Off the Record
Investigators must trace Nidal Hasan's connections
Which narrative about Nidal Hasan, the alleged Fort Hood killer, is more credible?
Maladjusted loner, Army shrink overcome by the stress of dealing with traumatized soldiers, in need of mental health help himself?
Or jihadist striking a dramatic blow against the enemies of his faith?
As more information surfaces, the picture will come into clearer focus.
A Dallas Morning News report reveals a new line of inquiry: whether Hasan was sending money to militant Islamic groups in Pakistan.
Combined with his e-mails to radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen, who praised Hasan as a hero, this could provide further clues about motivation.
President Obama's remarks at Fort Hood Tuesday seemed to indicate he believes the shootings were driven by religious conviction.
"It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy," he said. "But this much we do know: no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor. And for what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice—in this world, and the next."
My take from that: He's suggesting the killer believed his faith does justify his "murderous" acts, and that his death will result in reward in the next world. Obama is refuting the truth of such belief. Unfortunately, the president is not likely to change any minds among the jihadists of the world.
Investigators need to keep pulling threads to discover what connections Hasan had to radicals here and abroad.
It's too bad those threads could not have been tied together in time to stop this man from allegedly carrying out whatever mission he was on.
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