Why is it that Bush feels compelled to dress up in fatigues or something every time he visits the troops? Doesn't it occur to him that it must piss some of them off to remember that he got to quit his Guard service and go to an Ivy League school, whereas they keep getting stop-lossed into permanent military service? Hell, I shouldn't complain: at least he didn't try to serve them a fake turkey this time. (Bonus: he actually admitted the Iraqi troops we've trained are about as useless as every bit of anecdotal evidence I've heard and read. I mean, in as much as he'll ever admit to anything. Don't get too surprised.)
Damage control from the White House as Rumsfeld blundered into a scenario where he accidentally asked the opinion of an American soldier. Now come on, you guys have been ignoring the average citizen for your entire first term. Why screw up now when you had most of us beat into submission? (Update: Bush now claims, "We’re doing everything we possibly can to protect your loved ones." Besides being utter garbage, it's also a lie when you look at the planning of this entire war.)
In any case, some clarifications as to the Humvee issue everyone is talking about. One, the soldier probably got coached a little by a journalist. No, not the FoxNews yes-man kind; an actual reporter who can't ask this administration any real questions. So yeah, it was a practiced question. But hell, even the soldier's ex-wife believes it came from the heart. But he's not the only one who has voiced complaints. California Guardsmen consider themselves ill-trained as they prepare to go to Iraq.
To be fair, the military is responding as much as it can to the situation. As always, the fault - whether or not they admit it - lies with the politicians giving the orders and pulling the puppet (and purse) strings.
As for this situation, Rumsfeld thinks nothing of it, nor believes his you don't get "the Army you might want or wish to have" comment was insulting. But Senator Dodd from Connecticut does and probably a fair amount of the troops who heard that crap did as well. Too bad the military is too busy supressing soldiers' ability to speak openly and honestly. (Update: another article on the situation, detailing more complaints about service in Iraq and on how Rumsfeld is basically in total denial.)
Hackworth goes further and discusses the problems (and propaganda) the military is forced to use to justify substandard recruitment goals. Just for total clarification, Colonel Hackworth is for the troops, against the lies, and has been very blunt about his stance on this war as seen here in an article from last year (Go for the ad option as that's all I've got. Sorry.)
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