President Obama will sit down with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tomorrow, an afternoon meeting amid a packed White House schedule.
The White House hasn’t offered up their agenda but it’s safe to assume Obama, nearing a decision on Afghanistan, will discuss the expected troop buildup with Pelosi (D-CA).
Obama tonight for two hours huddled with his War Council, the ninth and mostly likely final meeting before he announces if he will send the surge of troops recommended by Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
There are several reports out tonight suggesting he’s made the decision, and NPR is reporting he would announce it Dec. 1.
The White House isn’t offering any guidance, and aides have said for weeks Obama wants to communicate the decision with the American people and lay out a clear exit plan and benchmarks for success.
The administration also has been honest about its disgust for leaks, many of which have proven to be inaccurate. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said earlier this month he considers leaks a fireable offense.
Obama said the same thing, and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs offered reporters some more insight on the president’s thinking earlier today at the briefing.
From the transcript:
Q The President said last week, I believe, that he would consider it a firing offense — the people who have leaked information about his AfPak decision. What type of after-action report does he plan to ask for, if any, to review this? And he is — is he serious about pursuing some type of investigation or inquiry into this?
MR. GIBBS: Well, let me just leave it at this, Jeff. The President has on a few occasions in meetings like this talked about the importance of being able to have an open discussion amongst his advisors as part of this process. He reminds people that we have these meetings in the Situation Room and not at a local restaurant because of the importance and the sensitivity of some of the information that’s discussed throughout those meetings.
I think it — I think the President believes strongly that being able to get the type of information he wants, discussing the sensitivity of much of it, as well as being able to ask questions and get more information, is something that is important in formulating his decision and is important to do in a way that people feel confident that they can be candid with the American President.
I have not talked to him about whether or not — what specific measures he might have in mind to follow up. I know in that interview he echoed what Secretary Gates had said in a previous interview about the same topic.
Q Robert, just to follow up on Jeff a little bit on this question of whether leaks are a firing offense. Does the President think it’s a firing offense only in the Pentagon or in the White House also?
MR. GIBBS: I don’t think the President would discriminate against where the person sits.
