President Obama says don't jump to conclusions on Fort Hood shooting
By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer
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169
Published: November 6, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Friday the entire nation is grieving for those slain at Fort Hood, and he urged people not to jump to conclusions while law enforcement officers investigate the shootings.
Obama met Friday morning with FBI Director Robert Mueller and other federal leaders to get an update on what they've learned. Thirteen people were killed and 30 others injured in the shooting rampage at the Texas Army post on Thursday. The suspected shooter is an Army psychiatrist; his motive remains unclear.
"We don't know all the answers yet. And I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts," Obama said in a Rose Garden statement otherwise devoted to the economy.
"What we do know is that there are families, friends and an entire nation grieving right now for the valiant men and women who came under attack yesterday," the president said.
His aides, meanwhile, worked to make way for Obama to attend a still unscheduled memorial service for those slain at the nation's largest military post. The White House's top spokesman said Obama would attend that service and emphasized it would take place at the family's convenience, and that it will not be dictated by the president's schedule.
"When a service is scheduled, the president will attend," Robert Gibbs told reporters during his daily briefing.
Yet Obama is also scheduled to leave on a 10-day trip to Asia on Wednesday. Gibbs would not rule out delaying the trip so Obama could attend the service before setting off on the major international trip of the year.
Gibbs said the president's schedule remains in flux.
Obama ordered the flags at the White House and other federal buildings to be at half-staff until Veterans Day. He called it a modest tribute to those who were slain and to those who put their lives on the line in the armed services each day.
"We stand in awe of their sacrifice, and we pray for the safety of those who fight, and for the families of those who have fallen," he said.
The president promised that that his administration would update the nation as it learns more about what happened, and why, at Fort Hood.
The suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was shot and remains hospitalized.
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As I have said previously, Milkman, you most probably will get your way in the votes in Congress. Then we all will hold you accountable.
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In spite of what you think, not everybody was drafted for Viet Nam. My number was never called. If it had been, I would have gone. My opposition to the war came later when it was obvious what a mistake it was. I was draftable from 1967 on, but never called.
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--End of story.
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Bring the troops home and find some other way to get an erection Billy and willis. Can't you guys get it up without shooting something?
Pathetic hicks.
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I try not to hate anyone, but you distain and disrespect of others and especially our troops, has caused me to hate you. I really need to get over this feeling, because you are not worth hating. The fact that you are a coward and refused to join the military, makes me want to never engage you in any further discussion. You do not have that right to talk with me any more. I do not talk to gutless cowards...
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Memorial Service?? Hope they hold it on military property, or else the Westboro Baptist Church hate group will show up.
Jean Paul: please don't judge America by why you read in an Oklahoman newspaper.
barbara, Oklahoma City - Nov 6, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Excellent Barbara! Wouldn't it be great to see a reporter bring that up?
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We are not at war with anybody else. We are in a war with Muslim extremists. Not Catholics or Buddists but Muslims. So don't lay a bunch of political correctness on me you ignorant fool. The Muslim extremist declared war on us years ago, and have been at war with us ever since. This Major listed his birth place as Pakistan but he was born in Virginia, and converted to Muslim. His act was a terrorist act and not a criminal act. Wake up W. ...
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People, remove the PC blinders before it's too late.
Hey, I know, after Hasan is recovered, invite him to the white house w/the family members of the people he killed, to clear up any misunderstandings we may have. That ought to smooth everything over.
I can't believe people fall for this BS.
did u see w there, too? or did he even make it to 3rd grade?