Destro, if you hunt around a site like FR, you'll find much wisdom and truth. Just today, "OXEN" and I have told an important truth about the Rumsfeld story. And it's a crucial aspect of the story that the media won't tell you because they have only two agendas:
The first agenda for everyone in the media is to make money. Their product is information woven into stories. The way the garner attention for their product is to use sensationalism.
The second agenda for most, but not all in the media, is to promote Leftist ideology and causes.
So, whenever the media fly off into one of their furious tizzies about ANY story, the wise consumer of news immediately responds with a healthy skepticism and a wait-and-see attitude.
On certain days I'd assert that you have the order of the media's agenda mixed up as to first and second. But you are accurate nonetheless.
Prairie
Bless you guys for bringing this up - We no longer have the industrial base to produce something that would have taken a weeks production in the old America.
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 14, 2004)
[Page: E1371] GPO's PDF
---
SPEECH OF
HON. SILVESTRE REYES
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2004
* Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, I returned from my fifth trip to Iraq since the President declared an end to major combat operations last May. I was able to visit with our brave men and women in uniform, many of whom still endure daily rocket strikes. Their resolve and ability to maintain good spirits in the harshest of environments is a testament to the caliber of our armed forces and their dedication to their jobs.
* Last week I learned of the death Lance Corporal Michael Torres, a young man from my district who was killed by enemy fire in Fallujah. A high school scholar, athlete, and young Texas State Guardsman, Lance Corporal Torres joined the Marine Corps to serve his country and his fellow Americans. His pride for our Nation and his willingness to serve is an inspiration for El Paso and our country.
* Yesterday, along with my colleagues SOLOMON ORTIZ and GRACE NAPOLITANO, I joined Congressman LANE EVANS in touring the Rock Island Arsenal, located in his district. Congressman EVANS invited us to visit this premier facility of which he is so proud and to which he offers much support. At Rock Island , we were able to see armor kits being made for Humvees, and talk with the employees who have been tirelessly working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to produce armor kits for our Humvees that are in theater in Iraq. Having seen some of these armor kits being installed in Kuwait, and having talked to soldiers both installing the kits and receiving armored vehicles, I wanted to pass on their gratitude to the workers.
[Page: E1372] GPO's PDF
* When our men and women in uniform initially crossed the burm in Iraq, fewer than 40 percent of their vehicles were armored. Today, thanks to the hard work of the men and women like those at Rock Island Arsenal, we are well on our way to having every vehicle armored. Since December 19th of last year, Rock Island has produced more than 2,500 full armor kits for Humvees that were sent to Iraq--many of which were installed in theater by the very men and women who built the armor. Our Nation owes great thanks to the men and women of Rock Island Arsenal. Their hard work and dedication is giving soldiers protection and enabling them to return home to their families.
* While I am pleased that we are on our way to successfully armoring our vehicles, it does not make up for the fact that many, many men and women in uniform died when they could have been protected by properly armored vehicles. I am pleased that the House Armed Services Committee has been able to work in a bipartisan manner to give our soldiers and marines in theater better force protection measures, but this should not have had to happen after our soldiers were already in theater. When we use our forces, we need to ensure that they have adequate equipment, the best information and technology, and the best training possible.
* Our men and women in uniform, like Lance Corporal Torres was, are among the best and the brightest that our Nation has to offer. They are our sons and daughters, our fathers and mothers, our friends and neighbors. As a veteran and as a proud American, I pledge to offer my continued support to ensure that our men and women in uniform have what they need to do their jobs and return home safely.