Obama: ‘I Take Full Responsibility’ for Accidental Killing of U.S., Italian Hostages

“Yesterday I spoke with Warren’s wife, Elaine, and Prime Minister Renzi of Italy. As a husband and as a father I cannot begin to imagine the anguish the Weinstein and  Lo Porto families are enduring today. I realize there are no words that can ever equal their loss. I know that there is nothing that I can ever say or do to ease their heartache. 

Today I simply want to say this. As president and as commander-in-chief I take full responsibility for all of our counter terrorism operations, including the one that inadvertently took the lives of Warren and Giovani. I profoundly  regret what happened. 

On behalf of the United States government I offer our deepest apologies to the families. As soon as we determine the cause of their deaths I directed that the existence of this operation be declassified and disclosed publicly. I did so because the Weinstein and  Lo Porto families deserve to know the truth. 

And I did so because even as certain aspects of our national security efforts have to remain secret in order to succeed, the United States is a democracy committed to openness in good times and in bad.”