The biggest problem here is the MSM exposed a weakness to the enemy and the SOBs are celebrating it. If that isn't a real issue then what is.
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...
Usual suspects or useful idiots. Hard to decide.
I knew something was rigged when I heard the question...whole thing looked fishy to me
But attacking this soldier and the thousands that cheered his "question" is just pisses me off. The draft dodging Rush Limbaub should be the last person in the world to open his sorry mouth. I thought Rumsfield's answer was good, and I did not see anything wrong with the trooper bringing to Rumsfields attention that a little armor would be nice to have.
:o
I think the media got it right this time. If this light shined on this issue can help bring help to our troops...then bravo.
If you've read my posts on this subject, I did not criticize the question. I complained (since yesterday--before this reporter revelation and before I was graced with any input from Rush, making your dittohead charge inapplicable to me) about the mischaracterization of Rumsfeld's answer.
It was reported in order to sow seeds of discord between the Pentagon and the troops.
You may not be bothered by this. I am.
*Banging forehead into monitor*
Things that make you go 'Unnngh!'
"A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later."
Rumsfeld didn't cause this problem, I will admit it is his to fix now, but he is not the reason that Humvees are not armored. With 20/20 hindsight, these Humvees should have had different design criteria - but I believe on another thread, some says the initial plans for these vehicles goes back many years (before Clinton). And certainly nothing was done during the Clinton administration to up-armor them.
Why should Rumsfeld resign over this? Why reward the left for this setup?
Indeed.
Well said.
The biggest problem here is the MSM exposed a weakness to the enemy and the SOBs are celebrating it. If that isn't a real issue then what is.
The trolls are one thing, we've come to expect their foolishness. It's the outlandish whining and arm-tugging from the usual suspects that becomes so annoying.
We are to now have a new found devotion to and trust of the MSM donchaknow? It's a miracle.
Prairie
I'll have to read the thread but even without reading it, a few names spring to mind.
As to any freeper who has any trust whatsoever of the MSM, for shame!
what we need now is some PR on this - fly Rumsfeld, perhaps even Bush, to the assembly plant making these armored upgrades.
Uh-uh. Don't let them get you off track. There are hundreds of 'issues.' The point is that a reporter set up soldier so that a story slanted just his way would be created.
Another Walter Cronkite wannabe.
That reminds me of something I heard on the House or Senate floor once. I think we only have ONE steel plant that is able to produce the steel needed for the armor
To a lot of FReepers, only Delta Force are real soldiers. National Guardsmen certainly aren't.
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