US: Fort Hood (CNN 11/13-15)
Emily Swanson | November 19, 2009
CNN / Opinion Research Corporation
11/13-15/09; ~500 adults (half samples), 4.5% margin of error
Mode: Live telephone interviews
(CNN release)
National
As you may know, a soldier named Nidal Hasan recently shot and killed thirteen people in Ft. Hood Texas. Based on what you know about this matter, do you consider Hasan's actions to be an act of terrorism, or do you consider this to be an act of murder with no direct connection to terrorism?
45% Terrorism, 47% Murder
Based on what you know about this matter, do you think federal law enforcement agencies or the U.S. military should have been able to prevent this from happening, or don't you think so?
64% Should have been able to prevent, 31% Don't think so
By Emily Swanson | November 19, 2009 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)
Comments
If this guy was a suicide bomber instead of a shooter, i bet the percentage of people thinking it was a terrorist would probably skyrocket. The framework of the act makes a big difference in the way people think of it as terrorism more than the origin of the person, etc.
Posted on November 19, 2009 11:12 AM
I won't be convinced it's terrorism until Hasan's motives are known. Terrorism comes with some kind of motive - coercive, political, something. An act of terror is more than an act of violence because there's a goal that the violence is supposed to accomplish. It's not just lashing out in anger, which is what Hasan appeared to do.
Posted on November 19, 2009 12:19 PM
Well when your chatting with al Queda and your screaming terrorist slogans while shooting....then its probably terrorism, but I guess I too will wait to make a final decision.
Posted on November 19, 2009 12:25 PM
Does it really matter is a better question. Obviously there is not strategic reason to put him in Gitmo for interrogation as a terrorist. In fact it would just cost more money that way.
Posted on November 19, 2009 12:38 PM
No one should use this tragedy to score some game of political gotcha. It seems to me that Hassan suffered from many of the symptoms of psychopathology. Having said that, I think the careful and thoughtful thing to do is to wait and see what unfolds.
Posted on November 19, 2009 12:49 PM
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