Bob Woodward

Top 5 Leaks In Obama's Wars: Secret Armies, Terrorist Attacks And Political Strategizing

Christina Bellantoni | September 22, 2010, 1:00PM

Author Bob Woodward

News outlets that got a sneak peek Bob Woodward's latest book found that President Obama fretted that, without a timetable for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, he would lose support from his Democratic base. Woodward's Obama's Wars, out Monday, reveals an administration sparring over policy for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, an Obama shaken by the potential of a terrorist attack and a secret CIA army helping fight terrorism in Pakistan.

Woodward, who wrote three books about President George W. Bush, interviewed administration officials, Cabinet members, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden for the book. Obama's Wars focuses mostly on Afghanistan and Obama's decision to send a surge of 30,000 troops there as he pulled combat troops from Iraq.

Here are the top 5 revelations out today.

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Afghanistan

Obama Lays Out 'Way Forward' In Afghanistan

Christina Bellantoni | December 1, 2009, 10:15PM

President Obama told the American people tonight his rationale for sending 30,000 new troops to Afghanistan by offering a stern rebuke of mistakes made with the Iraq war and promising to be tough on Pakistan.

In his less than 35-minute speech, Obama did not offer a firm commitment for when the nearly 100,000 troops who will serve in combat in Afghanistan will return home, and instead assured cadets at West Point Military Academy and military families across the country that his decision did not come lightly. He also declared Afghanistan was no Vietnam.

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Afghanistan

No Surge Here: Obama Doesn't Use The Term

Christina Bellantoni | December 1, 2009, 8:35PM

TPMDC wrote earlier that Obama administration officials seemed quite comfortable with the term "surge" that was used to characterize President George W. Bush's increase in troops to Iraq.

Tonight, President Obama did not use the term surge as he detailed the 30,000 more troops he will send to Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Surge Details: Drawdown Starting 2011 Is 'The Beginning Of a Process'

Christina Bellantoni | December 1, 2009, 4:50PM

President Barack Obama and his war council

President Obama tonight will not set a date for the war in Afghanistan to end, but instead will say that a drawdown could start in the summer of 2011, based on conditions on the ground.

Senior administration officials briefed reporters this afternoon to offer a bit of detail before Obama gives a speech at 8 p.m. from West Point Military Academy.

The officials, speaking on a condition of anonymity since Obama has not yet made the formal announcement, said the "top development priority from here forward will be agriculture."

One official said Obama settled on this option after nine meetings of his war council because it "gets more troops into Afghanistan faster than any option that was previously presented to him."

"It does put everyone under pressure to do more sooner," the official said. "That pressure of the timeline begins with the U.S. government itself."

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Afghanistan

That Settles That: Obama Administration Calls It A 'Surge'

Christina Bellantoni | December 1, 2009, 3:14PM

President Barack Obama

Senior administration officials are briefing the press about President Obama's speech tonight detailing the 30,000 more troops he'll be sending to Afghanistan.

They say he will outline a "new window of opportunity" and a "new approach" to the region.

But another talking point emerged, with language we've heard before.

An official told reporters that tonight at West Point Military Academy Obama will announce he will "surge American forces" to reverse the momentum of the Taliban and with the main goal of training Afghan forces.

The official repeated a bit later that "this surge, if you will, will be for a defined period of time" and said it again later in the call.

More coverage here.

Afghanistan

Fine-Tuning His War: How President Obama Arrived At Afghanistan Decision

Christina Bellantoni | December 1, 2009, 12:40PM

Top Left: Afghanistan and Pakistan Map Bottom Left: President Obama with War Council Right: President Obama

By June 1, there will be about 100,000 troops in Afghanistan with a mission of weakening the Taliban, rooting out Al Qaeda and helping the Afghan government bolster its own forces.

President Obama's wartime decision comes after weeks of private Situation Room meetings between key Cabinet members, generals and his national security team. After nine of those meetings, Obama also has spoken with world leaders and allies who are backing him by sending more troops of their own.

Republicans after weeks of blasting Obama for taking too long already are hailing the decision as the right one. Meanwhile, left-leaning groups question the cost in both blood and treasure, and Code Pink is out with a tough new flier mocking Obama's "hope" slogan and marching in front of the White House today.

Obama at 8 p.m. in a speech at West Point will set a timetable for withdrawing those troops and benchmarks, the White House says, for evaluating success there.

Mindful of the political repercussions, the DNC tells the 2.7 million on the Obama Twitter feed that he will "lay out the path forward" in Afghanistan.

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Afghanistan

Obama Sending 30,000 More Troops To Afghanistan

Christina Bellantoni | December 1, 2009, 10:28AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama will send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, an administration official tells TPMDC.

The official, speaking on a condition of anonymity because Obama has not announced the new strategy yet to the nation, said the president "intervened" to make sure the military deploys these troops to the region faster than initially planned.

This will bring the total troops in Afghanistan to more than 100,000 - a jump of more than 60,000 since Obama took office in January.

They will be there within six months, the official said.

The New York Times describes it as a "more, sooner" policy. The president reached the conclusion after nine meetings of his war council.

In his speech tonight at West Point, Obama will talk about a timeframe for withdrawal. The official said after the nine meetings, "consensus" has emerged among the key players, which "will make it easier to implement."

Before leaving for West Point late this afternoon, Obama will meet with Congressional leaders to discuss the decision.

Afghanistan

Phoning Allies: Obama, VP Biden, Cabinet Detailing Afghan Strategy

Christina Bellantoni | November 30, 2009, 2:32PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama is calling world leaders all day to outline in general terms his decision for sending more troops to Afghanistan and he's also deployed Vice President Joe Biden and key Cabinet secretaries to phone allies today and tomorrow in the lead up to the announcement.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama added Danish Prime Minister Anders Rasmussen to his list of calls on Afghanistan.

"The president expressed his appreciation for Denmark's leadership in this process. The president also updated the prime minister on his review of our strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and thanked him for his country's significant contribution to the effort in Afghanistan," Gibbs said.

In addition, Obama is calling President Karzai, President Zardari, Chancellor Merkel, Prime Minister Tusk of Poland, President Hu of China and Prime Minister Singh of India to offer details of his decision, to be formally announced during a speech tomorrow night..

Gibbs said administration officials, including Biden, General Jim Jones, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Adm. Mike Mullen of the Joint chiefs are will "make consultation calls to our allies over the course of the next many hours before the speech."

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Afghanistan

Obama Issues New Orders On Afghanistan

Christina Bellantoni | November 30, 2009, 11:13AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama huddled at 5 p.m. Sunday with his top military and national security team, issuing orders for the Pentagon to implement his plan for sending more than 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that Obama "issued orders" from the Oval Office to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Gen. David Petraeus, Adm. Mike Mullen, National Security Adviser Jim Jones, Gen. James Cartwright and chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. Before that meeting he spoke via phone with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"The president communicated his final decision on the strategy ... and issued orders on the strategy's implementation," Gibbs said.

Obama also will be in "close consultation with our friends and allies throughout the day" because the administration believes the war "is a shared international challenge."

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Barack Obama

Obama Phoned Troops On Holiday

Christina Bellantoni | November 27, 2009, 10:32AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama spoke with members of the armed services on Thanksgiving, a few days before he will be announcing an increase of more than 30,000 troops to Afghanistan.

The White House said Obama made 10 calls to troops.

He called two service members in each of the five military branches "to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and to let them know how much Michelle and he are truly thankful for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the nation," the White House told a pool reporter on holiday duty.

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Afghanistan

Sec. Gates, Sec. Clinton, Adm. Mullen Scheduled To Testify Wednesday On Afghanistan

Christina Bellantoni | November 25, 2009, 3:18PM

One day after President Obama announces his decision on a troop surge to Afghanistan, his top Cabinet members will testify on Capitol Hill about the plan.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Adm. Mike Mullen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

They have been present in most of the nine meetings Obama has held with his War Council as he considered his options on whether to send more troops to the region at the recommendation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

As we reported earlier, Obama will address the nation Tuesday night from West Point Military Academy.

Afghanistan

Obama 'Has Information He Needs' On Troops Decision

Christina Bellantoni | November 24, 2009, 7:25AM

President Obama holds what will likely be the final meeting of his War Council before deciding to send a surge of troops to Afghanistan.

President Obama completed his ninth and what is expected to be final meeting of the War Council last night, and all signs suggest he'll be announcing the decision in a primetime address next week.

The meeting ran just shy of two hours, with Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag was present in the Situation Room for the first time.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs released a statement:

"After completing a rigorous final meeting, President Obama has the information he wants and needs to make his decision and he will announce that decision within days."

Several reports this morning say Obama will tell the nation his decision Dec. 1. His top general and U.S. commander in the field also have been told to prepare to testify on Capitol Hill next week.

Afghanistan

Obama Meeting With Pelosi Tuesday As Troops Decision Crystalizes

Christina Bellantoni | November 23, 2009, 10:09PM

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), President Barack Obama

President Obama will sit down with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tomorrow, an afternoon meeting amid a packed White House schedule.

The White House hasn't offered up their agenda but it's safe to assume Obama, nearing a decision on Afghanistan, will discuss the expected troop buildup with Pelosi (D-CA).

Obama tonight for two hours huddled with his War Council, the ninth and mostly likely final meeting before he announces if he will send the surge of troops recommended by Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

There are several reports out tonight suggesting he's made the decision, and NPR is reporting he would announce it Dec. 1.

The White House isn't offering any guidance, and aides have said for weeks Obama wants to communicate the decision with the American people and lay out a clear exit plan and benchmarks for success.

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Afghanistan

Gibbs on Afghanistan: 'We're Not Going To Be There Forever'

Christina Bellantoni | November 12, 2009, 7:09PM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

Though President Obama hasn't reached a decision on the size of the troop surge he will send to Afghanistan, he "gets closer and closer every day."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters on Air Force One it is "probably likely" Obama will host a ninth meeting of his war council after he returns from abroad next Friday.

He said there have been discussions about "benchmarks" for success in Afghanistan but said there would be no announcement before the conclusion of Obama's Asia trip.

"We have been there for eight years. And we're not going to be there forever," Gibbs said. "It's important to fully examine not just how we're going to get folks in but how we're going to get folks out."

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Afghanistan

Defense Sec. Gates 'Appalled' By Leaks On Afghanistan And Threatens Firings

Christina Bellantoni | November 12, 2009, 3:11PM

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has threatened to fire Pentagon employees who are leaking details of President Obama's deliberations on whether to send more troops to Afghanistan.

Gates addressed the leaks today in a press briefing while flying to Wisconsin, according to an article in the Pentagon's own American Forces Press Service.

"I am appalled by the amount of leaking that has been going on," he said.

From the article:

Gates said he has little doubt that some of those leaks have come from within the Defense Department. "If I found out who" was involved, he said, "it would probably be a career ender."

The official line from the White House and Pentagon is that Obama remains undecided on how many troops to send.

He also condemned leaks on the Ft. Hood shootings, saying: "Everybody out there with their own little piece of the action" doesn't understand how it fits into the big picture.

"Everybody out there ought to just shut up."

Afghanistan

Obama Still Undecided About Troops On Eve Of Asia Trip

Christina Bellantoni | November 11, 2009, 6:46PM

President Barack Obama and his war council

President Obama completed his eighth meeting of the war council this afternoon without making a decision about how many more troops to send to Afghanistan.

The Situation Room meeting, held before Obama leaves for a more than week-long trip to Asia, ran from 2:30 to 4:50 p.m.

Administration officials continue to say Obama is considering his options as the Washington Post reports the top ambassador is unhappy with troop levels increasing.

Per the White House:

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Afghanistan

White House Strongly Denies Reports Obama Has Decided On Afghanistan Troop Levels

Christina Bellantoni | November 9, 2009, 9:45PM

President Barack Obama and his war council

The White House is forcefully denying reports that President Obama has settled on the number of troops to send to Afghanistan.

Several stories in recent days have suggested he has made a decision and cite specific troop levels.

Officials have dismissed those as inaccurate, but tonight the White House is sending out a rare statement from National Security Adviser Gen. Jim Jones:

"Reports that President Obama has made a decision about Afghanistan are absolutely false. He has not received final options for his consideration, he has not reviewed those options with his national security team, and he has not made any decisions about resources. Any reports to the contrary are completely untrue and come from uninformed sources."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters today the president is holding another Situation Room meeting of his war council as he continues to gather information for his decision.

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Afghanistan

Gibbs: Obama Wants To Tell Americans His Strategy When He Announces Troops Decision - Still 'Weeks' Away

Christina Bellantoni | November 3, 2009, 3:39PM

President Obama meets with national security team in Situation Room on Afghanistan, Oct. 30, 2009

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters President Obama is still "weeks away" from making his decision on whether to send up to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

When Obama does decide, he wants to help Americans understand how he came to the conclusion, Gibbs said.

"The president has told us ... that it is important for the American people to understand why he made the decision that he's made," Gibbs said today in his briefing. "And I anticipate that the president will spend some time walking the American people through the process that we've undertaken and the decision points that he's made along the way to come to the ultimate conclusion that he's come to."

White House officials say they haven't discussed if that will be in the form of a speech or if it will come in an Oval Office address. Obama has held seven meetings with his war council in the Situation Room and last week attended a pre-dawn ceremony for troops that had been killed in Afghanistan.

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