What a series of intelligent comments in that article.
One intelligent response that's probably not far from the truth:
William Naegele, Albuquerque, N.M.: "I can't think of a better way to provide the military with an excuse to shut embeds out and send the whole press corps back to Kuwait."
But then there's these...
Tom Fish, Arroyo Grande, Calif.: "I'm sure that most of the GI's in Iraq can think for themselves. Reporter stepped over the line."
So... they can think for themselves. So when he asked it wasn't his choice to do that, and when the people cheered it wasn't them doing it? So the reporter asked him to ask the question; these soldiers CAN think for themselves, and he still asked it. What does that say?
And oh yeah, this gentleman...
Joe M. Richardson: "The duped soldier should be put at the very front of the action, no armor. The cooperating sergeant's career should be over and maybe become MIA. Pitts and all his cronies should be executed as traitors. We are fighting a war, the debate is over, you’re either for us or against us, there is no middle ground. I say start executing the leftists in our country, soon."
Mr. Joe M. Richardson, staunch defender of the right of the Iraqi people to have freedom from tyranny and the right for them to have free speech without Saddam's goons killing them should they disagree.
Thanks for illustrating the problem us lefties have with your guy and his way of thinking, Joe.
Peter Minoc, Vallejo, Calif.: "I would hate to think how World War II would turn out if our military had a media like the one today. There were so many friendly-fire deaths to ill-equipped units that led to soldiers dying, but the media of that time knew what the stakes were. The media today has this suicidal belief that their press credentials will protect them from the Islamic fascists. This belief is so strong that you are willing to lower the morale of the people fighting for your right to attack this administration. Stop being the damn story and just report the news!"
Because it was an attack on the administration, not a question as to why they were being sent in with inadequate armor. Asking questions is bad for morale, wanting better equipment is wrong, and not dying without question is the sign of a bad soldier.
World War 2 doesn't compare. The situation isn't even close to similar in any way. Vietnam and Korea, on the other hand...
Ron Bean, Pachuta, Miss.: "He knew it was a low-life tactic to use a GI that was probably stressed out from having to go into Iraq. Oh, I forgot, anything to get a story. What happened to reporting the news instead of making the news?"
I saw the video of this, and the reporter's hand was nowhere near the soldier's ass nor were there any puppet strings hanging from the ceiling.
Face it, the guy asked because it was a legitimate question. The reaction from the other people in the room said it was a legitimate question. Why is the reporter being villainized when the soldier asked of his own free will?
Wade Hampton, Phoenix, Ariz.: "That was a well orchestrated con job by Pitts. Sure you’re going to get some cheering, a good portion of our military are indeed liberals who voted for Kerry. Plus the military always needs or wants something. If they made a one-man tank suit they would all want one, although I doubt Kerry would have approved the funding. What the media has done is insure that military personnel probably won't be given the opportunity to ask questions in this manner again."
Right. BLAME KERRY! Goddamn liberals who want armored vehicles in a war zone.
This kind of crap just sets off a nerve. This isn't a bloody political issue, it's an issue of the equipment that these guys have out in the field. This doesn't have a damn thing to do with Bush vs. Kerry, liberals and conservatism, or jack shit to do with political figures unless you take any questioning of our procedure as an attack on our government or our government figures.
It's well past time that people like Joe Richardson learn to shut their cockholsters and look at the bigger picture.
). I think that Presidential poll's a very good indicator of how things lie here.
