Obama: ‘I Take Full Responsibility’ For All Counterterrorism Operations

President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 19, 2014. The president claimed an array of successes in 2014, citing lower unemp... President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 19, 2014. The president claimed an array of successes in 2014, citing lower unemployment, a rising number of Americans covered by health insurance, and an historic diplomatic opening with Cuba. He also touts his own executive action and a Chinese agreement to combat global warming. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) MORE LESS

President Obama on Thursday said that he takes responsibility for all U.S. counterterrorism attacks, including the operation in January that killed two hostages, an American and an Italian.

“I take full responsibility for all our counterterrorism operations,” Obama said in a press conference addressing the deaths of the two hostages. “I profoundly regret what happened.”

According to the White House, Warren Weinstein, an American, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian, were killed accidentally in a U.S. counterterrorism attack near the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“As a husband and a father, I cannot begin to imagine the anguish the Weinstein and Lo Porto families are enduring today,” Obama said.I know there is nothing I can ever say or do to ease their heartache.”

In a statement on Thursday, the White House said that while the operation was lawful, the administration will conduct a review of the strike.

“We will continue to do everything we can to prevent the loss of innocent lives,” Obama said at the press conference.

This post has been updated.

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  1. Avatar for sjk sjk says:

    Fox and fiends…“why did Obama shoot the hostages???’”

  2. Fox wingnuts: “BUT WHAT ABOUT BENGHAZIIII OBUMMER!!!”

    “I take full responsibility for all our counterterrorism operations,” Obama said in a press conference addressing the deaths of the two hostages. “I profoundly regret what happened.”

    Seriously, that is what a real leader says.
    I am sorry for the families’ losses. I agree with Obama and can only imagine the pain they are feeling today.

  3. So what prefix will Fox use here to go along with “-gate”?

  4. I’m sure they will eventually get to that. But right now, it is full speed away with Hillary Clinton/New York Times hit job. They did not even cover POTUS’s presser because they had a “special” hour-long segment hosted by Bret Baier regarding The Clinton’s/Clinton Foundation. Pitiful.

  5. What you said. Yes.

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