Nov 23, 2009 10:22am
President Obama Calls 9th War Council Meeting for Tonight
EmailAs he winds down his decision-making process to settle on a new way forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan, President Obama called for a 9th meeting this evening at 8 pm of his war council in the White House situation room.
Expected attendees include:
- Vice President Biden
- Secretary of State Clinton
- Secretary of Defense Gates
- Ambassador Susan Rice, Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations
- Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg
- Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
- Under Secretary of Defense Michele Flournoy
- Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- General James E. Cartwright, USMC, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
- General David Petraeus, U.S. Central Command
- General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Commander in Afghanistan (via videoconference)
- Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (via videoconference)
- Anne Patterson, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan (via videoconference)
- General James Jones, National Security Advisory
- Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Advisor
- John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security
- Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, Special Assistant to the President for Afghanistan and Pakistan
-jpt
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Is this another Photo Op or has the Ditherer-In-Chief actually decided to act like our Commander-In-Chief?
Posted by: Walsh | November 23, 2009, 10:36 am 10:36 am
When you are indecisive, you seek as much counsel as possible to try to reach a decision.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | November 23, 2009, 10:43 am 10:43 am
He must have heard that he needs to look
like he is working on it, or better yet
that he gives one ounce of concern.
Anyone think that this will get him
closer to a decision….I don’t think
so. He is the Dufus in Chief.
Posted by: wis134 | November 23, 2009, 10:44 am 10:44 am
In the interest of transparency, Ambassador Susan Rice is married to the executive producer of ABC News’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos”. He was also the Washington senior producer for ABC’s “World News” for seven years.
Posted by: Krakatoa | November 23, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am
KABUL — Bomb attacks and a firefight killed four U.S. troops in 24 hours in Afghanistan, the military said Monday, adding to the growing toll as NATO and the U.S. consider whether to send more forces to the war.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | November 23, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am
dither dither dither
Posted by: Huh? | November 23, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am
What, no Ron Paul?
Posted by: Huh | November 23, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am
Let’s reinstitute the draft. Attitudes on sending young American men and women into harm’s way would be a good deal less cavalier.
Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | November 23, 2009, 11:02 am 11:02 am
He must have heard that he needs to look
like he is working on it, or better yet
that he gives one ounce of concern.
wis134 | Nov 23, 2009 10:44:56 AM
Right – because the last 8 sessions, the doubling of troops there in the last 9 months, the institution of a full review within months of taking office, and the full year campaigning about it just didn’t make any impression in Right Wing Fantasy Land.
Posted by: jhw539 | November 23, 2009, 11:03 am 11:03 am
I am surprised he didn’t just leave this to Nancy Piglosky like everything else .
Posted by: nat turner | November 23, 2009, 11:53 am 11:53 am
I support the war in Afghanistan but would rather see Obama pull out and bring our troops home rather than dither away and half-heartedly try to win the war.
This is no time to triangulate. Either give the Generals what they ask for and need or cave to special interest groups again.
As much as I hate to say it, he might as well give up and face the consequences of that decision rather than keeping our troops in harms way in a mission he is not committed to winning. The dithering must end.
Gosh! Being president is hard…
Posted by: Krakatoa | November 23, 2009, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
RCP average Obama approval among voters: 46.7%.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | November 23, 2009, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm
As men and women DIE and remain “hunkered” down, awaiting Obamas decision, Obama feels its necessary to entertain Hollywood supporters.
2011: ABC HEADLINE:::
Obama Meets for the 315th time with his war council to see what can be done on Afganistan…War losses total 58,000 men and women..
Posted by: what a joke lives in the white house | November 23, 2009, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
Paralysis by analysis!
Posted by: jb | November 23, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
The Times of London:
The real problem may be Obama’s friends — or rather, those among his formerly most enthusiastic supporters who are now having second thoughts.
The doubters are suddenly stretching across a broad section of the Democratic party’s natural constituency. They include black congressional leaders upset by the sluggish economy; women and Hispanics appalled by concessions made to Republicans on healthcare; anti-war liberals depressed by the debate over troops for Afghanistan; and growing numbers of blue-collar workers who are continuing to lose their jobs and homes.
Obama’s Asian adventure perceptibly increased the murmurings of dissent when he returned to Washington last week, having failed to wring any public concessions from China on any major issue.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | November 23, 2009, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
Is he inviting american indians?
Is this another photo op shoutout opportunity?
Enquiring minds want to know.
What’s Michelle Antionette wearing today BTW?
Posted by: Beholden | November 23, 2009, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
SCHIP was a crisis!
HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION was a crisis!
The OLYMPICS were a crisis!
HEALTH CARE is a HUGE crisis!
Lack of time for basketball is a crisis!
AFGHANISTAN? Not so much.
Posted by: Mary | November 23, 2009, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
“As he winds down his decision-making process to settle on a new way forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan, President Obama called for a 9th meeting this evening at 8 pm of his war council in the White House situation room.”
Send in the “Iron Man”: Mitch Rapp. Game over.
Posted by: Vince Flynn | November 23, 2009, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
If the “war is necessary”, shouldn’t Mr. Obama get troops to Alfghanistan?
Posted by: young_voter | November 23, 2009, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
Jake,
You neglected to tell us which of these individuals was bringing the OUIJI board to this highly important meeting.
Posted by: Mike_C | November 23, 2009, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
You neglected to tell us which of these individuals was bringing the OUIJI board to this highly important meeting.
Posted by: Mike_C | Nov 23, 2009 3:16:32 PM
__________________________________
No, it was Bush who attacked Iraq with a Ouiji board consultation and words whispered in his ear by God. Remember?
Posted by: tierra | November 23, 2009, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
Usually it’s the companies that fail that have the most meetings…..
Posted by: Aaron | November 23, 2009, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
Usually it’s the companies that fail that have the most meetings…..
__________________________
?
Most companies aren’t making multi-billion dollar decisions that will literally determine the deaths of many people.
For instance, George Bush’s decision to attack Iraq caused tens of thousands of deaths, and many more times that many maimings.
Posted by: tierra | November 23, 2009, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
What do they do? Watch old war movies?
I highly recommend Bogie’s “Sahara”.
Posted by: RR GOP | November 23, 2009, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
The CIA must not have received the memo. How odd.
Posted by: Sigmonde | November 23, 2009, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm
I just saw an item on about reports that “the U.S. has offered the Taliban control of the Kandahar, Helmand, Oruzgan, Kunar and Nuristan provinces in return for a halt to the Taliban missile attacks on U.S. bases.”
Is this true? Is this something Mr. Tapper can/will look into?
Posted by: SpikeB | November 23, 2009, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm