TODAY - AT 8:20 A.M. ET:  Today is Veterans Day.  Those of us of a certain age understand what it means.  Young people, given our educational system, may not have heard of it at all.

The day has special poignancy because of the events at Fort Hood.  And the day has been dishonored, even by some within the military, in attempts to cover up what happened there, or twist it to avoid truths that violate the sacred rules of political correctness.

In recent days the Obama administration has done its usual honoring of the military by starting rumors about military attempts to influence White House policy.  Britain's Telegraph, with one of the best ears to the ground in Washington, reports: 

Aides to Barack Obama have complained that the Pentagon is trying to force the president into committing large numbers of reinforcements to Afghanistan through leaks to the media.

This administration is the most thin-skinned I've ever seen.

Tensions between the White House and senior members of the US armed forces are rising over the toughest decision the president has faced in his first year. Senior military officials and Republicans have accused him of dithering over the troop request from Gen Stanley McChrystal, the US and NATO commander in Afghanistan.

McClatchy Newspapers and CBS News have reported that the president is set to announce between 34,000 and 40,000 extra US soldiers, numbers that would be at the upper end of Gen McChrystal's expectations.

The reports said he would commit three combat brigades as part of the buildup over the next 12 months, as well support troops, and an additional contingent for training Afghan security forces to combat the Taliban.

Two senior administration officials told CNN that they believed the information was being leaked by Pentagon sources trying to box in the president.

"People at the Pentagon are trying to force a certain outcome," said one official.

Boy, is that ever unusual - the Pentagon having an opinion.  Happens every week.  Politicians from the Chicago machine may not understand.

Our troops have been hung out to dry for months while the president "makes a decision" on what he's called the necessary war.

But there will be the usual platitudes on Veterans Day. 

November 11, 2009