4PM :::CNN is updating site on regular basis, 11 Dead, and On shooter dead, 2 More Shooters in custody, more than 31 wounded. Please click title for updates.Shooting occurred at the Readiness Center. Scott&White Hospital near Temple ( 20 minutes from area) is receiving Victims, they are in need of Blood, ALL Types. Please contact them if you are in area and can give blood.
ScottWhite Hospital Contact Information , please do check WHERE to go to give Blood, as they don't want ER flooded. You can also call 254-724-4097 to learn more about Blood Donating, the Hospital needs ALL Types. Round Rock Hospital is now also recieving Gun Shot Victims, I will post that info when I get it.
About Needed Blood::
5:30PM One Alleged Primary Shooter is named by CNN as Major Malik Nadal Hassan (39 or 40 years old) , two others are being held as well. Hassan was shot and killed at scene.He supposedly used two handguns, but details are still coming forth.
6:30PM His name is listed two different ways, also Major Nadil Malik Hassan has a Virginia Psychiatrist , drug rehab specialist, and also worked with PTSD, and it is unclear how many tours he had already done, he was on his way to Iraq. Rather than a Political or Religous Motive, I hope that the PTSD issue is scrutinized closer.He worked at Walter Reed, no details of his life or family at this time. ( Updates from Twitter,Jeremy Schahill and Paul Reikoff) Here is his WalterReed /DC address
MSNBC has footage of first Texas Interview.
Please do not flood region with phone messages. Please do TEXT, as this will free up phone lines.
You can also contact Red Cross and list your status as safe or leave messages They provide this service during crisis or disaster.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6:30PM Update:::
Photos from Fort Hood
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Breaking News on Rachel at 9PM
During the Maddow show it was revealed that the Shooter is a Psychiatrist and has been working at Water Reed for the past 5 years, and is single and lives alone. He worked with PTSD patients at the StressCenter. We also learned that he is indeed injured and alive, and did survive the attacks, it is odd that we were led to believe for many hours that he was dead or had committed suicide. I am unclear as to what the Facts are and am merely for now posting what is being revealed on Rachel.
More about the Breaking News about the Shooter (YahooNews), YahooNews Report:: This is very strange how now they are re-writing the history of this event , I am having Tillman worries....
Questions about the Shooter
(1) Was he caring for mostly PTSD Patients from Iraq ? Had he himself done any tours in Iraq ? As a Caregiver, he mostly likely could have had a Caseload of up to 700 patients at one time ( that is the Average Caseload for VA Psychological Workers). Dod he have enough support ? Help with his caseload ? Enough Rest and Respite time ? ( Even Caregivers need support and strong work Environment. Lack of Staff and Increased Stress can indeed enable a Dangerous situation. Were any of those killed or wounded his patients ? Was he forced by HigherUps to let PTSD Sufferers return to Iraq ?
10PM UPDATE FROM LA TIMES::
reveals more neewly released info from the Army. (Interesting we have Seen NO statement by Army or Base or Pentagon Folks, or even Gates. So sadly it is just Media Punditheads "reporting" or "speculating".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More from Huffington Post about the Status of the Shooter, raises more questions.
(2) At this point PTSD sufferers are also causing a ripple effect in families ( Military is even studying PTSD in families and caregivers and have not made that Research of Stufies public ). There comes a point when Caregivers Need Care too. I am still curious did he serve in Iraq yet- was this his first time after caring for PTSD patients for 5 years , it makes sense he would be very leery of Iraq. Also has he served on any Rendtition missions ? or at Gitmo ? ( it is a valid question)
(3) In 2007 the Military was giving a variety of Drugs to PTSD patients, including Chantix, and Zoloft that were causing increased Homicidal and Suicidal Urges. ( again this has not been publicly revealed or announced, but I reasarched it in 2008)
(4) Many of the Bases have been coping with Increased Suicides and Acts, and Homicides as well. PTSD needs more funding and study. People with PTSD should not be in Military or returning to Iraq.
(5) The Number of Military Suicides exceeds Civilian Rate... ( WSJ article)
(6) This WaPo Article was posted after MN, About Increased Strain at Fort Hood, due to repeated Deployments. A startlingly honest article about Mental Health Issues for this Base and the Miltiary.
Snippet:::
"This year, 117 active-duty Army soldiers were reported to have committed suicide, with 81 of those cases confirmed -- up from 103 suicides during the same period last year. Ten suicides have been reported at Fort Hood this year; more than 75 of its personnel have committed suicide since 2003. Fort Hood's high number of suicides is also linked to the fact that it is the Army's largest base, with more than 53,000 soldiers.An estimated 30 percent of those returning from combat suffer mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Such problems grow worse with repeated deployments and the constant exposure to danger and the sights, smells and emotions of seeing others killed or wounded, according to Army mental health surveys."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4AM LA Times update About the Shooter, the Doctor and what led to this moment, that is known so far. Still no information on wounded or their conditions, and Still No Statement by Gates.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will be posting more information and research related to PTSD here later tonight.
I sincerely hope that Counseling is being offered to the families at Fort Hood after this traumatic tragic event.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will leave you with this video for the night and some thoughts. We are currently in TWO misguided Botched Warzones right now. The Consequnces have been huge, millions are effected all over the world, but also here at home, think on this the Soldiers come home and see their families abandoned as they lose Jobs, Healthcare and Homes.They themselves come home suffering PTSD, and recieve little if any treatment and can not find work or feel good about their "work" in Iraq or Afghanistan. And add to this, 40,000 of them or more are DISABLED by PTSD, their futures are ruined ( unless they get Proper Compassionate Care.)Suicide Rates within the Military and Homicide Rates are up in the Military, and these issues must be acknowledged. So I leave you with this song as I pray for the Wounded, the Dead, and the families connected to Fort Hood.
John Denver " Where have all the Flowers gone"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 AM friday update
HuffingtonPost has more this am about the Condition of the Shooter, it is still unclear why they thought he was dead. He is on a ventilator after being shot 4 times. Over nite the number of dead rose to 13 and 28 wounded. Still unclear of wounds to Shooter,and if any were self inflicted (ie brain wound?) .Also were any of those shot people he knew and worked with.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12 Noon:::
This a photographer's account of what happened when she went to photograph at Fort Hood.
17 comments:
I'll wait and see what facts are presented to us. When I think of the Brass telling the truth I think of the U.S.S. Iowa, U.S.S. Liberty and Pat Tillman. It may take a while to get at the truth of the matter.
My Father's 1st duty station was FT. Hood and all 5 of my siblings were born there.
Peace.
Looks like an Army Doctor went crazy,
things we know, or think we know...
1) he is a native born American Muslim
2) he seems to have been taken over by PTSD
3) he apparently posted some suicide bomber comments on the web
4) he really did not want to deploy to Iraq
This is the kind of crazy stress which is brought on by the useless war in Iraq We DON'T need to be there
This stupid behavior will make it harder for the Muslim folk honorably serving in our armed forces...
Damn you George Bush
tominseattle
TOM:
I am please asking for NO ANTI-MUSLIM rhetoric on or near my blog-THIS is not a Muslim issue., this is a Human Condition issue. He was a Medical Worker, a Doctor. WHO was not getting the care or support he needed to do his job.
Before any of us rushes to judge him as a person, a medical doctor, or a human- we need FACTS. There fore we can not judge him...especially if he is or was suffering PTSD.
PTSD does cause homicidal urges and suicidal urges and sadly some of the MEDS for it also Increase those urges ( Chantix, Zoloft). PTSD has gotten very little , hardly any coverage in the MSM for over 5 years...and this was an event that was long coming..esp as Fort Hood is one such base with Sky High PTSD and Suicides.
as a Psychiatrist HOW many of those patients of his with PTSD was he required to SEND back to Iraq and clear for duty. Were ANY of those shot today his patients ? Was he on Chantix or other such med to 'cope" with his job.
Its not "crazy",
( And Let's be real- this time yesterday he was still caring for PTSD patients as a Medical Doctor at WaterReed...HE is a Caregiver )
Other questions:
Has he done time already in Iraq ? Has he done time in Gitmo ? Many Medical Ppl were sent there that we do not know about, and they are Damaged.
Its PTSD, many vets and yes even caregivers of PTSD are vulnerable to this condition, esp if unsupported and not staffed, each VA mental Health worker takes care of up to 700 ppl ( that is not care-McDonalds gives better "care").
I have studied PTSD for years, more than 5 since I first did Pet Therapy with VETS here in Cleveland, and I have spent years trying to get a job working with PTSD patients , while doing research on PTSD and VA Centers on it, and also on PTSD programs and care, I can tell you it is grossely underfunded and the lack of care is sickening.
More than 45,000 are currently suffering , more than 98,000 have been declared Disabled with it over the past 10 years- these are ALL Vets.
I think we need to see if we get Facts and truth or will the Military try to paint it as a Muslim issue- I pray not, but I am worried since I heard they are bringing FBI Interrogators to FtHood- THIS is not good news, they should be bring Counselors and Mental health Workers NOW tonight....
Think about what I wrote.
carefully.
TOM ::
One more thing:
about the "bomber" comments- I am reserving judgement - remember how the Military SPUN the Tillmand Death ? and yeah-it was Information released by THE Shitty AP....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Human:::
I agree with you...about the Military having great difficulty telling the truth. and am waiting to see what the truth is, and what the facts really are.
and yes, I don't want to see anyone painted as something they are not - esp if we do not know the truth....
as a NURSE I can not "judge" a doctor until I know what happened...sorry but I can't...
If he had a caseload of 700 patients, that is outrageous.
PTSD is very treatable.
But you have to treat it correctly, not ass-backwards.
NBFH:
oh, thank you I should have mentioned that, yes, it is treatable and needs treatment- but those that suffer also are rarely given the care they need. and one psychologist I corresponded with also pointed out that Care that is given is so that the patient can be found to be well enough to be sent BACK...
but at this point after multiple deploys the families and caregivers need care and support too...
Medical Workers are witnessing the worst of it...
without enough support...
On another note- I am worried that the MSM will paint him as "crazy" or "muslim" or Politically motivated" when maybe none of those apply...
we need the truth...
2:30 AM...
what do we know >
Facts via MSNBC and CNN::::
He was single, born and raised in US, and family is of Jordan descent. There was a photo of him at 7/11...wearing garb- white robe and cap. Not sure if this was his prayer wear or just what he wore at home.
His family is dead-parents- cousins have given statements- one cousin said that he did not want to go to iraq and did feel that he had been harrassed as a muslim in the military.He has also voiced concerns about being sent to Iraq, and had been trying to get out of the Miltary ( unclear if he owed them from his education, 6 years at WalterReed). It was said that he had had some negative work reviews at Walter Reed.
He did work at Darnell Hospital in Texas ( near fthood mile away). What happened today? the tape of him he looks relaxed, not tense or worried. Did he get some news or a letter that pushed him over the edge. It is still a question if he knew ANY of those he shot ? How did he get a Semiautomatic in there ? 12 dead, 31 injured, still no names.
(It is unclear if he had any support, friends, or anyone to talk to, it sounds strange that the Caregivers would not have anyone to talk to- but this might indeed be the case)
I hope and pray that he just snapped that he did not this as a Muslim...that he did this as a broken lonely sad man.
****
1997 graduate of Virginia Tech...and all medical training was at Walter Reed.
ok tom..maybe you were trying to just point out his Muslim heritage, but aftter watching Twitter and Fox I was concerned you were raising it as part to the issue. It seems I was reading too much into your statements...
I do worry that he as a medical professional snapped...it is also sadly clear that NO ONE is taking care of the medical professionals themselves...and that PTSD is still an issue...there is a ripple effect that can occur when Caregivers care for people with it- it has only been studied by WalterReed on families..but maybe there is more of an affect then we know..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One more update note::::
Hassan is stable was shot multiple times...
that is what they said at 10pm.
One last thought:::
after seeing him in the am....
I still ponder - was he appealing his Deployment ?
did he recieve some major news today..did Something Happen..???
5PM update::
First I need to apologize to Tom and some other folks, for being snippy/grumpy...
here is the thing- it just really is disheartening he was a Doctor...and that he did this..and the MSMpunditheads were all over the Muslim issue, and his background and his name...
And it was really angering- that no one would look past that for a motive...or a reason...
Now that being said..
What we have learned- which frankly is not much..or enough...
(1) He is indeed a devout muslim...
(2) He had been trying to get out of the Military because he did not want to deploy to Iraq or Afganistan...
(3) That he did indeed not support either war zone- and that he was public about it.
(4) I am still confused if he had any support or was evaluated "for fitness" to serve in a War zone...there has not been any discussion on that.
He remains Unconscious and on a ventilator with 4 gunshot wounds, I am confused what is his status.
No one has said if he left a note or any kind of warning.
He did give away furniture the night before.
His neighbors and workplace ( Darnellb Hospital) ,we have not seen any of these people publicly interviewed -unknown if authorities did interview.
No Apology EVER necessary, this is YOUR home you get to make the rules
but thanks for seeing what I was saying..
Tom
I read an article today some of the others who were shot may have encountered "friendly fire"... as you pointed out why was the military not making a statement.
Looks like they are getting their story straight , first.
For lots of soldiers, being redeployed is the thing that puts them over the edge.
partI AP::
Suspect told 'There's something wrong with you'
By ANGELA K. BROWN and ALLEN G. BREED (Associated Press Writers)
From Associated Press
November 08, 2009 12:57 AM EST
FORT HOOD, Texas - There was the classroom presentation that justified suicide bombings. Comments to colleagues about a climate of persecution faced by Muslims in the military. Conversations with a mosque leader that became incoherent.
As a student, some who knew Nidal Malik Hasan said they saw clear signs the young Army psychiatrist - who authorities say went on a shooting spree at Fort Hood that left 13 dead and 29 others wounded - had no place in the military. After arriving at Fort Hood, he was conflicted about what to tell fellow Muslim soldiers about the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, alarming an Islamic community leader from whom he sought counsel.
"I told him, `There's something wrong with you,'" Osman Danquah, co-founder of the Islamic Community of Greater Killeen, told The Associated Press on Saturday. "I didn't get the feeling he was talking for himself, but something just didn't seem right."
Danquah assumed the military's chain of command knew about Hasan's doubts, which had been known for more than a year to classmates in a graduate military medical program. His fellow students complained to the faculty about Hasan's "anti-American propaganda," but said a fear of appearing discriminatory against a Muslim student kept officers from filing a formal written complaint.
"The system is not doing what it's supposed to do," said Dr. Val Finnell, who studied with Hasan from 2007-2008 in the master's program in public health at the military's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. "He at least should have been confronted about these beliefs, told to cease and desist, and to shape up or ship out."
Military criminal investigators continued late Saturday to refer to Hasan as the only suspect in the shootings, declining to say when charges would be filed. "We have not established a motive for the shootings at this time," said Army Criminal Investigative Command spokesman Chris Grey.
Part II of AP article late sat,nite...
A government official speaking on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the case said an initial review of Hasan's computer use has found no evidence of links to terror groups, or anyone who might have helped plan or push him toward the shooting attack. The review of Hasan's computer is continuing and more evidence could emerge, the source said.
Hasan likely would face military justice rather than federal criminal charges if investigators determine the violence was the work of just one person.
But Hasan's family described a man incapable of the attack, calling him a devoted doctor and devout Muslim who showed no signs that he might lash out with violence.
"I've known my brother Nidal to be a peaceful, loving and compassionate person who has shown great interest in the medical field and in helping others," said his brother, Eyad Hasan, of Sterling, Va., in a statement. "He has never committed an act of violence and was always known to be a good, law-abiding citizen."
Others recalled a pleasant neighbor who forgave a fellow soldier charged with tearing up his "Allah is Love" bumper sticker. A superior officer at Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, Col. Kimberly Kesling, has said Hasan was a quiet man with a strong work ethic who provided excellent care for his patients.
Still, in the days since authorities believe Hasan fired more than 100 rounds in a soldier processing center at Fort Hood in the worst mass shooting on a military facility in the U.S., a picture has emerged of a man who was forcefully opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, was trying to get out of his late November deployment to Afghanistan and had struggled professionally in his work as an Army psychiatrist.
"He told (them) that as a Muslim committed to his prayers he was discriminated against and not treated as is fitting for an officer and American," said Mohammed Malik Hasan, 24, a cousin, told the AP from his home on the outskirts of the Palestinian city of Ramallah. "He hired a lawyer to get him a discharge."
Twice this summer, Danquah said, Hasan asked him what to tell soldiers who expressed misgivings about fighting fellow Muslims. The retired Army first sergeant and Gulf War veteran said he reminded Hasan that these soldiers had volunteered to fight, and that Muslims were fighting against each other in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories.
Part III::::AP story Nov.7th
"But what if a person gets in and feels that it's just not right?" Danquah recalled Hasan asking him.
"I'd give him my response. It didn't seem settled, you know. It didn't seem to satisfy," he said. "It would be like a person playing the devil's advocate. ... I said, `Look. I'm not impressed by you.'"
Danquah said he was so disturbed by Hasan's persistent questioning that he recommended the mosque reject Hasan's request to become a lay Muslim leader at Fort Hood. But he never saw a need to tell anyone at the sprawling Army post about the talks, because Hasan never expressed anger toward the Army or indicated any plans for violence.
"If I had an inkling that he had this type of inclination or intentions, definitely I would have brought it to their attention," he said.
Finnell said he did just that during a year of study in which Hasan made a presentation "that justified suicide bombing" and spewed "anti-American propaganda" as he argued the war on terror was "a war against Islam." Finnell said he and at least one other student complained about Hasan, surprised that someone with "this type of vile ideology" would be allowed to wear an officer's uniform.
But Finnell said no one filed a formal, written complaint about Hasan's comments out of fear of appearing discriminatory.
"In retrospect, I'm not surprised he did it," Finnell said. "I had real questions about what his priorities were, what his beliefs were."
Hasan received a poor performance evaluation while at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly. And while he was an intern at the suburban Washington hospital, Hasan had some "difficulties" that required counseling and extra supervision, said Dr. Thomas Grieger, who was the training director at the time.
Hasan was promoted from captain to major in 2008, the same year he graduated from the master's program. Bernard Rostker, a military personnel expert at the Rand Corp., said Hasan's advancement was all but certain absent a serious blemish on his record, such as a DUI or a drug charge.
"We're short of officers, particularly at the major and lieutenant colonel level because of the war, and we're short of psychiatrists," said Rostker, who served as under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness during the Clinton administration. "There would have had to be something very detrimental in his record before there would have been a banner that would have said, 'No, we don't want to promote him.'"
Both military and civilian investigators have yet to talk with Hasan, who reportedly jumped up on a desk and shouted "Allahu akbar!" - Arabic for "God is great!" - at the start of Thursday's attack. He was seriously wounded by police and transferred Friday to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, and officials said late Saturday he was no longer on a respirator.
"Hopefully, they can put together the pieces and find out what in the world was in his mind and why he went crazy," Danquah said. "Aaaaah, it's sad. Those soldiers could have been my soldiers."
---
Associated Press Writers Dalia Nammari in Ramallah, West Bank, and Devlin Barrett, Richard Lardner, Pamela Hess and Jessica Gresko in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.
Post a Comment