Waco Tribune: Roger Williams, Fort Hood shooting spree was terrorism, not 'workplace violence'

Nearly four years ago, our nation was viciously attacked when an Islamic extremist opened fire on our troops at Fort Hood. We lost 14 innocent Americans that day — 12 military service members, one civilian and an unborn child. Since the attack, the Fort Hood community has received an outpouring of support from across the state of Texas and the nation. But not from the federal government.

As the long-awaited court-martial for the shooter enters its third week, testimony from dozens of Army Maj. Nidal Hasan’s victims have recounted the horror of the massacre. Staff Sgt. Christopher Burgess said that “hell broke loose” when describing the scene.

Hasan has admitted to shooting his fellow soldiers, saying he switched sides in what he has called a U.S. war on Islam. Just weeks ago, he released seven pages of handwritten documents to Fox News renouncing his U.S. citizenship and abandoning his military oath as a commissioned officer. Hasan even told potential jurors that he supports the Taliban and Shariah law.

In short, he has done everything in his power to make it clear, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that his intent was to harm and kill U.S. soldiers in efforts to aid America’s enemies.

It is beyond comprehension, then, that the current administration has labeled this gruesome attack as “workplace violence” rather than a terrorist attack. Since the days following the shooting, the Pentagon’s designation has favored political correctness over truth and justice. Nobody in America agrees that this was just some disgruntled employee — especially not the victims.

By labeling the 2009 attack as workplace violence, the victims and families of this tragedy are denied the benefits and treatment received by their counterparts who are injured or killed while serving in overseas combat zones. This extreme inconsistency has caused many victims to have to pay out of their own pockets for treatment — one man has even paid upwards of $70,000.

However, defying logic, Hasan has continued to receive paychecks over the past four years topping $280,000. As Americans, we must demand the Pentagon fix this by reclassifying the shooting as combat-related or by determining any other route that will allow the injured troops to be able to feed their families, receive sufficient medical treatment and move forward with their lives. Anything less is a disservice to our country and an insult to all who wear the uniform.

As a member of Congress, I have worked with Congressman John Carter, whose district includes Ford Hood, and many of our colleagues on several pieces of legislation to do right by the victims and fix these inexcusable wrongs. HR 705, the Fort Hood Victims and Families Benefits Protection Act, and HR 3049, the Justice for Fort Hood and Little Rock Heroes Act, would provide combat-related special compensation and the full range of deserved benefits for all of the victims, just as those injured in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, received.

This should not be a partisan issue. This is an American issue. Though justice cannot bring back those we lost, justice can be served for many whose brave actions prevented further bloodshed by fighting back against Hasan and by risking their own safety to assist their wounded comrades. Let’s again unite as Americans to fight for the truth, honor our fallen and demand justice for the victims.