WAR: Reporter "Planted" Rumsfeld Questions

Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times Free Press reporter Edward Lee Pitts in an email to co-workers claims he worked with soldiers on what questions they should pose Secretary Rumsfeld. The tough questions posed to Rumsfeld seemed to catch him off guard. This incident has been widely publicized on both the print and television news media. "I just had one of my best days as a journalist", says Pitts.



I really don't think that this is a big deal myself. These soldiers were more than willing to pose these questions to Rumsfeld. By the reaction of the crowd they were questions most wanted to hear asked as well.

On the other hand disclosing that these questioners and questions were the work of this reporter and not of the soldiers themselves would probably been the right thing to do also.

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[edit on (12/9/0404 by PistolPete]

Well,

If it is true that they are having to dig through scrap metal to find armor then its a question worth asking, regardless who asks it. Better a soildier does than a reporter.

Personally this sickens me, I can't believe the media resorts to methods like this. It's one thing for a soldier to ask these questions spontaneously but I'm not too pleased that reporters plant questions like that. I really don't like it when reporters ask these things just for attention instead of trying to raise awareness about important issues.

oh.. you're right this isnt an important issue

Interesting that no one is actually discussing the merits of the reporter/soldier's question. Even the media. It's all about Rummy getting caught off guard or if the question was really the soldier's or some reporter's. Nothing about the fact that our servicemen do not have adequate equipment for the job. If you are going to ask men and women to risk their lives at least have the courtesy to outfit them properly.

My 2 cents.
B.

If you heard the audio, you heard the cheers and the "hooah's" from the audience. Obviously, his fellow soldier's felt quite strongly about the issue. I remember a soldier asked a similar question of Rumsfield, but that was either right before or during when the events at Abu Gharib came to light, so it got lost in the media shuffle.

This is most certainly an important issue!! Just because the reporter put a bug in the soldier's ear, does not mean the issue is not real.

In fact all the extra buzz about it as a result of the 'back story' may be a good thing. If it is the truth, it needs to be addressed -- whatever the circumstance of how the question is being raised!!!

I never said this wasn't an important issue. I'm simply saying that the media was more concerned about grabbing attention than actually calling attention to the issue. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Originally posted by Thatoneguy
Well,

If it is true that they are having to dig through scrap metal to find armor then its a question worth asking, regardless who asks it. Better a soildier does than a reporter.

When it comes to war you make do with what you have just as the Sec. stated.

Ameiricans have been known to use what materials they had in the field from past wars. Obviously you are too young to know that. Americans are full of ingenuity.

Here are just some examples.


gun
trucks


Troops using American ingenuity in Iraq

Now I am sure I could come up with a lot more examples where this has applied, but the above should do.

If the solder knew the problems excisted he could have come up with them on his own, but that was not the case was it?

Perhaps you can explain why it was up to the reporter to plant the question in the first place?

[edit on 12/9/2004 by shots]

I thought they were good questions and it was very interesting to hear Rumsfelds reply. I don't think the issue of authorship should remove attention from some of Rumsfelds answers - which were blunt, such as: "If a vehicles gonna get blown up, it's gonna get blown up", thanks for your help Rummy.

It could be that the reporter was trying to take some potential heat off the soldier by claiming authorship, either that or he was just talking himself up.

.
The CHEERS and APPLAUSE from the troops WEREN'T REHEARSED.

If the question is a relevant priority issue, where it comes from is not so important.

This is part of THE SAME reason that the 18 soldiers refused to take a convoy out.

Rumsfeld said "If you think about it you can have all the armor in the world on a tank and a tank can still be blown up."
Does Rumpsfeld ride around in an unarmored vehicle? *#!@^! NO!
.

It was a valid question and the fact that a reporter suggested the question is wholly irrelevant. If the soldier didn't want the answer, he wouldn't have asked the question. The Secretary of Defense held a conference with his troops, he entertained questions and he gave an honest answer and that's the larger more important issue, I think.

[edit on 04/12/10 by GradyPhilpott]

I applaud the soldier's courage for asking the question. Seems all the millions are lining someone's pocket rather than providing the troops with the equipment and protection they need.

Seems all the millions are lining someone's pocket

Sorry. That was a typo. I meant to say BILLIONS.

Originally posted by dubiousone
I applaud the soldier's courage for asking the question. Seems all the millions are lining someone's pocket rather than providing the troops with the equipment and protection they need.

What on earth are you talking about lining their pockets? Do YOu have a link to a source for that info.

Also do not forget that Kerry and associates voted against the increased budgets for those weapons on more then one occassion.

How in the hell can the Army Etc., order what has not been funded by congress? If you owned GM would you build the needed vehicles for free?

BTW as soon as it was realized there was a shortage of hvy armor it was ordered and given top priority.

Allow me to point out when they first planned this war no one suspected that Bin Laden and associates would funnel so may insurgents into country to fight the American troops. No one could comprehend just how dirty a war he would turn this into either.

Now I am willing to bet if they would stop with using women and children to carry bombs and drive them into other innocent victims this war would be totally different and we all know it. What this war has really amounted to is nothing more then a bunch of cowards hiding behind their mosque's and or innocent victims. They are the ones claiming they want a Jihad? Well why in the heck won't the cowards come out and fight like real men?

Ops I forgot they are not real men, they are cowards.

The sad thing is, the HUMVEE makers said they could make more if the US wanted, they just never asked (The Age) It seems like the US wants to fight occupation the the cheap. Why do you think so many National Guard troops are called up in the first place? They get little pay, and even less benefits, than the regular Army doing the same job,
cheaper for the US. I think we shouldn't short change our troops. In WWII, people bought war bonds, gathered scrap metal, how are we sacrificing for our service members? I say raise my taxes, buy some armor, raise pay and provide benefits for National Guard and Reserve soldiers.

Aww...did the Bush camp have to answer an ACTUAL unplanned question? Well, I guess we saw how well THAT went over, hehe...

The look on Rummy's face while standing there stumped is one I'll never forget.

Regardless of the source of the question, many other soldiers obviously shared the sentiment... Of course, that soldier pretty much just ended his career in the US Army, now didn't he...

I still can't wait to see the Jan 20th inauguration.... Supposedly, a very large group of protesters plan on being there, sans buttons or signs, and at the appropriate moment, will all simply turn their backs on the president! Man, that will be priceless if they can pull that off!!!

For all those that are moaning about this...so it's ok when members of the government plant their own questions to be asked by the media, and insist on knowing and approving questions asked long before they are asked...yet it's not ok when them tables are turned?

I mean that reporter must've got that question from a soldier in the first place. It's not like he's out there driving tanks e.t.c. so it was a valid question that many soldiers want answered, one that would probably not be answered in the controlled enviroment they like to set up, where no hard questions are ever asked or if they are they are already aware well advanced and have the typical 'politician' answer already planned. You know, the 'answering the question without actually answering it' one?

Originally posted by John Nada
For all those that are moaning about this...so it's ok when members of the government plant their own questions to be asked by the media, and insist on knowing and approving questions asked long before they are asked...yet it's not ok when them tables are turned?

I mean that reporter must've got that question from a soldier in the first place. It's not like he's out there driving tanks e.t.c. so it was a valid question that many soldiers want answered, one that would probably not be answered in the controlled enviroment they like to set up, where no hard questions are ever asked or if they are they are already aware well advanced and have the typical 'politician' answer already planned. You know, the 'answering the question without actually answering it' one?

I think you are missing the point here. A reporter fed the question to the soldier so he could set up Donald Rumsfeld.


What really makes me mad is the fact that a reporter managed to get away with posing the question to the soldier in the first place.

Our media is getting away with far too much theses days. What ever happened to the phrase loose lips sink ships? What the reporter did was tell the enemy one of our weak points. (What I mean by that is planting the question in the soldiers mind). Years ago that would never have happened. Military capabilities and defenses were considered classifed then and should be now.

How many times have all of us watched In Harms Way with Johne Wayne? If you are like me that is more times then you care to admit, however there is one very good part in the picture where Admiral Broderrick brings in all the press and tries to make some brownie points by briefing the press thinking the mission failed when in fact it was a success. John Wayne says well admiral I do not think it is right to tell this in front of the press and the jerk says its ok Tori they have been briefed on security.


Remember what happened to Aldo Herera (sp?) for drawing a picture in the sand early on in the war? The same should happen with this reporter. Send him or her home. That is all we need is jerks like them planting questions in the heads of our troops. I also think this may show yet another weakness in our military. It really makes one wonder who and what is training our soldiers these days. When I was in the service we were drilled almost monthly and sometimes daily about security issues.

One does not run out and yell hey look here guys we are out of ammo do they? I think you get my point about security. If not you need help!!!!!!



>>>> right up that reporters you know what.


[edit on 12/11/2004 by shots]

Does it disgust you that a reporter planted the question? Personally it disgusts me more the way Rumsfeld answered it. He acts as if he didn't catch the entire question to give himself more time to think up a lie. Then when he couldn't think of one he came up with a really cold and lame response. The man is spineless.