Pentagon questions Obama’s soldier story

[hedgetrimmer]

Source: MSNBC

Captain tells NBC he was referring to shortages for training
NBC News and news services
updated 1 hour, 39 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon on Friday tried to cast doubt on an account of military equipment shortages mentioned by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, whose campaign team stood by the story.

In a debate with rival Hillary Clinton on Thursday evening, Obama said he had heard from an Army captain who served in Afghanistan and whose unit did not have enough ammunition or vehicles.

Obama said it was easier for the troops to capture weapons from Taliban militants than it was "to get properly equipped by our current commander in chief," President Bush.

"I find that account pretty hard to imagine," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.
"Despite the stress that we readily acknowledge on the force, one of the things that we do is make sure that all of our units and service members that are going into harm's way are properly trained, equipped and with the leadership to be successful," he said.

more...



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23301273/

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This is good press for Obama anyway you look at it.

[Pirate Smile]

1. NYT The Caucus - Warner to Obama: Bring Me Your Captain

Warner to Obama: Bring Me Your Captain
By Leslie Wayne

One of the dramatic moments in Thursday’s Democratic debate came when Senator Barack Obama — in making the case that Iraq was the wrong place to launch a war — cited an Army captain in Afghanistan who told him of a rifle platoon that lacked manpower, ammunition and Humvees. As Mr. Obama recounted, the soldiers looked for captured Taliban weapons as it was easier to be armed that way than “to get properly equipped by our current commander in chief.”

Conservatives pounced on the story, questioning its authenticity. Senator John Warner of Virginia, the ranking Republican and former chairman of the Armed Services Committee who has endorsed Senator John McCain, wrote to Mr. Obama on Friday seeking more details. Senator Warner wants to find out of the story is true -– and, if so, who might be responsible for any lapses. He said that he will also raise the issue with Army Secretary Peter Geren and Army Chief of Staff William Casey when they testify next week before his committee.

In the letter, which begins “Dear Barack,” Senator Warner said that the incident most likely occurred while he was chairman of the committee, whose members also include Senator John McCain and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

“There are specific military regulations governing the use by U.S. forces of weapons other than of U.S. manufacture, and, likewise, regulations covering the deployment into combat zones of military units at manning levels below optimum level,” said Mr. Warner.
To establish accountability within the military chain of command, Mr. Warner is asking Mr. Obama to provide more facts about the incident cited in the debate -– the dates, the unit involved and the name of the captain and other military personnel who provided the information to Mr. Obama.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/warner-to-obama-bring-me-your-captain/#more-4332

[Canuckistanian]

2. Pathetic

Do we not remember the courageous soldier who asked Rumsfeld where his armor was? The one who had to go scrounging in junkyards for metal and glass to up-armor his Humvee because the Army COULDN'T?

An all-too-familiar story.

[underpants]

3. Oh it was Bryan Whitman I thought for a minute that it was Jessica Lynch or Pat Tillman

[whistle]

4. "It's the corruption stupid!"

[RamboLiberal]

5. Jake Tapper of ABC contacted Captain and story is accurate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3193992

[flashl]

6. soliders reported ammo shortgages since beginning of 'war'

Heck, families of soldiers have bake sales to send our soldiers in the 'war': vests, steel, air conditioners, bottled water, food, etc.

[tanyev]

7. TPM: Bush Pentagon

It would appear that we have another case where the Bush Pentagon, particularly the Office of Public Affairs is forcefully inserting itself into the civilian election process. Earlier today I referenced Barack Obama's anecdote from Thursday night's Democratic debate about an Army Captain in Afghanistan who said his unit had had to get from captured Taliban ammunition they weren't able to get quickly enough through standard Army supply channels. ABCNews' Jake Tapper talked to the soldier in question, who confirmed the story he'd told Obama. Now NBC News also appears to have confirmed the story by talking to the Army Captain in question.

But Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman is telling reporters he doesn't think it's true and that of course they can't confirm it unless the soldier -- still on active duty -- comes forward to discuss the issue with the Pentagon brass, a step that would surely do wonders for his future in the Army.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/179784.php

[DCKit]

8. No kidding. They more they deny, the more people are going to come forward...

claiming Obama had it right.

Too stupid to let the story die, they just had to keep poking it. Now it's angry and it's going to bite them in the ass. Morans.

[Orsino]

9. So the Pentagon admits that while there are problems...

...they aren't actually problem problems. Just unspecified "stress" that somehow doesn't affect training, equipment or leadership. A very, very narrow kind of stress.

[wishlist]

10. Bush gang sure didn't provide sufficient armor and safe vehicles in Iraq

As I recall in Iraq, for a long time soldiers had to pay for their own protective vests and equipment and devise makeshift extra protection on their vehicles to shield themselves from bombs.

[UpInArms]

11. from an article on Afghanistan today- "We don't get supplies, assets. We scrounge for everything..."

The soldiers were on a 15-month tour that included just 18 days off. Many of them were "stop-lossed," meaning their contracts were extended because the army is stretched so thin. You are not allowed to refuse these extensions. And they felt eclipsed by Iraq. As Sgt. Erick Gallardo put it: "We don’t get supplies, assets. We scrounge for everything and live a lot more rugged. But we know the war is here. We got unfinished business."