[TankerKC]

Staff Sergeant Michael Howard said: “It’s a blow to the military. He was a good Secretary of Defence. He kept us focused. He kept the leaders focused. It’s going to be hard to fill his shoes.”<

But one US Army Colonel, who did not want to be named, said that such positive views were uncommon in the higher ranks of the US military. “We are the ones closer to the problem. We are the ones who have the broader picture,” he said.

Who are we to believe SSG Howard or the un-named colonel.

[Ruth C]

Hmm, Howard gave his name and sought out the reporter, the other who wants to bash is in hiding. I know which I believe.

[Steel Wolf]

Who are we to believe SSG Howard or the un-named colonel.

Kind of a double catch-22 there. Soldiers and government officals are in somewhat of a bind. It's career suicide to say something negative to the press. It's harmless, and in some ways beneficial, to say positive things to the press.

Once you get past that initial problem, which will automatically skewer and bias what people can say, you run into the media filter, where they automatically skewer and bias why they let you read.

So, as far as that goes, information is running through two levels of BS before it makes it to your screen.