Sen. Lieberman on 'FNS'

" Now to our other top story that terrible shooting spree at Florida -- Thursday. There are still more questions than answers about the worst attack ever at a US military base. Did the gunman army major and a doll house on work alone what was his motive and should the tragedy have been prevent it. For answers we turn to Joe Lieberman chairman of -- senate homeland security committee and senator Lieberman welcome backs Chris good to be within. In the briefings that you and your staff have received have you learned. Any more about this major cause sun's motives. His actions and whether or not there -- he had any links to Islamic radicals overseas. It's it's if."

" First this was a terrible tragedy and then second. It's too early it's premature to reach conclusions. About. What what motivated her son but. And it's clear that he was one under personal stress and true. If and the reports that we're receiving. Of various statements he made. -- she took. Are valid. He had turned to Islamist extremism. And therefore if that is true. The murder of these thirteen people. What's a terrorist act. And in fact it was -- the most destructive. Terrorist. To be committed on American soil since 9/11 but I I wanna -- very. Quickly we don't know enough to say now but there are very very strong warning signs here. That. -- doctor her son had become an Islamist extremists. And therefore that this was a terrorist. I'm and that it pursue that in a second but but. Any evidence so far that what you or your staff have heard of briefings. That he because we know he was on some radical Islamic web sites that he was exchanging communications he either in this country or overseas. With other Islamic radicals yet. But that nothing I can confirm at this point I think it's very important to let the army and the FBI go forward with this investigation. Before we reach any conclusion what what we do know on the record from third parties reporting. Over the last two or three years that he made a series of statements. Justifying suicide bombing comparing it to the bravery of an American soldier who -- on a grenade to protect his. Colleagues. That. He's he said that moment you shouted out. According to but bystanders that that -- while showing. The other day at Fort Hood the though new words -- up -- an expression of faith in Islam which the islamists extremists. Have corrupted and the fact that he did that at the moment of these murders that if if that's confirmed of course roses. A genuine concerns that this was a terrorist act -- will add to this Chris this is not the first attempt. By Islamist extremist. To strike at American military bases -- broken up. Plots to to go after Fort Dix chronicle marine base in Virginia in fact the one. Successful -- it -- it. A terrorist act that was done in recent years was the individual little worker and so walked in -- army recruiting station. And killed -- recruiter and and there is testimony. The Doctor -- actually. Said that he understood it and support it. A lot of people are wondering you talk about all the statements he made that were a lot of warnings signs out there I know hindsight is 2818 but were there enough. Signs. That enough red flags that authority -- stepped down. Well that's a very important question I would say Chris that -- the army and if we are conducting a criminal investigation about exactly. What happened and and what doctor -- should be charged with. The US army the department of France -- a real obligation to convene an independent investigation. To go back and look at weather warning signs were missed both of his -- he was under. But also. Those statements and he was making which. Really could lead people to believe that doctor -- had become. An Islamist extremists a couple of years ago after a two year investigation my committee put -- report that said. The new face of of terrorism in America would not just be the attack since 9/11. Organized and abroad and and and sending people in -- it would be. People within this country homegrown terrorists self radicalized often over the Internet going to -- web sites and that there's there's concern from what we know now about the hosts on that in fact that's exactly what he was a self radicalized. Home grown -- your questions I wanna get and so. As chairman of the Senate homeland security committee. Do you intend -- all these questions out there do you intend to hold hearings. I intend working with my Republican -- ranking member Susan Collins to begin an investigation I think -- First. Steps -- should -- should be taken in this regard should be taken by. The US army because salute this was an attack on American troops you've got to see it as if twelve American troops were killed in Afghanistan. But but you're intending to hold your own congressional I'm intending to to begin a congressional investigation of my homeland security committee. In two -- what were the motives what what -- what -- the motives of a -- in carrying out this brutal mass murder. If a terrorist attack the worst terrorist attack since 9/11. And to ask whether the army missed warning signs of that that -- led them to essentially discharge and really in the US army. This is not a matter of constitutional freedom of speech. If -- was showing signs saying to people. That he had become an Islamist extremists US army has -- zero tolerance he should've been gone finally we have less than a minute left the house passed healthcare what do you think -- the bill that passed. And do you still intend. If there is public option and if there is this tax on so called Cadillac. Health plans will -- supporter Republican filibuster on final passage in the sun well there's some good things in the in the house passed plan you know I'm I'm I'm I think we ought to do health care reform this year to deal with the two great. Our problems that President Obama and others -- talked about their unsustainable continuing increases in the cost of health care we better we better stop that and there are millions of Americans who don't have health insurance. I'm afraid that our colleagues in the house added a lot on to that that subtract. From there the genuine purpose -- of health care reform and one was to create a public option plan. The public option plan is unnecessary it it has been put forward I'm convinced that people. Who really want the government take -- of health insurance and they got a right to do that I think that would be wrong. But worse than that we have -- for a problem even greater than than the health insurance problems and that is that debt. Twelve trillion dollars today projected to be 21 trillion in ten years so at this point I take it you're -- no vote in the Senate. If the public option plan is in there as a matter of conscience. I will not allow this -- to come to a final. Vote because I believe the debt can break America and send -- into -- recession. That's worse than the one. We're fighting our way out of I wanna do that -- immigrants from senator Lieberman thank you thanks for coming in today and joining us and we'll be following year congressional investigations that are."