Former U.S. Army Major Nidal Hasan, the man behind the murder of 13 people and injuries to 43 others during his Nov. 5, 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, wrote an open letter to the Taliban last month congratulating them for their Afghanistan takeover. The letter was obtained exclusively by Washington Examiner and first revealed Wednesday.
The letter, written by Hasan from death row at Fort Leavenworth and dated August 18, included a note to his attorney retired Army Col. John Galligan, specifically requesting it to be passed along to the Taliban leadership.
“We have won! …. All praises be to All-Mighty Allah! Congratulations on your victory over those who hate for the laws of All-Mighty God to be supreme on the land,” Hasan’s letter began. “I pray to Allah that He helps you implement Shariah Law full, correctly and fairly.”
“We must learn from the nations of the past and not let our wretchedness overcome us thus earning His (God’s) wrath. It is to All-Mighty God we give thanks!” Hasan concluded.
Hasan was widely witnessed shouting “Allahu Akbar” during his Fort Hood rampage, and has referred to himself as a “soldier of Allah.”
“I’m not at all surprised by Maj. Nidal Hasan’s recent statement — he’s always been consistent in the terms of his support for the governments to be rooted upon Sharia law,” Galligan told Washington Examiner.
“Given the Taliban victory in Afghanistan and President Biden’s apparent capitulation on many fronts, Nidal Hasan and I are anxious to see what, if any, action will be taken with respect to the individuals still incarcerated at Guantanamo,” Galligan added.
Hasan’s attack, in which he fired more than 200 rounds, is considered the worst ever mass murder incident on a U.S. military base. He was found guilty and sentenced to death in August 2013 and could become the first service member executed since 1961.
Hasan’s letter received backlash from survivors of the 2009 attack.
Former U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Shawn Manning, who was shot six times by Hasan, told Washington Examiner, “I am not surprised that he would ally himself with a group of people who feel it necessary to kill women and children.”
Former Staff Sgt. Alonzo Lunsford, who was shot seven times by Hasan and grazed in the head, told Fox News, “My response to him, personally, is I give all my praises to my God who taught me to be a forgiving person.”
“Allah is not the one who still has him taking in oxygen right now. Allah is not the one who spared his life. Allah is not the one who stopped me from wrapping my hands around his neck when I was less than three feet away from him in the court room,” Lunsford added. “He needs to be thankful that he is alive. He needs to be thankful that we did not try him according to Shariah Law.”
Former Sgt. Howard Ray, who witnessed Hasan’s attack and helped fellow soldiers to safety while dodging gunfire, said, “I think it’s a stark reminder that terrorism is still alive, obviously abroad and here at home.”
