Posted on 11/05/2009 3:37:59 PM PST by SandRat
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 – President Barack Obama condemned the fatal shooting rampage today on Fort Hood, Texas, that left 12 soldiers dead and another 31 wounded, and promised full-scale support to get to the bottom of what happened and help the Fort Hood community recover from the tragedy.
More than one gunmen – two being held as suspects and another believed to be among those killed -- fired shots at about 1:30 p.m. Central Time at the post’s Soldier Readiness Processing Center and Howze Theater, Fort Hood officials confirmed.
The incident reportedly occurred as soldiers were conducting their final preparations for deployment.
“These are men and women who have made the selfless and courageous decision to risk, and at times, give their lives to protect the rest of us on a daily basis,” the president said.
“It's difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas,” he said. “It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil.”
Obama said he is in close coordination with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen in monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, the White House is working with the Pentagon, FBI and Department of Homeland Security to ensure Fort Hood is secure.
Obama said his thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and families of the fallen, and the Fort Hood community.
“We will continue to support the community with the full resources of the federal government,” he said. “We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident.”
Obama said he has no greater honor than serving as commander and chief, but also recognizes the responsibility that entails in ensuring servicemembers are properly cared for and that their safety is assured while they are at home.
“So we are going to stay on this,” he said. “But I hope in the meantime that all of you recognize the scope of this tragedy, and keep everybody in their thoughts and prayers.”
Speaking to reporters at Fort Hood, Army Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commander of 3rd Corps and Fort Hood, credited quick response by police forces with bringing down a gunman after he opened fire at the soldier readiness unit.
“There were several eyewitness accounts that there was more than one shooter,” he said, noting that two additional soldiers had been taken into custody.
“The soldiers and family members are absolutely devastated,” he said. “It’s a terrible tragedy,” he said, but offered assurances, “We will work through it.”
Drudge has a big picture of Hasan on his page...
Three perps involved, and one of them is named Hasan? That doesn’t sound like the work of a disaffected nut-job to me.
I cannot find the FULL transcript of his presser and the only quotes I can find start with "As some of you have heard..." etc.
I want to see a video of the WHOLE speech, or at least see a transcript of the WHOLE speech.
Anyone help?
When are they going to get the Muslims OUT of the services, (and out of the USA!) when we are FIGHTING Muslims overseas?
Not Yet
Damn drunken Irish...
This is not terror-related.
Sharks only attack humans because they mistake them for seals.
And, rattlesnakes are more afraid of you than you are of them.
There all good when they come over here. It's only the mid-eastern muzzies that are jihadists.
From the 6:10 update at The Lede, which is liveblogging the shooting
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/reports-of-mass-shooting-at-fort-hood/?hp
There has been a tragic shooting at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. We don’t yet know all the details at this moment; we will share them as we get them. What we do know is that a number of American soldiers have been killed, and even more have been wounded in a horrific outburst of violence.
My immediate thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and with the families of the fallen, and with those who live and serve at Fort Hood. These are men and women who have made the selfless and courageous decision to risk and at times give their lives to protect the rest of us on a daily basis. It’s difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas. It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil.
I’ve spoken to Secretary Gates and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and I will continue to receive a constant stream of updates as new information comes in. We are working with the Pentagon, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security, all to ensure that Fort Hood is secure, and we will continue to support the community with the full resources of the federal government.
In the meantime, I would ask all Americans to keep the men and women of Fort Hood in your thoughts and prayers. We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident. And I want all of you to know that as Commander-in-Chief, there’s no greater honor but also no greater responsibility for me than to make sure that the extraordinary men and women in uniform are properly cared for and that their safety and security when they are at home is provided for.
So we are going to stay on this. But I hope in the meantime that all of you recognize the scope of this tragedy, and keep everybody in their thoughts and prayers.
The reason is is that they buried common sense several years ago. You really expect the nuts in Washington to protect us.?
Not a chance...
The 2 in custody have just been relaesed.
Hassan acted alone
For the moment, our prayers for the wounded and for the families of the dead are needed more than our statements of out rage.
Lord help us all when the idiot jihadis do attack. Our president will likely arrest us and let the heathen rage in the streets.
What about the “BIG” crowd at the US Capitol today.
Caddis the Elder
I am pretty sure that I saw on another thread that someone’s got it on Youtube already.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0hiw8iXdMM See the shout out before zero addresses the tragedy at Ft. Hood!
...just another man caused disaster.
Don’t know
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