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President Obama made a statement early Wednesday evening explaining that the situation is fluid and he doesn’t want to comment on the facts until he knows exactly what happened, but he urged Americans to keep those in the Fort Hood community in their thoughts and prayers.
The President assured the nation that his national security team is working closely with the DOD and also the FBI, “I just got off the phone with Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Sandy Winnefeld to get the latest report on the situation in Fort Hood. Obviously we’re following it closely. The situation is fluid right now. But my national security team is in close contact with not just the Defense Department but the FBI. They are working with folks on the ground to determine exactly what happened to make sure that everybody is secure. And I want to just assure all of us that we’re going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.”
President Obama acknowledged the incredible pain this must be reopening for the community on base, “Any shooting is troubling. Obviously this reopens the pain of what happened at Fort Hood five years ago. We know these families. We know their incredible service to our country and the sacrifices that they make. Obviously our thoughts and prayers were — are with the entire community. And we are going to do everything we can to make sure that the community at Fort Hood has what it needs to deal with the current situation, but also any potential aftermath.”
“We’re heartbroken that something like this might have happened again,” the President said. “And I don’t want to comment on the facts until I know exactly what has happened, but for now, I would just hope that everybody across the country is keeping the families and the community at Fort Hood in our thoughts and in our prayers.”
The President reminded everyone how much the folks on base have gone through, many of them on multiple tours, “The folks there have sacrificed so much on behalf of our freedom. Many of the people there have been on multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. They serve with valor; they serve with distinction.”
Obama pointed out that home is where they should feel safe, “And when they’re at their home base they need to feel safe. We don’t yet know what happened tonight, but obviously that sense of safety has been broken once again. And we’re going to have to find out exactly what happened.”
The President said that the Pentagon will undoubtedly have further briefings as more information becomes available.
Our thoughts are with everyone on base, with appreciation for their service and the sacrifices their families make.
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