Now that the REAL meat-and-potatos (the Election) is over, I guess we'll have to get used to Tempests served in Teapots again *OR* The SecDef Takes a Question

There is no story that comes out of Iraq that will not be turned into a dig at the Administration.  The SecDef's being asked by a soldier about why all Humvees etc aren't "Up-Armored" is a case in point.  There has been way, way, WAY too much attention paid to this, IMHO, but I yesterday during talk radio driving, I thought this aspect has been overlooked:

Isn't it admirable that the Secretary of Defense made himself available to the soldiers and officers for questioning, without scripting or screening?

Then just now I find this post from a soldier who was there (And how cool is it that we get, via the blogoshpere, instataneous live reporting from the participants?  I'm not taking this for granted yet.  What a miracle!):

I also want to express that as a person who has worked in politics for years, I was very surprised when we were told there would be the opportunity to ask questions without first having them screened.  I would have assumed there would have been some process where those who had questions submitted them prior to asking the Secretary, and had them approved.  Instead, everyone in the room was given the option to stand, motion for one of the soldiers holding a microphone, and ask anything they desired.  There was no particular order of what kind of questions were asked and the soldiers who asked questions ranged in rank from Specialists to Lieutenant Colonels.  When I say I was surprised that this part of the event was not micromanaged, I want to ensure you that I was pleasantly surprised.  In my opinion, it shows the attitude that this Secretary has towards the soldiers he is sworn to represent.  It shows those in uniform that he does not see us or our concerns as "below his level," but instead sends a signal that we are his concern, and ensuring we can accomplish the mission is his highest priority. 

Naturally, this has not been the gist of the MSM's reporting of the story.  If there were a really right wing biased media out there, that would have been the story, and the up-armoring issue would have been poo-poo'd.

Not that we shouldn't have all the armored vehicles we need, and I'm sure the procurement system could be improved A LOT, and should be.  I think it's good those responsible are feeling some heat, and I think the President will use this to reform Pentagon procurement methods.  Which I think is long overdue.  But Rome wasn't built in a day and the President is reforming America and the world as fast as he can.  One thing at a time, etc.

I wonder if Rummy used any of his famous martial arts speaking styles?

UPDATE:  More from the same soldier:

I have not had the opportunity to work alongside an embedded reporter, quite frankly my unit's activities are important but not exciting enough to provide reports for major media.  I do wonder however, what affect this will have on the future of embedded reporters.  Considering the incident only weeks ago of the Marine in Fallujah, questions were raised as to the detrimental results an imbedded reporter may have on a unit and combat.  Now, with an embed being responsible for a major news story directly invovling the Secretary himself as well as controversy stemming over the media's role in wartime journalism, I wonder what the ramifications will be. 

Personally, I believe the ability for American's to hear the story of what their soldiers are experiencing is extremely important.  It is one of the reasons why I support a greater proliferation of soldier blogs, giving soldiers themselves the opportunity to share their experiences and views with the American people....  (emphasis added)

Given an adequate proliferation of soldiers' blogs, what do we need the MSM for again?

Comments

[Mikey]

I've lived around the DoD procurement system for some time and IMHO, it makes as much sense to blame the generals and Rummy for the lack of up-armored Humvees as it does to fault the surfer for the wave he rides on.

Take a congress, add a generous helping of back-home pork, mix well with over-active specifications, garnish with a byzatine procurement mechanism, and you get the current SNAFU.

Also we need to keep in mind that a budget is just that - a budget. If you have more Hummers, you have fewer Apache gunships (both useful but not interchangable- or free)and at some point somebody has to say "We'll need 15,000 of these"

INVARIABLY someone will say "That's not enough."

Someone else will say "That's too many".

The guy that bought these is a hero for sticking with it long enough over the past 5 years (the DoD procurement cycle) that there are ANY up-armored Humvees to send to Iraq.

But no-one wants to think about the hard stuff.

Finally, nine women can't have a baby in one month even if they co-operate. This stuff takes time.