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]
So explain this to me then... why since the Vietnam war has the MSM always painted US military action any where we have been as wrong or questionable at best... and why are the a large number of stories question what the troops are doing/how the admin is handling the war/abuse BS/etc...
This is not for them to get a readership... most the MSM outlets are droping viewers and subscribers left and right, but they continue to put the crap out... Why? They are pushing their own agenda of what they think america should think...
Perhaps though you are a little to close to that flame to see it.. The MSM in general is a dying dinasour it is no longer just reporting hard facts they are committing yellow journalism (if you don't know what it means grab a dictonary.)
What Rumsfeld should have said ...... Son, if that commie lovin' Klinton hadn't sold out the country and cut the Military and Intel budgets to below the core, we wouldn't be in this position today. Thanks to George W for increasing those budgets and giving our fighting heros a chance on the battlefield.
No one said it is wrong, but preparations and equipment adjustments are done in the field after an invasion has happened. When a call to arms comes some equipment may need outfitting on the fly. Rummy made that clear.
You go when told by the commander and chief and you orer parts and they catch up to you in the field.
The parts have been ordered and the vehichles will be retrofitted, in the mean time, reporters baiting Guardsmen does not excuse whiners.
Ops4 God Bless America!
Annual Causes of Deaths in the US
Estimated U.S. deaths in 2000 attributed to:
Tobacco (Average 1990 - 94): ................................. 430,700 (1)
Alcohol (1996): ................................................. 110,640 (2)
Adverse Reactions to Prescription Drugs (1982 / 1998): .. 32,000 (3)
Suicide (1998): .................................................. 30,575 (4)
Homicide (1998): ............................................... 18,272 (5)
All licit and illicit drug-induced deaths (1998): ............. 16,926 (6)
Non-Steroidal Anti- Inflammatory Drugs (1992):............ 7,600 (7)
Medical malpractice......225,000/yr
Obesity...................425,000/yr
Flu.......................36,000/yr
Auto accidents............42,116/yr
Airlines.................120/yr
Lighting..................90/yr
VS total US soldiers death in Iraq
Combat...................~1000
Noncombat................~200
E4's and embeded reporters that cover and work in the motor pool.................0
Question? would I be safer if I went to Iraq?
Don't let the Demoncats make a big political issue over this...(Like they would protect the troops--GAG)..Rumsfeld got asked a direct question about protection in these vehicles from one of the guys who does the driving. Rumsfeld should have asked that three star general standing behind him this question off camera....If you do'nt have a 24-7 shop running somewhere getting armour into ALL the vehicles these guys need ASAP..."it's your ass!"
Can't we get this special alloy from the Chinese? /sarc
This topic is sensitive to many, no doubt drawing in trolls...the issue is as Rumsfield stated, the problem is known, resources are being used to address this serious issue, the problem pre-existed which is why he stated that we went into Iraq with the Army existing at that time an Army seriously gutted by Clintonian rule.
The soldiers cheered because the question was definitely bold to bring up in front of their "boss"...the soldier went against necessary military protocol to address such an issue thru public means. The hazards have been expressed, the media has parlayed this into sentiment against Rumsfield. The sad thing is how the reporter convinced the soldier to go against established rules and "air dirty laundry" using public resources. This is open contempt of authority and a breakdown in personnel discipline. THAT THE MEDIA HAS PLAYED ON THIS MISTAKE just exaggerates the sensitivity of the problem.
This attempt at devisiveness between the Secretary and the men he supports has the potential to demoralize troops while aiding the enemy in intel they no doubt already suspected but now feel more assured of...THIS is the UNJUSTICE done by the MSM imho.
Moron.
We'd rather the media reported good news once in a while. There's a LOT of it, but the media ignores it. It doesn't fit with the Vietnam Redux schtick.
Horrible truths of war?
Now WHY do you sound like someone whose next statement will be "I'm conservative, BUT.."
The reporter admitted to choreographing the questions.
He sent a memo to his superiors bragging about it.
So yes, "Blame the media" would be APT.
Like Andrew gilligan of the BBC, gleefully reporting from the Baghdad Airport that HE was there and the Americans weren't. One of his own BBC colleagues who WAS at the airport with the Americans said Gilligan was nowhere near the airport.
Who's story did the BBC run with? Gilligan's lie, of course.
I agree with you.
Also, while I love and support our military didn't someone prominent say one time that you're always going to have b*tching (soldiers,sailors,Marines...) ?
Contract the job out to fit the armor if the military can't handle it...get it done. But don't let the media try and say: The Democrats would have had this done long ago...Oh sure!!!....and they would all be wearing those "target blue" helmets too!
What are the odds that a reporter would behave in an DIShonorable way?
See #402 if you CARE about the facts.
I have no problem with the question asked - I do in the glee of Pitt -. I have a big problem with the danger that question may put to our men and women. I have a big problem with the MSM and their hate for this administration or anything republican. This hate will hurt our men and women.
Where was the MSM during the 90's when the downsizing was going on and clinton was having the time of his life.
Same place they were during President Reagans first couple of years of rebuilding our military and our standing around the world. Critizing the republicans, causing trouble.
I'm just sorry Rumsfeld did not say it like it is - we have been playing catch up from the party time of clinton, albright, and all the other jokes that the MSM praised, and still refer to. But then again, maybe not - if you have noticed The Bush Administration has not placed the blame on clinton for letting terrorism go as far as it has. If you remember correctly, there were 6 terrorist attacks against the United States during the clinton, clinton, albright, and the MSM administration. I would say Rumsfeld has more class, but I certainly find it difficult to keep my mouth shut with liberals.
One good thing that will come of this is - in the end it will be "they not us" that go down in flames.
Just remember Rather, Jennings, NBC, CBS, ABC and CNN - how important are they today?!!
Coincidentally, there's an ad for Hardball right beside the poll...NOT that the media is gluing additional legs on this story, oh ho...
I respond with a hearty So What?
The journalist did well to get his question planted. It was a good question. It deserved, and got, a reasonable answer. I don't think anybody here--Rumsfeld, the soldier, or the reporter, did anything wrong.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1298029/posts
Survival in Combat Zones Requires 'Layers' of Protection [demand for armor, few mills supply DoD]
National Defense Magazine ^ | Dec 2004 | Sandra I. Erwin
"Just 24 months ago, the Army had no plans to up-armor trucks and did not foresee such a requirement. Today, armor is a mandatory feature for any new military truck. The value of the equipment being protected traditionally has factored into decisions on how much to spend on armor. For so-called "high value" assets such as helicopters, ceramics have long been the armor of choice for survivability applications, King said.
"But the Iraq conflict reversed the conventional wisdom, as logistics forces are as exposed to attacks as front-line fighters were in the past.
"Increasing demands for silicon carbide have led companies to ramp up their manufacturing capacity, which could help lower the cost, said King. Other market forces, such as rising prices for armored steel, he added, have worked to close the gap in the cost differential between steel and ceramic products.
"The sudden rise of the U.S. government's demand for armored steel has had significant impact on the supply chain, King said. "The government gets first shot at the steel that is available," but it may still encounter problems obtaining enough steel because only a limited number of mills have been qualified as Defense Department suppliers. "There is enormous pressure on the mills to produce at max capacity, but they can't keep up with the demand," King wrote in an email. Further, these mills may be reluctant to expand capacity, given the uncertainty of the military market. "What do you do with the excess capacity if the situation changes and the demand suddenly drops?" King asked.
Read #402 if you care about the truth.
The odds are pretty good that reporters would act dishonorably.
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