Obama, Bush mark Ft. Hood slayings
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President Obama used his weekly radio address today to praise the military, still recovering from the shock of the Ft. Hood shooting rampage, and former President George W. Bush made a quick trip to the Texas military installation to express his sympathy for the wounded.
Obama has ordered flags at federal buildings be flown at half-staff to commemorate the shootings that left 13 dead and 30 wounded.
“We cannot fully know what leads a man to do such a thing,” Obama said of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the hospitalized suspect. “But what we do know is that our thoughts are with every one of the men and women who were injured at Ft. Hood. Our thoughts are with all the families who’ve lost a loved one in this national tragedy.”
Noting that Veterans Day is next week, Obama tried to ease tensions in the wake of the shooting by congratulating the military for its diversity.
“They are Americans of every race, faith, and station,” Obama said. “They are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers. They are descendants of immigrants and immigrants themselves. They reflect the diversity that makes this America.
“But what they share is patriotism like no other. What they share is a commitment to country that has been tested and proved worthy. What they share is the same unflinching courage, unblinking compassion and uncommon camaraderie that the soldiers and civilians of Ft. Hood showed America and showed the world.’
Meanwhile, it was announced that Bush and his wife, Laura, had visited wounded soldiers and their families Friday night.
The Bushes made their private visit to Ft. Hood’s Darnall Army Medical Center, according to an e-mail distributed to wire services by Bush aides. Bush thanked the medical people for the ‘amazing care they are providing’ the wounded.
-- Michael Muskal
twitter.com/LATimesmuskal
