Puzzling Grounds
Intelligence Officer Questions Ft. Hood Shooting
“We Were Soldiers,” a film about the Vietnam War, argued that American GIs “… went to war because our country ordered us to, but in the end, we fought not for our country or our flag, we fought for each other.” We all know the story: Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan, an Army psychiatrist of Jordanian-Palestinian ancestry, allegedly committed a horrendous act of murder at Ft. Hood, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2009. Twelve U.S. soldiers and one DOD employee were killed in a hail of gunfire from this apparent mass murderer. My initial reactions was this story stinks, makes no sense, and is all too convenient as public support for the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are hitting bottom.
Intelligence Officer Questions Ft. Hood Shooting
“We Were Soldiers,” a film about the Vietnam War, argued that American GIs “… went to war because our country ordered us to, but in the end, we fought not for our country or our flag, we fought for each other.”
We all know the story: Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan, an Army psychiatrist of Jordanian-Palestinian ancestry, allegedly committed a horrendous act of murder at Ft. Hood, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2009. Twelve U.S. soldiers and one DOD employee were killed in a hail of gunfire from this apparent mass murderer. My initial reactions was this story stinks, makes no sense, and is all too convenient as public support for the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are hitting bottom. For several days I have pondered this gut wrenching ordeal and put several scenarios to play in my mind. It’s easy to do as I spent 10 long years at Ft. Hood, and have a head full of gray hair to prove it! Nearly half of this time I was in 2-5 Cavalry, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in the S2 shop as an Intelligence Analyst, the remaining time I was part of 3rd Corps staff, and then in 3rd Signal Brigade, all in the S2/Intelligence shops. These killing grounds were my stomping grounds. My unit was across the street from the Soldier Readiness Center (then known as The Sports Dome) and Howze theater. I could not count how many times I’ve been in those buildings, grounds, and ran PT up and down Battalion Avenue over those years.
Look, I know too well that soldiers have fights, and can basically dislike each other. However, no matter how many times I was at odds with my former boss’s, and they me, I never ever would think of taking up arms against them! In fact, as time goes on, soldiers develop a love, and respect for each other. I’ve been to numerous Soldier Readiness Activities at the Soldier Readiness Centers/Programs (SRP), preparing us for deploying for many months at a time to places Ft. Hood veterans know well: Bosnia, Kuwait, NTC, and since 2004, Iraq. Basically, in the SRP routine is a day spent shuffling from station to station checking this or that block, getting this or that task done (http://www.transchool.eustis.army.mil/UMOD/Guide/j.html); for example, a soldier’s, especially a young soldier’s, pride and joy is his POV (aka car). This is perhaps all he or she “owns” and loves. I know, I was there, when I was a young PFC and SPC, this is all I had, the car, my stereo, and TV. And, I wanted to make sure this stuff was secure and cared for when I was gone on my first deployment to Costa Rica back in 1989. So, sitting in this SRP, soldiers can rest assured that their possessions are under lock and key when they are gone.
In this SRP, this day, after lunch, supposedly walked Maj. Hassan with a 5.7mm pistol, and a .357 revolver, got on a table and shouted “Allah Akbar,” and started gunning down his peers, his friends, his co-workers; the ones he has entrusted to care for as a doctor! This scene just does not add up! First of all, was Maj. Hassan there for what reason, getting ready to deploy, or provide counseling to those soon to ship out? What was his motivation? What were his demands? No one knows, and I fear no one will ever know. The official story from Ft. Hood kept changing; three shooters were there, and one was dead; then, one was caught at the golf course, and shuttled off base in a non-military sedan after being arrested. Being an Intelligence Analyst, I had to think like the enemy would think. For me, this was studying Soviet doctrine, reading who’s who in their Army, knowing the difference between a Guards unit and regular Army unit: How far can a 2S-5 shoot? How fast can a T-72 go? And that the rear doors to a BMP are filled with fuel, so all war plans are tabulated in conjunction with the S-3 to give to our Scouts and fire teams this little gem of information that these rear doors are an easy shot as they are filled with fuel.
Today, I think about the scene of Sept. 11, 2001, often, and recently this new wrinkle in this ongoing battle for truth in a sea of lies. Part of this thinking is putting on the White and Red hats and war-gaming the scene. Suppose our Army investigators and FBI Crime Scene Unit personnel look at it like this when investigating the events that day — every angle has to be looked at — there can be no room for dismissing any possible explanation. I wonder if perhaps Maj. Hassan was warned that there could be trouble at the SRP center, where he was going in preparation for deployment, or was he going to assist in preparing soldiers for deploying? Was he was advised to carry a gun to protect against anyone who might plan to shoot him or others at the center, including a terrorist — perhaps disguised as a lady cop? The lady cop was given similar instructions. Was she warned that there was a crazy Muslim in uniform who was planning to shoot the place up? She went to the center and came in contact with Hassan, he reacted and then they shot each other up… At that point, the shooters designated to create the real carnage opened up and blasted away, using frangible bullets in the 5.7mm caliber, so that they could not be traced to any particular barrel. Other angles are possible. For instance, he may not have had the 5.7 in his possession at all, and the lady cop could have been shot by other shooters with that caliber. So Hassan may not have fired a single shot. If this played out this way, the confusion would be complete; no one would be able to offer a credible story due to the many conflicting stories that surely would come out. (Note: this is a strictly hypothetical analysis, meant in no way to impugn the reputation of Sgt. Kim Munley.)
I was a training NCO in Germany for three years, and we had doctors on our staff. I was responsible to get them to the annual range to fire their assigned weapons. The typical doctor visited the range once a year, qualified, then cleaned his weapon (usually a 9mm), and we proceed to “check that block” as being weapons qualified. So, for me to believe this Major walked in with two pistols, and unloaded on his buddies is hard to swallow — not just in the notion of soldier on soldier violence, but also that he was a Muslim and spouted his hatred for Americans and America by this act we all abhor. What is also hard to believe is this guy was not jumped and taken down by his fellow soldiers — many of which are surely combat veterans! I am not faulting any of my peers, just that this official story, often changed in the first six-to-12 hours does not make sense. When the alleged shooters name was mentioned in the news as being a Muslim, I knew the die was set, and the average American would adopt a more hardline attitude toward Muslims. When I was in Iraq, many Muslims I met didn’t look the part of the terrorist bogey man; in fact, they loved their families and homes, and country much like we do! And, seeing the tears flow from Maj. Hassan’s cousin (or brother) on TV hours after this tragedy, it’s hard for me to demonize these people.
There is something that happens to a soldier on the battlefield that cannot be fully shared with others unless you were there; that is the bond and love soldiers feel for each other when harm and danger are your constant companions — even in areas that we think are ‘safe.’ When incoming fire is received, and people are wounded and killed something happens to the soldier — there is no fighting for this or that political view, or agenda, or even flag. You work for your buddy; he (and she) works for you. I recall vividly my trip into Iraq in January 2004 — just months after the invasion of Iraq. I looked at my fellow soldiers for the first time and saw an age difference in me and them. Many of them were in their early 20s. I was the same age then as MAJ Hassan is today. I certainly didn’t want anything to happen to them that would rob them of living their lives, having children, or returning home wounded or worse, robbed of victory when a chance could come where we’d have to fight. I saw for the first time a parental view for my young friends in uniform, even my boss was younger than I! My years of experience, information, and knowledge were needed, and I willingly gave. We had to be ready; we were ready. It’s because the fact that we were soldiers is why I write this, dedicated to my dead brothers and sisters in arms, not just to the recent dead at Ft. Hood, but to the near forgotten ones like Cpl. Pat Tillman whom evidence suggests was assassinated by a hit team for having views that didn’t fit in with the official view. Also, we must extend to Maj. Hassan the same considerations, as he likely is a Patsy, and likely has a vastly different story if one were allowed to interview him. But, he lays in BAMC just 23 miles from my home, hopefully under guard several layers deep so he doesn’t suffer a fate similar to other Patsy’s in these kinds of operations.
My question to my fellow Americans is, “Who would benefit from shooting up American soldiers? And, who has benefitted from this event?” My buddies in U.S. Army uniforms didn’t. Maj. Hassan and his Muslim faith didn’t, so, who is benefitting? I hope for a fair and complete investigation into this mess, but, sadly I am certain we will get the same thing as what we got in the 9/11 Investigation.
(SFC Donald Buswell is a retired 96B Intelligence Analyst, 21 years’ active duty U.S. Army.)
