Obama Offers Condolences to Japan

President Obama offered his condolences to the victims of the catastrophic earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Japan. "Today's events remind us of just how fragile life can be," he said at a news conference Friday. "Our hearts go out to our friends in Japan and across the region, and we're going to stand with them as they recover and rebuild from this tragedy." He said the U.S. military is mobilizing ship and air power to assist in the aftermath, and that the State Department is working to account for all Americans who might have been in the affected areas. Obama said he was "heartbroken" watching the images from Japan on television, and called Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan to discuss the situation.