WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Candice Miller (MI-10) today called on the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman, Bennie Thompson, to review the tragedy that occurred at Fort Hood. This brutal attack on one of our nation’s military bases claimed the lives of 13 and wounded more than two dozen Americans.
“The terrorist attack at Fort Hood demands an immediate investigation into how signals were missed and ways to prevent future tragedies,” said Representative Miller. “The Homeland Security Committee has a responsibility to ensure that information is properly shared between law enforcement and the intelligence agencies. It seems that did not occur when it came to Major Nidal Hasan and his activities appear to have been on the radar screen of elements of the military and law enforcement agencies but unfortunately somehow we did not connect the dots. There have been reports about his ties to radical Islam, communicating with known al Qaeda sympathizers and troubling comments to co-workers including justification for suicide bombers and yet, again, we did not connect the dots. This tragedy shows that our nation is still at risk and we must remain ever vigilant. An immediate review is required and if that review shows deficiencies in our system then we have a duty to correct the situation so this never happens again.”
On Thursday, November 5, 2009, Nidal Hasan, a U.S. Army Major and a psychiatrist, attacked and murdered innocent Americans. After the September 11th attacks, the Department of Homeland Security was created and charged with the key mission to facilitate information sharing between federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies and state and local officials. The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security has provided bipartisan support for information sharing programs, such as the Department of Homeland Security’s Interagency Threat Assessment Group located at the National Counterterrorism Center, that incorporate state and local officials in the preparation and dissemination of intelligence products.
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