Lives cut short by bitter betrayal

Tragic details are emerging about the victims of the Fort Hood massacre, as family members of the dead have been informed and their identities are starting to be made public.

They reveal a broad cross-section of American society, ranging from the middle-aged to the painfully young, and including men and women of widely varying ethnic backgrounds.

They included Francheska Velez, 21, who had just returned from Iraq. Velez was three months pregnant and had joined the Army to fulfil a long-term dream of her Colombian-born father to serve his adopted country.

Another young victim was Aaron Nemelka. Though just 19, Nemelka had been planning to propose to his girlfriend ahead of an expected tour of duty in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Kham Xiong, 23, from St Paul in Minnesota, leaves three children. He had moved his young family to Texas from the Midwest to be close to him.

Older victims included Russell Seager, 51, from Wisconsin, a registered nurse on his way to Iraq to treat soldiers suffering from stress. He had joined the military just two years ago.

The Islamic faith of the shooter, Major Nidak Hasan, has forced uncomfortable questions over the role Muslims play in the military. His profession as a military psychiatrist has caused many to wonder at the horror of a man tasked with treating wounded soldiers turning on his comrades and slaying them. Hasan's shooting is seen as an act of betrayal.

"Muslims serve just fine in the military," said Specialist Refugio Figuero, 23. "He was just one bad apple. But the idea that it was one of our own, that makes people feel angry. He was a soldier and it is hard to think of a soldier doing this to other soldiers."

President Barack Obama yesterday sought to head off a potential anti-Muslim backlash by praising the ethnic and religious diversity of US armed forces. He devoted his weekly radio broadcast to the massacre.

"We cannot fully know what leads a man to do such a thing," Obama said, "but what we do know is that our thoughts are with every single one of the men and women who were injured at Fort Hood."

He added that memorial services held by the military worldwide revealed the armed forces' diversity.

"They are Americans of every race, faith, and station. They are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers. They are descendants of immigrants and immigrants themselves. They reflect the diversity that makes this America."

Obama will attend a memorial service on Wednesday honouring the victims.

Some conservative commentators and rightwing Christian evangelicals have broadcast anti-Islamic comments on radio stations.

Callers to talk radio shows have wondered if Muslims in the US military should be subject to some form of special monitoring.

Muslim groups have issued statements condemning the shootings and have expressed security concerns for American Muslims.

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