Research Briefing

Ignoring Military Commander, Obama Prioritizes Chicago Olympics Bid Over War In Afghanistan

OBAMA COY ON TROOP REQUEST: “It was less than five months ago when President Obama sent Gen. Stanley McChrystal to Afghanistan as the top military commander to devise a new strategy for the flailing U.S. war effort… Now that McChrystal has reported back to the Pentagon that as many as 40,000 additional troops are needed, the Obama administration has put out the word that it wants to consider a range of options, including a more limited role for a smaller U.S. force.” (Kevin Whitelaw, "Can Obama Say No To His Generals On Afghanistan?" NPR, 9/30/09)

WEIGHING HIS PRIORITIES, OBAMA CHOSE TO SPEND HIS TIME ON OLYMPICS BID

Obama’s Time Commitment To Lead Military Commander In Afghanistan? Three Meetings In Four Months.  “It was the first meeting in person between the two since General McChrystal took over all American and NATO forces on the ground in June. The two spoke only once after that, in a video conference call in August, until this week when the general joined a conference with the president by video to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.” (Peter Baker, “Obama Meets With McChrystal,” The New York Times, 10/2/09)

Obama’s Time Commitment To Olympics?  5 Video Tapes, New White House Office, South Lawn Event, Lobbying Efforts At UN And G-20, Numerous Phone Calls, And $112,000 Flight To Copenhagen With 2 Cabinet Officials And A U.S. Senator.  “For months, Mr. Obama and his crew have approached this [Olympic Bid] competition with all the intensity of the Iowa caucuses. Mr. Obama taped five video messages pitching Chicago’s bid, created an Olympic office within the White House and hosted Olympic athletes on the South Lawn. For the past couple weeks, he worked the phones, calling some heads of state, and lobbied others at the United Nations opening session in New York and Group of 20 economic summit in Pittsburgh last week... On Air Force One with him Friday, Mr. Obama brought a couple cabinet officers from Illinois, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, as well as Senator Dick Durban.” (Peter Baker, "Obama Stumps for Chicago’s Bid," The New York Times, 10/2/09; Mark Knoller, Twitter.com, 10/1/09)

YET CANDIDATE OBAMA PLEDGED NEW COMMITMENT TO GENERALS, AFGHANISTAN

On Campaign Trail Obama Promised To Act With “Proper Regard” To The Advice Of His Military Commanders: "I will act with proper regard for the costs and consequences of action, based on the advice of military commanders …" (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks of Senator Obama: A Sacred Trust, Kansas City, MO, 8/21/07)

• And Criticized Bush For Pushing Generals Aside. "There were generals at the beginning of the conflict that said this is going to require many more troops, will cost us much more ... those generals were pushed aside.” (Abdon M. Pallasch, "Obama Says He Will Listen To Generals About The War," The Chicago Sun-Times, 3/12/08)

Obama Argued For More Troops And Resources To Win In Afghanistan. “Ending the war [In Iraq] will help us deal with Afghanistan, which we talked about at length this morning. In 2002, I said we should focus on finishing the fight against Osama bin Laden. Throughout this campaign, I have argued that we need more troops and more resources to win the war in Afghanistan, and to confront the growing threat from al Qaeda along the Pakistani border.” (Press Release, Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: National Security Avail, Richmond, VA, 9/22/08)

And Said “This Is A War That We Have To Win.” “I have argued for years that we lack the resources to finish the job because of our commitment to Iraq. That's what the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said earlier this month. And that's why, as President, I will make the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban the top priority that it should be. This is a war that we have to win.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks Of Senator Barack Obama: A New Strategy For A New World, Washington, DC, 7/15/08)

NOW OBAMA APPEARS TO BE IGNORING HIS COMMANDER ON THE GROUND

Before Wednesday’s Meeting, Gen. McChrystal Had Only Spoken To Obama Once Since Taking Over In Afghanistan: “I've talked to the President, since I've been here, once on a V.T.C.” CBS’ DAVID MARTIN: “You talked to him once in 70 days?” MCCHRYSTAL: “That's correct.” (CBS’ 60 Minutes, 9/27/09)

McChrystal Given Just 25 Minutes After Obama’s Bid To IOC. “General McChrystal flew here from London, where he was on business, and joined Mr. Obama in the forward cabin of Air Force One on the tarmac of the Copenhagen airport for 25 minutes after the president finished his presentation to the International Olympic Committee on behalf of Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Games.” (Peter Baker, “Obama Meets With McChrystal,” The New York Times, 9/2/09)

• CBS News Radio White House Correspondent: “The Meeting Was Partly For Show.” (Mark Knoller, Twitter.com, 10/2/09)

While Obama Mulls Alternatives To Troop Increase. “Skeptics of the McChrystal plan in the White House, including Vice President Biden (and even President Obama, to a degree), are considering a shift in focus to counter-terrorism -- less nation-building in Afghanistan and concern for protecting Afghans, more targeting of al Qaeda and allies in the Taliban.” (Jake Tapper, “Why Would The Pentagon Worry About Improved Success Of Predator Airstrikes In Pakistan?” ABC News, 10/1/09)

• Even Though McChrystal Warns Alternative Is “Short-Sighted”: “A strategy that does not leave Afghanistan in a stable position is probably a short-sighted strategy.” (John F. Burns and Alan Cowell, “McChrystal Rejects Lower Afghan Aims,” The New York Times, 10/1/09)

And  Administration Officials Lobby Obama Against McChrystal’s Request.  “Obama says he is still conducting a strategic review of his options in Afghanistan. McChrystal has submitted his formal troop request to the Pentagon, but it has yet to be received by the White House… Competing leaks have made it clear that many of the president's own advisers are opposed to an escalation. Biden, who was chosen for his foreign policy credentials, is said to be one of the top skeptics.”  (Kevin Whitelaw, "A Turning Point For Afghan War, And For Obama," NPR, 9/29/09)

While Obama Remains Disengaged From Facts On Ground. "Mr. Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, made a point of speaking with his Iraq commander roughly once a week at the height of the war there, a habit that forged a close working relationship between them … Mr. Obama’s aides said he relied on General McChrystal’s advice but did not feel the need to duplicate Mr. Bush’s personal engagement with battlefield generals." (Peter Baker, "From McChrystal’s Mouth To Obama’s Ear," The New York Times, 9/29/09)