The trial of accused Fort Hood shooter US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan is set to begin at the end of May.
Hasan faces 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting spree…
Proceedings have been delayed several times due to legal wrangling over his beard.
Because when 13 14 people are killed in a US Army processing line in Texas, that’s important.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Department of Defense has told Congress that their bills aimed at granting combat wounded status — Purple Hearts — to the victims of the Fort Hood massacre would prejudice his court-martial:
Passage of this legislation could directly and indirectly influence potential court-martial panel members, witnesses, or the chain of command, all of whom exercise a critical role under the [UCMJ]. Defense counsel will argue that Major Hasan cannot receive a fair trial because a branch of government has indirectly declared that Major Hasan is a terrorist — that he is criminally culpable.
This must be one of the awkward results of the “fairness” of the American judicial system. Everyone “knows” he did it. Hasan has even tried to plead guilty, and would Read more
The court-martial of US Army Maj Nidal Malik Hasan, accused in the 2009 Fort Hood massacre that killed 14 people, is scheduled to begin July 1st. (Jury selection begins in May.)
The judge, Col. Tara Osborn, said she expects testimony in the trial to last up to three months. The government has nearly 300 witnesses.
Three months is nothing, given the fact the pre-trial has lasted nearly four years.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kimberly Munley, one of the civilian security personnel who exchanged fire with accused Fort Hood shooter US Army Maj Nidal Malik Hasan, has said she feels “betrayed” by the President.
“Betrayed is a good word,” former Sgt. Kimberly Munley told ABC News in an interview Tuesday. “Not to the least little bit have the victims been taken care of. In fact, they’ve been neglected.”
Survivors and families of the victims have filed a lawsuit against the government, claiming it is hiding behind its own classification of “workplace violence” to avoid legal and financial responsibility.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said the government would not Read more
Whatever one may think of his politics, it is difficult to doubt former President George W. Bush’s sincerity when it comes to his love for US troops. In fact, his role as commander in chief and his ability to interact with members of the US military are the only things he says he misses about being the US President.
He has continued to serve projects that benefit wounded warriors, and he Read more
The new trial judge for US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, accused in the 2009 massacre at Fort Hood, has said Hasan’s decision to wear a beard violates Army regulations, but that’s ok. Notably:
The judge, Col. Tara Osborn, said she won’t hold it against him but that military jurors might.
That, of course, is one of the points raised Read more
A military appeals court has removed Col Gregory Gross from the murder trial of US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan. It also vacated the contempt of court fines previously levied.
But what about the religious claim to his beard?
“Should the next military judge find it necessary Read more
BrigGen Dana Born, Dean of the US Air Force Academy, has announced her intention to retire in the summer of 2013.
Ordinarily, such a move wouldn’t be newsworthy. However, Gen Born has been under constant attack by Michael Weinstein — aided by his veritable PR arm, Pam Zubeck of the Colorado Springs Independent — for several years. Zubeck, who has long had sources on the USAFA faculty eager to undermine their own institution, “scooped” even the official US military announcement of Born’s retirement, and she did so without attempting to hide her bias:
Brig. Gen. Dana Born, one of the most controversial figures Read more