The shooting at Fort Hood proved as much of a shock to many in this nation as did the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. To believe that a soldier, no matter his last name, would take the lives of his comrades-at-arms, is mind-boggling at best.

Three sons of Alabama were injured in that melee.

Many are still trying to sort out this. The big question is did Maj. Nidal Hasan’s action indicate a jihadist movement in the military or was it result of a madman?

ABC News used two unnamed U.S. intelligence sources who said the Central Intelligence Agency knew months ago that Hasan might have tried to have contacted al Qaeda.

If this report is true, then some action is required for those who did not take action against Hasan.

This is the second time that American soldiers have been killed by a Muslim who said he was not happy with the war in the Middle East. This occurred in Arkansas.

On the other hand, Charles Whitman, a veteran of the military, killed 14 people from the main tower at the University of Texas at Austin. He was not Muslim. The FBI had not investigated him.

But we know there is evil in the world and troubled people sometimes go crazy.

There is much evidence in the shootings at Fort Hood that Hasan was a troubled man. He is a devout Muslim. Whether he is a terrorist depends on his motivation. It’s likely to be awhile before Hasan reveals himself.