Washington DC, Nov 7 (THAINDIAN NEWS) US President Barack Obama extended his heart-felt condolences to the kin and kith of the soldiers injured or killed in the tragic Fort Hood shooting spree by Major Nidal Malik Hasan.

He condemned the act of violence because it hurt the patriotic Americans who were shamelessly killed or injured without any rhyme or reason. He said that it hurted all the more, because the incident happened on American soil, which the soldier’s call their ‘home’ and not on a hostile territory, where danger to life could be expected.

He was deeply sad when he said, “It is an act of violence that would have been heartbreaking had it occurred anyplace in America. It is a crime that would have horrified us had its victims been Americans of any background. But it’s all the more heartbreaking and all the more despicable because of the place where it occurred and the patriots who were its victims.”

At the same time he was also touched by the fast response of the other soldiers who rushed forward to help the injured soldiers by immediately rushing them for medical aid, using their own clothing as tourniquets to stem the bleeding flow, and extending help in every possible way.

He spoke in very generous terms about the helping soldiers, “Thursday’s shooting was one of the most devastating ever committed on an American military base. And yet, even as 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.”

US President Obama also spoke about how he felt America ought to honor the fallen heroes by lowering the US flag to half-mast till Veterans Day. He said, “In tribute to those who fell at Ft. Hood, I’ve ordered flags flying over the White House, and other federal buildings to be lowered to half-staff from now until Veterans Day next Wednesday. Veterans Day is our chance to honor those Americans who’ve served on battlefields from Lexington to Antietam, Normandy to Manila, Inchon to Khe Sanh, Ramadi to Kandahar.”

He also spoke about the fact that he had ordered a thorough investigation into the whole crime, so that such heinous acts can be prevented in the future, “On Friday, I met with FBI Director Mueller, Defense Secretary Gates, and representatives of the relevant agencies to discuss their ongoing investigation into what led to this terrible crime. And I’ll continue to be in close contact with them as new information comes in.”