Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
CNN
June 25, 2008
The Situation Room (CNN), 6:00 PM
WOLF BLITZER: Lots of buzz today about the presidential candidates getting military briefings.
Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, is standing by live.
Barbara, what's fueling all the talk?
BARBARA STARR: Well, Wolf, what has come up is that Senator Obama is now asking the Pentagon for what they call ops intel briefings, the latest information about what is going on with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And these briefings are being scheduled prior of course to his expected trip to the front lines.
So, the question that has come up is, is Senator Obama getting a level playing field, getting the same information from the Pentagon that Senator McCain is getting.
What is the answer to that question? Well, sort of, yes, maybe he is.
Here's a bit of what the Pentagon spokesman had to say about all of that today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEOFF MORRELL, PENTAGON SPOKESPERSON: There's no different treatment between Senator Obama and Senator McCain, other than the fact that Senator McCain, in his position as ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, deals with a lot of military issues. That's the nature of the job, and, therefore, probably comes across and has access to more of the information that we provide the committee. (END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: So, not quite a level playing field. What we are told is that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is adamant that both candidates will get the same information if they ask the Pentagon for briefings. But Senator McCain, as a member of the Armed Services Committee, certainly has access, we're told, to more classified information about military operations on a routine basis than Senator Obama would -- Wolf.
BLITZER: I suspect that will change pretty soon. They will both get the same information at some point, probably after the conventions.
All right, thanks very much, Barbara.
June 25, 2008
The Situation Room (CNN), 6:00 PM
WOLF BLITZER: Lots of buzz today about the presidential candidates getting military briefings.
Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, is standing by live.
Barbara, what's fueling all the talk?
BARBARA STARR: Well, Wolf, what has come up is that Senator Obama is now asking the Pentagon for what they call ops intel briefings, the latest information about what is going on with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And these briefings are being scheduled prior of course to his expected trip to the front lines.
So, the question that has come up is, is Senator Obama getting a level playing field, getting the same information from the Pentagon that Senator McCain is getting.
What is the answer to that question? Well, sort of, yes, maybe he is.
Here's a bit of what the Pentagon spokesman had to say about all of that today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEOFF MORRELL, PENTAGON SPOKESPERSON: There's no different treatment between Senator Obama and Senator McCain, other than the fact that Senator McCain, in his position as ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, deals with a lot of military issues. That's the nature of the job, and, therefore, probably comes across and has access to more of the information that we provide the committee. (END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: So, not quite a level playing field. What we are told is that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is adamant that both candidates will get the same information if they ask the Pentagon for briefings. But Senator McCain, as a member of the Armed Services Committee, certainly has access, we're told, to more classified information about military operations on a routine basis than Senator Obama would -- Wolf.
BLITZER: I suspect that will change pretty soon. They will both get the same information at some point, probably after the conventions.
All right, thanks very much, Barbara.