U.S. flag flying at half-staff over the North Portico of the White House. (Undated photo)
President Barack Obama ordered U.S. flags to be flown half-staff through sundown, July 12, to honor Dallas shooting victims.
Proclamation from President Barack Obama:
Presidential Proclamation — Honoring the Victims of the Attack in Dallas, Texas
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATIONAs a mark of respect for the victims of the attack on police officers perpetrated on Thursday, July 7, 2016, in Dallas, Texas, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, July 12, 2016. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.
BARACK OBAMA
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In a separate action, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick ordered Texas flags be flown half-staff. Patrick issued the order because Gov. Greg Abbott is traveling out of state.
U.S. and Texas flags at half-staff at the offices of the Longview News-Journal, in Longview, Texas, July 8, 2016
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 
A couple of articles on Obama’s long haul.
From the Economist:
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21616955-americas-plan-decent-onebut-it-will-take-worryingly-long-time-bear-fruit-long-haul
From McClatchy newspapers’ wire:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article24755884.html
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I’ve seen a lot of commentary on how ISIS’s recent, massive losses have triggered many of these attacks.
More productive in the long run to thing of what we must do in the “long haul,” to halt the violence and stop terrorism, IMHO. For example, we need to establish solid education programs in Palestinian-controlled areas, make sure we never repeat the Reagan error of abandoning an ally to Taliban schools, as we did with Afghanistan when the Soviets pulled out.
It takes patience and thought, and more that worrying much about how often flags go to half-staff. I think Obama’s well aware.
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Ed, maybe the White House needs to just get short flag masts–for how many times they have been lowered recently. I believe that ISIS has changed its strategy. Losing scores of Jihadists, weaponry and equipment, oil wells ablaze and many web sites closed, they might have found it more cost-efficient (wish there was a better word) to just send a few suicide attackers and take out many innocent lives. And some, perhaps lone-wolf copy-cates, are even self-funded.
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Another sad day for Texas and the US. Very sad reasons to have to fly our flags.
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