White House press briefing mass email on POTUS visit to Afghanistan
Text of first mass email below:
From: Wilson, Scott W [mailto:Scott.Wilson@washpost.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2014 09:22 PM
To: Tiller, Jeff; Maska, Johanna
Subject: Pool 1 – Fix
Among several typos in first pool report, the most egregious was spelling General Joseph F. Dunford’s name wrong. Please excuse. To be clear correct spelling: Gen Joseph F. Dunford Jr.
Also, here is the manifest of those in POTUS military briefing, now underway:
President Obama
Ambassador Cunningham
General Dunford
Susan Rice, National Security Advisor
John Podesta, Counselor to the President
Ben Rhodes, Dep. National Security Advisor
Jeff Eggers, Senior Dir. for Afghanistan and Pakistan
CMSgt Kaleth Wright
Maj Gen John McMullen
CMS Ledford “JR” Stigall
MG Austin Miller
CSM Isaia Vimoto
LTG Joseph Anderson
SgtMaj James Booker
Mike Raiole, Chief of Station
Ambassador David Robinson,
Assistant Chief of Mission Scott Wilson
White House Bureau Chief
The Washington Post
Office: 202-334-6106
Mobile: 202-997-9783
Email: Scott.Wilson@washpost.com
Twitter: @PostScottWilson
____________________________________________________________________
Text of second mass email below:
From: Stephen COLLINSON [mailto:Stephen.COLLINSON@afp.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2014 10:32 PM
To: Maska, Johanna; Tiller, Jeff
Subject: Pool report #2
Pool Report # 2 Bagram
Here is the correct list of those who took part in briefing the president on Bagram Air Base. Please use this list.
Ambassador Cunningham
General DunfordS
Susan Rice, National Security Advisor
John Podesta, Counselor to the President
Ben Rhodes, Dep. National Security Advisor
Jeff Eggers, Senior Dir. for Afghanistan and Pakistan
CMSgt Kaleth Wright
Maj Gen John McMullen
CMS Ledford “JR” Stigall
MG Austin Miller
CSM Isaia Vimoto
LTG Joseph Anderson
SgtMaj James Booker
The pool was led into a trailer where the president was seated with General Dunford, Ambassador Cunningham, Susan Rice and some other military brass. He was wearing a brown leather jacket and said a few words on looming troop decisions, before the pool was led out.
“The main reason I took this trip is to make sure that everbody knows as we come into Memorial Day weekend that … we are aware of the sacrifices that so many have made … in Afghanistan. Also to make sure we are reminded of the sacrifices you and your families have made.
“This is a tough job. As I came down stairs I had the chance to see the Twin Towers on a poster. ” The president said he had also had the chance to visit the 9/11 museum in New York recently. “It is a reminder of why we are here.”
The president said there had been some progress in Afghanistan, notably with the recent elections and the build up of Afghan forces. “I will be honest with you, it has gone better than I might have expected a year ago.”
He also noted that he was going to have to make some decisions soon about the transition to the post combat role in 2014 for US and NATO troops. He said he would be “announcing some decisions fairly shortly.”
The pool was led out and is now in a large hangar where Brad Paisley is giving a concert to a large crowd of troops. A huge American flag is hanging from the roof behind him.
Stephen Collinson
AFP
Stephen Collinson
AFP White House Correspondent
Washington
Cell:: 202 413 7591