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
Prayers for the families of these fallen soldiers and their families as well as the civilian officer and his family.
Time and time again the people in know said if we would not fight the enemy overseas, we would have to fight them over here. Now we have a president who sees our enemies as our friends, bows to their kings, and has delayed time and again the request by our military to fight and win. Our enemy knows our weakness at the top and has decided the time is right to move the battle over here just as we were warned.
The failure of 0bama and the Democrats is now complete and it is a failure of epic proportions. If we don’t get these people out of our govt. and out of our military as quickly as possible, there may not be an America left to hold elections in.
The one thing I have to say, they picked the wrong state in which to fight this war. Texas ain’t New York and to this day Texans still remember the Alamo.
Elgato you safe down there?
“When are they going to get the Muslims OUT of the services, (and out of the USA!) when we are FIGHTING Muslims overseas?”
Read “Infiltration” by Paul Sperry. We shouldn’t be surprised by this incident and the incidents that will happen due to our government turning a blind eye to what is happening in this country with the radical muslims. Sadly, more Americans will experience these types of incidents because our government refuses to profile or say or do anything that casts negativity on muslims. Clinton and Bush protected muslims in this country and now we have a president who supports muslims. This country is in deep doo doo.
Saw the smiley face “shout out” to someone in the audience. Made me feel sick(er) that Zippo usually does.
muzzie satanist murderer.
LLS
May the families of the fallen and injured find peace from our Lord Jesus and may the wounded find quick healing. We will be praying for them.
Bush’s fault.
Maybe this will be zero’s Waterloo! I am still sick from seeing that smirkie smile on his face. This should never be forgotten. I have heard that main stream media is alredy erasing those videos.
It was on ABC news radio. They said they had been cleared and released.
Retired Col. Lee just dropped a ton of dimes about Hasan’s history and statements that he has made. If what he said is true political correctness has just killed 11 and wounded 31.
Hey, don’t blame the Irish. It’s those darn Amish!
No, Now it’s Beck’s. Or Limbaugh’s. Take your pick. All their “hate speech” made the Islamo-fascists angry. (eye roll)
The truth will come out eventually.
I hope this becomes Slim Shady’s “My Pet Goat” moment!!!!
I have always felt that America is doing its heroic Armed Forces a disservice by ordering them to fight Muslims in foreign lands while, at the same time, allowing the immigration of Muslims so that these can take over their homeland while they are away.
Safe and sound, although a bit warm. More on that later. Locked in at the moment. I was actually off post when it went down, but they hadn't locked down my part of the post until after I'd returned. I only went back because my phone was on my desk, and I don't have a land line. Knew wife and others would be "upset" if they called, which they did, and I didn't answer. Fortunately office mates answered, since they had tried to call me and the phone rang in between the two of them.
Stopped by the house to let the mutt out, and took the time to get the carbine out, and to remove the FMJs from the gun I'd taken to the shoot and replace then with JHPs.
Unfortunately, the good guys are banned from having weapons on post, under most circumstances. So they are still at home. I really thought I would not be able to get back on, and intended to just go back to the house, and email folks telling them where I was and that I was OK.
Thanks for asking.
So one guy, with two *handguns* manages to shoot forty some people, mostly soldiers? Seems somewhat incredible to me.
Of course if true, it illustrates the folly of disarming the "good guys".
As if the "Luby's Massacre", which occurred only about 5 miles or so from todays "massacre", shouldn't have been enough of a hint. That guy used handguns too.
How's that gun free zone working out for you, General?
Thanks for checking in.
Sounds as if you’ve had a helluva day.
The gun grabbers will use the entire matter make an argument that we need even more gun control.
Not so bad, I probably would have stayed at the office that late anyway. I needed to make up a little time that I took off yesterday to be with my wife as she was passing through Killeen. Well did change her mind and stayed the night, but that was not the original plan, which was to drive up to Waco and go to Ninfa's for a late birthday dinner, with just the the two of us.
What was different was that so many other folks' cars were still in the lot when I left.
Command post guys are probably still there. All of our folks got accounted for fairly quickly, including those on TDY. I was off post for lunch, and incommunicado. Boy were they suprised when I showed back up. :)
One former Marine El Tee just about ran over a retired Lt. Col. getting to the door when they finally released us.
OTOH, some folks, about 40 of them, had a really, really bad day. And that's a bitch.
Except on the trade route from West African to the Carribean, where they think they are expired slaves thrown overboard from the slave ships.
About being hot. They ordered the HVAC intakes closed off. Now that scared the shiite out of me. Just the implications. I got hit with that as I walked up to the door, via the Giant Voice, which proceeded the “seek cover immediately” announcement with a whooping sound from Hell.
As we were leaving the whooping was back, but this time teh voice, which could likely be heard at the house, since reveille and retreat can be, said “The Emergency is Over”. Didn’t mind hearing that a couple of times as I drove to the gate.
As I said, One Helluva day.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.