[GonzoGOP]

Anyone familiar with corporate meetings knows the chair dictates authority. If you are in a high backed leather chair at the head of the table, you are running the meeting. If you are around the table you are participating in the meeting. If you are in a folding chair in the second row you are a spectator, invited as a courtesy and expected to keep your mouth shut. If you are standing you are a nobody.

Obama appears to fall into the third rank. Had he been otherwise the brigadier would have vacated his place for the commander in chief as a matter of simple courtesy.

[Anti-Hillary]

You NAILED it!!!!! You articulated clearly what I in-artfully did not. Thank you!!!

[COUNTrecount]

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/

[Pollster1]

If you are standing you are a nobody.

I suspect the two unidentified people in the back work for Panetta, and that having their pictures published confirms their future career paths as office work and not field work - if staying at a Langley desk was not already part of their plan. That would make them significant people in terms of planning/analysis, but not top brass with impressive titles (I've stood at a lot of those meetings, and my impression was that those standing often knew far more about the subject matter than anyone seated).

[NELSON111]

Obama appears to fall into the third rank. Had he been otherwise the brigadier would have vacated his place for the commander in chief as a matter of simple courtesy

This is usually what is going on...but I don't think this is what is happening here exactly.

The man sitting in the chair is BG Brad Webb. He is the Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command. So...it makes sense that he is sitting there. It is obviously OK for him to be sitting there in Adm Mullen is standing (Chairman, JCS).

If anything...it looks to me like BHO has been photoshopped in (tin foil hat time I know). Makes me wonder if he got off the golf course in time.

[caww]

I learned many years ago about seating...and then watched to see if this proved so...yes it is significiant...even in a fast called meeting or causul meeting...where people sit matters.

Additional note to this room...Obama sits lower than all others. Even if he was hauled in there at the last moment...everybody makes room for the “leader” and offers their seat.

There’s another shot with Obama standing at the head of the table...but once again Hillary is the one flanked by everybody and they all stand at a distance from him.