North San Diego County Times: Rumsfeld doesn't appear to get it

[question everything]

Thursday, December 9, 2004

Our View: Rumsfeld doesn't appear to get it

By: North County Times - Editorial

Lives depend upon a nimble military establishment, yet we see few signs that its leaders are up to the job. Nearly two years after U.S. forces invaded Iraq, our troops still don't have all the armored vehicles they need to fight this bloody guerrilla war. North County is a "military town," so this Pentagon failure hits close to home: Our friends, neighbors and family are dying needlessly.

At a meeting Wednesday in Kuwait, a soldier asked Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld why his comrades were digging through Dumpsters to fashion armor for their vehicles preparing to roll into Iraq. Rumsfeld's response was that generals and military contractors were doing the best they can.

We believe him on that count. Last month the North County Times reported, based on Marine and Army briefings to Congress, that 75 percent of Humvees in Iraq had been outfitted with special armor that resists blasts from roadside bombs, the weapon of choice for insurgents. Faring much worse, with just 10 percent armored, were the trucks that transport troops and escort supply convoys. Still, the figures represented substantial progress.

However, Rumsfeld has displayed little understanding of the roots of his failure. U.S. generals went into Iraq "light," with too few troops and unprotected vehicles. Such mistakes happen in war; success depends upon finding solutions quickly.

There is scant evidence that Rumsfeld is fixing the system that was too slow to adapt in this case. A recent exercise at the Army War College taught the same invasion strategy that foundered in Iraq, according to the Wall Street Journal. Generals say that next year will be better. Congress has imposed steps to speed military purchasing. Sorely lacking is progress toward a smarter, quicker Pentagon.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/12/09/opinion/editorials/22_36_4812_8_04.txt

[DireStrike]

1. Nice. However, I wish it blamed * for reappointing him. -nt-

[whistle]

2. It is very hard work to supply our troops with all of the essentials

...to assure their adequate protection, when OUR LEADERS are taking payoffs and bribes from contractors who are over charging for everything in this war!

[lovedems]

3. I happened to catch Crossfire yesterday (I know, smack me upside the head)

but I did catch that douche bag Novak calling the troops "whiners". He said something to the effect that he was in the service during the Korean war and whining is typical of the military. Ouch.

I guess the "support our troops" only means "support our troops who support the dumb ass and his cabinet?" It was in such low taste but what else would I expect from that douche.