Couric: Rumsfeld went for a little morale booster, got an earful

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

I transcribed this from the "Today Show" video clip on the MSNBC Web Site (http://video.msn.com/video/p.htm?t=1&p=Source_Today%20Show&i=2eb69d24-6b2d-4441-8dea-298ca6488a02), so there is no transcript, there is no URL. If you want to watch the clip, you need to use IE as your browser. This is Katie Couric's interview with Tommy Franks, who reminds us of what a caring, concerned, stand-up guy Rummy really is underneath the squint, belligerence and condescension:

Couric: Donald Rumsfeld went for a little morale booster and he got an EARFUL!

Franks: This new brand of American trooper we have right now, I learned a long time ago...you better not ask the question if you can't stand the answer. And so I thought it was just TERRIFIC when the Secretary said "What's on your mind?" And this man stands up and says "I'll give you a LOAD about what's on my mind."

Couric: He went on to say that armor doesn't necessarily protect the troops from the insurgents, that they could be blown up anyway, but would you give that answer to soldiers who are risking their lives?

Franks: One of the characteristics of Don Rumsfeld is that he says EXACTLY what he has on his mind. And I think the young people in that audience do understand that we have a "go to war as you are" kind of army, but I think more importantly, this is the kind of question that'll register in Don Rumsfeld's mind, and I'd be very surprised were he not having the science, having the arithmetic done today, so where exactly are these armor kits for these Humvees in the production line, and all of that...so I felt OK with it.

[Arkana]

1. The bastard's a creep and he deserved it

I'm glad those soldiers spoke their minds.

[berni_mccoy]

2. Whoa! That's a ridiculous defense!

This was a war that this administration INITIATED! They could have had every little detail planned out, but they didn't because

1. It would never have gotten approval if the real costs were discussed in Congress, and
2. The Inspectors would have discovered what we all know today: that there were NO WMD, and the reasons for going to war would have dissolved.

WHY did this administration NEED to go to war? Because they want military domination of the middle east in order to control the world's supply of oil. In their view, this is the only way they can keep America a superpower by holding back other nations. This was their only window of opporunity to do it, they were planning it before Bush even took office, and they didn't give a DAMN about the soldiers who are dying for it.

And now they have the audacity to tell our soldiers that "You go to war with the army you have, not with the one you want." What the soldiers need to hear is that these chicken-hawks in the administration didn't prepare to protect them, and that a soldier's life means very little to them. If this isn't true, why did they have soldiers guard the oil instead of the hundreds of thousands of tons of weapons now in the hands of the insurgents?

This entire administration needs to be impeached.

[zbdent]

3. Isn't it funny? Bush/Rumsfeld/etc keep harping that we were not

rushing into war, that anybody questioning the war was holding it off, that they were giving aid to the enemy.

And then, of course, the soldiers were not equipped with the materials they needed, the vehicles were not adequately armored, despite our "non-rush" into war . . .

[DistressedAmerican]

4. Amazing it took this long...

I have spoken to many military people with the same criticisms. Based on the applause the guy got for asking the armor question, it is clear that this is being discussed in the ranks. It's just news now?

What the hell is the problem with the media. I guess they were just looking for a short sound bite that would play well before dealing with the fact that Americans are being killed because all this time after the invasion these folks still don't have what they need.

Rummy saying it was all about production capabilities is a joke. During WWII we turned production away from consumer goods to make manufacturing capability available to fuel our equipment needs. Has a single toaster plant been pressed into service. I'm sure someone can make up the shortfall.

I think it is just more of his plan to keep fighting wars on the cheap, with the fewest people and the lightest armament.

Someday he'll die and I'll feel better.