Report on Fort Hood terrorist attack raises questions

Congressmen John Carter (R-TX), Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) sent a letter Friday to the Honorable Eric Holder, Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice requesting answers about the Justice Department’s actions with regard to the investigation and trial of Major Nadal Hasan, the soldier accused of killing 14 people, including an unborn child, on November 5, 2009 on Fort Hood.

The Congressmen are committed to finding out why the Obama Administration will not label the attack as a terrorist attack instead of “workplace” violence. A label of “terrorist attack” would enable those injured in the assault to receive a Purple Heart, along with other valuable and needed benefits. The letter also addresses the administrative and intelligence failures by the government that lead up to the attack.

In an ABC Nightline report, Army Secretary John McHugh stated that declaring Maj. Hasan a terrorist would have a “profound effect on the ability to conduct a trial.” This comment brings to question if the Justice Department has provided direction to the Defense Department on whether or not Maj. Hasan should be charged or labeled a terrorist.

“The men and women who lost their lives, at the hand of this terrorist, those who were injured and the families they left behind from this attack deserve our due diligence and respect on this matter” said Chairman Carter. “There was an obvious lapse in intelligence leading up to this attack as well as a determination within the Obama Administration to prevent this attack from being called what it truly was- a terrorist attack.”

The letter, with questions included, was sent to Attorney General Holder from Congressmen Carter, McCaul and Wolf who are expecting a prompt response from the Attorney General.