These are observations, not opinions.
SECDEF wanted questions from the troops and he got them. The guy had balls standing up and asking a question like that.
What came out of the Pentagon was more interesting to me. According to a Brigadier General, I can't remember his name, policy is all armored vehicles will be driven into Iraq, un-armored are supposed to be trailered in. Unfortunately, the trucks doing the trailering are not armored either.
I can't judge if Rumsfields' answers hurt us but I think he could have come up with something better. Maybe it wasn't the content but the way they were delivered.
My opinion is when an American soldier steps off the plane, his attitude and reputaion should scare the bejeebers out of any enemy. If he/she is worried about driving an unarmored vehicle then the average soldier is going to be at least a little leary of going into a war zone. I would guess that would affect their attitude.
I think that someone somewhere dropped the ball in that when they realized there was a problem with armor they could have at least made it/steel/whatever readily available to the units to at least do the work themselves.
If I had the funds I'd do it myself. I'm not looking forward to my son going back over there.
I know that being a soldier is a dangerous job. That doesn't mean we shouldn't do everything possible to make it a little safer.
I can't say it enough, stay safe out there.
Ok, go ahead with the fire mission.
