Sen. Joe Lieberman called the Fort Hood massacre an act of “Islamist extremism” – even as top Army brass warned today against guessing at a motive, fearing backlash against Muslim soldiers.
“There are very, very strong warning signs here that Dr. Hasan had become an Islamist extremist and, therefore, that this was a terrorist act,” Lieberman (I-Conn) told Fox News today.
“If the reports that we’re receiving of various statements he made, acts he took are valid, he had turned to Islamist extremism.”
Lieberman, the former Democratic vice presidential candidate, chairs the Senate Homeland Security committee.
Nidal Malik Hasan, the Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 people and wounding 30 more on Thursday, reportedly expressed moral concerns about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lieberman’s comments were in stark contrast to U.S. Army chief of staff George Casey, who told CNN he’s deeply worried “that the speculation could cause something that we don’t want to see happen.”
“It would be a shame – as great a tragedy as this was – it would be a shame if our diversity became a casualty as well,” Casey said.
The former Iraq war commander said on ABC that focusing on Hasan’s religious roots might “heighten the backlash” against all Muslims serving in the armed forces.
Some 3,500 people who identify themselves as Muslim serve in the U.S. armed forces. Experts suggest there are actually many more Muslim soldiers, but they are too fearful to openly declare their faith.
An Army chaplain asked worshipers at Fort Hood to pray for the victims of the tragedy – and also for Hasan and his family.
“Lord, all those around us search for motive, search for meaning, search for something, someone to blame. That is so frustrating,” Col. Frank Jackson told a group of about 120 people gathered at the post’s chapel.
“Lord, teach us to love and pray for those who rise up against us and pray for those who do us harm. We pray for Maj. Hasan.”
{NY Daily News/Matzav.com Newscenter}
Thank You B. Hussein Obama for your twisted view of diversity.
Christians are nuts! do they pray for osama bin ladin too? We pray for them, that they perish!
#1, what does obama have to do with top army brass having a valid concern for other servicemen who happen to be musslim?
also, its too bad the frum communty was so vile and mean to joe lieberman both when he was the vice presidential nominee and when he ran for president. what could have been…