of the ideological blathering that goes on and consumes so much energy and space.
May God(However you conceive of it/him/her) Bless us All, cause we sure as hell need all the blessings we can get.

If you really need the money, go work a street corner.

Here's an interesting read (altho I wd've written it w less gloss & ideological tunnelling thruout but esp in the 1st few chapters; at the time, all in this bk was written w/o those things - very scary how fast we forget) ""The Man Who Sold the World: Ronalk Reagan & the Betrayal of Main Street America," William Kleinknecht, Nation Books, 2009.

I remember going through Check Point Charlie in December, 1977 when I was 19 years old. I can recall intimidating armed guards cautiously letting us drive through into this country that I only remember in colors: gray, brown, black. People there looked like they were living 30 years behind us. In West Germany, life was vibrant. In East Germany time stood still.

I ran a yellow light which turned red light and I got a $75.00 ticket!!!

@Lori Ward, I totally agree about the SW/SE camera. I got caught by that one. I never get caught speeding because I routinely do just less than they will get you for. I thought I was going a normal speed for that area, but apparently, it's not a highway...Stupid DC