tag:www.thedonovan.com,2012://1/tag:www.thedonovan.com,2004://1.3247- Comments for Secretary Rumsfeld and the Specialist. We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 Movable Type 4.12 tag:www.thedonovan.com,2004://1.3247 2004-12-09T13:56:59Z 2006-11-11T16:52:32Z Secretary Rumsfeld and the Specialist. I was going to do a relatively lengthy bit on what happened with the SECDEF and his group grope, and how the media spun it. But - I find it's been covered elsewhere, by active duty troops, who are closer to it in several ways. I have little useful to add to it - as I agree with what they say, so I'll just point you to them. This para from 2Slick's piece encapsulates my take nicely: The only thing unusual about this particular "town hall meeting" was the fact that the press was invited. My coworkers and I wondered... The Armorer http://www.thedonovan.com I was going to do a relatively lengthy bit on what happened with the SECDEF and his group grope, and how the media spun it. But - I find it's been covered elsewhere, by active duty troops, who are closer to it in several ways. I have little useful to add to it - as I agree with what they say, so I'll just point you to them.

This para from 2Slick's piece encapsulates my take nicely:


The only thing unusual about this particular "town hall meeting" was the fact that the press was invited. My coworkers and I wondered aloud about the wisdom of this decision, and I still can't really see the logic there. The only thing I can think of is that the SECDEF intended to show that he has nothing to hide- sort of like a "full public disclosure" kind of thing. The problem with this is obvious. When the cameras are rolling and a soldier stands up and asks why the military isn't doing anything to properly equip him for war, guess what happens? That's right- the media machine immediately establishes a new "truth"- in this case it's that the military is not equipping the force. Absolutely no effort is made to fact-check the soldier- his word is taken as pure gospel. Politicians on Capitol Hill start ranting and raving, the pundits weigh in, and the opposition party gleefully waves the "I told you so" banner. All because of one question from a hard-working well-meaning lower enlisted soldier.

That said - what you see here is one of those things that distinguishes the US Military from many others - our troops won't hesitate to ask hard questions and aren't afraid to. And, most of the time, when they ask seemingly stupid questions regarding policy - it's the chain-of-command that has failed to keep the troops informed, of failed to maintain the trust of the troops when they do keep them informed. It's always a challenge. And, some troops are just, well, clueless, too. But I'd rather serve in an Army where they feel they can ask the question than one where they are afraid to.

2Slick
Froggy Ruminations
SGT Missick - who was there.

Update: Apparently the Secretary agrees.

Updated Update: How not to get yourself invited to another meeting.

Question: When the journalist inserts himself into the story... can we call him biased?

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