THE PENTAGON — Following outrage from Gold Star families over his comments on Ramadi, Iraq, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Martin Dempsey clarified his remarks in a press conference by downplaying the strategic significance of Ramadi, Fallujah, Mosul, Baghdad, Tikrit, and the rest of the country.

“First I would like to apologize for any hurt or confusion my comments about Ramadi may have caused. It was not my intention to create controversy or downplay the sacrifices of anyone who may or may not have served there," Dempsey said. “What I meant to say was that the entire country of Iraq as a whole is not strategically significant to our interests in the region.”