by Mark Silva and updated
The president today ordered flags flown at half-staff until Veterans Day in respect for 13 killed and 30 wounded in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas.
"We don't know all the answers yet, and I would caution jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts,'' President Barack Obama said today in a Rose Garden appearance.
The lowering of flags will be "a modest tribute to those who lost their lives even as others were preparing to risk their lives for their country,'' Obama said of "one of the worst mass shootings ever to take place'' on a U.S. military base.
The president plans to travel to Texas for memorial services when they are scheduled next week.
The memorial service will be scheduled for the convenience of the families, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said today, and the president will adjust his schedule around that to attend. The president is scheduled to leave for an annual summit of Pacific-rim nations in Asia on Nov. 11.
Obama met with FBI Director Robert Mueller and other officials this morning and said, "As we continue to learn more about what happened at Fort Hood, we will continue to provide you updates.''
The president plans this afternoon to visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where the Army-trained psychologist accused of the shootings at Fort Hood worked for six years before assignment to Texas. The White House says the visit to the Army hospital was planned before the shootings.
(President Barack Obama pictured above walking out of the Oval Office of the White House to speak in the Rose Garden today. AP photo by Alex Brandon)
Comments
More Shocking and latest details on this case: http://www.70news.com/shocking-details-fort-hood-triggerman-muslim.html
Posted by: Alex | November 6, 2009 1:03 PM
If the FBI was monitoring the alleged shooter, what did they know, when did they know it, and why didn't they share it or act on it?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | November 6, 2009 1:13 PM
Time for Newt Gingrich to blame the shootings on the Liberal administration - just like he did right after Columbine. (Look it up).
Posted by: Gus | November 6, 2009 2:14 PM
Wow, what a tragedy.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their familes.
Posted by: former Republican | November 6, 2009 2:40 PM
Kind of funny that we don't have any Republicans on here offering their sympathies for our troops today.
Afterall, the Wingnutters are the ones who are always waving their flags and claiming that our troops support their mouth-breathing, whack-a-doodle, "Hope America Fails" agenda.
As The Dick Cheney would say: the dittoheads must have "other priorities" today, like defending the media arm of the Republican Party-aka-Fixed News Channel.
Posted by: dean billingsworth | November 6, 2009 5:21 PM
I heard on the news that this shooter was subjected to harassment due to being a Muslim. (?!?)
Harassment from whom? The FBI?
I'm beginning to wonder about the whole volunteer/Army of One concept. Is it breeding better fighters but worse soldiers?
I was in the Army of 8 million. A Major was considered the right hand of God, and any other field grade officer would at least show military curtsey to the man.
Kudos to the young woman that brought him down, but this is a tragedy on many levels. Rest assured, we will never get to the bottom of it.
Posted by: C.Morrisā§ | November 6, 2009 8:38 PM
Why don't the soldiers who are killed in Afghanistan and Iraq get American flags lowered for them on a national? All troops currently--home and abroad--are enlisted. And technically, there is no war, thus no differentiation. Leave American flags lowered until all troops are home. Or else, don't lower the flag at all. Are the troops at home more important than the troops in the meat grinders of Iraq and Afghanistan?
Posted by: Vivian | November 6, 2009 10:32 PM
Good point C Mo.,
On another note,
This is pathetic. Obama holds the office, I expect we will see a change in the treatment of all of our physically AND mentally wounded soldiers.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/06/AR2009110604352.html?hpid=topnews
(Aside, if this is anything like the healthcare reform those governing are after-- websites can't cure cancer, literally and figuratively.)
Posted by: Army of One | November 7, 2009 12:02 AM
Like I've said before, "violence is not limited to a particular place or people. It can happen anywhere."
The problem is, "Who is in charge? What was their back up plan before and after the tragedy?"
Posted by: HmongRodneyKing | November 7, 2009 1:32 AM
The talking heads of Fake News Channel are all whining about "political correctness" in the military. Arguing that if officials new about the shooters Muslim remarks and patterns of behavior, he should have been thrown out of the army long ago.
But you can guaranty, had he beeen discharged, and perhaps, instead, went on a civilian massacre, the right-wing hypocrites would cry that the army didn't do enough to help.
The right-wing media are nothing but arm-chair quarterbacks, stirring up hatred whenever they feel like it. But I'll continue to fight for their right to preach hate. They continue to just look foolish.
Posted by: syj | November 7, 2009 8:45 AM
Attn; Dean Billingworth, you show your narrow mindedness with comments like that. This tragedy has nothing to do with being Republican or Democrat, its about standing up for America!
Posted by: Paul | November 9, 2009 10:10 AM
Here's hoping that mental health will be taken more seriously from this point on. While nothing will bring these 13 people back, or alleviate the pain their families are going through, perhaps some good can come from this.
Obama, I hope when you give us health care, you take a good, hard look at our mental health, too.
Posted by: Michelle | November 9, 2009 1:40 PM