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Obama Addresses 'Horrific' Shooting
President Obama gave an ad hoc speech about Thursday's mass shooting at Fort Hood during an appearance at the Department of the Interior's Tribal Nations Conference. The president's speech did not enumerate details beyond those already made public, but expressed sympathy and "thoughts and prayers" for those killed or wounded in the "horrific outburst of violence." Noting that he had already spoken to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, Obama said the Pentagon, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security were working to secure the base. "It's difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas," the president said. "It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil."
cesspool
What's really horrific is how Obozo dithers on an Afghan decision - sorry dude, no chance to vote 'present' on this one. I prefer we pull out entirely, go back in 30 years once this civil war ends. These heatherns prefer to live in the 13th Century -- there's absolutely no way any civilized American can relate to that mindset. I'm former U.S. Marine Corps, too. I say when friends & family of those turban thugs continue to rearm & resupply their empty rifles, build roadside bombs to kill & maim, then we're a long long way to winning their hearts & minds. My 2nd idea is to carpet bomb everything south of Kabul, and let's try to ensure Karzai is on a special tour of the area when we do.
Honchos
A lot of Americans believe an invisible man in the sky hid dinosaur bones in the Earth to trick unfaithful scientists into believing in evolution and that good and evil supernatural creatures influence our daily lives. Better be careful up there on your high horse that you don't fall off.
Plantagenet
So what if fundamentalist Muslims don't believe in evolution?
Honchos
Willful ignorance doesn't discriminate by religion. This isn't a zero sum game.
hfb1053
And, again, what does fundamentalist Muslims have to do with a US army major going beserk and shooting dozens of people at Ft Hood? My sympathies to those families.
ToulouseL
People will always be idiots, they don't have to understand, even though it would be best that they did. All hail Atheism, we don't believe, and we certainly don't give a fuck. But it is nice to voice our opinion.
case1234
Notice when something horrible happens how some people let loose what we know the believe but were too polite (or sane) enough to say.
Cesspool, wants to pull out, but I would bet that he voted for the same party that put us there in first place and wants to escalate now.
Plantagenet
The party that escalated the war in Afghanistan is the democrats. Obama sent 23,000 more troops there in March and escalated the war over the summer by sending them out to remote parts of Afghanistan infested with Taliban. Thats why the number of US casualties jumped to record levels over the summer.
winston1
cesspool I'm with you.
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hfb1053
What has this shooting at Ft Hood got to do with Obama sending/not sending troops to Afghanistan? Can you stay on subject? What happened would have happened whether or not Obama made a decision you liked or disliked. Some soldier, a major, went beserk and shot the place up. Feel sorry for the families of the soldiers killed; don't berate the President for something else. Cesspool, you sound more like the nut job that did the shooting that any of the US Marines I know.
winston1
connie47 I told you if you don't like what I have to say Mother Superior, ignore my blogs or go and research it.
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nortonclybourn
Don't you get it? It would have been patriotic if McCain had sent more troops (as he promised to in the Presidential election), but since Obama did, it was treason.
Honchos
And Winston, you're not writing a blog. These are comments. I hate to be pedantic but you sound really dopey every time you talk about your "blogs". Your posts tend to sound dopey enough without the added element of you using words that you don't understand.
diskipulo
What does any of this have to do with what happened at Fort Hood? Looser.
osea65
Such bad timing for this right now Cesspool, you lose all respect when you don't respect the moment you are in!!!!!
seemoreglass
This is a tragic story, "cesspool" I am sure that you are a very enthusiastic supporter of your chosen political party, but sometimes it is appropriate to put the team pennant down and just bow your head in prayer or respect.
From KTLA.com:
The dead gunman is identified as 40-year old Major Malik Nadal Hasan.
Hasan was a psychiatrist who was reportedly upset about his impending deployment to Iraq.
Investigators are trying to determine if Hasan was his birth name, or if he changed his name and converted to the Islamic faith at some point in his life.
He says the Hasan used two handguns in the attack.
khepri
The many, many innocent collateral victims of US drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan did not have the luxury of knowing who the perpetrator was. A tragedy over here is a mere replica of tragedies we inflict over there. None of them are excusable; but all should be considered tragedies and evoke equal measures of sympathy.
hfb1053
khepri - are you referring to the innocent collateral victims that plant IEDs or the ones that launch RPGs? And I don't think the soldiers today had much time to "know" who the perp was. Get real.
hfb1053
seemoreglass - Thanks for mentioning what this post is actually about. It's about the senseless killing of many soldiers by one soldier here in this country and has nothing to do with a war we are fighting in another country.
winston1
connie47 I think you have this in reverse, you are the ignorant one. Like I said Mother Superior I have my freedom of speech and I will say what I please with no remorse.
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ToulouseL
That wasn't what Fox News said. I say keep the team pennant up! If you are waving with KTLA, I am with Fox 11.
matthewbenzor
Its "TIME" to end these wars ,That the Bush and Cheney regime started for selfish reason........! WMD's my ass more like Secret Society agenda...........
winston1
connie47 I'm not a coward I post where I want. What I am doing is giving you something to do so you won"t get bored.
winston1
Who was obama giving a shout out to before he gave his condolence? What a hypocrite.
rhonda1309
healthcare
hfb1053
You're a hypocrite and a loser. Show some respect for the soldiers that were just killed. They do what they do to protect the nasties like you.
winston1
hfb I am showing respect I ask the same of your President.
RomeoHotel
Some are criticizing the press for the answering question all were asking: "Was the killer a Muslim?"
Some say that is not a reasonable question. They cite, falsely, Tim McVeigh's alleged Christian beliefs (he was a self-proclaimed atheist).
When we hear reports of a child who's been molested, we do not instantly think, "Was the molestor a Catholic priest?", despite all the publicity surrounding that issue and Catholic priests. But when we hear about a mass killing such as the one at Ft. Hood, we do instantly think, "Was the killer a Muslim?" Why is one question reasonable and the other isn't?
Because in our collective experience we know that while children are often, unfortunately, sexually molested, it is not a common experience for the perpetrator to be a Catholic priest. On the other hand, time after time and in place after place, when we hear of large numbers of unarmed, unsuspecting, and defenseless people being suddenly killed by one or a few assassins, the killer(s) is/are Muslim in numbers all out of proportion with their share of the general U.S. population (about 2%).
We must take more care to ensure that Muslims will be assimilated here. And we must identify, highlight, dialogue about, and ultimately eliminate vestiges of Islamic culture that may be incompatible with American culture.
hfb1053
Romeo - Actually when I hear about a child being molested, I do wonder if a priest was the perp? Why wouldn't that thought enter one's mind?
As far as being sensitive to Muslims: When I start to hear from US Muslims about how wrong their religion is being presented in the new Middle East, then I'll stop thinking that each act of terrorism is automatically from a Muslim group. If it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy to not prejudge them, then go for it. As for me, I don't feel that way. They bomb India, Indonesia, US, Israel, Great Britain, and anywhere else they feel like it and we shouldn't be so "judgmental"? I think you have your sensitivity cap on too tight.
Honchos
You ever talked to a US Muslim? Try it sometime and I think you'd be pleasantly surprised and maybe a little less prejudiced. In my experience they dislike Bush and Bin Ladin pretty much equally.
ToulouseL
It's always a Muslim. It always has to be a muslim. *Sarcasm.
But you know that when something like this happens that happens to be a terrorist attack, there will always be someone who is quick to jump the gun and say, zomfg it was the Arabs!
When it was probably just some white guy. Good game government.
lachica6
Did anyone see obama give his remarks on the Fort Hood He went on for what seemed like 2 mins about, his appreciation to the people puting an event together. Then he talked for a brief moment about fort hood. I simply have many words to say about this so called commander in chief that sits on his throne in the outhouse. I am a former Marine and am deeply sadden by this tragedy.
hfb1053
Good for you lachica. He was at the end of a meeting with several Native American groups when he received the news. So, he ended his meeting with his closing remarks and then spoke briefly about the shootings. He knew very little at the time and thus, his remarks were brief. Know the story before you run your mouth. And he's not a so-called commander; he's yours and mine and the rest of the country's Commander in Chief. As a former marine, you should know that.
winston1
lachicab Obama also gave a shout out to someone in the audience, before addressing the tragedy.
Honchos
Context, winnie. This wasn't a press conference called to address the shootings. It was a previously scheduled appearance that concluded a series of meetings. This was not long after it happened and not much was known at the time and there wasn't much for him to say other than to call it a terrible tragedy.
Why do I even bother? You don't care about facts or context. All you want are more reasons to hate your president.
angels81
As a Vietnam vet what really pisses me off, is coming to this post on a sad tragic day for America, and seeing repugs and right wingers who can't set politics aside for one damn minute. With you folks its all about bashing Obama, when this should have nothing to do with politics. What happened today at Fort Hood was not a left or right issue. In times like this, we have one President and we should act like one country. Shame on you folks, who think this is a time to make political hay.
paxmotion
Angels81: you are SPOT ON. My thoughts and prayers go out to those involved in the horror at Ft. Hood.
Unfortunately there are a lot of treasonous folks on this page For shame.
retired-army-1SG
Angels81 I agree. Several of our brothers and sisters in the Big Green lost their lives today. Wake up people. This is what is wrong with the "wings" of our politics. Take a break from the hate and reach out to the families...
SFGiants
angels81: You are so right. Yet judging by the political comments that certain people continue to make after your statement, some folk are totally incapable of shame.
jaywillie
Well said.
osea65
You are so very right angels81!!!! They simply have no shame and that is what is so frustrating about reading their filth!!!! It is a very sad day in America PERIOD!!!!!
hfb1053
Thanks angels for sticking to the point of the post. You are so correct that political posturing should take a break when something like this occurs.
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ToulouseL
Zomfg can everyone that replied to you in hopes of being you friend suck your amazing legendary Viet Penis??
MaliciousDisorder
His "oh by the way" comment was pathetic
hfb1053
Malicious - You are pathetic.
NewyorkerR
That oboma was using the promoter for that. we need a real leader
angels81
What sad little piece of garbage you are. We had 13 servicemen killed and 34 wounded today at Fort Hood, and you come here to make a political point for your side. We had a tragedy today and the American President, speaking for all Americans, expressed our horror, sadness and prayers to the family's. This is not a thread for your stupid childless remarks.
rhonda1309
Did you watch the C n C? doubt it
NewyorkerR
easy Tammy eat a box of bonbons and relax
MaliciousDisorder
angels81, You obviously didn't see the first two minutes of his teleprompter speech. He's a disgrace. If you did you probably laughed right along with him. What's the 81 stand for your age or IQ
hfb1053
As usual, you run your mouth and don't know what you're talking about. Our President was at the end of closing remarks already happening when he received word about the shootings at Ft Hood. Take a break, dude, and visit your brain to see if it still works more than spouting your bs.
Jinglebob
His shucking and jiving before saying anything about the shooting was a disgrace. The guff keeps getting wider between him and the people.
rhonda1309
it was pathetic and its hard to find the complete statement now. Obama had to give out his shout outs, I guess that's what was on his teleprompter. no words from his heart, I'm commander n chief, yea we know that.
Bet its full speed ahead on health care!
NewyorkerR
do we remember bush after 911 on the ruble giving his speech. i don't recall a prompter. i just lost the lat bit of respect for oboma and that muslim MF is still alive
jojo12
I remember what Bush said after 9/11 while standing on the rubble of what was once the World Trade Center. I remember his saying we would get the killers of 9/11. I cheered what he said that day. I also cheered him on 10/07/01 when he began the bombing of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. I stopped cheering for the SOB when he & Cheney made Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan the forgotten war & took us into a war of choice in Iraq. Cheney & his puppet Bush dropped the ball in Afghanistan, caused the death & maiming of thousands of US military in Iraq & now 8 years later Obama is left to clean up the mess in Afghanistan left by Cheney & Bush.
What happened today at Fort Hood, TX is an abomination. My prayers & condolence go out to the family & friends of our dead & wounded.
MaliciousDisorder
Your such a phony jojo12, and stupid as well.
jaywillie
Do you recall him sitting on his ass for seven minutes while the country was attacked? I do.
You conservative losers would have attacked him no matter what he did; if it wasn't this, it would just be something else.
But I think the last question a lot of us wondered about has been answered.
After 9/11, Americans of all political walks rallied to the President - that's kind of how he got a 90% approval rating. If we had acted like Republicans, we would have blamed him for allowing 3,000 Americans to get murdered. It's funny how when recounting how the Bush administration kept us safe, Republicans and conservatives refuse to acknowledge that 9/11 happened on their watch. Some of them even blamed Clinton at the time.
But at least we know now what to expect from Republicans during a time of national tragedy.
hfb1053
Good one Newporker. Because everything shrub said was the god's honest truth. You just keep believing that; it'll serve your mentality well. Don't bother yourself one little bit with the facts.
And, by the way, a ruble is Russian currency. Rubble is kinda like what's in your head.
NewyorkerR
jojo &jay you are a true turds i was standing within listening distance when bush was there and you cant compare the two. bush for all his faults is a good person oboma is not. when they show bush getting the news it was just a plane crash and we weren't even sure it was that. so to compare the two is a joke. when your boy came on TV he was fully informed of everything. so as usual you pin head koolaid drinking half ass ed bloggers got it wrong. i suggest you self proclaimed pro bloggers with your marching orders from the WH get a room and fondle each other you aren't fooling me
rhonda1309
Why did they let us believe he was dead?
NewyorkerR
I have no idea rhonda. but he is alive as is the cop that shot him
dooreen
One report said he was neutralized. It is hard to know what that meant. It is pretty horrible. I am sure they did their best to report what was possible and known at the time.
ncc81701
Because we have a 24/7 news media that reports on whatever they have on hand without proper fact checking. There was no doubt a lot of confusion right after the unfortunate event occurred.
MaliciousDisorder
They're still thinking Balloon Boy or Obama's campaign. Just make it up.
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joefrat
jaywillie - Do you have any idea why they blame Clinton? Did you do any investigating of your own, or do you just want to blame all the ills of the world on Bush and Cheney?
Plantagenet
Its not unreasonable to criticize Obama's policies and question his lack of focus on terrorism because Obama himself has boasted about his efforts to downgrade the war against terror and restrict the tools the CIA and FBI can use to fight terror.
Obama's failure to make terrorism one of his many goals looks wrong-headed now. Maybe Obama needs to spend a little less of his time fighting FOX, and spend a little more time fighting terrorism.
NewyorkerR
why you say ? Barack hussein Obama, need i say more
Plantagenet
Even if it was a terrorist attack, in a truly Orwellian exercise the Obama administration ruled out the use of the words "terrorist attack" last May.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/04/obamas-word-play.html
They decreed there should be no more talk of terrorist attacks because it would make the terrorists feel singled out for criticism....Instead, during the Obama administration there are only "man caused disasters."
winston1
This is going to be a big cover-up as usual, if we didn't see those planes flying into the World Trade Center the Gov't would have claimed the furnace blew up. I wonder why we do not use a preventive strike when this Muslim was under surveillance for a year.
I read when they take the census this year they are not allowed to ask if you are a citizen, that's the problem with the US no accountability.
I give the US five years and will have sheria law just like England. The Muslim population in England they say will be 90% in ten years, we are heading down that same path.
There is no excuse for this Muslim thug to kill our soldiers because he claims he was harassed, which I feel is a lie he used to get out of the service. The MSM is playing up this harassment excuse, which I think is a disgrace to the victims and their families. The liberal press by the end of the day will have Nidal Malik Hasan as the victim.
Jinglebob
The cover up is why this guy was still on duty with his hateful thoughts. Mark this up to PC gone crazy.
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