"I am troubled by the initial news stories. I am mindful that there is a thorough investigation going on. If, in fact, the laws were broken, there will be punishment. I know this: I've talked to General Pete Pace about the subject, who is a proud Marine, and nobody is more concerned about these allegations than the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps is full of men and women who are honorable people who understand rules of war. And if, in fact, these allegations are true, the Marine Corps will work hard to make sure that that culture, that proud culture will be reinforced, and that those who violated the law, if they did, will be punished."
Here's the President's statement, what exactly is wrong with it?
Watch it. Listen to it. Don't read it.
what's wrong with it, is that it assumes the negative regarding this story from the outset. read it to yourself a few times, look at the phrases in it: "laws were broken", "punishment", "those who violated the law".
instead, he should have said that a combat Marine deserves the benefit of the doubt, that the case is more complex then the media and others (Murtha) have spun from the outset (its instantly a "war crime" and "murder"), that conduct under fire, in battle, at the point of attack, is alot more difficult to understand, then some investigator or reporter who breaks down the case in the aftermath.