GOP Congressman Blasts Pentagon Report on Fort Hood Shooting

Updated January 19, 2010

The independent Pentagon review of the Fort Hood massacre purposely avoids any mention of radical extremism, a congressman who represents the area where the base is located has charged.
Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, told Fox News Monday that the 86-page report -- released last week -- fails to mention alleged shooter Nidal Malik Hasan's extremist views and behavior.
Carter blasted the report, which found that the Army's middle management missed signals about Hasan, saying the government is "afraid to be accused of profiling somebody."
"I think it's just another example of this fear we have of saying the wrong thing that might offend someone," said Carter, who represents Texas' Congressional District 31, which includes Fort Hood.
Hasan, who killed 13 people when he opened fire on the base in November, allegedly wore traditional Muslim garb and shouted "God is great" in Arabic during the shooting. A review of Hasan's computer and e-mail accounts later revealed visits to Web sites espousing radical Islamist ideology.
Carter, as well as a growing chorus of Republican lawmakers, said such extremist behavior should be documented in the report to help the Army identify important warning signs in the future.
"In reality, we have to look at people and we have to say what we've got so we know what to look for," Carter said.

Fox News