Wire: Report Says Obama Told Petraeus, McChrystal to "Scrub" Afghan Assessments

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2009 -- Newswire services this afternoon reported that, according to Howard "Buck" McKeon, (R-CA), the new top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, Obama told Central Command head Gen. David Petraeus and Afghanistan commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal to "scrub" their assessments because he "wasn't inclined to send troops over there."

If McKeon's claim is true, ForeignPolicy.com said, Obama's instructions, relayed to McKeon through Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, show how resistant the president is to doubling down on the war in Afghanistan and how Republicans are prepared to take their push for an increased commitment of resources to the public.

See link below for details, additional sources.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Source: Report: Obama told Petraeus and McChrystal to "scrub" assessments