From the Fact Check Desk: Obama's Army Anecdote

Unnamed sources are necessary for freedom of speech. This isn't a trial. It is democracy and part of that is the freedom to write using sources that wish to remain unnamed publicly, especially sources that could lose a career if uncovered. This article is a check on what a candidate said which is also great. This is journalism. Because we the public can't get the names to trash and mob doesn't make the story invalid.

For those who wonder why a West Point grad would ask for anonymity, try to remember a fellow named Billy Mitchell. Also, it's so long ago, but there were a couple of Pentagon guys relieved for saying the occupation of Iraq would require 300,000 troops.

He must be disgruntled.

Seems to me your story has the same credibility as the NYT smear piece on McCain. Unidentified sources just don't cut it.

Wow... an Army at war has to make decisions on how to prioritize equipment and ammo... never heard of that before.

I am an Army CPT who spent two tours overseas and YES, there was plenty of times I was short supplies and people. You don't whine about it... you get it done. Throughout history our armed forces have overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to win (Point Du Hoc... google it). You fight with what you have until the fighting is done. Ask my grandfather if he had everything he needed during the attack on Pearl Harbor... or my other grandfather if he had everything he should have had on during the battle of the bulge? Surely my uncle who parachuted into Normandy on D-Day had everything he wanted...
I have to say that we are doing pretty well suppling those on the sharp end of an 8000 mile supply line.

you say we should direct our ire at those responsible, but how the hell to we punish people without evidence? The day an unidentified source is enough to get someone thrown in jail, is the day America really loses its way.

furthermore, why is this army capitan remaining "unidentified". If his claim is true, then american lives are being thrown in danger without the tools they need. Am i suppossed to believe that a man willing to die for his fellow soldiers is afraid to lose his commision
or go to jail for them? unlikely.

If this man's story is true, then he truly serves his country by coming forward so those responsible can be held accountable. Until then, i will not just take a reporters word for it.

When I served in the US Navy in the 80s, we had the equipment and material we needed to do our jobs. If we hadn't, though, you may well believe that I would have wanted the press, and the American people, and anybody running for national office to know about it!
Anybody, regardless of party or position, attacking this story for political gain is, at best, betraying our fighting troops, and, at worst, betraying their country.

"great reporting" is all the reporters talking to the SAME person.
This whole thing is based upon statements by one (1) unnamed unverified person
who may or may not be a US Army Officer, who may or may not have been deployed to Afganistan.

Has any of these great reporters talked to other members of this guy's unit?
Do any of these reporters even know which unit we are talking about?

The story told by this 'captain' has not been verified.

What astounds me are the comments by those here that somehow think that pointing out the insufficient equipment issues is NOT spporting the troops. The same people that claim Democrats do not support the troops. The same people that supported those in charge of the problem. THe same people that insist we stay in theatre with demoralized and under-equipped troops. THe same people that abandon the hunt for Bin Laden and short-change our troops in Afghanistan to pursue oil in Iraq. The same people that will vote more draft dodgers into office to hire more of them like Rumsfeld to continue this morass. The same- well, Republicans.

Do the Bush supporters realize Bush will go down as the First President to lose two wars to some street gangs.

How pitiful

Your explanation simply shows that Obama was playing fast and loose with the truth. he doesn't say this guy was a new Ltr when this happened in 2003; not in 2007/8.

he doesn't say 15 of his guys were sent to Iraq; he says he doesn't know.

he doesn't say he didn't receive his supply of ammunition in Afghanistan, he says they didn't receive it in training, but then claims it was for weapons he doesn't even deploy with.

And if it waa EASIER to get taliban ammuniation and weapons, then it would seem he wasn't having any big problem defeating the enemy with what he had, I am sure they must have defeated those Taliban before they took their weapons.

In addition, Obama tried to make it wound like he had talked directly to this person, when in fact he was mischaraterizing second hand information.

Its gonna be great to finally have a CINC that will listen to phone calls to his aides from Lts in the field on just what that particular Lt believes he was 'SUPPOSED TO HAVE' prior to fighting this Nations wars.

I'll have to go back and see if FDR awaiting what every soldier was SUPPOSED TO HAVE , prior to D-Day.

My take on this story is that Sen. Obama should be very pleased with the Captain's story, after all didn't he vote to cut funding for the war effort several times? You know - stop the ammo flowing, ground the jets, turn tale like a whupped dog!

Maybe if history was properly taught in the schools most people would yawn and say, "Typically American" We have always had units that went into battle under-manned, under-trained, under-equipped. Ask the US GIs in the Ardennes in the winter of 1944 what it was like fighting in summer uniforms that stuck out that sore thumbs in the snow while the supposedly broken and underequipped Germans had warm winter uniforms that blended in with the surroundings (many froze to death). Or the tankers of the 1st Armored that got to go toe to toe with Rommel's Panthers and Tigers at Kassering in their Lee and Stuart tanks (they got mauled and we LEFT over a 1,000 dead lying on the battlefield). Or the brave bomber crews that were sent into Germany without fighter escort in 1943 (they died by the hundreds). Or the soliders of the 24th Infantry Division sent into South Korea at half strength to fend off the invading North Koreans (they were routed and the division's general captured). The list goes on and on. But the thing I am really curious about is what all you hang wringers plan to do about it. What social giveaways are we cutting back on so the troops have the needed equipment? What government subsidies are going to be cut to provide the needed training for the troops? What government agencies are going to have their staffs and pay cut so that we can provide the pay and benefits needed to attract new recruits to fill the ranks? Just curious.

Is it unfair to hold the President accountable for the DoD's supply effectiveness? Well, accountability goes to the top. That has been a long-established norm. Given this President's frequent reference to the title "commander-in-chief," we should all understand the authority AND responsibility that comes with that role. Unexpected shortages may be somewhat understandable during a time of conflict, but who else is to be held accountable? He needs to ensure the right people are managing this war, which is difficult for the average voter to judge. As for the validity of Obama's argument: it's in fair territory, if nothing else.

My son just finished active duty as a combat engineer in the USMC. He did 2 tough tours in Iraq and went without needed equipment both times. Last time I had to send him replacement boots! He had to go out on patrols with known unreliable vehicles. How would you like to be stuck in a bad neighborhood in Ramadi, waiting for a tow back to base?

Just one short observation about this mighty american military and defense department. We have been spending tens of trillions of dollars for the defense of this country and all it took is 19 tougs with $60 worth of box cut to bring this mighty army to it knees we shall be all proud to be american.

To all those who are in such high dudgeon about Osama's actually...gee, how could he do such a thing...listening to a soldier tell him about problems our troops are having in this war declared by those deferred in the '60s, the story's been confirmed. Deal with it. To suggest that sending troops in without sufficient arms and equipment is okay because it --- what is the argument, anyway? Grow up and face the facts, folks. GW jetted onto the ship in his fancy little jumpsuit and meanwhile our troops are still dying. And bin Laden has yet to be caught due to our diversion to Iraq based upon lies and bad intelligence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

And for the guy who argued that the 3000+ dead we've had stemming from incompetence and lies is okay because it's a low percentage, that is just all too typical. Those are 3000 Americans whose lives were lost because we were lied to by our dishonest and incompetent leaders. It is *NOT* okay that they're dead because it's a low percentage of those in uniform. And again, what about bin Laden?

Obama should win. Game, set, match.

In this confusing and sometimes beligerant and at other times slanderous parcel of posts, there is one sent by a guy named Thomas which,if you have an open mind, might provide you with more than a little background music..

It doesn't matter who you're for; you should read it.

Write on, Thomas!

I'm LOST! Would all of You posting about WHEN this happened and When Obama was informed about it PLEASE tell Me What article YOU read? It SURE isn't the one I read! Either I need a reading & comprehension course OR YOU DO! I forget WHICH person made the comment about giving Al queada Military information that could put US Troops in harms way by relating this story, BUT I can PROMISE You that They ALREADY KNOW IT! And Probably a whole lot MORE that is TRULY dangerous! They may be Fanatics, But I doubt They are Idiots! Hopefully, in a twist from the current fad of running down someone or something, I would like to THANK some of the Posters here for their well thought out and intelligent posts: Bub, Stephen D., Rich Baltimore, The Oracle, Buck Turgidson & Thomas. It was a pleasure to read Your comments!