Based on the email, the specialist wanted to talk about this and just used the reporter's phrasing of the question. I don't see the controversy.
The only controversy here...is the fact that they still haven't armored all of the HUMVEEs in Iraq. Based on this lack of speed...I'd line up a bunch of Army officers and demote each one down a rank. And then tell their replacements that they have 30 days to wrap up the armor problem in Iraq or they will be demoted in 30 days. Its awful simple...if you want to help save lives...you need give these guys the tools to do it. If you need 2,000 contractors to fly over for four weeks to fix up the armor plating...then they ought to do it. Rummy can say all the smart things he wants...but if they haven't finished the armor job by now...then they really don't have any rush and lives lost don't mean a thing. I would hate to believe that their attitude has slipped that far in two years.
Did the reporter also manufacture all the cheering from the other troops when the question was asked? Clearly, this armament problem is on the minds of these troops. Rush and other Rumsfeld apologists want to change the subject. They don't support the troops, they support Rumsfeld and whatever steps or missteps he makes.
I agree. The soldiers knew what they were doing. The reporter facilitated, and they pulled it off. I think it was a fair question.
I think you and I agree sort of regularly.