From The Fact Check Desk: Obama's Army Anecdote
By Nicole Belle Saturday Feb 23, 2008 11:01amDuring the Austin debate last week, Barack Obama made this comment:
"You know, I've heard from an Army captain who was the head of a rifle platoon -- supposed to have 39 men in a rifle platoon," he said. "Ended up being sent to Afghanistan with 24 because 15 of those soldiers had been sent to Iraq. And as a consequence, they didn't have enough ammunition, they didn't have enough humvees. They were actually capturing Taliban weapons, because it was easier to get Taliban weapons than it was for them to get properly equipped by our current commander in chief."
Well, you had to know that a statement like that--insinuating that life is not all wine and roses for our troops being sent for their third, fourth and fifth rotation into the Gulf--was just going to make the wingnuts crazy. (I won't link them, but you'll find links here)
ABC's Jake Tapper took a look at Obama's anecdote, and guess what? Pretty much confirmed it as true. Silly Jake, wingnuts don't care about the truth. But I give you full points for this little dig at the end:
I find that Obama's anecdote checks out.
Some are quibbling about whether or not the "commander in chief" can be held responsible for how well our soldiers are being equipped, since Congress provides the funding for the military, but the Pentagon (and ultimately President Bush) are in charge of the funding mechanism.
I might suggest those on the blogosphere upset about this story would be better suited directing their ire at those responsible for this problem, which is certainly not new. That is, if they actually care about the men and women bravely serving our country at home and abroad.
Oh snap, Malkin and Ace of Spades. That was you getting pwned. Hubris Sonic at Group News Blog piles on, because you deserve it.
UPDATE: PERRspectives reminds me that the wingnuts weren't nearly as anxious to examine George W. Bush’s blatant “not ready for duty, sir” lies in 2000.
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The GOPers got punked on this one! Of course, it checks out. Obama is not a hypocrite like the rest of them OR a liar. He's the breath of fresh air and hope for the future which this country sorely needs - before it's too late for us.
Obama shows that's it's really not difficult to get your facts straight before opening his mouth.
The GOP has a vested interest in not doing that because the facts are against them.
Facts have a liberal bias.
CafeenMan @ 2:
Um, Clintons's attack was correct yesterday.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/report_obama_cam...
Obama is liar and they will attack him on this.
Big mistake.
BTW, Clark is standing up with the Captain on this.
Obama, not so much so far.
Malkin and her ilk can't be bothered to direct 'their ire at those responsible' for the lack of sufficient equipment for troops in Afghanistan or Iraq, namely the Defense Dept and Bush. They would rather spew faux outrage and create controversy where there is none at troops who 'dare' to speak the truth (that Malkin et al don't want to hear). And they demand to know who the troops are, so they can 'verify' what was said, when all they'll really do is go after said troops with an unhinged vengeance and impugn their patriotism and integrity. Never what's right, as in facts and the real truth, for Malkin and crew it's about what they see as 'right', PERIOD. They are shameless.
getalife @ 4:
Could you be any more off-topic? Perhaps you should bring up something about the JFK assassination?
Dr. Matt @ 7:
I think we're going to find out that B. Hussein Obama was the second shooter.
On the "This Week" talk show this morning, Senator Biden, just back from Afghanistan, said that the entire cost of the Afghanistan war is the equivalent of what it costs us for just three weeks in the Iraq war. Iraq is where the money and equipment are going. Our troops in Afghanistan are not getting the support they need from this Administration. Remind me why we're in Afghanistan? Oh yes, September 11,2001. Iraq? God only knows the real reason.
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
Off to Toledo......to see the next President!
With everything else that the Bushies have screwed up, I don't understand why this is so difficult for those who criticize it's truthiness to believe it could be spot on. When it comes to veracity and believability, I trust Mr. Obama over the Bushbaby any day of the week.
For a good close-up description of what life is currently like for US troops in Afghanistan, check out this NYT piece:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/magazine/24afghanistan-t.html?pagewant...
Republicanasswipes (one word) like Malkin have no interest in the truth or the troops. They just want to score points. She and those of her ilk should just crawl back under the slimy rocks from whence they came.
Wingnuts don't care about the troops or about America. They care about the party, the Republiscum party,...kinda like in Soviet Russia and Communist China. One day it's the libruls who are the scapegoats, the next it's those pesky "fake" soldiers (Re: Rush Limpball's comments).
The Politburo would have been proud.
Holy mother! Uber-wing-nuts! We care about our troops! Just so long as we don't have to hear about the cold truth. We LUV us mental delusions.
Say hi to Klinger!
Gee wiz! You read stories like this and then get told we have recruitment problems...... Hmmmm. I read Malkin for my dish of dark humor-I laugh. Then I cry.
Sorry we can't use any more funds to back our troops. Spent it all on lapel pins to display our patriotism.
CafeenMan @ 8:
Trained by Osama himself. I hear that when he gets sworn in, he's gonna swear to destroy America!
But on topic,
Hot dang Hot Air! You got surrrrvd.
Support the Troops? The Army is broken. All my family members who have been to Iraq are getting divorced. The Treasury is looted. What happened to the hunt for Osama and AL Qaeda in Pakistan? Oh! What a god damn mess. USA! USA! USA!
I've seen this same story every single day since the debate.
Can't you find any other positive stories to run to help Obama?
Every time I see Obama's name on the headlines, I wait for the inevitable "Obama farked up" thing. While I do enjoy the 'whoops he was right all along', being right all the time will hurt him if he's ever says something that is inaccurate. Maybe more so than if he was just wrong all the time.
I guess I'm just afraid that he'll be giving something that isn't entirely true and will be jumped on for it because he has been so forthcoming so far.
Jeebus. What a cluster. What the hell are they doing in Afghanistan anyway? Chasing their tales like a dog with an itch? Taliban my butt. There is no threat of Taliban in Afghanistan. It's a pile of warlords, all with power in their areas. That's it, and the US and NATO created it. Why does the US and NATO hate Afghans? Why do they continue to kill them? For what purpose? If my memory serves me, the military didn't go in there to chase the "Taliban" around but to look for Osama BinHidin. Then the mission was changed just as in Iraq. Enough already. Get out and mind your own damn business. Or is the opium that damn important? Must be because that is all that has been mission accomplished. Opium sales and production is increased substantially. It's time to quit killing "brown" people in Iraq and Afghanistan and get the hell out of their nations.
Isn't it weird how Republicans talk so much about the importance of a father, yet support sending that father to the territorial pissings in Iraq for the last 5 years? They are pro life, but support dropping Bombs filled with Depleted Uranium on a nation that never attacked us? They condemn homicide bombers, but celebrate smart bombers. The dark cloud of cognitive dissonance hangs heavy over this fascist U.S. Homeland. The truth is there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? USA! USA!
If you want to defend Marriage then ban divorce. Why can't the gays be monogamous and miserable just like everyone else?
getalife @ 4:
He said, she said. What has Hillary said since then? She has supported it. Get all the facts, not just something that someone else said.
What, no article about how Nader's decided to run?
"Nader said he was running to advocate positions he said were being ignored by McCain, Obama, and Sen. Hillary Clinton."
Awesome reason to give the John McCain a better shot at the Oval Office.
Awesome reason.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4336298&page=1
myiq2xu @ 21:
You know, there's this ultra neat function on this site that if you click the link "Obama" under filed under, right under the article, you'll be taken to a page that lists all of the posts involving him.
Or are you just trying to rag on Obama again?
I was wondering why this was even newsworthy on nbc's evening news. It was truly such a nonstory, and Obama was correct. It was very suspicious, and clearly had right wing hit piece written all over it. Some pressure from somewhere above was placed on nbc news to air this story. The truth is, the right wing nuts don't really give a rat's butt about the soldiers, and the soldiers are figuring that out. The right wing nuts in fact care far more about protecting the powers that be, particularly Bush.
ConcernedCanuck @ 23:
Not to mention the government of FREEDOM (pronounced: fray-dum, with a Texan drawl) we set up is just an eeeency weeeency bit oppressive (but Democracy reigns, right?)
Yadda yadda
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR, "AMERICAN MORNING": It is almost 22 hours after the unspeakable terrorist incident that has forever changed New York City. Some of headlines Americans are waking up to this morning, The "Daily News" proclaiming "It is War," the "New York Post" saying "An Act of War."
UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: Do you want bin Laden dead?
BUSH: I want him, hell, I want justice and there's an old poster out West, as I recall, that said "Wanted Dead or Alive."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are one country today, unified in the pursuit to find and punish and obliterate those who committed that horrible act against this great nation.
LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR, "MONEYLINE": The emotion here is rising dramatically. Everybody is moving into position.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our heroes will now open the marketplace.
DOBBS: The determination not to allow terrorists to shut down our financial system was absolute.
RUMSFELD: Today the fires are finally out, the Taliban have been driven from power. Their leaders are on the run.
L.A. Confidential @ 30:
Dr. Strangelove: Bring on the Fog Machines
Major King Dong: I think we ought to send a 200 Megaton nuke over there and turn that place into a glass parking lot.
John Wayne: Well all I gotta' say is go ahead, make my day.
L.A. Confidential @ 31:
You can't grow poppies in a glass parking lot.
Face it people, Obama is our man. HRC needs to step aside ASAP for the good of the party.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080224/NEW...
Another bloody Sunday for Hillary Clinton as the Corporate Media Television continues to have a love fest for her opponent while berating her from every angle.
For example and I had to turn the tv off (considering pulling the plug altother again).
Cokie Roberts "The only people left who are supporting Hillary Clinton are women over 50" . Right from Obama's campaign lips, I've heard this so many times from Obama people it makes me sick because it's not true but it slams Hillary in some sick minded way. It gets worse than that Cokie of all Republican pundits calls Obama a handsome young man who comes along and steals all of these votes and say's it as if that it came from the lesbian Billie Jean King.
If any of you think they are doing this because they like Obama well think again. The Corporate Media is laying the ground work putting on the finishing touches for a Obama nomination so that they can then turn on him like a wicked step mother and crush his bones. It is Hillary they don't want to run against this is why you see a love in with all the regular republican pundits. Do you remember how much they HATED Howard Dean? Well if they thought they could beat Howard in a General Election they would have loved up on him like they do Obama.
By the way if Obama wins by some evil spell on the Democratic Party and the republicans they let sway the nomination. Well I won't be joining you in November. I'm not selling my soul the way Obama has.
WTF?
DoD is the largest consumer of petroleum products in the world, is larger than all the other militaries in the world combined, has a budget bigger than Australia's.
Oil just hit $100 for the second time, and opium production in Afghanistan is at an all time high.
The national security state has hijacked our constitution and substituted it with a pocketful of credit cards.
And now the great american dream suburban machine is coasting to the side of the road as the fuel gage registers E, and no gas stations in sight.
Danny @ 37:
You go from whining about the media's love fest for Obama -- which isn't true at all, considering how Hillary is CNN's, Faux's and the NYT's favorite nominee -- to trying to convince us that Obama is going to be crushed by McCain and your proof of that is the lies you've just spewed about the media's love for Obama? Then you go on saying you're not selling your soul like Obama has? How has Obama sold his soul? You strike me as desperate and pathetic. Kind of like those rethuglicans on YouTube who post in videos about Obama saying, I used to be an Obama supporter, but now I'm not after watching this video. Typical sleaze tactics.
Ace Armstrong @ 38:
We better hope that Hillary is going to be President. She is going to make sure we have alternate fuel sources a lot sooner than any other candidate.
HA! I love it.
Just as "Pro-lifers" value of life begins at conception and ends at birth, the support of the "Pro Troops" wing of the GOP begins in their imagination and ends at Reality's front porch.
Jeffrey @ 39:
You worried much?! You're clueless!
"The Obama story is bogus. Army captains do not head rifle platoons. Rifle platoons are led by lieutenants." _ Ollie North
Danny @ 40:
Hotair isn't an alternate fuel source. One big check from big oil and Hillary will fold like she did with big pharma. Better luck next time.
Danny @ 42:
That's it? I'm clueless? You haven't responded to any of the points I raised. What's the matter? Are you more comfortable dodging questions because you don't have any answers, just rhetoric?
P.S.: You need to work on your grammar. It's "Are you worried much?", not, "You worried much?!"
The Army captain, a West Point graduate, did a tour in a hot area of eastern Afghanistan from the Summer of 2003 through Spring 2004.
Prior to deployment the Captain -- then a Lieutenant -- took command of a rifle platoon at Fort Drum. When he took command, the platoon had 39 members, but -- in ones and twos -- 15 members of the platoon were re-assigned to other units. He knows of 10 of those 15 for sure who went to Iraq, and he suspects the other five did as well.
krisken @ 28:
I wasn't ragging on Obama.
Hillary is Israel's favorite candidate. Most Israelis of European decent want her because Bill sent Israel all the military equipment they asked for.
The Clintons have been good to Israel. Most Israelis also don't like Obama because of his color. African Jews (Ethiopians) in Israel are a minority looked down upon like second class citizens and despite the fact many of them are highly educated, the unemployment rates among that group are very high due to rampant discrimination.
So he makes those kind of remarks NOW. Back last year when Senator Webb introduced the bill to try to get more time between deployment guess what he did....he wouldn't vote....NOW WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT. Two faced and underhanded I think.
These are the folks that Obama is going to "work with" to change the way things get done in Washington. Ask Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi how that's worked out for them on Iraq, dude.
abob @ 43:
Oh yeah, Ollie North. Now THERE'S a guy you can trust - NOT!
Nobama 08 @ 50:
I guess we better send in Hillary then. Right?
She'll just assume the fetal position and pretend like it's all nice and rosy once lobbyists start sending in those all-inclusive vacation vouchers to her office.
"since Congress provides the funding for the military"
And didn't those war loving nimrods pass a military spending bill that was MORE then the White House had asked for so that the troops COULD be properly equiped??
"On A Roll Electorally, Obama Injects His Manner With A Bit Of Cockiness" is how The New York Hillary Clinton Is Losing This Thing Big Times put an article headlined as "On Center Stage, a Candidate Letting His Confidence Show" in their print edition. NYT didn't have the two things to say it on the web.
But, but, but all the military contractors and suppliers are making huge record profits so bush must be doing the right thing.
/snark
I can take a difference in political ideology and frankly it's imperative in a democracy. What I can't take is an ideology founded in lies which is what we've had in during the Bush years. Has Bush or any of his hacks ever told the truth, even about the smallest thing? Bending the truth from time to time happens and we all do it. This bunch though are compulsive liers to a degree that I don't believe the world has ever seen or will ever see again. I swear you could ask Bush his name and he'd either say it was Bob or he would say he couldn't divulge it because of Executive Privelage.
So politicians from both sides all we ask is one thing in the future, just tell us the truth. We're big boys and girls and we can take it, honest. I know it's naive to believe this might ever happen on a regular basid but for this country to recover from Bush's reign of terror it is imperative that you at least give it a try.
So Obama said something that is factually correct. Wow.
So Hillary's assuring corporate rule of our country.
So McCain is a human pile of rubble who could be bested by a Bathroom Monkey.
Big bleary canvas of muddy sloppily applied illusions that would be better blank.
Screw them all.
The Captain's story has also been confirmed by NBC News. Of course the wingnuts are calling for the Captain to come forward and volunteer to be swift-boated and/or court-martialed for disclosing Super Top Secret Information That Our Enemies Couldn't Possibly Figure Out By Reading The Daily Newspapers.
abob @ 43:
and he is soooooo truthful isnt he best remembered for the irancontra mess
With any luck, if Obama is elected President, I have an idea that he is the only one willing to return the role of the Executive branch back to it's previously "lawful" authority. At least I really hope so.. I don’t see the alternatives scurrying to become "lawful" or de-Bush (Debushification?) the Executive any time soon.
Nobama 08 @ 50:
they chose not to do their jobs. he did his despte the se people. he actually got bills passed.
Well be just fine, pal. FDR didn't spend any time in the military and he was one helluva Commander-in-chief.
I hate to be a nit picker but even though it is on the other side of the planet geography and the knowledge of it is important. Afghanistan is not any where near the Gulf. It is not even in the Middle East, it is in Asia. You can see by this map that Iran sits between Afghanistan and the Gulf. This map shows you just how far way from the Middle East Afghanistan actually is.
You may also note that our persence in both Iraq and Afghanistan give Iran every reason to be nervous.
ConcernedCanuck @ 24:
Daniels @ 15:
breakspear @ 6:
1) Malkin and their ilk play with fire when they do that. Remember, a certain Austrian PFC with the highest medal the Kaiserreich could bestow used a screwing-over by a post-war government and economic difficulties caused by war to take over a certain country and spark the European half of a war that killed 55 million. Killed 55 million. His name you might have heard of. He is used as a political football of evil these days. A certain...Adolf Hitler? That may indeed be the legacy of Bush's wars.
2) No. At least when the Politburo wasn't 100% corrupt like in Brezhnev's era, they would have had their enemies shot. No questions.
3) Anybody remember the narcotics trade from 'Nam? I would be curious on narcotics convictions and whether they've spiked since 2001....
ms b @ 59:
Honest George @ 62:
Post Americans @ 25:
1) Naw, Gays should still be allowed to have fun. Hell, gay men get laid more than straight men, it's why the closet queens on the Right are jealous.
2) Not entirely truthful. He was a civilian Assistant Secretary of the Navy. It's not like he was 100% clueless.
3) Ollie North is lying. Lieutenants know two things: jack, and shit, and jack left town. It's the sergeants who run the platoons.
Dr. Matt @ 3:
Really??!!??
Edwin @ 66:
No. It's a conspiracy by the EBIL LEPRACHAUNS FROM URANUS who are the reason you are so constipated when daring to conceive certain things and who send radio waves into your-I mean, yes.
Note- post 67 should have a smiley.
Obama’s efforts to connect to the Republican Party, specifically Bush, and Dick Chaney, of the Halliburton Company, dates back to the Presidents Grandfather, Prescott Bush, and indeed Chaney was once an executive officer of Halliburton.
The American military pounds Iraq with Artillary, bombs, and the like, destroying large sections of cities, and infra-structures, then Halliburton comes in to rebuild. Halliburton and Halliburton associated companies have raked in ten’s of billions.
Obama is just like the BIG HALIBURTAN. Haliburton has contracted to build detention centers in the U.S. similiar to the one in Quantanammo Bay, Cuba. Halliburton does nothing to earn the Two Dollars for each meal an American Serviceman in Iraq eats.
http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/
Halliburton was scheduled to take control of the Dubai Ports in The United Arab Emiirate. The deal was canceled when Bush was unable to affect the transfer of the American Ports.
Now we see what some might suspect as similiar financial escapading from the Democrats.
Two years ago, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity gave a $50 million contract to a start-up security company - Companion- owned by now-indicted businessman (TONY REZKO) Tony Rezko and a onetime Chicago cop, Daniel T. Frawley, to train Iraqi power-plant guards in the United States. An Iraqi leadership change left the deal in limbo. Now the company, Companion Security, is working to revive its contract.
Involved along with Antoin “Tony” Rezco, long time friend and neighbor of Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, and former cop Daniel T. Frawley, is Aiham Alsammarae. Alsammarae was accused of financial corruption by Iraqi authorities and jailed in Iraq last year before escaping and returning here.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON --
Obama should be vetted and disclose his connection to the criminal money generating underworld. Besides, his connections to the REZCO MAFIA types, his up-coming tax fraud charges — Obama needs to disclose why he is a MUSLIM "PATWANG-FWEEE" and stop suppoting our intervention in IRAQ. It’s time to introduce this false, fake Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke "GLORK" Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo "GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA" Police Department Buffalo Creek. He is MAD!!! --
OBAM YOUR NO JFK --
"GLORK" Obama looks like Alfred E. Newman: "Tales Calculated To Drive You." He is a MUSLIM "Glork" He's MAD!!! Alfred E. Neuman is the fictional mascot of Mad. The face had drifted through American pictography for decades before being claimed by Mad editor Harvey Kurtzman after he spotted it on the bulletin board in the office of Ballantine Books editor Bernard Shir-Cliff, later a contributor to various magazines created by Kurtzman.
Obama needs to disclose why he is a MUSLIM "PATWANG-FWEEE" and stop suppoting our intervention in IRAQ. It’s time to introduce this false, fake "GLORK" Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo "GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA" Police Department Buffalo Creek.
Danny @ 37:
I am with you on this one!
Janet reno @ 69:
Hey Janet! Long time no see! How ya been? We liked you so much more than Gonzo!
the truth is that the manufacturing plants can't keep up. doesn't anyone watch the hearings? it's been said time and again, the money is there, in the pipeline but it takes a lot longer than anticipated for the product. That's the problem. Military "budgets" or "emergency funding" is granted in a 2 yr start to end cycle. What money is allocated today won't be equipment in the hands of the military until 2010 or later.
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