Recently, Barack Obama made what is actually a relatively non-controversial statement about the state of our Armed Forces:
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. 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. Now, that’s a consequence of bad judgment.
The right wing smear machine has gone into high gear to attack Obama, and Senator John Warner, of Virginia, ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has joined in the attack:
Warner — a World War II veteran and former Navy Secretary — has been a staunch advocate for U.S. troops. Warner’s letter to Obama asks the senator to provide “essential facts” about the Army captain’s story, including his personal information, so members of the committee can interview him and others to establish accountability, “depending of course, on the accuracy of the facts.”
If the Democrats had the killer instinct, the would take Warner up on his demands. Obama’s statement has already been independently verified twice. If Warner wants hearings on troop readiness, the Democrats should give them to him, and when the White House refuses to co-operate, they should demand co-operation in Warner’s name.
Update. A commenter asks for links demonstrating that Obama’s assertion has been verified. Here’s one, which links to primary sources.
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