What do you think will happen to the Soldier who asked about adding more Armor?

[Analog]

Do you think his military career is over?

 

[Orsorum]

I'd like to think that our military fosters critical thinking skills and applauds those willing to question authority in order to better the organization... but yes, I think his career is over.

My apologies, I'm writing this as I'm destressing and so I apologize in advance for the immature tone this takes. I don't know anything about the situation and I've not yet served in the military, so who knows? Just feeling a little flip tonight.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
I'd like to think that our military fosters critical thinking skills and applauds those willing to question authority in order to better the organization... but yes, I think his career is over.

It wasn't his question or his thinking. It was staged by a reporter who fed him the question beforehand and got the person who picked out the questioners to recognize him.

 

[Pliablemoose]

LOL, I was thinking the same thing...

You know a reporter set the whole thing up right? He brought the guy, gave him the questions & set the stage so questions could be asked.

Not that the guy didn't have a good point, but the whole thing was a set up & his paper's not too happy with him.

email by the reporter

From: EDWARD LEE PITTS, MILITARY AFFAIRS
Sent: Wednesday, December 8, 2004 4:44 PM
To: Staffers

Subject: RE: Way to go

I just had one of my best days as a journalist today. As luck would have it, our journey North was delayed just long enough see I could attend a visit today here by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. I was told yesterday that only soldiers could ask questions so I brought two of them along with me as my escorts. Before hand we worked on questions to ask Rumsfeld about the appalling lack of armor their vehicles going into combat have. While waiting for the VIP, I went and found the Sgt. in charge of the microphone for the question and answer session and made sure he knew to get my guys out of the crowd.

So during the Q&A session, one of my guys was the second person called on.

 

[phonemonkey]

It's kinda like the guy who asks his Division president why they did something stupid. You'd like to think that the person would be applauded for standing up and asking the question (however staged), but you know that they won't be going any further along that career path.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: allisolm

Originally posted by: Orsorum
I'd like to think that our military fosters critical thinking skills and applauds those willing to question authority in order to better the organization... but yes, I think his career is over.

It wasn't his question or his thinking. It was staged by a reporter who fed him the question beforehand and got the person who picked out the questioners to recognize him.

Ah, I didn't know that.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
I'd like to think that our military fosters critical thinking skills and applauds those willing to question authority in order to better the organization... but yes, I think his career is over.

You ARE joking are you not?

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: Orsorum
I'd like to think that our military fosters critical thinking skills and applauds those willing to question authority in order to better the organization... but yes, I think his career is over.

You ARE joking are you not?

I don't particularly know what I'm thinking atm, I'm destressing from a long day. I wouldn't take anything I say very seriously.

 

[KC5AV]

I really don't think anything will happen to him. He will get out of bed in the morning, and put his pants on just like he did this morning. No big deal.

 

[richardycc]

code red.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I like Jay Lenos response about it.

Rumsfield mumbled on about how they just can't afford to put armor on all the vehicles and That you don't always have everything you need. then Rumsfield left in his armored car.

 

[Amused]

Can you say political shill?

I knew that you could. 🙂

 

[ATLien247]

If something does happen to him before the world forgets about the whole incident, then the press will have a field day with it. So, I'm pretty sure nothing will happen to him for a while. But if Rumsfeld and his cronies hold grudges...

 

[aircooled]

I hope he gets a book deal and makes a million dollars

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: Orsorum
I'd like to think that our military fosters critical thinking skills and applauds those willing to question authority in order to better the organization... but yes, I think his career is over.

You ARE joking are you not?

No, all militaries thrive on subordinates routinely questioning orders

 

[ITJunkie]

This is from the Seattle PI Letters to the Editor this morning and I think it sums up the situation pretty well:

I hope you remain a sergeant, albeit sadder but now wiser in understanding, to paraphrase Rumsfeld, that we go to war with the army we have, not the army we wished we had...
Your response gave voice to my niggling inner disquiet and you provided the answer.
We go to war with the leaders we have, not the leaders we wish we had.

Cheers

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
LOL, I was thinking the same thing...

You know a reporter set the whole thing up right? He brought the guy, gave him the questions & set the stage so questions could be asked.

Not that the guy didn't have a good point, but the whole thing was a set up & his paper's not too happy with him.

email by the reporter

From: EDWARD LEE PITTS, MILITARY AFFAIRS
Sent: Wednesday, December 8, 2004 4:44 PM
To: Staffers

Subject: RE: Way to go

I just had one of my best days as a journalist today. As luck would have it, our journey North was delayed just long enough see I could attend a visit today here by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. I was told yesterday that only soldiers could ask questions so I brought two of them along with me as my escorts. Before hand we worked on questions to ask Rumsfeld about the appalling lack of armor their vehicles going into combat have. While waiting for the VIP, I went and found the Sgt. in charge of the microphone for the question and answer session and made sure he knew to get my guys out of the crowd.

So during the Q&A session, one of my guys was the second person called on.

It dosn't really matter if it was staged or not (can we say "damage control" and "smear campaign"). The fact that everyone cheared and applauded must mean that it had some merit as a question and that it was on peoples minds.

 

[KeyserSoze]

Originally posted by: Antisocial-Virge

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
LOL, I was thinking the same thing...

You know a reporter set the whole thing up right? He brought the guy, gave him the questions & set the stage so questions could be asked.

Not that the guy didn't have a good point, but the whole thing was a set up & his paper's not too happy with him.

email by the reporter

From: EDWARD LEE PITTS, MILITARY AFFAIRS
Sent: Wednesday, December 8, 2004 4:44 PM
To: Staffers

Subject: RE: Way to go

I just had one of my best days as a journalist today. As luck would have it, our journey North was delayed just long enough see I could attend a visit today here by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. I was told yesterday that only soldiers could ask questions so I brought two of them along with me as my escorts. Before hand we worked on questions to ask Rumsfeld about the appalling lack of armor their vehicles going into combat have. While waiting for the VIP, I went and found the Sgt. in charge of the microphone for the question and answer session and made sure he knew to get my guys out of the crowd.

So during the Q&A session, one of my guys was the second person called on.

It dosn't really matter if it was staged or not (can we say "damage control" and "smear campaign"). The fact that everyone cheared and applauded must mean that it had some merit as a question and that it was on peoples minds.

Exactly. Wouldn't matter if someone PAID the guy to ask the question, the entire room erupted in cheers.





KeyserSoze