Half-Staffing the US Flag for Foreigners or International Events

Question: Lowering the US flag for international terror attacks? Sir, I admire what you do. Please help us understand why the flags area lowered for an attack not on US soil. I just read a news report that said there is one US citizen that was injured but is still alive. Is this current administration using a US law to get us to bend to international events to cause us to bend to the U.N. and Islam? That is my suspicion. What is your take on this. Unless there are U.S. people dying, then there is no reason to lower the flag. Maybe I am wrong and want to learn. Please help me. Thank you, A.N. Answer: Thank you for writing. I make no attempt to explain any administration's policy. I have no take on it. Half staffings are hard to figure out, even domestic ones. I have seen half staffings for domestic industrial accidents and other tragedies that had fewer deaths than other events that were not half staffed The Flag Code gives The President wide latitude to half staff Federal flags at his discretion. The Flag Code does mention half staffing the flag for "foreign dignitaries." >>In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law<< By custom, Presidents have ordered half staffings for circumstances that are not specifically spelled out in the code. I will tell you that I can recall no half staffing to show solidarity with a foreign nation before President Obama doing it. He did it for France also. Here is the part of the flag code that gives our Presidents wide latitude to take action regarding display of the flag: >>Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the United States of America, set forth herein, may be altered, modified, or repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be prescribed, by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, whenever he deems it to be appropriate or desirable; and any such alteration or additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation.>> I can tell you what the code says but your question as to The President's intentions would be better put to The White House. I am just a Flag Guy. I think he makes his intentions pretty clear in his proclamation. Does this information help?