Wednesday
Nov182009
Lieberman Calls Ft. Hood Shooting “Most Destructive” Terrorist Attack Since 9/11
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 1:20PM
By Meagan Wiseley - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) Wednesday called the shootings carried out by Major Nidal Hasan at Fort Hood Army Base earlier this month the “most destructive terrorist attack on America since 2001.”
Lieberman said the Senate Homeland Security Committee will begin an investigation into the shootings to determine if they could have been avoided.
“We are interested in getting the facts and correcting the system so that our government can provide the best homeland security possible for the American people,” Lieberman said during an afternoon press conference, “At the completion of the investigation the committee will issue a report and recommendations.”
Lieberman said the investigation will focus on answering two specific questions: did the Federal Government know information concerning Major Hasan that could have prevented the attack on Fort Hood, and, how does this incident affect the government’s understanding and enforcement of “home grown Islamic terrorism” in the U.S.?
A Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on the Fort Hood attacks was initially scheduled for Wednesday, but has been postponed until the following day.
“Our hearing tomorrow will begin with a focus on what we know on the public record about the Fort Hood attack and Nidal Hasan,” Lieberman added.
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) Wednesday called the shootings carried out by Major Nidal Hasan at Fort Hood Army Base earlier this month the “most destructive terrorist attack on America since 2001.”
Lieberman said the Senate Homeland Security Committee will begin an investigation into the shootings to determine if they could have been avoided.
“We are interested in getting the facts and correcting the system so that our government can provide the best homeland security possible for the American people,” Lieberman said during an afternoon press conference, “At the completion of the investigation the committee will issue a report and recommendations.”
Lieberman said the investigation will focus on answering two specific questions: did the Federal Government know information concerning Major Hasan that could have prevented the attack on Fort Hood, and, how does this incident affect the government’s understanding and enforcement of “home grown Islamic terrorism” in the U.S.?
A Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on the Fort Hood attacks was initially scheduled for Wednesday, but has been postponed until the following day.
“Our hearing tomorrow will begin with a focus on what we know on the public record about the Fort Hood attack and Nidal Hasan,” Lieberman added.
Pentagon Moving Forward With Fort Hood Recommendations
These recommendations include the expansion of eGuardian, an FBI run threat detection and tracking system, increased information sharing between law enforcement agencies within the military and new policies for weapons privately owned by those who live on-base.
The independent review, which was spearheaded by former Secretary of the Army Togo West and retired Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vernon Clark, issued the 79 recommendations in a report this January. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has taken issue with the report for not specifically addressing Islamist extremism.
The November 5th shooting was carried out by Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army Major and psychologist reported to have ties with a controversial former Imam in Yemen. Hasan killed 13 and wounded 30 others.
Actions on the remaining recommendations will be announced by June.