2008 Woodie Awards
Rumsfeld faces criticism
Resistance
Brian Fanelli
Issue date: 2/1/05 Section: Forum
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The recent criticism facing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is a sign that American support of the war in Iraq is slipping among citizens and even politicians, especially since U.S.troops are not properly armored, and the attacks led by insurgents against U.S. forces are only growing deadlier.
The truth that U.S. soldiers in Iraq are not properly armored or equipped to be in the war-torn country became obvious when a soldier at amilitary camp in Kuwait drilled Rumsfeld about military funding and armor at a speech in late November. "Why do we have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to armor our vehicles?" the soldier asked Rumsfeld, according to Reuters. Rumsfeld?s reply shocked the nation. "You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might wish to have," he said.
The soldier?s question also raised speculation by many Americans concerning the billions spent on the war thus far. If American taxpayers have already spent billions on the war in Iraq, then how can the soldiers not be properly armored? Where is taxpayer money, apparently spent on the war going, if not to benefit the soldiers? Rumsfeld and others in the Bush Administration have failed to answer such questions.
Even prominent Republicans have criticized the war and Rumsfeld. Sen. John McCain of Arizona has stated he has "no confidence" in Rumsfeld, according to MSNBC. Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska has also criticized Rumsfeld. Both McCain and Hagel believe there needs to be more troops in Iraq, especially Special Force units to secure the country. However, Rumsfeld has ignored their calls for the most part.
The criticism Rumsfeld faces from troops and Republican senators has had an impact on how Americans view the job performance of the Defense Secretary and the war in general. According to an NBC/Wall Street poll taken in December, only 34 percent of Americans approve of the job Rumsfeld is doing. Clearly, Americans are losing faith in how the Bush administration, especially Rumsfeld, is handling the war in Iraq.
The truth that U.S. soldiers in Iraq are not properly armored or equipped to be in the war-torn country became obvious when a soldier at amilitary camp in Kuwait drilled Rumsfeld about military funding and armor at a speech in late November. "Why do we have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to armor our vehicles?" the soldier asked Rumsfeld, according to Reuters. Rumsfeld?s reply shocked the nation. "You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might wish to have," he said.
The soldier?s question also raised speculation by many Americans concerning the billions spent on the war thus far. If American taxpayers have already spent billions on the war in Iraq, then how can the soldiers not be properly armored? Where is taxpayer money, apparently spent on the war going, if not to benefit the soldiers? Rumsfeld and others in the Bush Administration have failed to answer such questions.
Even prominent Republicans have criticized the war and Rumsfeld. Sen. John McCain of Arizona has stated he has "no confidence" in Rumsfeld, according to MSNBC. Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska has also criticized Rumsfeld. Both McCain and Hagel believe there needs to be more troops in Iraq, especially Special Force units to secure the country. However, Rumsfeld has ignored their calls for the most part.
The criticism Rumsfeld faces from troops and Republican senators has had an impact on how Americans view the job performance of the Defense Secretary and the war in general. According to an NBC/Wall Street poll taken in December, only 34 percent of Americans approve of the job Rumsfeld is doing. Clearly, Americans are losing faith in how the Bush administration, especially Rumsfeld, is handling the war in Iraq.
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