Uh oh: White House caught lying about Petraeus’s withdrawal recommendations?
posted at 9:16 pm on June 28, 2011 by Allahpundit
Terrific catch by Stephen Hayes from this afternoon’s Afghanistan testimony by Lt. Gen. John Allen. I can’t help but wonder: Why would the White House lie and claim that Obama’s withdrawal plan was within the range of options presented to him by Petraeus? I thought the next 18 months were going to be all about Obama going with his gut. Wingin’ it, if you will.
His gut told him that he needs to get reelected, and the easiest way to do that was to yank as many troops as possible out of the country no matter what it might mean for the war. That was the only “range of options” that mattered.
So he winged it.
In response to questioning from Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Allen testified that Obama’s decision on the pace and size of Afghanistan withdrawals was “a more aggressive option than that which was presented.”
Graham pressed him. “My question is: Was that a option?”
Allen: “It was not.”
Allen’s claim, which came under oath, contradicts the line the White House had been providing reporters over the past week—that Obama simply chose one option among several presented by General David Petraeus. In a conference call last Wednesday, June 22, a reporter asked senior Obama administration officials about those options. “Did General Petraeus specifically endorse this plan, or was it one of the options that General Petraeus gave to the president?”
The senior administration official twice claimed that the Obama decision was within the range of options the military presented to Obama.
Follow the link up top for a full transcript of what that senior administration official said last week. Are Hayes and I missing some nuance in the quotes? It’s one thing if the White House wants to squander the surge in the name of winning next year, but at least own it. Don’t use Petraeus as the fig leaf for a terrible, electorally motivated war “strategy.” Good lord.
Here’s something new from Breitbart TV. You know who I blame for all this? You, America. You need to “up your game.”
Blowback
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I’m sure Chris Wallace wouldn’t even ask him about the deception, but, on the other hand, if the president was a woman republican, he sure would.
Fuquay Steve on June 28, 2011 at 10:38 PM
How dare Petraeus not commit perjury to support little Bammie’s reelection campaign! How dare he!
slickwillie2001 on June 28, 2011 at 10:39 PM
….McChrystal had his problems(especially ROE)….but there is no way in he!! that I believe a man this experienced with special forces was dumb enough to blabber on in front of a Rolling Stone journalist and not think it would make it to print.
I still think McChrystal saw what a cluster f#$k Obama is and did what he had to do to get out without “quitting”….
Baxter Greene on June 28, 2011 at 10:39 PM
Mr. Gut Instinct lied?
How unexpectedly unexpected.
GrannyDee on June 28, 2011 at 10:40 PM
Who cares? Dr Williams is a black conservative and, thus, an Uncle Tom. /s
Dingbat63 on June 28, 2011 at 10:42 PM
He knows that his liberal old media will not call him on it, and he knows that any voter that cares would never vote for him anyway.
slickwillie2001 on June 28, 2011 at 10:42 PM
What? He’s actually going to appear to answer questions?
disa on June 28, 2011 at 10:43 PM
Obama knows he will get a total pass from the media and never be held accountable.
….As Afghanistan starts to deteriorate at an even quicker pace now…..you can bet the MSM will cover for Obama with the ..
……….”Bush screwed it up so bad that Obama could not fix it”…..
In liberal land…nothing is ever a democrats fault.
Baxter Greene on June 28, 2011 at 10:44 PM
My first thought: May I politely suggest up yours, Mr President.
Game on!
Fallon on June 28, 2011 at 10:44 PM
An Interview with John Bernard
From my vantage point; COIN [this would be Petraeus – he “wrote the book”) is directly or indirectly responsible for every American death in Afghanistan from at least June of 2009
I am still convinced that COIN [this would be Petraeus – he “wrote the book”) will prove to have been an absolute disaster there.
HalJordan on June 28, 2011 at 10:44 PM
Why? I agree that Obumba and Moochelle are not going to give up the T times and living off us taxpayers, but I do think that what I think is a proven honorable patriot (GEN Patreaous) would look at himself in the mirror and decide that this was wrong.
Dingbat63 on June 28, 2011 at 10:48 PM
canopfor on June 28, 2011 at 10:23 PM
=====================================
This is liberal speak for : surrender
Obama was handed a victory in Iraq and did nothing but ignore it besides bragging about “brining the troops home”(under the SOFA agreement implemented by Bush)….
…..Iraq has deteriorated since.
Then he sends a half-assed surge to Afghanistan(much lower than the maximum McCyrstal requested)…fires McCrystal…brings in Bush’s General Petraeus….and now surrenders there after spending years bragging about “winning the good war”……
Obama is the worst President in the History of this Nation.
Baxter Greene on June 28, 2011 at 10:33 PM
Baxter Greene:Surrender it is for his Anti-War Wombats,er,
MoonBats,at thee expensive of the US Military,
and the beloved Progressive speak:
World Peace!
And,all for a bump, or spike in Poll Numbers
Narrative!:)
===========================
Also,I’m not sure if this is(this afternoon’s Afghanistan testimony by Lt. Gen. John Allen.)
is the video,or not!!
Senior Military Commanders Nominess
June 28 2011
Video(02:28:12)
******************
The Senate Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing for the commander chosen to replace General David Petraeus in Afghanistan, Lieutenant General John Allen. Vice Admiral William McRaven, the commander of the Navy SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden, was nominated to lead the Special Operations Command, and General James Thurman was picked to lead U.S. forces in Korea.
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/MilitaryNominat
canopfor on June 28, 2011 at 10:48 PM
No Fire Support; No Glasses; More ‘Chai’; No Warrior Friendly Change!
This morning I got a note from Andy Bostom, a good friend with a passion for the welfare of our troops, with what is now the official release of the good General’s assessment of the ROE and his intent. From the story: “Going several steps better, General Petraeus has reportedly expanded the ban on air strikes and artillery fire to all types of buildings, tree-lined areas and hillsides where it is difficult to distinguish who is on the ground.” The fact is, not only has he deemed the ROE as proper, he has deemed it not tight enough.
The good General should be advised not to seek the limits of that resilience or the ignorance of the general American population.
1972 is not that long ago….
HalJordan on June 28, 2011 at 10:49 PM
As I said, respect the office by calling out this bozo.
I know, I know. We survived the disgusting attacks on GW and we’ll survive 1.5 more years of Obama – barely.
I remember the lines at the pump and California’s even-odd days (you could purchase gas on odd days if the last digit of your license plate was an odd number etc).
I don’t recall it being this bad, though. Could be that middle age brings some wisdom and perspective. Could be that our staggering debt makes everything more precarious.
disa on June 28, 2011 at 10:50 PM
correction…
Obama has an appearance in front of his “unofficial campaign committee” of journolistos.
These lapdogs quit holding serious “press conferences” on Jan. 20, 2009.
Ahh…Ahh…Mr. Obama Sir….I mean your excellence….
……what has enchanted you the most in your time in the White House?????
Baxter Greene on June 28, 2011 at 10:50 PM
Great links…thanks Canopfor.
Baxter Greene on June 28, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Wait, what are we talking about here? Is there some huge public outcry in favor of abandoning the anti-Taliban operations in Afghanistan, while continuing the random bombings in Libya?
Clinton followed the daily opinion polls, to the exclusion of all else. But Barack Hussein Obama is no Bill Clinton. His rhetoric may pay lip service to the latte liberals of the media, but he’s following an agenda that is all his own.
logis on June 28, 2011 at 10:54 PM
Dolchstoßlegende Twie.
HalJordan on June 28, 2011 at 10:56 PM
+1
cmsinaz on June 28, 2011 at 10:56 PM
Analysis: Troop cuts herald shift in US approach
2011-06-23 06:10 AM
********************
The phased drawdown of American troops beginning this summer will not signal an immediate abandonment of the “protect-the-people-and-bolster-their-government” approach. But it does suggest that with the 2012 presidential election looming, Obama is ready to begin scaling back his war goals.
“From the standpoint of the American psyche, I think this will be welcomed,” said Kiron K. Skinner, director of Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for International Relations and Politics and a former adviser to the Pentagon.
She said the White House also calculates that it will help Obama as he heads into a re-election fight.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1633747
canopfor on June 28, 2011 at 11:00 PM
man o man…it’s all about the O…
cmsinaz on June 28, 2011 at 11:02 PM
Ahh…Ahh…Mr. Obama Sir….I mean your excellence….
……what has enchanted you the most in your time in the White House?????
Baxter Greene on June 28, 2011 at 10:50 PM
Baxter Greene:Linky thingys,anytime.And that reminds me,yes
your Omnipotent Hopey spiel,I would love to
watch,a comedy,or drama,based on the MSM and
the Obama Administration,rolled out in time
for the election,and it has to be soooo hard
hitting,that Team O tries to stop it from be
ing showed at theatres,and it would be based
on how they put this character with Zero ex
perience in the WH,and the over the top,zeal
in which the MSM put their hit stories togeth
er,topped off,at the end,with endless MSM pa
rties,and celebrations showing that there only
purpose was that they could….with a line at
the end,where a journalist remarks to another,
“WHAT ABOUT AMERICA,OMG,WHAT HAVE WE DONE”!
Just a wishful thinking idea!:)
canopfor on June 28, 2011 at 11:13 PM
canopfor on June 28, 2011 at 11:00 PM
man o man…it’s all about the O…
cmsinaz on June 28, 2011 at 11:02 PM
cmsinaz:Correct you are,lol,btw(it’s all about the O)Haha:)
canopfor on June 28, 2011 at 11:14 PM
Oh how ridiculous. Let’s get away from irrelevant stuff like what Petraeus told Obama to do about the war in Afghanistan and back to the important stuff like EXACTLY where John Wayne was born and whether the founding fathers tried to eliminate slavery. And we still haven’t said enough about whether Paul Revere really warned the British.
chris999 on June 28, 2011 at 11:55 PM
heck..in this pic he even looks like tricky dick…tanned, but still.
Fighton03 on June 29, 2011 at 12:28 AM
No matter the feelings toward Lindsey Graham, he sure knows how to question a witness. He’s a pro.
MaggiePoo on June 29, 2011 at 12:51 AM
Sure, but he’s a fool…what’s there to wing? Let him wing it, always. The land will see that she voted for a malicious Dummy.
Schadenfreude on June 29, 2011 at 12:55 AM
You’re right! With his chin down like that it emphasizes jowls–along with the grim look, he’s separated at birth from Nixon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nixon_and_khrushchev.jpg
INC on June 29, 2011 at 1:11 AM
That is a feature of the White House. When the resident is a Democrat, evil spell and all that….
antisocial on June 29, 2011 at 1:20 AM
Slow down now, this is little Bammie we’re talking about. That means a ten-minute recital from Teleprompter, followed by three questions from pre-selected liberal media ‘journalists’, then off for tee-time!
slickwillie2001 on June 29, 2011 at 1:23 AM
Obama’s self proclaimed voting block: Liberals, unmarried women, the young, blacks, and 60% of Hispanics, they all simply don’t care that he is a liar.
(Skip to 1:58 on the link)
scotash on June 29, 2011 at 1:52 AM
Leave me out of this; I did what I could. Blame the dumb-assed 52%ers.
—————-Signed, I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore.
hillbillyjim on June 29, 2011 at 2:46 AM
I’m pretty sure “going with your gut” requires actual guts and probably a backbone as well.
(Not knocking ya; that’s some damn good snark.)
Wingin’ it without the TOTUS is verboten, though, so I am told.
hillbillyjim on June 29, 2011 at 3:25 AM
Marching in lock step with the partisan MainStreamMedia makes the (D)emocrats so condescending. They really expect the man they smeared as “Betrayus” to STFU, like a good soldier, and he does. So your exposure of Obama’s efforts to condemn him to a losing strategy, then blame him for the failure, will go ignored and unreproted.
DANEgerus on June 29, 2011 at 3:40 AM
I agree. Lindsay is a mean girl . . .
BigAlSouth on June 29, 2011 at 7:15 AM
mornin’ :)
cmsinaz on June 29, 2011 at 7:18 AM
That headline is four words too long.
Jim Treacher on June 29, 2011 at 7:52 AM
Yes Obama will/does get a free pass from the MSM on everything, however he hasn’t yet found a way to stop all of us from spreading the truth around the country by all means possible. I just sent this link out to several hundred people, who will then in turn send it out to several hundred more people… The truth must be told.
Keemo on June 29, 2011 at 7:57 AM
Why would they lie, you ask…
Because they always lie.
uber-con on June 29, 2011 at 8:10 AM
I expected you to say that.
SKYFOX on June 29, 2011 at 8:18 AM
Barack Capone: “If you call me a liar again, I’ll have your legs broken.”
MJZZZ on June 29, 2011 at 8:38 AM
Mr. president are you a flake or just a plain liar?
right2bright on June 29, 2011 at 8:51 AM
We will. When we vote Obama out of office on 2012.
gwelf on June 29, 2011 at 9:06 AM
And since around 50% of ballots are cast (or created) by people who don’t care, he’s still got a shot at winning.
hawksruleva on June 29, 2011 at 9:18 AM
Were this Bush, he would have been impeached a long time ago. Marxist leaning Chicago street organizers, with politically correct protection,strike fear in the hearts of those in both political parties, who will do everything possible to protect their own self preservation agendas–America be damned.
Don L on June 29, 2011 at 9:19 AM
Anyone who trusts Obama at this point deserves what he gets. Unfortunately, the rest of us don’t. The man cannot open his mouth without lying.
paul1149 on June 29, 2011 at 9:20 AM
Respectfully, you’re naive if you think Obama doesn’t have a plan in place, to either take down the internet, or flood it, Cloward Piven style, with trolls and talking point spewing liars, as we near the electon.
Remember -”any,” and they do mean “any,” means to an end. These Chicago messiah types do not relenquish power willingly.
Don L on June 29, 2011 at 9:25 AM
Yawn. Wake me when The Whine doesn’t lie. Now that would be news.
rbj on June 29, 2011 at 9:41 AM
-
Indeed. My first reaction when reading/hearing anything from this administration is that is a lie until I know otherwise.
diogenes on June 29, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Why would I think that the press conference coming up won’t be scripted and each reporter will be given the question to ask so the answers will appear on the prompter in their proper order. There are those out here that never thought the answers were scripted on the prompter and that is the reason he is lost on a one on one conversation.
mixplix on June 29, 2011 at 10:11 AM
So, “game” must be the new euphemism for a**, as in “Up your ‘game’”? Gives that video a whole new perspective, doesn’t it?
Since before day 1. Note the similar campaigns for office.
IrishEyes on June 29, 2011 at 10:24 AM
aggressively withdrawing?
George Orwell
AshleyTKing on June 29, 2011 at 10:25 AM
It sounds as if, with the word “caught”, that is is some great revelation.
This administration getting “caught”, is about as rare as getting a date at a hooker convention while passing out 100 dollar bills…
right2bright on June 29, 2011 at 10:35 AM
It depends where the definition of “lie” lies.
MaiDee on June 29, 2011 at 10:45 AM
What time does Obama start campaigning today?
MJZZZ on June 29, 2011 at 10:46 AM
It would be nice if I could remember the last time Obama didn’t equivocate or just downright twist the truth. I am so tired of his act.
Voter from WA State on June 29, 2011 at 11:10 AM
A coterie of lying bastards. We send our military into combat under men like this?
Mason on June 29, 2011 at 11:13 AM
“Your” opinion, MB4.
hawkdriver on June 29, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Allen needs to be crucified for this.
No way do you come up against The Won.
Badger40 on June 29, 2011 at 11:40 AM
LOL! Hopefully Twerp, hubby’s really good in the sack!
OK I kid! My hubby isn’t perfect either.
Badger40 on June 29, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Ok , and this is news how ?
We all know he does nothing but lie.
ColdWarrior57 on June 29, 2011 at 11:51 AM
A man of honor would not support and enable a “president” who is bent on the destruction of America.
Solaratov on June 29, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Any general with a shred of honor will try very hard to hold out for the sake of the troops. He will accept the implied insults to his own integrity, if he can still do something to keep his subordinates as safe in their mission as possible, while being as effective in that mission as possible.
If he can no longer do that, his conscience will be free to allow him to walk away, no longer constrained against telling truths that previously could have been used against the troops.
Freelancer on June 29, 2011 at 12:13 PM
If Petraeus takes the CIA job then we’ll know he’s a shameless suck up. It’s one thing to say you can’t leave the troops, it’s another to take an even higher position with a president who has tried to use you to promulgate a lie. Gut check time general.
jnelchef on June 29, 2011 at 12:29 PM
In a related story, the sun came up this morning.
infidel4life on June 29, 2011 at 4:30 PM
His gut instinct was to lie as usual. Has Obama told one truth his whole time in office? He is incapable of the truth.
volsense on June 29, 2011 at 6:24 PM
What time does Obama start campaigning today?
MJZZZ a 10:26 PM
Obama has never stopped campaigning. Its the only thing he knows how to do.
volsense on June 29, 2011 at 6:30 PM
It will say “Made in America” when America can make it better than China, Japan, Brazil, Taiwan or Mongolia. It can’t.
America can’t because you keep forcing us to use magic. You keep forcing us to pay our workers far more than they’re worth (which ends up getting them fired) to make things you tell us we have to (that the market doesn’t want). Meanwhile, you jack us with exorbitant taxes for the privilege of your useless company.
You want America to get to work? Get the hell out of the way. Stop trying to help. You suck at it.
spmat on June 29, 2011 at 7:43 PM
NO-vember 2012 can’t get here soon enough…
Khun Joe on June 30, 2011 at 12:33 AM
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