Blunt accuses White House of hiding generals' opinions

The Obama administration does not want the views of military leaders publicly known, one Republican lawmaker alleged Thursday.

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), formerly the second-ranking House Republican and a current candidate for Senate in Missouri, accused the White House of trying to silence its generals, including the commander of troops in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

"It appears that the administration, unlike the past administration, doesn't want the views of the generals known," Blunt told a conservative news radio program in an interview. "Apparently it's okay for Gen. McChrystal to be on '60 Minutes,' but it's not okay for him to update Congress."

Blunt accused the administration of being weary of letting McChrystal air his recommendation for a troop increase in Afghanistan publicly, calling on President Barack Obama to make McChrystal available for testimony before Congress.

Republicans in particular, who are largely supportive of McChrystal's request for more troops, have sought to force Democrats' hands by demanding that the general testify before Congress in public about his recommendations. Democrats, however, have to a degree chided McChrystal for having gone public with his report for the president, and not having circulated it through the military chain of command.

"An understanding of what Gen. Petraeus wanted to do and what he needed to get it done made a big difference in Iraq," Blunt said. "Understanding what Gen. McChrystal wants to do and what he needs to get it done will make a big difference in Afghanistan."

"This is a time for the president to lead, and one of the way he leads is to have his military commanders fully engaged in that effort of explaining what that military effort is to the Congress of the United States," The Missouri lawmaker added.