Posted on 12/09/2004 9:22:17 AM PST by Nascardude
Edited on 12/09/2004 10:05:10 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Domestic enemy Pitt's pre-meditated IED (Internal Enemies Device) ties directly to foreign enemies IEDs.
Please don't crucify me for asking this, but was it a legitimate question, regardless of who asked it and why?
I believe he was giving a honest question but at the same time he was giving off information about our vulnerablities. Now the enemy knows to attack National Guard Humvees at certain areas because they lacked armor. What happen in WWII? What was production liked? Did our troops have everything after being downsized after WWI? No, they have to produce it. All our industies went into war effort. Can we do this today with current labor laws and union rules?
I'm sure all through history our fighting men did not have everything they needed. I'm sure the Flying Fortresses were not armored. The guys who sat in the domes underneath these planes didn't have any protection except guts and he didn't announce it to the world about how vulnerable he was.
Could the question/concern have been transmitted on a piece of paper to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld? We are at war.
I have to say that when I was in the Army, we discussed the non-existent door and back protection on that slow as molasses
humvee. Even the old blazers at least had some sheet metal between you and small arms fire. In the humvee you can forget making a hasty exit; you basically became a very slow moving sitting duck. They would have been better off giving the old blazers some real off road tires and polycarbonate windows and
armor plated doors. I believe the company that produced the humvee was the same one that came up with such unforgettable classics as the AMC pacer and the gremlin. I'm all for american companies getting the business of the armed services but surely they could have found something faster-stronger-lighter than that slow diesel humvee (and did I mention they break down alot?).
Let's look at some vehicles that are better- GM duramax turbodiesel with allison 5-speed (with perf. chip) crew cab 4x4 truck. (Fast, reliable,comfortable,pull anything,uses off the shelf parts).
Nissan Titan crew cab 4x4. 305 hp, reliable, fast comfortable.
Ford powerstroke diesel in 4x4 crew cab.
Any other suggestions?
I am interested in protecting the troops, but if anyone believes this reporter gives a rat's rear end about protecting our troops, I have a bridge to sell you. Rumsfield opening himself up for questions - I give him credit for that, and I believe it's a legitimate issue raised. And I don't fault the Guardsman for asking the question - it's how he asked it I have a problem with - the disrepect he showed - and it's that disrespect the media loves.
The media and the terrorists have less than two months to derail the elections in Iraq and that is what this is about - undermining the war effort - period. The guardsman allowed himself to be used so the reporter could have a "gotcha moment" against Rumsfield. I haven't read all the 1000 replies before mine, but if in the end our troops are more protected, then that is the bottom line and will be a good thing. The bad thing is how this was carried out as it seems to me, we have just emphasized even more to our enemies what our weaknesses are and this might even endanger our troops more and it may create the impression of dissension in our troops against Rumsfield and against the war, which might embolden our enemies more.
But then isn't that really what the reporter wants anyway, and if that sounds a bit cynical, well, just look how the media relishes reporting deaths of our troops. Our media is our enemy, and they aren't even trying to hide it anymore as they've given us plenty of reason to question their motives and agenda. And whether to undermine our war effort and aid and abet our enemy - or whether purely for self-serving reasons - the reporter's damage has been done - but if in the end this helps our troops to be more protected, then that is what matters most. But the way this has gone down was intended, by the reporter, to undermine Rumsfield and undermine our war effort. But, in the end, this just might backfire on the reporter as hopefully our troops will become more protected, which will help the war effort by maybe helping the morale of the troops and by reducing troop casualties.
The law of unintended consequences, Mr. Reporter - careful what you wish for.
I am not an Islamofascist lover as apparently you are. I don't ascribe humanity to people that saw off peoples heads. attack women and children in marketplaces trying to by a little food. No I don't think the terrorists are human.
I suspected that to. He was just to smooth. Most soldiers would have said. Where is our armor?
There was some applause, as I've noted. I'll not hype or under-report the response.
I'm being real.
That means your comprehension skills need tweaking.
"So I take it by your statement you support government control of the media in certain cases. Yep, that's a conservative position..."
It's not about government control of the media. It's about media not using common sense which they seem to have little use for.
It's also about reporters who are actually supporting an antiwar agenda and a left wing bias in their reporting.
I don't think we should control these reporters, I think we should shoot them.
The answer to that is probably yes. Let's assume for a moment that the reporter didn't feed the question and the enlisted man asks it on his own, does this violate the chain of command?
We are at war and Rummy showing up in a war zone and asking for feedback wasn't exactly the best move. I love Rummy and think he is doing a fantastic job. However, saying that, he opened himself up to this and knowing that some reporter will probably try this, still let it happen.
I had this thought last night about WW2 - thanks for posting it. Although there is not a one of us who doesn't want our guys to have absolutely any and every thing to keep them safe - it is impossible to put them in a bubble. Maybe one day technology will do just that - but yet and not in this war. God bless and keep our fighting men/women.
The issue was legitimate. I have not criticized it, though I correctly and accurately noted from day one (that would be the day before yesterday; the day before the reporter's role in forming and framing the question---and making sure it got on mike, which strikes me as unfair to other troops with questions, but I disgress), that the media was grossly mischaracterizing Rumsfeld's response.
Some with standing (in the service, over there, etc) have noted the soldier's phrasing bordered on disrepectful and antagonistic and I think that is a fair assessment, but my point has always been that the media has focused on "the question" and completely ignored "the answer" as well as looking into facts surrounding that answer.
Huh? Rummy going to the troops to ask questions is what a Defense Sec. does.
Stop making excuses for the reporter who tried to mainpulate the honest questions to push his anti-America agenda.
That I do not know. I do know that if I were a young soldier given the opportunity to speak to the Secretary of Defense, I would not have asked that question. It would be a little bit of intimidation but mostly out of respect.
I do appreciate YOUR questions however.
How's that koolaid taste? I haven't had mine yet.
How's that koolaid taste? I haven't had mine yet.
I don't drink kool-aid.
I am accurate and honest and perceptive.
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