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...
I agree, thanks for the thoughtful posts.
No prob.
Americanwolf I saw the clip more than once last night and there were some who cheered for the soldier asking the question.
U.S. Troops Question Rumsfeld on Iraq
(AP Video)
You nailed it!
And you would have the media only report good news, so much that the public can remain blind to the horrible truths of war.
So trying to 'prove' their bloviations of 'quagmire' and 'another Vietnam' is relaying the truth?
You can ignore the facts if you prefer but those of us who really care and seek accurate information know that this "problem" is being addressed as rapidly as possible. And that EVEN WHEN FULLY ADDRESSED there will still be deaths from these devices.
But don't let reality interrupt your love affair with the schemes of the RATmedia.
Obviously "ntyerson" works for the LMSM, and only he/she knows the "truth".
That the evil, sinister, no-nothing, uncaring, Rumsfeld and Bush have been letting soldiers die for...............(insert conspiracy).
And their secret is now out, (even tho we have been reading about this since before the war)
Don't forget that NO ONE knew anything before the town hall meeting, as with the prison "tortures".
The sainted MSM broke the scandal.
Thanks for your naval service.
I'm sure that you other petty officers, chiefs and officers worked around shortages on every cruise and got the job done somehow.
That was done in WWII, the Korean War and the rest of the Cold War, Desert Storm, the First part of this Iraqi war and now this part.
A friend of mine was qualified as a Marine Sniper with the old WWI guns that the Marines had. He called his Dad, another marine to buy him a Remington bolt action w/a Leopold Scope and ammo. His Dad bought the gear and drove to San Diego to give it to him before he went to Nam for the first of 3 tours. This was not the first time something like this happened nor was it the last.
Wrong.
As some of us discerned yesterday, the question was made the story and nobody in the media (and people like you, evidently) gave a damn about the answer.
The fact that a reporter urged a soldier to ask the question and the MSM swarmed in afterwards to start the spin only buttresses our (we observant and perceptive types) point.
Not all. That was a cheap shot, and you know it.
I understand that from what i am reading here... Granted reading from transcript is not that best for source... I was just trying to get clarification regarding this...Once again my suspicion is that they were cheering the fact that the question was asked in regards to when the would be getting goods like armor comming in.. that would not suprise me, once again I don't think the soldiers were cheering it for the fact that it would look rummy look bad, but the fact that someone asked where the "Steel" was.
\
Some in the media wouldn't know how to report on the truth if their life depended on it ...
The love to just look for all the bad news
BUMP FOR LATER
LOL!
Probably.
We've had media lurkers and posters before.
You don't get it. NOTHING was brought to Rummy's attention. This has been worked on for a yr and has been largely solved. 75% of the vehicles are ARMOURED. And after 100% are there will still be deaths because of the IEDs.
This was a total set up and it is obvious the intention of the RATmedia which set it up. Using a clueless soldier to carry out its agenda is also typical.
No I definitely do not think that they were cheering to make rummy look bad. IMHO they were cheering because someone asked the question that was of interest to some of them.
Did you click on the video link?
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