The War and the Damage Done Posted by Michael Cohen

Last night in the Democratic debate in Texas, Barack Obama told a telling story about how the war in Iraq has negatively affected the military and in particular our efforts in Afghanistan:

You know, I've heard from an Army captain who was the head of a rifle platoon -- supposed to have 39 men in a rifle platoon," he said. "Ended up being sent to Afghanistan with 24 because 15 of those soldiers had been sent to Iraq.  And as a consequence, they didn't have enough ammunition, they didn't have enough humvees.  They were actually capturing Taliban weapons, because it was easier to get Taliban weapons than it was for them to get properly equipped by our current commander in chief."

Well it turns out the conservative blogosphere was up in arms about this attack on the brave men and women of our armed forces. Here are just a few of their reactions:

And this guy wants to be Commander-in-Chief?? Didn’t we reject a guy last time with a tendency to make up stories about the military (who at least served in it)?

The U.S. Army is not under-supplied nor would a U.S. soldier EVER use a substandard Taliban weapon. Prove it, Obama

Well Jake Tapper took up the charge, speaking to the Army captain in question. Guess what, Obama was correct and Tapper went on to make an important point:

I find that Obama's anecdote checks out.

Some are quibbling about whether or not the "commander in chief" can be held responsible for how well our soldiers are being equipped, since Congress provides the funding for the military, but the Pentagon (and ultimately President Bush) are in charge of the funding mechanism.

I might suggest those on the blogosphere upset about this story would be better suited directing their ire at those responsible for this problem, which is certainly not new.  That is, if they actually care about the men and women bravely serving our country at home and abroad.

Yup, that sums it up well. Over the past five years, we have heard legions of stories about the equipment shortages faced by the military in both Iraq and Afghanistan. This recent story about the number of Marines killed due to an inability to properly supply them with blast resistant vehicles is another depressing example.

Yet, to paraphrase Bob Dole, where is the outrage on the right? Perversely these stories are often presented as somehow at attack on the troops themselves or mined for even the smallest error so as to impugn the person making the charge - as opposed to say raising blue, bloody hell that are troops have been sent into a war zone without the proper equipment to complete their mission. Today my old friend Charles Krauthammer quoted Joe Lieberman arguing that "Democrats have remained emotionally invested in a narrative of defeat and retreat in Iraq." Right, because Democrats hate America.

Yet, at the same time, why is it so hard for folks like Krauthammer to even acknowledge the veracity of stories like the one Obama put forward last night? Indeed there were more than a half dozen conservative bloggers trying to take down Obama's argument today. Not one bemoaned the fact that so many of these types of stories have turned out to be true.

I guess this is what Bill Kristol had in mind when he talked about "responsible" Republican leadership the other day.

Comments

[Dan Kervick]

I think we've all just about had it with these pathetic right-wingers. They're a bunch of cowardly bootlicks, with a perpetual, Smithers-like hard on for the fuhrer-in-chief. It's obvious they really don't give a shit about the troops they profess to love and support. It's all about defending their beloved.

[Angry African]

Is Obama the American Mandela? Obama brings a message of hope and change to a country at the crossroads. It is choice between the past and the future. But is Obama the American Mandela who could inspire Americans to a better future at home? And a future where America takes it rightful place at the global table? Is he the one? The question of whether Obama is the American Mandela is discussed in my blog Angry African on the Loose at http://angryafrican.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/is-obama-the-american-mandela/

[Angry African]

Is Obama the American Mandela? Obama brings a message of hope and change to a country at the crossroads. It is choice between the past and the future. But is Obama the American Mandela who could inspire Americans to a better future at home? And a future where America takes it rightful place at the global table? Is he the one? The question of whether Obama is the American Mandela is discussed in my blog Angry African on the Loose at http://angryafrican.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/is-obama-the-american-mandela/

[h. evers]

Golly you are so eager to believe I really hate to bring some reality to the discussion but here goes.

“…supposed to have 39 men in a rifle platoon," he said. "Ended up being sent to Afghanistan with 24 because 15 of those soldiers had been sent to Iraq”

Actually a Light Infantry Platoon has a Headquarters section consisting of 1 officer and 8 enlisted members and 3 rifle squads each consisting of 9 enlisted members for a possible total of 36 soldiers not 39. http://orbat.com/site/toe/toe/usa/platoontoe.html

“The Army captain, a West Point graduate, did a tour in a hot area of eastern Afghanistan from the Summer of 2003 through Spring 2004.”

In December of 2003 the middle of time in question there were 83 KIAs in Iraq and 6 KIAs in Afghanistan. The hot" area that Trapper speaks of was not very hot.

The invasion of Iraq took place from March to May 2003. The order of battle for US Army combat forces at the time under discussion was V Corps, 3ID, 4ID, 1AD, 173ABde, elements of 3ACR, 82AID, 1ID. 10th Mtn. Div started rotating brigades in to Afghanistan to replace elements of the 82 Abn Div in August of 2003.

Up-Armored HMMWV and other vehicles were not introduces into the theater by the Army in any numbers until 2004.

I point this out because I find it difficult to believe that the “Captain” is correct in his assertions. I do not believe that the officer is lying but rather because of inexperience (remember at thre time this officer was a 2dLT with only 15 Minuets in the Army) and a limited field of view he has misinterpreted what actually happened.
In particular I find it hard to believe that 10 or 15 of his personnel would have been detached for duty in Iraq just prior to his own unit's deployment. That some might have rotated normally that I can believe. That some were cross-leveled within the division is also possible but not that 15 EMs were rounded up and sent to the 101st or 82d or the 173d (the only units in Iraq that had light infantry). Why, well because all of those units were getting ready to come home and be replaced by other units like the 10th Mtn. Div. Nope does not pass the make sense test.

I am also surprised that his unit (being light infantry) had any vehicles much less two/three armored HMMWV. Up-Armored vehicles did not start moving into theater in any numbers until 2004. There were a few running around but mostly in Iraq. That is where the causality figures come in again. Afghanistan was just not that dangerous during the time the Officer X was deployed there. I am not sure how many enemy weapons Officer X used but with limited combat opportunities I doubt if it was many.

Nope, I am afraid that unfortunately for Mr. Tapper and indirectly Mr. Obama this story is so much Bunkum.

H. Evers
LTC Armor (ret)
1975 to 2005

[John B.]

Substandard Taliban weapons? If we're talking about AK-47s, they are anything but substandard.

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