W.H. Attacks Pentagon Over Afghan Troop Leaks, Denies Reports of Decision; Rahm Emanuel ‘Enraged’

Monday, November 9, 2009 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

MSNBC and Bloomberg are reporting that the Obama administration is denying reports by CBS News and the AP that Obama has decided to send nearly 40,000 reinforcements to Afghanistan.

Both outlets report that Obama has not received final recommendations from his advisers and he would then need time to review them.

Bloomberg cited an e-mailed statement by National Security Adviser Jim Jones that flatly denied a decision had been made by Obama.

Afghan theater Gen. Stanley McChrystal requested 40,000 to 80,000 troops in August saying the war could be lost in twelve months if his request is not met. Three months later Obama has yet to decide on that urgent request.

Updates: CNN has more now, with the White House accusing the Pentagon of trying to manipulate Obama: “People at the Pentagon are trying to force a certain outcome,” one of the senior administration officials told CNN. Updates: CNN has more now, with the White House accusing the Pentagon of trying to manipulate Obama: “People at the Pentagon are trying to force a certain outcome,” one of the senior administration officials told CNN.

Both senior administration officials insisted Obama has not made any decision on troop levels in Afghanistan, noting the President has another meeting with his national security team on Wednesday to receive a final set of recommendations from the Pentagon brass. The senior officials said the president could not possibly make a decision on troop levels before even receiving the Pentagon’s final recommendations.

NY Daily News:

The leaks in question enraged White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who had discussions today with Pentagon officials about the reports.>

Both senior administration officials insisted Obama has not made any decision on troop levels in Afghanistan, noting the President has another meeting with his national security team on Wednesday to receive a final set of recommendations from the Pentagon brass. The senior officials said the president could not possibly make a decision on troop levels before even receiving the Pentagon’s final recommendations.

NY Daily News:

The leaks in question enraged White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who had discussions today with Pentagon officials about the reports.

[Mears]

bfl

[Mears]

bfl

[devistate one four]

Leaks are us!

FUBO!

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[txhurl]

The next day he finally got a meeting with obama on Air Force One.

This always makes me laugh, remember the AF1 buzzing the Statue of Liberty thread?

I'll go find it... it is needed humor in the days we are living in.

[spokeshave]

"Maybe he will have an accident on his way to the opera."

Ballerina eh....send him an Isadora Duncan scarf.

[Candor7]

Or slip a little toad into his wine.

[Indy Pendance]

Everything isn't doom and gloom.

[Major Matt Mason]

Anything that enrages Rahm is OK by me.

[Eaker]

That’s very good!

[glock rocks]

Come the 2012 election, I hope the association of Obama with Carter is even more an appropriate analogy, as Carter brought us President Reagan... it is a source of encouragement in the darkness cast by the adolescents currently destroying generations of sacrifice in our republic.

Any thinking person who doesn't understand that the current destruction being inflicted upon our grand experiment is intentional, is deluded.

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. When you give up that force, you are ruined."

— Patrick Henry