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]
RUMSFELD SET UP; REPORTER PLANTED QUESTIONS WITH SOLIDER
Thu Dec 09 2004 11:49:38 ET
Chattanooga Times Free Press reporter Edward Lee Pitts is embedded with the 278th Regimental Combat Team, now in Kuwait preparing to enter Iraq, and is filing articles for his newspaper. Pitts claims in a purported email that he coached soldiers to ask Defense Secretary Rumsfeld questions!
From: EDWARD LEE PITTS, Chattanooga Times Free Press military reporter
Sent: Wednesday, December 8, 2004 4:44 PM
To: Staffers
Subject: RE: Way to go
I just had one of my best days as a journalist today. As luck would have it, our journey North was delayed just long enough see I could attend a visit today here by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. I was told yesterday that only soldiers could ask questions so I brought two of them along with me as my escorts. Before hand we worked on questions to ask Rumsfeld about the appalling lack of armor their vehicles going into combat have. While waiting for the VIP, I went and found the Sgt. in charge of the microphone for the question and answer session and made sure he knew to get my guys out of the crowd.
So during the Q&A session, one of my guys was the second person called on. When he asked Rumsfeld why after two years here soldiers are still having to dig through trash bins to find rusted scrap metal and cracked ballistic windows for their Humvees, the place erupted in cheers so loud that Rumsfeld had to ask the guy to repeat his question. Then Rumsfeld answered something about it being "not a lack of desire or money but a logistics/physics problem." He said he recently saw about 8 of the special up-armored Humvees guarding Washington, DC, and he promised that they would no longer be used for that and that he would send them over here. Then he asked a three star general standing behind him, the commander of all ground forces here, to also answer the question. The general said it was a problem he is working on.
The great part was that after the event was over the throng of national media following Rumsfeld- The New York Times, AP, all the major networks -- swarmed to the two soldiers I brought from the unit I am embedded with. Out of the 1,000 or so troops at the event there were only a handful of guys from my unit b/c the rest were too busy prepping for our trip north. The national media asked if they were the guys with the armor problem and then stuck cameras in their faces. The NY Times reporter asked me to email him the stories I had already done on it, but I said he could search for them himself on the Internet and he better not steal any of my lines. I have been trying to get this story out for weeks- as soon as I foud out I would be on an unarmored truck- and my paper published two stories on it. But it felt good to hand it off to the national press. I believe lives are at stake with so many soldiers going across the border riding with scrap metal as protection. It may be to late for the unit I am with, but hopefully not for those who come after.
The press officer in charge of my regiment, the 278th, came up to me afterwords and asked if my story would be positive. I replied that I would write the truth. Then I pointed at the horde of national media pointing cameras and mics at the 278th guys and said he had bigger problems on his hands than the Chattanooga Times Free Press. This is what this job is all about - people need to know. The solider who asked the question said he felt good b/c he took his complaints to the top. When he got back to his unit most of the guys patted him on the back but a few of the officers were upset b/c they thought it would make them look bad. From what I understand this is all over the news back home.
Thanks,
Lee
EDWARD LEE PITTS FILED STORY ABOUT THE TROOPS BEFORE THE POW-WOW WITH RUMSFELD
Developing...
ficus means something like snafu?
I might feel exercised about the issue if I didn't believe it was blown completely out of proportion, much like Abu Grabib. Sorry, I am not the MSM's puppet and will not jump to arms at their instigation.
War isn't perfect. Rumsfeld is advised of an area that needs correction. They work to correct it soon as able. Story over. Unless you have a DESIRE to destroy Rumsfeld and hit the administration.
As to the soldier, I would have had no problem with him if he acted independently. Since he conspired with the enemy (MSM) that has sought to make the operation a failure, he is on his own. Should look for a job on Kerry's staff.
I know what the media will do, and it's a shame. Plant or not, the guys in that room need to know that they'll get what they need. And I'll support the soldier, and the rest of them that whooooped in agreement with the question, over Rummy sweating a little bit over bad PR. Under-armored trucks isn't a new issue, it's been a real issue that's come up over and over again. Call me spoiled, but I think the troops shouldn't be waiting to get stuff that the economic and manufacturing power in this country ought to have been able to supply yesterday.
The Marine that called into Rush was dead on. You'd never see a Marine or anyone in the real Army go out of the chain of command like that. The National Guard should pay for their bitching. They have the NERVE to complain when the Marines and ARMY are doing the heavy lifting with any public complaints?
What I mean by MSM is the so-called press that carries water for the Dumocrats and their anti-American agenda. Large and small.
I have suggestion. perhaps we should start calling G.I.'s that are complaining to the press SINO's (Soldiers In Name Only).
AMEN.
yes
I am sick to death of the MSM actively working to discredit and destroy the entire Bush Administration at any cost!
With the number of people who still get their "news" via the MSM being so high I seethe each time I see reporters manipulate events in order to score a blow!!
You are kidding, right?
We are long past going. He's just going to have to buck up and take it like a man.
In that case, the reporter would not be a villain but a good guy trying to do what he is supposed to do -- convey accurate info to those needing it.
He also appears to be on the side of, and trusted by, the troops he's embedded with.
Well I saw his WIFE this AM on GMA, she was neither worried or uneasy at all about his safety. If fact she was quite smug and talked about how proud she was at what he did.
That's not cool. But it figures.
Ever saw those posed pics of the girl running thru the streets of Baghdad where it was made to look like the pics from Vietnam? The famous Vietnam pics where the naked girl is carrying another child running from a burning village. That pic was posed. You could see laughing people in the background (Which someone in the FR identified). But it did go around the world none the less as a statement of how terrible this war by Bush is.
There is so much of that.
Red6
Drudge's siren story of setup in #40. Transcript of exchange between Rumsfeld and the soldier posted in #22.
To quote Gomer:
"Surprise, Surprise, surprise!"
Time for the MSM to be booted!
You'd never hear a Marine or REAL ARMY bitching like this out of the chain of command. The National Guard have no right to do this especially when they aren't even doing the heavy lifting. It's a slap in the face to all the other soldiers doing their job in harsh conditions without complaint.
who cares if he was set up? we need to face the reality that we are going about this iraq situation all wrong and stop trying to defend our actions and continue doing it wrong. you cant defend the money and lives we are wasting in iraq. its wrong and it needs to stop.
I knew yesterday that kid had a sheet of paper in his hand....but he'd rehearsed it, and he read it very well.
It's sad that it was put in his head. I wonder who the reporter got the question from?
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