Troops Get a Chance to Question Rumsfeld

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24117-2004May13.html

excerpt:

One soldier asked when they were going to get improved vests and better armor for the Humvees. It's those roadside bombs, he said. "We lost some soldiers due to them."

Another asked whether it was true that the military would not pay their full air fare back home.

Yet another wanted to know why his military medical coverage wouldn't handle physical therapy for his handicapped child.

When, if ever, would the United Nations send some troops and where would they come from?

<snip>

And sometimes it did indeed sound to Rumsfeld like a televised news conference full of journalists back home.

"Mr. Secretary," said a member of the audience. "You have said you would like to reduce the number of troops in Iraq. Instead, more troops are being sent."

"You should be a journalist," Rumsfeld told her, smiling.

...more...

and it goes on to state how this prick doesn't really answer any of the troops questions. :mad:

[Kagemusha]

1. He treated our heroes like the... Washington press corps?

I just finished reading the article.

I'm beyond stunned.

He bullshitted them to their faces, knowing he'd get a standing ovation for it, and assured them that... the best and the brightest, with the best management tools that MBA and CEO culture can provide, know what they're doing, and thanks to their genius and their mastery of controlling the proper amount of vest and ammunition and armor plating production just right, they will not only lead the troops to victory, but win the peace.

This in response to real questions by real people whose lives may depend on the answers.

And the answer comes down to, "Trust us. We know what we're doing."

That's the best he can do?

That's the best he intends to do?...

[fairfaxvadem]

2. and why the standing ovation?

I appreciate their being polite, etc., but why in the world would these troops give a standing O to the man who is, in large part, responsible for their current misery?

I don't get it. He doesn't deserve their respect.

[Kagemusha]

3. It's the military. Deserve has nothing to do with it!

If they're officers the ovation is required because showing proper respect is the law. If they're not, they may not know they have a congressionally provided right to show disrespect to their civilian commanders. But hey, Rumsfeld appeared with Gen. Myers. They don't have a right to not show respect to him. So, as far as the grunts are concerned, in a situation like that, you WILL show respect by providing a standing ovation.

Or else.

And in Iraq, there are infinite ways for "or else" to be prescribed.

[Lou_C]

4. They are hand picked so that they won't ask the wrong question

Everyone is hand picked all of the way down to the person that pours Rumsfelds vodka into his water glass.

[Kagemusha]

5. They sure asked tough questions for hand picked people.

But then again the tough questions didn't actually get answered.

[lebkuchen]

6. Rummy said he stopped reading the paper

and people cheered. How ignorant can people be?

[Kagemusha]

8. This isn't new... they think the press forced defeat during 'Nam

The military still believes this, and still can't understand that it's them, not the press, who 'won every battle' and lost the war. Them. Not the press. THEM.

They can't, and won't, accept that, and they can't, and won't, accept that they're losing Iraq in the manner of the ancient general Pyrrus.

[mulethree]

7. sweet

"he was, by his own admission, clueless"

Rumsfeld: "Well, I could do several things at this point. I could admit I don't know what the current policy is here, or I could turn around and ask General Rick Sanchez to come over here. Then he'll say he doesn't know."

Rumsfeld then called on Sanchez for an answer. He didn't know.