Joe Galloway Does Lunch With Don Rumsfeld

Editor & Publisher ^ | November 03, 2005 | Greg Mitchell

[baystaterebel]

It started Tuesday with ordering a tuna fish sandwich and ended more than an hour later with the guest/reporter telling the Secretary of Defense, “I'm going to keep kicking your butt.” And in-between? Let Joe Galloway tell you.

For at least two years, Knight Ridder military editor and columnist Joe Galloway has been one of the most persistent and harshest critics of Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld's handling of the Iraq war, and other military issues, from an informed position. Galloway is one of the celebrated war correspondents of our time, winner of a Bronze Star for valor during the Vietnam conflict, and co-author of the book “We Were Soldiers Once…and Young.”

About six weeks ago, perhaps recognizing Galloway's credibility and the growing chorus of criticism from others, Rumsfeld's office invited the correspondent to what it called “a private lunch” at the Pentagon. No one told Galloway why, but he didn't have to guess. “I knew they weren't planning to give me some kind of ribbon,” Galloway told me today.

[baystaterebel]

Oooooh! Ain't we tough!

More like a gnat biting a tiger in the ass then bragging as if he slaughtered the beast.

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

It sounds to me that Rumsfeld, as he should, appreciates Galloway's input:

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On the way out, the defense secretary said, in parting: "I want you to know that I love soldiers and I care about soldiers. All of us here do." Well, one would hope so.

In parting, Galloway told me, he informed Rumsfeld, “I want you to know that I'm going to keep kicking your butt, to keep you focused.”

Rumsfeld replied, “That's okay, I can take it.”

Two days later now, I asked Joe about Rumsfeld's central belief -- that he was getting the true story on Iraq and the state of the military and Galloway was not.

“Besides talking to people, I get a tremendous amount of e-mail from people in the military and in the Pentagon who read my column and react to it,” he replied. “They are concerned. What I'm hearing is that 99% of these readers are 100% in favor of what I am writing, and ask me to keep at it. Unfortunately, if I am right, the military is in a lot of trouble.”

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Galloway's reputation is well earned, and he cares about the troops, and their mission. I think he recognizes that Rumsfeld does too. What more do you want? Rumsfeld has enough "yes men" as anyone in his position is bound to have. He would be stupid not to value some "here's how I see it, like it or lump it" guys like Joe Galloway. In fact he probably wishes he had more.

[kenth]

Thought you might be interested.

[mark502inf]

I am looking forward to reading Galloway's personal account of this meeting versus this guy's second-hand account clearly written from a certain "point of view".

[sinkspur]

Wasn't Rumsfeld in the Air Force? I'm almost positive he was.

[ElderEdda]

From the article: "Rumsfeld, of course, has never served in combat himself."

Why "of course"? Don't get it. Oh, of course this is another anti-Bush article/publication.

And then some more snide: On the way out, the defense secretary said, in parting: "I want you to know that I love soldiers and I care about soldiers. All of us here do." Well, one would hope so. [emphasis added]

Excerpt: “Besides talking to people, I get a tremendous amount of e-mail from people in the military and in the Pentagon who read my column and react to it,” he replied. “They are concerned. What I'm hearing is that 99% of these readers are 100% in favor of what I am writing, and ask me to keep at it. Unfortunately, if I am right, the military is in a lot of trouble.” [emphasis added]

This is a typical myopic response, that because the majority of my 2 emails are in favor of what I'm writing, the rest of the military is too. I'm on to something...

What was the point of this article? To praise the writer or to help the military? Sounds like a little gloating and self-glorication. I could be wrong. But I do know, you can't trust E&P with the truth or accuracy of a POV.

Loved the movie.

[robomurph]

After graduating from Princeton, Rumsfeld went to AOCS and became a Navy pilot. How dare this $h!t question his gallantry?

He put his ass on the lime in 1950s era jet fighters. A very dangeous job!

[baystaterebel]

Exactly! I don't know if this is Joe Galloway's account of events or Greg Mitchell's. I know Joe Galloway wrote "We Were Soldiers Once-And Young". I also know Joe Galloway is writing for Knight Ridder, a news service that makes the Associated Press look like News Max in comparison.

I hope Galloway is misrepresented in this article. But I don't think it is the case.

[No Longer Free State]

Galloway's reputation was well-earned when he got out of Washington and went to see things for himself. I'd hardly call relying on E-mails as 'research'. He's a long way from Ia Drang in more ways than one.

[arasina]

Wasn't Rumsfeld in the Air Force? I'm almost positive he was.

Oh goody. I get to post one of my favorite photos as a reply. :o)

[Keyga8tor]

Mr. Rumsfeld attended Princeton University on academic and NROTC scholarships (A.B., 1954) and served in the U.S. Navy (1954-57) as an aviator and flight instructor. In 1957, he transferred to the Ready Reserve and continued his Naval service in flying and administrative assignments as a drilling reservist until 1975. He transferred to the Standby Reserve when he became Secretary of Defense in 1975 and to the Retired Reserve with the rank of Captain in 1989.

You and the writer should be ashamed!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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JOE GALLOWAY:

http://www.lzxray.com

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[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

"Galloway's reputation was well-earned when he got out of Washington and went to see things for himself. I'd hardly call relying on E-mails as 'research'. He's a long way from Ia Drang in more ways than one."


It's reading quite a lot into this second hand account of his statements to assert that he is relying on E-mails for his research. He does say that he gets confirmatory feedback from his e-mail traffic (and probably gets a lot of good leads for investigation that way too). I don't know what his travel schedule has been either. If someone here has some evidence in this regard one way or the other, it would be an interesting supplement to the story. As it is, what we have here are two unsupported hypotheses about J.G.'s reporting methodology.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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Photos of the Valley of Death that was the IA DRANG Valley of Novmeber 1965:

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm

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[dighton]

Good catch. What the hell is that “of course”?

[ItsForTheChildren]

Ok. He was in the military, but did he serve in combat? There's a difference, no? Not that it matters to me. I think he's a helluva Sec Def.

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

Thanks for that link. It leads to this first-hand account:
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/special_packages/galloway/13064333.htm

'Throughout the discussion the defense secretary took notes when he thought he heard a valid point or criticism. Others at the table winced.'

'They had visions of a fresh shower of the secretary's famous "snowflakes," memos demanding answers or action or both.'

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'On the way out the defense secretary said, in parting: "I want you to know that I love soldiers and I care about soldiers. All of us here do." '

'I replied that concern for the troops and their welfare and safety were my only purpose "and I intend to keep kicking your butt regularly to make sure you stay focused on that goal."'

'He grinned and said: "That's all right. I can take it." '

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Maybe it's just me, but this exchange strikes me as two good men, each doing their job, and showing each other the mutual respect that they each deserve.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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Two other Veterans of the Battle of the IA DRANG Valley, which took place 40 years ago, exactly:


HAL G. MOORE: The Legacy and Lessons of an American Warrior

http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14752


RICK RESCORLA: Help honor 911 Lifesaving Hero

http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361

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