Posted on 10/30/2009 8:00:54 PM PDT by kristinn
At today's White House briefing, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Barack Obama has spent "close to 20 direct hours" in meetings on Afghanistan since Gen. Stanley McChrystal's request for tens of thousands of reinforcements was submitted over two months ago with a warning the war would be lost in twelve months without more troops.
Gibbs says Obama also spends "quite a bit of time" thinking about the war in Afghanistan.
Gibbs was asked about a statement by the mother of one of the fallen soldiers, Sgt. Dale Griffin, killed in Afghanistan this week whom Obama met with at Dover early Thursday morning. The mother, Dona Griffin, said she told Obama, Don't leave our troops hanging," when he asked the families if there was anything he could do for them. Gibbs was asked if Obama feels like he is leaving the troops hanging.
He responded that Obama is trying to "understand the full cost of the war."
MR. GIBBS: Again, we haven't gotten into broad specifics on that yet.
On the first part, Jeff, you know, look, I think -- I don't -- I used to have it calculated, I should just go back and do it, the number of hours that he has spent in these meetings is probably now -- well, at the end of today will probably be getting close to 20 direct hours of his time. The group -- the principals that meet with the President additionally take time to get the material ready, and are prepared to answer questions for the President, probably at least twice as much of that of the President's time the principals have spent.
So obviously we -- the President and his team have spent a pretty big chunk of time evaluating very, very closely each of these individual countries, their relationship together and their impact on the region.
At the conclusion of these meetings, he generally is off to the next thing. I think he has spent quite a bit of time after the meetings back in the office -- back in his office, probably primarily in the Residence at night, going back and reading through his notes, as well as -- notes that he's taken on the meetings, and oftentimes will come out with questions that the team will prepare the answers for, for the next meeting.
SNIPQ--Early yesterday morning when he was in Dover and met with the families, the families said that he asked, is there anything we can do for the families. And the mother of -- Dona Griffin, a mother of the last of the dignified transfers, said that she told the President, "Don't leave our troops hanging." When he walks into the Situation Room right about now, does he have any sense that the time he's taking to make these decisions is leaving those troops hanging?
MR. GIBBS: Again, to go back through what's happened, the President believed that additional forces were needed in March and he added them to get us to a point where we could evaluate the outcome of the election. That obviously has been delayed a little bit, but he believes this is a point in which it's necessary to fully assess where we are. I don't believe the President thinks -- I know he doesn't believe that this assessment is in any way doing that. I think he understands and I think, as you heard him say yesterday in the Oval Office, I think his commitment, particularly after going to a place like Dover, is to understand the full cost of the war.
the true cost of a war is never understood until its over.
Is this your blog?
Being generous on my last post, I came up with some .04% in the last 60 days since his top General briefed him. I'm sure he has spent a larger percentage playing golf, campaigning, fund-raising, and misc face time. Would love to see what those percentages are...keeping in mind just (8) hours a day at a minimum.
Pretty sure they are more than the time Gibbs says about 20 hours over 60 days. What a soundbite or commercial that could make. If I were to get the actual percentage of his time NOT dedicated to the Afgan war, I would personally make a slide show showing the difference. Got stats?
The troops are probably spending 20 hours in one day 24 in two.
He needs to spend 20hours on the ground and in the trenches with these guys. post 172. Obama is a pussy!
Wudda dumb bass! The troops spend 24 hours A DAY thinking about the war!
I wonder how many hours W spent on Iraq? A bit more than 20.
He’s spend three times that amount of time flying around campaigning for Corzine and Deeds.
The man is a disaster.
Windflier, ROFLMAO!!!!! That is among the best I’ve ever seen!!!
20 hours?
And how many hours has this big eared dick spent playing basket ball?
How many hours playing host to garbage like Soros?
Meanwhile our kids die in Afghanistan.
And eight hours to do a discusting photo op before dead troops.
I seem to recall that Bush always went behind the scenes to hospitals, to see families, to meet with those coming home, WITHOUT the media.
THis guy is disgraceful
Gee, I understand the cost of the war after standing in the flag line with PGR for two hours yesterday, for Marine LCpl David R. Baker, 22. KIA 10-20-09 in Afghanistan. May he RIP.
You are a hero, and I KNOW that you understand! A good friend of mine was also involved in the funeral ceremony for L.Cpl David Baker. He rode in a very large group of bikes that served as funeral escorts from the funeral home to the airport. He, like L.Cpl. Baker, is a Marine and served in Vietnam (actually served, not like that fraud Kerry).
L.Cpl David Baker, may you rest in peace indeed.
Wasn't the request for more troops from the general he put in charge made about 90 days ago????
The fact that the BHO administration is so stupid to put such a number out there means we should demand a job summary report breaking down all billable hours for the president.
Oh no, not Jim Beam!!
If I find out he really drinks it, I’m throwing mine out!!
no more
lose the war now
why wait?
bring the troops home
my nephew will be saved
and thousands of other fine men and women
then, of course
maybe...(we can only hope)
Jihadists will blow up Congress
and most of the rest of Washington D.C.
and save us all.
do i need a “/sarc” tag? really?
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