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Tragedy at Fort Hood

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2009

Details are sketchy, but the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, appear to be a brazen attack on the largest U.S. Army base in the world.

At least 12 people were killed and more than 30 were injured when someone opened fire at a base readiness center, where soldiers receive treatment before being shipped overseas, including to Iraq and Afghanistan.

A suspect, identified as Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was shot and hospitalized and two other soldiers were questioned and released. Hasan was identified as a psychiatrist and was said to be upset about being deployed to the Mideast. Hasan, who was assigned to a base hospital, apparently used two handguns, one a semiautomatic, in the rampage.

Motives are unclear, but whether this was a senseless act of a deranged individual or part of a well-organized attack, the military probably needs to further bolster its security and personnel practices.

It faces a tough task if even veteran officers are not to be trusted.

But the nation must do whatever is necessary to protect our brave troops, who face enough dangers in the world, from such senseless carnage.

As President Obama put it, "These are men and women who made the selfless and courageous decision" to risk their lives in the service of the nation. "It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil."

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