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...
Don't you tell me to knock it off. I've been here as long as you.
You know what got my attention during the conference? The LOUD ROARING CHEERS of the men who are risking their lives every day, while you and I sit at our computers.
That's when I perked up and listened to the old SOB and his weak and futile answers.
If you don't like my opoinions, just scroll. Or take a flying leap. Or whatever.
Rumsfeld has to go. A lot ofpeople in the admin and in the military brass know that. But they are afraid of his power.
Pffttt... yah I'm not big on conspiracy theories.
They setup the Q&A the way they did because they DO want to hear the comments and concerns the troops have.
When a reporter made it HIS responsiblity to engeineer the story (ie Find someone that held the beliefe, find someone who was willing to ask face-to-face to Rummy on GlobalTV, find/get the general to call on "his guys", work with the solider on the 'talking points' of his question, coaching him, etc)... THAT is what is disgusting.
Normally the dynamics of the mlitary would mean that although, as I've said, the 'belief' might be more common, but the chance it would 'come up', espically in such Global Public, and espically espically face-to-face with the Sec. of Defense are VERY slim.
If it 'comes up' naturally, it gives the perception that is is common enough that it 'randomly' occured. When it 'comes up' due to a reporter's careful planning and scheming, it SKEWS REALITY.
THAT is DISGUSTING, now you think about it.
This equipment shortage is still a result of X42's reduction of the military materiel. It's still his legacy to destroy the military.
Personally, I think the reporter did a great service to our troops. The troops have been saying "we need armor", but all they are getting are excuses. Sometimes when you take your fight 'public' you get better results.
I do hope you're just being sarcsatic.
Oh well. It was an apparently legitimate complaint because it seems to have resonated with the troops. Maybe Rummy will skip the Q & A sessions with the troops in the future. It's a magnet for grandstanders.
P.S. I LOVE Rummy... hes my fav next to BUSH. Hope he says all 4 years!
Exactly.
Rummy wouldn't be fit to polish Patton's boots.
***Well, let's go after the messenger (reporter) and not the message (the Rumsfeld reaction).***
In WWII that reporter would have been found with a bullet in his head for giving information to the enemy. And the bullet would have been in the BACK of his head the first time he let a soldier get behind him.
And you get that from my post exactly WHERE?
Welcome to FR newbie.
Hey, check out the newbie.
I don't know how he got THAT from my post 305.
He's going to have to explain this.
This does not mean the story is not true.
Oh... silly me... I must have missed that INFINATE BLANK CHECK congress passed for everything/anything the mil asks for.
There was a General on C-Span a few minutes ago telling the reporters that every motor vehicle going into Iraq would be armored. He said congress approved 1.2 bilion dollars to upgrade all motor vehicles with armor plating and the plating was being put on before any of them went into Iraq.
Ummm
These were OBVIOUSLY legitimate questions. The soldiers roared with applause and cheers? Sounds to me like we have a problem folks.
Why is this forum try to cover it up and act like a reported made them ask the question?
The article DOES NOT SAY THAT. The title of this thread is BOGUS and a lie.
Where is the set-up? The soldiers were the ones who wanted to ask the question. OBVIOUSLY a TON of soldiers felt the same way.
I am GLAD that someone is asking questions like this. Too many of our soldiers are dying in roadside bombings.
Shame on free republic for ignoring a real issue and problem.
Rumsfeld even said it is a problem.
I fail to see where this thread is pointing out anything slick.
Just my opinion...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/user-posts?id=186639
Hey, we have a United Arab Emirates troll here.
Only post so far is a SNIDE comment to me, and he has no real reason to say it in response to my post 305.
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