French reports are not going the way you describe.
They were saying that he was pro-american but discriminated by fellow troopers for being muslim and palestinian (sadly I can buy that).
They were also saying that he was growing more and more tired from listening what soldiers coming from Iraq and Afghanistan had to say. Kind of getting battle fatigue before even getting to the battlefield. I'm not a specialist but I think it is not unheard of from military psychiatrist.
It seems also that the various authorities deny any connection with terrorists. Sorry but I hardly admit that US authorities are still (if they ever were) stupid enough not to monitor someone of his rank and potential influence on soldiers who would have connections or sympathy with terrorists (especially after 9/11).
Of course, I'm not trying to find him excuses, but the idea that the guy was islamic, terrorist lover and anti-american..., and still holding the position he had in the US Army is unacceptable. Moreover, if fellow soldiers and officers had known about that and not done anything about it what are they: traitors? If not traitors, they should be considered his accomplice and prosecuted consequently. I agree that I'm a little extreme in this but if I was one of his victim's father/brother and you were explaining me that you knew but didn't do shit, I'm not sure of what I would do. Such an idea is outrageous to me.
For my part, they sound more like school kids who had done something mean and try to run away from their responsibility.
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