Lt. Gen. Robert Cone spoke at a noon press conference Monday.

As the investigation into the mass shootings at Fort Hood continued, Fort Hood officials said the current challenge resides with meeting the needs of the community.

"I think we're entering a new phase here, and this is where I am most concerned as a commander of Fort Hood," Lt. Gen. Robert Cone said. "That has to do with this healing phase that we're in."

Though many questions about the motives of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan cloud nationwide discussion on the issue, Cone addressed concerns that the incident could produce a backlash for the nation's and the post's Muslim Americans.

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Cone said there are more than 100 Muslim soldiers at Fort Hood.

"They are valued members of our team, and I've asked the chain of command to make sure that we are giving them special attention to make sure that they are being given every consideration, and that we are vigilant to any kind of reaction that might take place," Cone said.

According to the Fort Hood equal opportunity office, if a soldier is found responsible for harassment, that soldier could face anything from extra duty, to deduction in pay, to a reduction in rank, to suspension.

According to The Associated Press, investigative officials said Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, acted alone and without outside direction in the attack.

However, news that Hasan communicated 10 to 20 times with a radical cleric overseas who in the past came under scrutiny for possible links to terror groups, sparked a national debate over speculation that Hasan had coordinated with radical Islamic terrorists.

But, according to the AP, investigative officials said the communications "were consistent with the subject matter of his research" on the effects of U.S. combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Still, the issues have raised concerns that the incident could spark prejudice against Muslims in America.

		WATCH THE VIDEO
	Press Conference Lt. Gen. Robert Cone speaks to members of the media Monday at noon. Potential Backlash CNN's Carol Costello tells us why the Army's chief of staff says he's worried about backlash against Muslim soldiers. Local Reaction News 8's Chie Saito tells us how the Muslim community around the Fort Hood is reacting. Fort Hood Muslims News 8's Chie Saito tells us what the Muslim community around Fort Hood has to say about the possible backlash.

"When incidents like this take place, there's always initial tension that does occur. But that's when dialogue takes place. That's when cool heads come together. We have discussion. We talk about what it is that Islam stands for. What do Muslims believe? And once that takes place, the feelings of anxiety goes away," Lt. Rafael Lantigua, with the U.S. Army National Guard, said.

Lt. Gen. Cone also said Fort Hood has received expressions of support and condolences of the Muslim community in the Central Texas area.

"I think it is a level of ignorance, mixed with a level of hatred, even, which causes me even more serious concern. Ignorance, somebody can deal with," Imam Islam Mossad, with the North Austin Muslim Community Center, said. "Hatred is something else. It's something we should all fight, no matter which side the hatred, this blind hatred, is coming from."

Dawud Agbere serves as a Muslim chaplain for the U.S. Army. He arrived from Kansas Monday to provide additional support after Thursday's shooting.

He said he has never experienced any problems while serving in the military because of his religion, and feels the focus should be taken away from the Hasan's religion.

"For me I don't look at it as a Muslim doing it," Agbere said. "I see it as a human failing. Unfortunately, in this society we use labels and things like that, but I don't think that is the issue here."

Lt. Gen. Cone emphasized that helping all those affected cope and heal is a major priority on the base right now.

"You know, there are probably about 600 people, who were somehow directly touched by this incident," Cone said.

He said that number includes those directly affected, first responders, soldiers and civilians in the area at the time and medical practitioners assisting the victims.

"Our initial focus, in the last three days, has been getting them the kind of behavioral assessments, and behavioral counseling, for the kinds of traumatic stress incidents that they've been through," Cone said.

	Dawud Agbere serves as a Muslim chaplain for the U.S. Army.

A renewed sense of urgency on security has also accompanied the boost in services at Fort Hood, according to Cone.

"We are going to take a long hard look at ourselves and see what else could have been done to have prevented this," Cone said. "I think the important thing is that Hasan was a soldier. And we have other soldiers that might have some of the same stress indicators that he has, we have to look across our entire formation, not just in a medical community, but really look hard right and left, and that's a responsibility from everybody from the top to the bottom."

	Tuesday Memorial
Lt. Gen. Robert Cone said 7 victims were in wards and 27 soldiers had been released, as of noon Monday. He said the majority of the wounded soldiers who were released will attend a memorial at Fort Hood Tuesday, along with their families. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will also attend the event. The event is set to start at 1 p.m. on the post. News 8 will carry that event for you live and in its entirety on Channel 8 and 1508.