&host=rt.com&uri=/usa/news/12-killed-us-army/&via=(none)&ua=CCBot/1.0 (+http://www.commoncrawl.org/bot.html))
US in state of shock after 2 gun attacks in 2 days
Published: 06 November, 2009, 22:29
Edited: 10 November, 2009, 13:35
TAGS: Arms, Crime, Military, USA
A gunman has killed at least one person and wounded five others at a business center in Orlando, Florida, just one day after another gun attack at Fort Hood, Texas left 13 dead and 30 wounded.
At around noon on Friday a gunman opened fire at the Gateway Center in downtown Orlando.
Police have arrested the alleged shooter as 40-year-old Jason Rodriguez, a former employee of one of the businesses in the building.
There are conflicting reports about the exact number of casualties and people still remaining in the building. At least four of the injured are said to be in serious condition.
The Florida shooting followed another shocking incident that took place Thursday. Thirteen people – one police officer and 12 military personnel – were killed and 30 wounded in a shooting rampage at the Fort Hood military base in Texas.
The police – trying to uncover clues as to the motive – have carried out a search of a house of the man who is believed to have done most of the shooting – an army major, Nidal Malik Hasan.
The suspected shooter, a 39-year-old psychiatrist practicing at Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, was shot multiple times and is now hospitalized on a ventilator. Previously it was reported that he had been killed.
Some reports suggest the US-born Muslim was angered about his deployment to Afghanistan. Officials said Nidal Malik Hasan may also have posted on the Internet about suicide bombings.
The attack is believed to be the worst mass killing on a US military base. The list of victims shot dead has been released. Among those killed was a 21-year-old pregnant woman who had returned home after serving in Iraq.
And according to reports, the shooting could have been worse if not for the actions of a female police officer, Sgt. Kimberly Munley. She was the first one to respond after the gunfire was reported. Munley was wounded in the hip in the exchange of fire, but managed to shoot the gunman four times.
The shooting took place at around 1:30 pm Texas time, and happened near the base’s “Soldiers Readiness” facility, where men and women receive medical exams to ensure they are in the appropriate physical shape required for soldiers.
Witnesses claimed he shouted “Allahu Akbar!’ (“Allah is great”) before opening fire.
Professor Walid Phares from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies thinks that this incident will be coined as the first US homeland terrorist attack since 9/11.
Fred Burton, a Chief Security Officer for Stratfor, a Global Intelligence Company based in Austin, Texas, explained to RT why this shooting is so significant for the US military:
“Fort Hood is the centre of gravity for the US military in the Middle East and a tremendous amount of people and surveillance are there on any given day,” he said.
Ivan Eland, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Peace and Liberty at The Independent Institute, thinks that since there is more than one person involved, the shooting was an organized plot, rather than a military employee coming back from overseas:
“If there is more than one shooter, clearly there is some sort of a conspiracy, but what the goal is, at this point, is unclear,” Eland explained.
President Barack Obama ordered the US flags of all federal government buildings to be flown at half-staff to mourn the victims.
President Obama will attend a memorial service for the dead on Tuesday. He also used his weekly address to praise the heroism of those who tried to stop the gunman.
06.11.2009, 19:33
3 comments
Washing line warsDiverging laws, firms going bust, appeals to the White House to dry clothes outside, and washing line users being labeled as “scum”: Is America actually ready to lead the way in the global fight against climate change? |
06.11.2009, 22:54
2 comments
Poland denies seeking US military help against RussiaPolish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky has not called on Washington to place US troops in Poland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims. Further, it is demanding a retraction of earlier news reports by Russian media. |
Everyone knows that when Ahmadinejad speaks at the UN many UN members leave. I have seen it myself. It is so funny. He talks then most everyone leaves. Soon after Israel became a nation Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq attacked Israel in 1948. The PLO, Arafat and the Arab world wants Israel dead. Why did Khalid Islambouli assassinate Egyptian president Anwar Sadat (6 October 1981) after he made peace with Israel??? Why do militant Muslims kill innocent people in Israel and America??? I am not speaking of all Muslims. Only the militant ones who have nothing better to do. Even when Spain sided with the invasion in Iraq a train was bombed in Spain for retaliation by Muslim terrorists. If Saddam had never gone into Kuwait there would have been no wars! Militant Muslims never blamed Saddam. Only the good Muslims hate him.
David, I made no attempt to counter Ivans oppinion, nor will I attempt to as he is entiltled to his point of view, just as you are and I am. I merely asked him to consider another viewpoint. I am however responding directly to you as the comments you have left are without basis, indeed they show considerable ignorance on your part, especially regarding your inflamatory comment about killing Jews which is a blatant and dangerous lie, and to which I am forced to reply. Incidently I do speak and read English very well. I also have an awareness of Farsi (that is the language of Iran if you didn't know) and can tell you that I have never heard or read of the president of Iran stating that he wants all Jews killed. He has indeed stated many times that he wished to see the end / fall / destruction of the 'Zionist entity' (that is the Government and expansionist state of Israel), but NEVER the killing of Jews. The government and state of Israel are completly different from the Jewish people. To the best of my knowledge he has never threatened the Jewish people. You are spreading dangerous lies - if you think otherwise post links to trusted Farsi translations of the Presidents speaches and prove me wrong. I am surprised and dissapointed that RT have given a forum to these lies. I would be greatful if Russia Today could post this reply in order to correct Davids errors and give ballance - or better still edit the inciteful lies he has written which I believe are dangerous in these current difficult times.
Hey Bob! If you seek the truth you will be set free! Most people in Israel are Jewish. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants Jews dead in Israel. Quotes: May 8, 2008, "Those who think they can revive the stinking corpse of the usurping and fake Israeli regime by throwing a birthday party are seriously mistaken. Today the reason for the Zionist regime's existence is questioned, and this regime is on its way to annihilation.". January 27, 2009: "The illegitimate Zionist regime is an outcome of the Holocaust..." You can see the UN speech on Youtube, UN speech September 2009: "How can one allow the inhumane behaviour in Palestine to continue?" The Israelis had occupied Palestinian land and the international community portrayed the victims as terrorists". "It is unacceptable that a small minority should dominate large parts of the world through a complex network in the US and Europe to retain its racist ambitions" He obviously is not extending Israel a friendly hand. Not to mention protesters in Iran.