Obama traps himself in blame shifting

Fox News:

A spokesman for Donald Rumsfeld fired back Friday at the White House, saying Obama administration officials "are not credible" in explaining President Obama's claim that the Bush administration neglected the war in Afghanistan.

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"White House officials are not credible in denying President Obama's intended meaning when he said ... that 'commanders' were 'repeatedly' denied additional troops and resources in Afghanistan," Urbahn said in e-mail to Fox News.

"The administration now claims President Obama was actually referring to denials of troops by his own secretary of defense in 2008," Urbahn said, referring to Secretary Robert Gates, who replaced Rumsfeld under Bush and continued to serve under Obama.

"If it is what the president meant, he owes an apology to Gen. (David) McKiernan for dismissing him, for it was Gen. McKiernan who sought additional forces in 2008," Urbahn said. "This looseness with the facts seems to be a pattern in the current administration's efforts to blame their challenges on their predecessors. Nearly one year into this administration, that approach is wearing thin.

"Afghanistan has always posed challenges, but in the judgment of the commanders at the time, Afghanistan was properly resourced for at least the first five years of the conflict. Those resources were aligned with proper and achievable goals: eliminating an Al Qaeda sanctuary and preventing further terrorist attacks against the United States."

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Obama's blame shifting is getting old and getting to be less effective as his time in office continues. This one is particular egregious. It is a shame that the rest is ignoring this aspect of the story.