« American Dental Association Petitions FDA to Classify, Regulate Tooth-Whitening Products | Main | New Report Warns Against 'Bubble' Economic Recovery »
Fort Hood Tragedy: Fatal Failure of Information Systems Structure
November 23, 2009The Fort Hood tragedy is an example of how critical information can be disregarded or overlooked. "Individuals within the military and the FBI had information that Major Nidal Hasan was flirting with radical Islam," claims Dr. Robert J. Flower, Director of The Gilchrist Institute for the Achievement Sciences, an economic and political think tank. "But the structure of the information-gathering and decision-making systems prevented anyone from acting on this information effectively." Government investigators now show that the shooter was checked out by a Department of Defense investigator last year who found discussions with his Imam were of a "scholarly" nature. Yet, in response to the event and the shooter, the Imam stated, "He is a hero!" "Clearly, something was overlooked: a fatal flaw in comprehension is evident," says Dr. Flower. "It is the lack of objective, impartial focusing and insight that consistently enables disasters of this type to occur in America and Europe. While Government agencies are notoriously reactive to events, they are weak in proactive application." Full release.