This looked like it had all the makings of a one-day story. At Thursday night’s debate, Barack Obama talked about an Army captain serving in Afghanistan who found that, thanks to the war in Iraq, he or she didn’t have the support, ammunition, or resources necessary.
The right went nuts, insisting Obama’s story was bogus. ABC and NBC checked it out, talked to the Army captain directly, and as expected, found that Obama’s story checked out. Another misguided conservative attack for the list.
So, time to move on? Apparently not.
It would appear that we have another case where the Bush Pentagon, particularly the Office of Public Affairs is forcefully inserting itself into the civilian election process. Earlier today I referenced Barack Obama’s anecdote from Thursday night’s Democratic debate about an Army Captain in Afghanistan who said his unit had had to get from captured Taliban ammunition they weren’t able to get quickly enough through standard Army supply channels. ABCNews’ Jake Tapper talked to the soldier in question, who confirmed the story he’d told Obama. Now NBC News also appears to have confirmed the story by talking to the Army Captain in question.
But Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman is telling reporters he doesn’t think it’s true and that of course they can’t confirm it unless the soldier — still on active duty — comes forward to discuss the issue with the Pentagon brass, a step that would surely do wonders for his future in the Army.
I don’t know how far this is going to go.
You don’t suppose Bush’s Pentagon would take partisan considerations into account, do you? Heaven forbid.
On a related note:
Senator John Warner of Virginia, the ranking Republican and former chairman of the Armed Services Committee who has endorsed Senator John McCain, wrote to Mr. Obama on Friday seeking more details. Senator Warner wants to find out of the story is true — and, if so, who might be responsible for any lapses. He said that he will also raise the issue with Army Secretary Peter Geren and Army Chief of Staff William Casey when they testify next week before his committee.
In the letter, which begins “Dear Barack,” Senator Warner said that the incident most likely occurred while he was chairman of the committee, whose members also include Senator John McCain and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
“There are specific military regulations governing the use by U.S. forces of weapons other than of U.S. manufacture, and, likewise, regulations covering the deployment into combat zones of military units at manning levels below optimum level,” said Mr. Warner.
To establish accountability within the military chain of command, Mr. Warner is asking Mr. Obama to provide more facts about the incident cited in the debate — the dates, the unit involved and the name of the captain and other military personnel who provided the information to Mr. Obama.
First, if the Army captain who contacted the Obama campaign came forward, he or she would have a whole series of political problems to worry about.
And second, Warner’s interest is hardly dispassionate. Not only is he a close McCain ally, but as chairman of the Armed Services Committee at the time of the Iraq invasion, he bears some responsibility for troops in Afghanistan getting the short shrift.