Gibbs clarifies Biden's forecast

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Politico

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs sought to clear up Vice President Biden’s comments on U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan on Monday, arguing that the rebuilding nation will follow a similar path that Iraq did.

Biden said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “we’re going to be totally out of there come hell or high water by 2014.”

What Biden meant to say, Gibbs argued, was that the “combat role” in Afghanistan would end by 2014.

“I would point you to what was decided in Lisbon just a few weeks ago, that we will, much like we have in Iraq, transfer primary security of Afghanistan to the Afghans, as NATO and ISAF agreed, by the end of 2014, which would – which would end our combat – our combat commitment in Afghanistan,” Gibbs told reporters.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/1210/cleaning_up_fa2811ee-6267-4d59-a87c-2b43cfa6c126.html

[Ian David]

1. Our combat role will be over, but we'll still handle catering and housekeeping. n/t

[saigon68]

9. And supplying Bat Shit Krazy Puppet Karzai with beaucoup $$$$$

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. COL!

:cry:

[DJ13]

3. It depends on the meaning of

"Totally".

Was Gibbs in the Clinton admin?

[Poll_Blind]

4. Cut from similar cloth... n/t

PB

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. No, he has only worked for Senators and Presidential candidates (Kerry and Obama)

[hughee99]

6. Ah, Biden,

It seems like every time he says something, someone has to "clarify" his statements later.

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. But what will most people remember, Biden's statement, or the WH clarification?

[hughee99]

8. Well of course his statement is made all that more memorable

in that it doesn't follow WH policy. Really, though, shouldn't a president be able to trust a VP to talk to the press without creating some sort of controversy? Joe Biden's worst enemy is an open microphone.