Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Pentagon, Army Captain Differ on Obama Tale

Army doubts, captain confirms weapons, troop shortages

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 23, 2008 9:03 AM CST

(Newser) – Pentagon officials moved quickly yesterday to rebut Barack Obama's tale of an Army captain whose platoon, deployed in Afghanistan, was stripped of men and so lacking in equipment that they resorted to using captured Taliban weapons. "I find that account pretty hard to imagine," an Army spokesman said of the anecdote Obama told during Thursday's debate, MSNBC reports. But the captain himself confirmed the details to ABC yesterday.

The captain, then a lieutenant, said the squad experienced shortages of humvees and ammunition both during training and in combat in 2003, ABC reports. When they couldn't get parts for a machine gun—Iraq had priority over Afghanistan, he said—the unit used a Taliban weapon in its place. The army captain also confirmed Obama's assertion that over a third of his platoon was re-assigned without being replaced.

[Images (5)]

[Videos (1)]

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., listens to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. during the debate at the Austin Democratic Debate at the Recreational Sports Center on the University... (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., responds to a question during a Democratic presidential debate in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. His recounting of a story of soldiers... (Associated Press)

U.S. Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez left, along with the U.S. soldiers of 82 Airborne, takes oath during re-enlistment in army at Airborne forward operating base in Wardak west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday,... (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a rally Friday, Feb. 22, 2008, in Corpus Christi, Texas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., responds to a question during the Democratic presidential debate in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Barack Obama: Taliban Arms the US Soldiers (mghoft (YouTube))

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Next Hurdle for Afghan Surge: Paying for It

Dems don't want to pony up for Obama's plan

(NEWSER) - Getting Congress to fund Barack Obama’s new Afghanistan strategy might be as arduous a process as the strategic review that devised it. Democrats, cold to the idea of sending more troops, don’t want to foot the bill; some are proposing a war tax to cover it. “If the president intends to go in over our objections,” explains Rep. Mike Honda, “he should have to bear the burden of asking for a tax to pay for it.” More»

Reservist: Obama's Not a Citizen, Can't Send Me to War

Reservist says he shouldn't have to serve since Obama isn't a citizen

(NEWSER) - An Army reservist has devised a creative way to try to avoid going to Afghanistan: He says he isn’t obligated to follow the commander-in-chief’s orders because Barack Obama isn’t a citizen and therefore can’t legally be president, reports the Ledger-Enquirer of Columbus, Ga. His attorney, who has represented others who have challenged Obama’s citizenship, filed a request to award Maj. Stefan Frederick Cook conscientious objector status. A hearing takes place later this week. More»

Obama Takes Time on Troop Decisions

Unlike his predecessor.

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama is resisting pressure from the Pentagon to swiftly approve a major shift of forces to Afghanistan, Politico reports. For weeks officials have been predicting the new president would, within days, OK the request for 10,000 more troops. Instead Obama has insisted on a methodical strategic review, debating the timetable, mission, and composition of forces, and showing a markedly different approach than his predecessor, who until the surge in 2007, appeared to defer to his commanders. More»

Obama Buying Time With Afghan Surge

Measure more geared to buying time to revamp strategy on conflict

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama intends to sign off on a Pentagon plan to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, the Washington Post reports, but not because anyone believes this new “surge” will turn around the failing war effort. Obama’s team expects the move, which will nearly double US presence in the country, to simply buy time to re-evaluate strategy. More»

The Army Wants You. 30,000 More of You.

Pentagon says Army is overstretched

(NEWSER) - The US Army wants you, and about 30,000 of your friends, if it's going to fight effectively in Afghanistan and Iraq and complete other missions around the world, reports the Washington Post. Increased demands are being made on troops in places like Africa, Korea, and cyberspace, and while the down economy is boosting recruiting efforts, officials say current growth plans are insufficient. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Pentagon, Army Captain Differ on Obama Tale