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You completely missed the point. SPC4s generally don't know or understand much about military strategy more than 2 levels higher than their current level. That means a SPC4 (a squal leader, at most) doesn't really know much above company-level and doesn't know squat about how many troops we SHOULD have in the entirety of Iraq. The opinion of a anyone lower in rank than a Colonel about on matters of "How many troopos should we have in Iraq" is quite irrelevant.

.....and that's not only why the media likes to talk to lower-ranking enlisted men, but also why we always had a standing order to never talk to reporters......that's the job of the media liason.

But he still knows he could use more where he is no matter how low level he is, and that is how I read him. He is speaking for what he knows.

Listen my gtandson-in-law who was severely injured in Iraq is a step under being a commissioned officer, he has men under him, who love him and wanted to be under his command, they knew he would never leave them behind and would go first. He always valued their opinions.

My husband retired from a major airline in the upper echelon management, he also had men who loved working under him and were quite respectful and loyal. He always wanted their input and gave them authority to work themselves.

My point lower echelon folks sometimes know what they are talking about. A lot more than you or I, the media, or anyone in politics.