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Obama praises those who ended Fort Hood violence

President Barack Obama casts a shadow on the wall as he walks to the podium to speak in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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President Barack Obama walks out of the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, to speak in the Rose Garden. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Barack Obama walksback to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, after speaking in the Rose Garden. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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President Barack Obama walks off Marine One on the South Lawn of The White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, after going to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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By PHILIP ELLIOTT, The Associated Press Updated 9:21 AM Saturday, November 7, 2009

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Saturday that the training designed to keep U.S. forces safe abroad prevented further deaths and ended the rampage at Fort Hood.

He praised those who serve or have served in uniform and reminded the public of their diversity — a move designed to calm tensions around the suspectedshooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.

"They are Americans of every race, faith and station. They are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers," Obama said in his radio and Internet address, airing the weekend before Veterans Day.

"They are descendants of immigrants and immigrants themselves. They reflect the diversity that makes this America. But what they share is a patriotism like no other."

The president asked for patience while officials piece together what happened Thursday in Texas at the nation's largest Army post. The shootings left 13 dead and 30 others wounded.

"We cannot fully know what leads a man to do such a thing," Obama said. "But what we do know is that our thoughts are with every one of the men and women who were injured at Fort Hood. Our thoughts are with all the families who've lost a loved one in this national tragedy."

But Obama said while "we saw the worst of human nature on full display, we also saw the best of America."

"We saw soldiers and civilians alike rushing to aid fallen comrades, tearing off bullet-riddled clothes to treat the injured, using blouses as tourniquets, taking down the shooter even as they bore wounds themselves," Obama said.

"We saw soldiers bringing to bear on our own soil the skills they had been trained to use abroad — skills that been honed through years of determined effort for one purpose and one purpose only: to protect and defend the United States of America."

Obama's aides were working to make way for Obama to attend a still unscheduled memorial service. 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.

Obama planned to make remarks Saturday afternoon to reporters in the Rose Garden before departing to the presidential retreat at Camp David for a night away from Washington. He is to leave Wednesday for a 10-day trip to Asia.

___

On the Net:

Obama address: www.whitehouse.gov

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November 07, 2009 02:15 PM EST

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First of all, a president has no reason to give a "shout out," that is totally unprofessional. Second, the person he was talking to did not even receive a medal of honor. Without a teleprompter, he is worthless and it shows. Time to act like you care about our troops instead of thinking you are a superstar.

ron
9:39 AM, 11/7/2009

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He's done nothing presidental, but he makes a good news anchor.
USSA

Todd
7:01 AM, 11/7/2009

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Most disturbing was Obama's announcement which started with how good a meeting was going to a mention of the attack at Ft. Hood and ending again how good the meeting was. Obama cares less about the military then Carter did. He really gave a fine example of his Professor/Community Organizor mentality. God help us, the military is all we have left to protect us from these fools.

HowRad
10:08 PM, 11/6/2009

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Hey Jim !

Still waiting for an example of 1 Gov't program that works !.
Wake up you Clown !!!!!!!!!!!!.
You probably voted for that idiot of a Mayor named "Pickled McLin" too.
She was an inspiration for all the Truant Dayton kids.

We are in huge trouble !!!!.

God Bless America !.

J.T.
7:17 PM, 11/6/2009

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Barack Hussein Obama has a muslim socialist agenda, what does it take for you people to wake up !!!!!!.
Go to www.goldsilver.com and other sites to understand what this a23clown and his idiot cohorts are doing to this Country.
Buy guns,ammo etc..., the next American Revolution is close at hand.
Pelosi, Reid, Frank, etc... how in the hell can you possibly vote for these idiots ?????.
This Country is screwed, lock and load !.

J.T.
7:10 PM, 11/6/2009

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