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...
Who are you kidding?
Look, I saw the video along with everyone else. The cheers and verbal acknowedgement of the questions asked were clear, unmistakable, and appeared to be heartfelt and honest from the troops.
It's pretty pathetic when we now have people questioning this, with statements like, "It was probably the MSM cheering" or "The reported cheering was over rated" or "It was only a couple of people cheering".
This is really laughbable.
MSM Busted Again!
But with minor modifications, they are integral to the way we fight. Unfortunately, when they were exposed in Mogadishu, nothing was done to fix the problem.
Lemme guess, this guy's a transplant??? He can't be from Tennessee......can he?
FGS
Then there's this little gem from Pitt's Publisher:
"Tom Griscom, the Chattanooga newspaper's publisher and executive editor, commended the reporter's work. He said the question was one that members of the unit and their families wanted answered."
Sounds like this guy needs FReeping!
"The "worried" soldier was a plant. I sure as H wouldn't want to be in a fox hole with him."
I keep thinking of the scene in Full Metal Jacket where the soldiers take their pillow cases and bars of soap and beat the crap out of the psycho guy.
FGS
good post cyn.
hope all is well.
I agree. I think Bush inherited a horrible situation, but he is responsible for fixing it. I think their are legit criticisms for how he has addressed the problems hbe inherited. Having said that, I think the public would be served well if the Media did a comprehensive look into this problem. This was a problem long in the making, Clintoon must also take heat for it. And the Pentagon too.
The Bush administration's inability to describe the military (and the problems) they inherited (in a way that explains, but doesn't come across like whiny blame shifting) is a contuing problem.
Pray for W and Our Troops
"The "worried" soldier was a plant. I sure as H wouldn't want to be in a fox hole with him."
Yeah the two "escorts" this guy Pitts manipulated into taking him to the meeting should have been with the rest of their unit preparing and doing their final checks and preparations for their move into Iraq...not escorting some schlub from the Chattanooga paper so he could look good when he pulled a "gotcha" on the SecDef. This guy pulled these soldiers away from their main mission in life right now...who knows whether down the line his political agenda will cost a soldier his life.
'Zactly.
Wasn't it the Clinton administration that quashed any concerns about the Humvee at that time?
I seem to recall some buzzes about the Humvee being vulnerable.
Of course, my noggin has a memory like a sieve so I could be flaking on the memory now.
Yeah it is, and so are you.
What are you suggesting, the cheers and clear supportive acknowledgment of the questions asked were just a figment of our imagination?
As you know, you go to war with the Army you have. They’re not the Army you might want or wish to have at a later time.
Above is the NEWS it received.
Below is the first paragraph of the answer left out from the beginning.
SEC. RUMSFELD: I talked to the General coming out here about the pace at which the vehicles are being armored. They have been brought from all over the world, wherever they’re not needed, to a place here where they are needed. I’m told that they are being – the Army is – I think it’s something like 400 a month are being done. And it’s essentially a matter of physics. It isn’t a matter of money. It isn’t a matter on the part of the Army of desire. It’s a matter of production and capability of doing it.
Man I'm pi$$-off big time again at these jerks in the MSM.
Bottom line is there is a problem and it isn't being fixed. If you support the troops then everyone will ask that the administration EQUIPS them to fight this war.
That is the bottom line...
Support our troops at all cost.
Excellent point.
OTOH, this whole caper is so shameless that it's going to be quite a while before anyone trusts an imbed again. The rift between the MSM and the planet earth just got bigger too.
Darned good questions. Questions we should be asking every chance we get.
I don't think Rumsfeld minded answering the question. I think that the Pentagon has also fully explained the situation.
I am annoyed that this reporter, who purports to be so concerned about the troops, couldn't wait to go to e-mail and blow his own horn, no doubt hoping he will get a bid from the Washington Post or the New York Times.
I also notice that as usual you are taking the contrary position on this thread and insulting people left and right. One would almost think it is your hope to keep this controversy alive.
Those asking questions were here on FR, in low ranking spots in the military, or unsure of where to go.
Now they're fed up, but firing arrows at the wrong administration.
*sigh*
Bright side is that we are now in a position to do something about it.
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