278th Tennessee N.G. Reponse on Questions to Secretary Rumsfeld

Adjutant General of Tennessee ^ | Dec 8 | Maj. Gen. Gus L. Hargett

[mrsmith]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           CONTACT: Randy Harris

08 December 2004                                                    615.313.0662 (office)

04-61                                                                     615.517.0984 (CELL)

 

 

Maj. Gen. Gus L. Hargett, Adjutant General of Tennessee

Statement on questions by 278^th Soldier to Secretary Rumsfeld

 

• SPC Wilson’s question is a legitimate concern.

 

• Additional armor for vehicles in Iraq has been an issue since the beginning of the war for both active and reserve component soldiers.

 

• The up-armored vehicles are being supplied to the troops in Iraq as soon as they are available from the manufacturer.

 

• I have been assured that no 278^th soldier will go forward in a vehicle without at least “level 3” armor. 

 

• According to my information, 278^th Vehicles that are not armored will be trucked forward and will not be occupied by soldiers.

 

• I am surprised by General Speer’s statement that he was not aware of the soldiers using scrap medal and used ballistic glass to up-armor the vehicles.  I know that members of his staff were aware and assisted the 278^th in obtaining these materials.  Our own 230^th Area Support Group from Dyersburg, now stationed in Kuwait also assisted in this effort.

 

• We are all concerned for the safety of our soldiers, and I am comfortable that the command is doing everything possible to insure that they are not exposed to unnecessary risks.

[swampfx]

As for your comment that maybe these Q & A sessions shouldnt occur, I would agree only in the sense that the Secretary shouldnt allow unscreened questions when members of the Press are present.

Sounds like we agree. I would only add that before the media broadcasts such a Q&A session they should announce all questions have been screened for controversy and security content.

I think the first rule of leadership is to take care of your troops. If one soldier's life is saved by the attention this problem has received as a result of the question, then all the embarassment of the administration and the deviation from proper etiquette is worth it, in my view.

I was never good at the proper etiquette part of the job, it is probably a good thing I got out early. I could not have serverd under Clinton, anyway.

[Natural Law]

Yankee ingenuity has always been a major component in America's military success. We differ from the military of despots and tyrants in that our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen have always been encouraged to understand the intent of the orders and adapt for success. We often used the phrase "Semper Gumby" (Always Flexible) in response to an order phrased in terms of an objective instead of a step-by-step direct order.

[Guenevere]

#18..Yes, but what happened aboard your ship, stayed aboard your ship, for the most part....

..and was not immediately broadcast to the whole world, including our enemies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Polybius]

#18..Yes, but what happened aboard your ship, stayed aboard your ship, for the most part.... ..and was not immediately broadcast to the whole world, including our enemies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At another duty station, an open question forum was held with the press and a Congressman in attendance.

The bottom line is that an open question forum is an open question forum.

If a superior wants to avoid the risks of an open question forum, the solution is extremely simple: Don't have one!

[mrsmith]

"Who cares if the media planted questions. "

It distorts the information.

Look at this case: there is no need for any armor for these guys.

They are not going to be in unarmored vehicles in the convoy north- they are going to be in armored vehicles, or on a plane.

When they get to their duty station they will not be in unarmored vehicles- they will use the armored vehicles left by the old unit.

Thanks to the reporter's interference the debate has been distorted beyond any usefulness.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There are all kinds of problems away from the battlefield, in the procurement and logistics aspect of all of this.


For example....only one plant produces the armor....

Weapons with electronics have similar problems.....printed circuit boards for the military are not mass production items.... they probably have to go to Taiwan to get them......or build a plant to produce them......

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The steel itself has to be cut in a special manner...with out friction or heat { or it will get weak when it cools}.

Thanks for that detail, explains some of the slowness in getting production ramped up!

[Grampa Dave]

The haters of GW appear to be doing two things after the election:

1. They apparently are now having their moles who enlisted in the military the past year going public with stuff like this or running to Canada to "avoid war Crimes"!

2. We will see more Breaking BS news about the above. They will become the next Wilson/Plame/Yellowcake/ANG Records phoney baloney story to try get GW to resign, condemned as a war criminal in Germany or Belgium or as a reason to tout impeachment after GW is sworn in.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for your service!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

#18..Yes, but what happened aboard your ship, stayed aboard your ship, for the most part....

..and was not immediately broadcast to the whole world, including our enemies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Waspman, we have both been topped!

Speaking of the usage of the "!!!!"

Guenevere excellent statement ..by the way...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

it's about time for this note:

_________________________________________________

Unholy Alliance

by David Horowitz
Hardcover - (September 2004) - $27.95

In this tour de force on the most important issue of our time, David Horowitz, confronts the paradox of how so many Americans, including the leadership of the Democratic Party, could turn against the War on Terror. He finds an answer in a political Left that shares a view of America as the “Great Satan” with America’s radical Islamic enemies.

[Guenevere]

#64..If a superior wants to avoid the risks of an open question forum, the solution is extremely simple: Don't have one!

.....WOULD IT BE TOO MUCH TO ASK THAT THE ONE ASKING THE QUESTION DO SO WITH CIVILITY, RESPECT AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF PROTOCOL AND RULES!

Which...by the way.....is moot, since the 'soldier' had no intention of following protocol or rules, because he knew he was 'setting up' the Chief!

That he did this knowingly and willingly negates your answer, as far as I'm concerned!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See post #71.

[Guenevere]

#70..Thank-you !

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Why the heck this is "news" - I have no clue.

See #71!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And listen to Rush......

This is the MSM looking for a way to cause problems for Rumsfeld and Bush!!!


And our fighting ability.....very selective reporting....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Related item:

Humvee Heartburn: Continuing transformative needs.

[roses of sharon]

www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20041209-1765.html

Presser from Iraq yesterday.

[Grampa Dave]

I wonder how many of the Left Wing Unholy Alliance have joined the military in the last year and ready to become human sacrifices for the left wing cause?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Great post, maybe people should think before accusing the administration of "doing nothing".