That worried soldier has reason to be worried. This isn't a game for him. Yes, the reporter made sure his guys got up to the mike, but the soldier is no child, he bought into the question, and the motive here was not an unpatriotic one. They want better armor. I for one, don't blame them a bit. And this is an American army, not the second best, the best. We have the means to send over the very best of support for those troops. The story that matters to the rest of the guys in that room is that their stuff will be there today.
Actually, no you are missing the larger point here I think.
By being a willing stooge for the newspaper reporter in question, the Soldier gave the disloyal opposition to the war a further means to propogandize against it, and subvert support for the effort at home. (The rationale = We cant support it, so we should pull out....)
As Rummy pointed out you go to war with the Army you ahve, and when improvements are needed, you make them ASAP, but as most who followed the Presidential Campaign know, that is in fact already the case. TO WIT: the vehicles are being produced and deployed as quickly as can be, all this did was give the media a cudgel to bash the administration, bc you and I both know, the Q&A being aired is cut in the most unflattering light possible.
They think they know better than the generals and the Pentagon. It's like a kid who keeps asking "why." Or Job asking God the same question.
Right on target. The reporter erred in helping to phrase questions and get his guy picked, that is flat out wrong. But he knew about the problems with the armor, and wanted to get that story out, I admire him for that, he just took the wrong approach. But this is not the real story. The real story is the troops - the entire crowd of troops errupted in applause at the question concerning the lack of armor - and that is absolute proof our troops think its a big issue that puts their lives at risk. But thats not good enough for some people here, they wan't to burn any messenger of bad news who speaks about any issue that might reflect somewhat badly against anyone in THIS adminsitration. If Clinton were president, however, the armor for the troops issue would be a FreeRepublic just cause. Sad.