November 5, 2009

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) -- One soldier at Fort Hood says troops are
constantly ready for battle while deployed, but can't defend themselves while on post.

The Army says a mental health doctor opened fire at a medical screening center, killing at least eleven others and wounding 31 others. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was killed.

It was unclear what the motive was, though it appeared Hasan was upset about a scheduled deployment. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison says military officials told her the Army major was about to deployed overseas.

Retired Army Col. Terry Lee told Fox News that he worked with Hasan, who had hoped President Barack Obama would pull troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq. Lee said Hasan got into frequent arguments about the wars, and had tried hard to prevent his pending deployment.

Military officials say Hasan, a psychiatrist, had received a poor performance evaluation while at working at the Army's Walter Reed hospital in Washington.

The Army says two soldiers taken into custody were released because they were not involved. A third person remains in custody.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)