RUMSFELD SET UP; REPORTER PLANTED QUESTIONS WITH SOLDIER (DRUDGE SIREN)

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[Nascardude]

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...

[notigar]

There is an applause line in the trans. From what I gather, it was mixed with some cheers.

[Raycpa]

So Bush hates the troops, then< Only a jerk would put owrds in someone elses mouth.

[Quinton]

"The only "armor" I ever saw on wheeled vehicles in 67-68 was a layer of sandbags on the floorboards."

I used to walk 20 mile through snow in the dead of winter to get to school wheh I was in 1st grade. We didn't need no stinking shoes back then. Kids now days are a bunch of wimp's.

[SierraWasp]

Yep! See #656, below. Forgot ta ping ya...

[cyncooper]

it's not like the Bush people like anything but obviously staged questions.

LOL

How absurd.

[Americanwolf]

Right.... from what I pulled from the transcript it was right after he said the armored humvees were no longer in washington and right before he said they were headed to Iraq... I have had another poster tell me otherwise... I am still looking in the transcript for their point.

[Williams]

I'd count 21 months as years as in more than one year. But the real point is that just maybe they need to pass an appropriation to double the size of some factory somewhere and if it's useful I say do it. The media I despise, but I'm not going to take it out on the troops.

By the way, the Phila Inquirer headline today is "Troops Criticize Rumsfeld As Insurgents Fight On". A reprehensible juxtaposition making it sound like our troops are demoralized and complaining whereas the brave insurgents are beating us. I hate the MSM they do want America to lose, they want U.S. troops to die. But I also see some supply issue here and it needs to be addressed.

[notigar]

Q: Yes, Mr. Secretary. My question is more logistical. We’ve had troops in Iraq for coming up on three years and we’ve always staged here out of Kuwait. Now why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromise ballistic glass to up-armor our vehicles and why don’t we have those resources readily available to us? [Applause]


SEC. RUMSFELD: I missed the first part of your question. And could you repeat it for me?

[Mo1]

Does this all smell choreographed to anyone else?

Yes .. there is a pattern

[TheLion]

Typical of the MSM, they aren't after news, just Republican heads.

[ntryerson]

Typical of Republicans, blame the media

[Darksheare]

And you're not a Republican I take it.

[churchillbuff]

Does that change ANYTHING regarding what Rumsfeld was asked? And the fact that the questioner was cheered?"""

No, but hush, you're not supposed to raise that point.

[Americanwolf]

I see a comment referencing applause right after the soldier asked the question, and that was when Rummy asked him to repeat the question.... Sorry but I don't see that as condemning or being insubordante... I sure those soldiers around him were happy to hear him ask the question, but that is far from condemning any actions of the administration etc...

[TheLion]

What is your problem?

[ntryerson]

I am, but the incessant complaining about the MSM out to get you has got to stop. It's taking away from the real truth that was conveyed in the question asked of Rumsfeld.

[Americanwolf]

Yup and if you go over to the DU... It is typical of them too blame the media... They are still blaming the media and everyone else for the loss on Nov 2.

What is your point with that asinine comment.

[notigar]

Right. And I never said that. The reporter was attacked as unAmerican. all I stated was, would we go so far as to call the soldiers that were glad it was asked unAmerican too?