The Virginian-Pilot
©
WASHINGTON, D.C.
President Barack Obama has ordered that American flags flying over the White House and other federal buildings be lowered to half-staff through Veterans Day in honor of those killed Thursday at Fort Hood.
Obama announced the decision during his weekly address from the White House this morning. The flags will be flown at half-staff through Wednesday in tribute to the 13 who died during the shooting at Ft. Hood, Texas, he said. They were mostly Army soldiers.
“It is an act of violence that would have been heartbreaking had it occurred anyplace in America,” Obama said. “It is a crime that would have horrified us had its victims been Americans of any background. But it’s all the more heartbreaking and all the more despicable because of the place where it occurred and the patriots who were its victims.”
The president said he met Friday with FBI Director Robert Mueller, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and others to discuss their continuing investigation into the attack, which also injured at least 30.
Obama also expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and recognized those who helped the wounded after the shooting at the base’s Soldier Readiness Processing Center. The center is where soldiers go to have their teeth checked and medical records updated before deploying overseas.
“These are the men and women we honor today. These are the men and women we’ll honor on Veterans Day,” Obama said. “And these are the men and women we shall honor every day, in times of war and times of peace, so long as our nation endures.”
To listen to the president’s address, visit www.whitehouse.gov.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
President Obama's order
President Obama has made a decent and appropriate order. Why would anybody worry about his sincerity? Several of our fellow Americans have been killed or wounded on what was thought to be a secure military base. The mental state of the alleged shrink and the safety of the base should be of more concern than the president's sincerity.
Never let a crisis go to
Never let a crisis go to waste . . . oh wait, the guy who said that had on the wrong color tie. It's so hard to keep track. It is disgusting the way the president haters jump on this tragedy to score cheap shots. Truly disgusting. This whack job had nothing to do with the president. Obama is just showing due respect for the victims. This is yet another deomnstration of the depth the radical right and their unwitting minions are willing to plunge to pervert our political process. I wish I could say I was surpised but after the jubilation surrounding the murder of Dr. Tiller, I'm not.
My heart goes out to the victims and their families.
wish i could
believe his efforts were sincere but I, as one of many, can not. All is a political moment for bozobama. Remember the days when the President was a leader? One who did the "right" thing for you and your Country?
When exactly?
When exactly? Perhaps you are remembering things that have never really happened. We have to choose to believe in our leaders. Take it for what it is--of course he has advisors, all presidents have. He declared it, let's believe in his leadership.
Believe in his leadership?
That line struck me as hilarious! Believe? That implies there is no proof of his leadership if we must believe in it. Exactly true; there is no proof of his leadership. As a non-believer, I'll remain skeptical. And you can believe that without proof!
What would count as proof to
What would count as proof to you? The answer is likely notihng reasonable. It is ridiculous and sickening to politicize this tragedy which is what the first poster did. He questions the President's motives. What are his motives? He certainly isn't concerned about the troops or their families. He was concerned about getting in a cheap shot about Obama and that's what he did. Spin it how you'd like, but any President would have issued the very same order.
The true...
meaning of "REPUgnant"
Disrespectful
I can't take YOU seriously about such a solemn issue. According to you, no matter what action President Obama would do in this situation, it would be wrong. I may not like many of his policies and his stands, but I do respect what he is trying to do at this time tragedy to try and heal the the nation. People need to stop turning situations like this into political issues and start thinking about the people who have lost loved ones or have friends or family members that were wounded.
Well said, Mark ...
I have my own problems with the president, but this isn't one of them.
If lowering the flag to honor this tragic loss isn't the "right" thing, JFR, what exactly is? Would you prefer a "Katrina" reaction from the White House? Maybe fly over the place and declare that everything's just fine?
Good grief, if you have nothing but blind hatred for the guy, fine, that's your right. But you should have the common, human decency to pick your shots more carefully.
thanks stephen
I just read the article and am glad you posted the link. Doubt if others on here who have posted but I'm going to post it again. The truth hurts sometimes I guess! http://ramparts360.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/4726/