Star One Smart Blog's

Here's our next possible "Commander in Chief", during the CNN debate last night, doing what Democrats do best...spinning tales of woe and using partially spun facts for the benefit of their rapt BDS-hypnotized audiences.

OBAMA: "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.

"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."

Oh boy. Sounds a bit like our William.

Except Obama won't just be pickin' and grinnin', he'll be in charge of the very troops and military he doesn't understand.

The facts are still coming out, and although we can't say Obama flat outright lied, well, he should have known better than to orate such a denouement and expect to get away unscathed. At the least, he owes President Bush an apology.

From ABC's early factchecking...

The Obama campaign offered no details to support the captain's story, making it impossible to verify. A spokesman did not immediately respond to questions about who the captain was and when and how the candidate learned about the allegation. ABC News said it talked to the unidentified captain, whose account of shortages in Afghanistan was for the most part accurately summarized by Obama, although not verified.

The captain said, however, that the unit did not go after the Taliban for the purpose of getting their weapons, but sometimes used those weapons when some were captured.

The Pentagon has acknowledged forces are stretched, but spokesman Bryan Whitman said that without knowing more, he could not comment on the veracity of Obama's claim, except to say: "I find that account pretty hard to imagine."

Whitman contended "all of our units and service members that go into harm's way are properly trained, equipped and with the leadership to be successful for the mission that they've been given."

Obama said the platoon was supposed to have 39 soldiers. A platoon does not have to consist of 39, but can have between 16 to 40 soldiers, according to standard Army unit organization. It is also commanded by a lieutenant and not a captain.

Further, Michael Goldfarb, editor of The Weekly Standard, gives some 'real war' vs. 'war on paper' facts...

On going into battle shorthanded--it's normal. If you aren't shorthanded when you hit the ground, you will be shorthanded almost immediately thereafter, as your unit takes casualties or has to detach men for other duties. All rifle squads, platoons and companies in a combat zone are generally short anywhere from 15-25 percent of their TO&E (Table of Organization and Equipment) strength, and will remain so as long as combat intensity remains high and the unit stays in the line. On being pulled out for rest and recuperation, a unit will be fleshed out with replacements, who will receive some hasty orientation and training to augment the training they received beforehand. Then it's back into the line, and the unit will be under strength again.

Well, take heart, Obama fans. At least while he was grinding out these spins, Obama looked mahvelous. Superstar material. Exactly what we need to run this country, and serve as our Commander in Chief.

After this (at best) mischaracterization, and after Michelle's earlier gaffe, the sheen is coming off of Mr. Obama. Let's hope Camp Clinton fails to use this against him (I really won't be at ease until Hillary is officially out of the race) and this doesn't harm his march to the Demnomobamination. Just Leave Baracky Alone! for a while longer...

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• This post started life at TennesseeFree
• Image swiped from SondraK

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UPDATED!

Senator John Warner, Virginia, sends a point-blank letter to Senator Obama of the red face (h/t Ace).

(Click on the pic to embiggen).

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