Soldier sticks it to Rummy...

[imax2268]

I loved it...who else saw that...???

I cannot believe that the media is finally showing that the troops are frustrated...!

and as usual...Rummy danced around the question...

Soldier to Rummy the dummy...

“Why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to up-armor our vehicles?” Wilson asked. A big cheer arose from the approximately 2,300 soldiers in the cavernous hangar who assembled to see and hear the secretary of defense.

Rumsfeld hesitated and asked Wilson to repeat his question.

“We do not have proper armored vehicles to carry with us north,” Wilson said after asking again. Wilson's unit is about to drive into Iraq for a one-year tour of duty.

Rummy the dummy says...

"You go to war with the Army you have,” not the one you might want"
:wtf:

[southlandshari]

1. One discussion here on LBN

if you want to check it out!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1055888#1056042

[Indiana_Dem]

2. Well that's about the stupidest answer I ever heard.

I can visualize him up there saying it. I switched from c-span for a minute to see what the other news shows were showing today and the minute I saw him standing there with all the troops, I immediately switched it because I didn't want my blood to boil.

Sounds like the troops are getting bolder with thei requests. That's good that they are standing up for their concerns. I wish Rummy would listen. It's just like all the other CEOs of businesses, they don't care and they don't listen, they do what they want to do and to heck with the people doing the actual work knowing what they need. He'll NEVER get my respect after all that lying.

[autorank]

3. Rummy says, "It was a transformative experience." Hmmm

Rummy seemed to change from his normal insouciance to his "real self."
It was another memorable performance from the Ring Master of Disaster

CORPORATE AMERICA controls the media and we get MANUFACTURED NEWS.
CORPORATE AMERICA now controls the voting machines and we get MANUFACTURED ELECTIONS.

[Must_B_Free]

4. The best part was the applause that his question got

a lot of soldiers are afraid to say what needs to be said.

[imax2268]

5. I hope...

that they don't decide to punish that soldier for standing up, asking that question and bringing up the concerns of which many soldiers...I think...are thinking about...

and I hope that the media pushes this for all it's worth...make Rummy accountable for his actions...

[gordianot]

6. I heard it, hope this soldier makes it OK.

It needed to be said, it took raw nerve for that soldier to say that, probably the best confrontation of the war. Maybe ** will someday have a question answer session with the troops.

[imax2268]

7. I think there

was another question about stop-loss and keeping soldiers past their end of enlistment...something like that...I didn't hear the whole question...

maybe someone here will have that info...

[antigone382]

11. Reaction to Jerry Wilson

Retired 278th first class sergeant, Dave Hall wishes he could meet Army Specialist Jerry Wilson right now.

He'd give Wilson a pat on the back

Retired Sergeant Martin Malone also applauds Wilson for asking the defense secretary the tough question....why members of the 278-th are risking their lives searching for scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass?

Martin Malone - Retired 1st. Class Sergeant It's soldiers like that that help make the mission a success because that makes the subordinate leaders and the senior leaders aware and the key leaders of where do we go from here to look out for the mission first. We don't need to sugarcoat anything war is what it is.

(More)

http://www.wdef.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WDEF/MGArticle/DEF_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031779578837&path=

Edited to add: I couldn't find it mentioned on their website, but earlier this news station was reporting that one of Wilson's commanding officers said that Wilson had asked a "legitimate question."

[gordianot]

13. Tactical Peek had a really good post on a similar thread.

You go to war with the dipshit administration you have, not the administration you might want or wish to have at a later time.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=90885&mesg_id=90888&page=

[meisje]

8. Why was the Soldier even allowed to ask him that question?

This admin does not allows questions like this, sounds fishy.

[southlandshari]

9. More info here (Washington Post article just up)

Rumsfeld Gets Earful From Troops
Complaints Cite Equipment Woes, Extended Tours and Pay Delays

By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 9, 2004; Page A01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46508-2004Dec8.html

[imax2268]

10. Hey thanks...

from that article...this quote takes the cake man...

"When a third soldier, from the Idaho Army National Guard, complained that Guard units were being issued "antiquated" equipment inferior to that given to regular Army units, Rumsfeld said that the Army is trying to be equitable but that somebody has to get the older gear."

Somebody has to get the older gear...???
WHAT THE FUCK...?

These guys are on the FRONT LINES...oh man...this guy really needs to be fired or resign...

[southlandshari]

12. CNN now - Lou Dobbs lead story (10:00 CDT)

And they definitely did NOT edit out the applause or laughs of the soldiers at the tough questions!