The reporter behind the question to Rumsfeld...

[kentuck]

http://poynter.org/forum/?id=misc

<snip>
From: Pitts, Lee
Sent: Wednesday, December 8, 2004 4:44 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Way to go

I just had one of my best days as a journalist today. As luck would have
it, our journey North was delayed just long enough see I could attend a visit today here by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. I was told yesterday that only soldiers could ask questions so I brought two of them along with me as my escorts. Before hand we worked on questions to ask Rumsfeld about the appalling lack of armor their vehicles going into combat have. While waiting for the VIP, I went and found the Sgt. in charge of the microphone for the question and answer session and made sure he knew to get my guys out of the crowd.

So during the Q&A session, one of my guys was the second person called on. When he asked Rumsfeld why after two years here soldiers are still having to dig through trash bins to find rusted scrap metal and cracked ballistic windows for their Humvees, the place erupted in cheers so loud that Rumsfeld had to ask the guy to repeat his question. Then Rumsfeld answered something about it being "not a lack of desire or money but a logistics/physics problem." He said he recently saw about 8 of the special up-armored Humvees guarding Washington, DC, and he promised that they would no longer be used for that and that he would send them over here. Then he asked a three star general standing behind him, the commander of all ground forces here, to also answer the question. The general said it was a problem he is working on.

The great part was that after the event was over the throng of national
media following Rumsfeld- The New York Times, AP, all the major networks -- swarmed to the two soldiers I brought from the unit I am embedded with. Out of the 1,000 or so troops at the event there were only a handful of guys from my unit b/c the rest were too busy prepping for our trip north. The national media asked if they were the guys with the armor problem and then stuck cameras in their faces. The NY Times reporter asked me to email him the stories I had already done on it, but I said he could search for them himself on the Internet and he better not steal any of my lines. I have been trying to get this story out for weeks- as soon as I foud out I would be on an unarmored truck- and my paper published two stories on it. But it felt good to hand it off to the national press. I believe lives are at stake with so many soldiers going across the border riding with scrap metal as protection. It may be to late for the unit I am with, but hopefully not for those who come after.

[glitch]

1. My God.

"It may be to late for the unit I am with, but hopefully not for those who come after."

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Wow! Thanks for posting, kentuck --

[Radical Activist]

3. It shouldn't matter if the soldier was prompted by a reporter

since the question was obviously factual and is a real concern from the troops. But, you know the right wing media will now claim the question was staged/fake/doesn't count because it supposedly came from a reporter.

In truth a reporter should have had the chance to ask this question if this administration weren't so closed and secretive.

[blackangrydem]

5. I think they have. But t wasn't phrased as illustratively plus it has

more impact coming from a low-ranking soldier in Theater, preparing to go into the combat zone.

[LynnTheDem]

4. I hope Lee Pitts finds out Rumsfailed HASN'T ORDERED armored humvees

That the company that makes them said they can make 50-100 armored humvees A MONTH....IF the Pentagon PLACES THE FCKING ORDER.

[AirAmFan]

6. So the guy who spoke truth to power was a ringer. Still, he had cojones

by the wheelbarrowful. I hope he's a drinking man, because from now on his money is no good in any bar in the world where US enlisted personnel or vets congregate.

[bush_is_wacko]

8. Hell, I'd buy the whole bar a round...

And I've never served a day in my life! Thsi is what it takes to turn this ugly mess around! It wasn't just the Dems and Liberals that were pissed off at Rummy this time! Thanks to both the soldier and the reporter!:toast:

[AirAmFan]

9. I want to know more about that soldier. I want to be able to vote for him

for some office.

[welshTerrier2]

10. no, don't vote for him ...

he's a bush supporter ... while one might admire his courage for speaking up, his judgment in voting for bush should not earn him an opportunity to govern ...

[bush_is_wacko]

11. I'll toast to that !

Do I sound like an alcoholic? :toast:

[Fla Dem]

7. Great job, but Lee Pitts better watch his back. The brass doesn't

like being put on the spot like that.