President Obama’s national security team hopped a ride on Air Force One tonight to West Point Military Academy for his speech laying out a surge in troops.
The White House told reporters that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, National Security Adviser Gen. Jim Jones, Gen. David Petraeus, Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were aboard the president’s plane.
The only elected official joining him was Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), who also accompanied Obama on a trip to Afghanistan last summer when he was a candidate.
National security staffers Doug Lute and John Tien also were aboard.
The White House said 4,250 people will be in the audience, including cadets and their families. Also expected to attend are the following members of Congress:
– US Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL)
– US Congressman Jim Marshall (D-GA)
– US Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY)
– US Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL)
– US Congressman Walt Minnick (D-ID)
– US Congressman Chris Carney (D-PA)
– US Congressman John Hall (D-NY)
