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Line 1: − + + + + + + + + + − − :"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. Now that's a consequence of bad judgment, and you know, the question is on the critical issues that we face right now who's going to show the judgment to lead. ... I was right." [http://www.intel-dump.com/posts/1203696668.shtml] Line 9:
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Fleshed out the story with references to debate and confirmation by General Casey
In a debate, [[Barack Obama]] claimed that poor presidential leadership on [[President Bush]]'s part was resulting in shortages of rifles for US troops, who had to use captured Taliban weapons to supply the shortfall. ABC News "confirmed" this claim.
In a CNN Democratic primary debate in Austin, Texas, [[Barack Obama]] claimed that poor presidential leadership on [[President Bush]]'s part was resulting in shortages of weapons for US troops, who had to use captured Taliban weapons to supply the shortfall.
<blockquote>
"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. Ended up being sent to Afghanistan with 24 because 15 of those soldiers had been sent to Iraq," Obama told CNN moderator Campbell Brown.
"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," he added.
</blockquote>
ABC News "confirmed" this claim.
<ref>ABC News claims to have verified Obama’s story by speaking to the Army captain who was his actual source. [http://neveryetmelted.com/?p=3510 Obama Criticizes US Troops' Supplies of Arms and Ammunition] </ref>
<ref>ABC News claims to have verified Obama’s story by speaking to the Army captain who was his actual source. [http://neveryetmelted.com/?p=3510 Obama Criticizes US Troops' Supplies of Arms and Ammunition] </ref>
Obama's statement contains more than one error.
Obama's statement contains more than one error.
:I heard about an army lieutenant whose platoon was deployed to Afghanistan with only 24 men, should have been 39. (That is true, accurate, and not misleading in the slightest)
:I heard about an army lieutenant whose platoon was deployed to Afghanistan with only 24 men, should have been 39. (That is true, accurate, and not misleading in the slightest)
General Casey, Army Chief of Staff, confirmed the story, while making the same mistake regarding rank, during testimony in front of the Senate Armed Forces Committee:
<blockquote>
Casey said he had "no reason to doubt what it is the captain says."
</blockquote>
The officer did not mention any shortage of rifles.
The officer did not mention any shortage of rifles.
==References==