The one I heard on the radio was his EX-wife. She was not at all surprised by his question or direct attitude. Perhaps you misunderstood her reaction, if this was the same woman.
From my stand point we have the wrong tool, with the wrong edge, doing their best at the wrong job.
Armies aren't for "nation building".
Humvee's weren't designed to do this work; nor designed to be quickly modified and neither were the troops. They are doing a yeoman's job, but we should have had a better monopoly on violence at the end of the war. To avoid civilian causalities, and perhaps in hope of a better nature amongst the liberated, we waged a "modern" war and not a Sherman War: a war to take their will and ability to wage war away.
Masefield is telling a straight truth, you go with what you have. Soldiers can take the truth. Civilians can't, and won't.
" Soldiers can take the truth. Civilians can't, and won't."
I just can't take the Ratmedia giving aid and comfort to the enemy. I really think some of them would actually give coordinates to the terrorist.