Security expert: There were red flags

AUSTIN (KXAN) - As a community copes with tragedy, federal investigators will delve into the history of Nidal Hasan and look for his motive for the shootings. Stratfor security expert Fred Burton said an investigation may have begun before the shootings ever happened.

"We do a pretty good job of monitoring those blogs and chat rooms," said Burton, a former agent for the Diplomatic Security Service. "If he had been in one of these jihadist chat rooms, which is alleged, then in all probability we identified him and opened up a national security investigation on him."

Online posts have surfaced with Nidal Hasan's name attached, postings that defend suicide bombers and throw his military loyalty into a different light. Aquaintances and family members have also spoken out about Hasan's reluctance to fight in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Though there may have been ample warning signs, Burton said there are also many reasons why they may have been overlooked.

"Everything from medical history, to privacy considerations as well as your desire to push people through the system as quickly as possible to get them out into the field," he said.

Burton said the shootings will certainly trigger a change in the system.

"You are going to want to look at the process, the evaluation and we're also going to look at the lessons learned on this and say, 'OK, what went wrong and how could we have done it better?"

A Soldier's Criticism

Central Texas is full of many former soldiers, some of whom left the battlefield to fight against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

22-year-old Bryan Hannah is one of those soldiers, who said the tragedy at Fort Hood should serve as an instrument of change when it comes to how the military deals with mental health problems.

"I think what people need to realize is that if we don't have healthy soldiers to send to war, then maybe we shouldn't be having a war," said Hannah.

Hannah is a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. After his own tour of duty, he began the process of applying for conscientous objector, a way for anti-war military members to avoid deployment. Hannah ended up honorably discharged for medical reasons.

"If our soldiers aren't willing to fight the war, or like this major obviously wasn't, we shouldn't force them to because it's counterproductive," said Hannah. "It will put his fellow soldiers in danger."

Ten suicides have been reported at Ft. Hood this year. There have been 75 suicides among military personnel there since 2003.

Military officials announced on Friday that it is engaging in a groundbreaking study on the effect of stress on soldiers and the best methods for suicide prevention.