Photo: Bell County Sheriff’s Office
Alleged Fort Hood shooter Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who has been given the go-ahead to represent himself in court, started to explain his motive today for the first time before getting tripped up on the legal specifics. Accused of killing thirteen people at the military base, Hasan said he plans to pursue “a defense of others,” citing “the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Taliban,” including Mullah Muhammad Omar, who he claims needed protecting from the U.S. military. “Experts in military law called his theory ludicrous,” according to the Times, and a judge gave him until tomorrow, when jury selection was scheduled to begin, to sort out his argument. “I don’t want to brainstorm in front of the court,” Hasan said.
