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.
I don't think he served 2 tours. 1 tour, USMC, served on Hill 55 outside of Da Nang as far as I know.
Was he a tall, slim fellow with a southern accent? He's a top-notch guy!
Wow - a 6 mile procession. That is impressive!
Apparently its difficult to find an Afro Centric, Black Supremacist, white hating, America hating church in DC.
How many direct hours were spent on the dog selection?
“Gibbs: Obama Has Spent “Close to 20 Direct Hours” on Afghan War,
“Quite a Bit of Time” Pondering”
Why we probably should only elect Presidents that have been in the
US military...or understand the needs of our guys and gals that are
“the tip of the spear”.
At this point I really don’t care about the Healthcare bill, cap and trade or even the deficit, this is the only thing I care about right now!
And I do recall Clinton also always carping about how many hours he’d spent years ago on various negotiating/mediating issues, like Ireland or the Middle East. He wanted to get extra credit for this I guess, but he just sounded like a lawyer enumerating “billable hours”. In my lifetime I have never heard of any but these two Presidents who communicate the number of hours they’ve spent on a “problem”. It boggles the mind that we elect people like this.
This president is an insult to all Americans.
I am boiling angry with him and his wife. I hope the two of them rot in hell.
The US Army is starting to recognize who their enemy is. They need to come home now. The fight is here.
Just scrolled down to see if my #246 posted, and I saw yours. GMTA, or what?
“They need to come home now.The fight is here”.
-—that is a very provocative, and interesting statement.
It may very well come to that. It’s just such a long, slow, damn build to the tipping point conditions here at home, but I am convinced we’ll get there.
I cant see how Americans will tolerate this scumbag for another year. A few million marched on DC this year. Next year its going to be 20 million plus with an attitude.
What is a broad specific?
Is that anything like a narrow generality?
But then, I'm still highly offended on Marxist Obama's use of the flag-draped casket of one of our fallen heroes as a prop for a photo-op to PRETEND that he respects our troops.
.
Q: What's the – how would you frame the mission and the expectations for today's meeting [with military and defense advisors], from the President's perspective?
MR. GIBBS: Well, you know, the President asked to meet with the Joint Chiefs, the second time he's met with them as a group. The first time was, I think, in the first month of the administration. Obviously, these are folks that represent all branches of our armed forces, and I think we'll – the President wants an opportunity to talk to them about General McChrystal's assessment. Obviously they're – being in charge of their branch, these are the men who are required to provide trained and equipped soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen for missions both in Afghanistan, Iraq and throughout the world.
There is a war going on and Obama has met with the Joint Chiefs only two times in the ten months it has been his sole responsibility to be Commander in Chief. Now that is truly despicable!
20 whole hours? he’s been President for nearly a year this and Iraq should be his main focus followed closely by the economy and job creation. Oh that’s rigth he’s much too busy playing golf!
He has been passing the buck ...”I'm cleaning up George Bushes mess” for the last 9 months.
I wasn't born yesterday. I know what I am seeing. A CIC who is feeding the meat grinder. His reasons are irrelevant at this point.
My son will not be a part of this mans carnage for entertainment.
No, not the one that spoke to me.
There were probably around 1000, +/- 200, folks at the church today. The overpasses of I-90 were lined with people along the route the procession was to take. A local radio station played LCpl Baker's favorite song over and over from 11-12:00 with tributes from callers in between. Very impressive. Hope your friend was able to attend.
How stupid ARE these people??
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