UPI NewsTrack TopNews

Probe: Did Fort Hood shooter act alone?

FORT HOOD, Texas, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Investigators at Fort Hood, Texas, are looking into whether Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan acted alone in a shooting spree that killed 13 people, sources say.

Citing an unnamed law enforcement official in Washington, The New York Times reported Saturday that an early search of Hasan's computer didn't reveal any direct exchanges with known terrorists before he allegedly opened fire at the base, wounding at least 30 others in addition to the fatalities.

But the official also said investigators had yet to gain a complete record of Hasan's Internet use, noting he had multiple e-mail accounts and had used computers in several locations, the Times reported.

The newspaper said the FBI became aware of an Internet writer by the name of Nidal Hasan who had posted comments that seemed to view suicide bombings in a favorable light. But they are not sure if the postings were from the 39-year-old Army psychiatrist accused in the shooting spree.

Hasan -- shot four times -- remained on a ventilator Saturday.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said Friday it was still unclear if Hasan had acted alone, telling the Times, "That is not a question that has been resolved."

-0-

Dem abortion foes to offer amendment

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Anti-abortion Democrats are being given the opportunity to amend the healthcare reform bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, political sources say.

Citing three unnamed Democratic Party sources, CNN reported Saturday that the House leadership has agreed to allow several anti-abortion Democrats, including Reps. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., and Bart Stupak, D-Mich., to offer language that would ban most abortions from being covered by private insurers or under the government-run public option portion of the bill.

The bill was expected to come before the House for a vote Saturday. The U.S. broadcaster said the move to allow abortion opponents the chance to insert the language would clear the way for its passage in the House, whether or not the amendment is adopted.

"We didn't have a choice," a Democratic leadership source told CNN. "We didn't have the votes" on health care without agreeing to this.

"This amendment would violate the spirit of health-care reform, which is meant to guarantee quality, affordable healthcare coverage for all by creating a two-tiered system that would punish women, particularly those with low and modest incomes," Planned Parenthood said in a statement.

-0-

Iran politician says nuke deal 'off'

TEHRAN, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A proposal for Iran to send semi-enriched uranium out of the country to be processed into nuclear fuel rods has been called off, an Iranian politician says.

The semiofficial Iranian Student's News Agency Saturday quoted Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the chief of Iran's Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, as saying the proposed deal backed the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency is dead, CNN reported.

Under the proposed deal, Iran would ship its low-enriched uranium abroad, possibly to Russia, where it would be further enriched and sent back for use in medical treatments.

"Iran is not to give any of its 1,200 kilograms (of) fuel to the other party to receive 20 percent (enriched) fuel and whether gradually or at once, this will not be done and is called off," Boroujerdi reportedly told ISNA.

-0-

Afghans question good of more U.S. troops

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Many Afghans say their government should negotiate with Taliban insurgents and question if more U.S. troops can help, interviews reveal.

Interviews by The New York Times with more than 30 Afghans in Kabul and in outlying areas revealed deep skepticism that the Taliban can be defeated militarily and indicated a desire that if more U.S. troops are sent, they should be used to train Afghan soldiers, the newspaper reported Saturday.

"What have the Americans done in eight years?" Abdullah Wasay, 60, told the Times. "Americans are saying that with their planes they can see an egg 18 kilometers away, so why can't they see the Taliban?"

"In the first days of the war, the Americans defeated the Taliban in just a few days," added Mohammed Shefi, a graduate student at Kabul University. "Now they have more than 60,000 forces and they cannot defeat them."

"Instead of increasing foreign troops, it's better to equip the Afghan National Army and the Afghan police," Zia Ahmet, a seller of tea kettles and pots, told the newspaper. "The local army are known in the villages, and they are more useful than foreign troops."