home

An Incompetent Coward

By TChris, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Sat Jun 25, 2005 at 02:53:52 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

by TChris

It's fun to watch Sen. Kennedy tell Donald Rumsfeld that he's incompetent, but if he had seen this story, Kennedy might have called Rumsfeld a coward as well. The administration's incompetence leaves soldiers traveling in vehicles that lack adequate armor, while Rumsfeld -- during his rare visits to Iraq -- travels in "a rolling fortress of steel called the Rhino Runner."

Whatsamatta Donald? Are you afraid to entrust your life to the same Humvee you provide to the men and women whose lives are entrusted to you?

< Lie or Deny, But Never Apologize | Illinois Experiments With Treatment and Assistance for Offenders >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    An Incompetent Coward | 36 comments (36 topical)
    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#1)
    by Wile ECoyote on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:33 PM EST
    If anyone knows incompetance, it would be the lesser brother, Ted.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:33 PM EST
    All those chickenhawks are cowards, thats why not a single one of them went to Vietnam. But yet they have no qualms about sending other people's kids to go die...

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:33 PM EST
    Robert Heinlein is not oft quoted in this part of Blogistan, but in "For Us, The Living" he proposed the idea that there be a national referendum before any war not on US soil -- those voting yes would be call up first in any draft. How about every 4 star general and above in the DOD be required to make a patrol in with a randomly selected unit. Then they woul dhave an incentive to have fully trained, fully equiped troops :)

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:33 PM EST
    Donald's notoriously aware that "stuff happens," and he definitely doesn't want any "stuff" happening to him.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#5)
    by chupetin on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:33 PM EST
    This is nonsense, the higher the rank, the better the protection that should be given. The Secretary Of Defense deserves the best that we can afford, even if we we do not agree with his politics.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#6)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:33 PM EST
    chup, I understand your point. But when the marines are telling their troops to have their families buy their armor, maybe rumsfeld should buy his own. After all, his former company is the one who has 'misplaced' millions of our tax dollars and still gets no-bid contracts for gitmo and iraq.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    Well, at least now we can't say that Kennedy has killed more women than the defence department! Though, actually, the terrorists in Iraq killed those women (and men) and not anyone in the defence department. -C

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    "This is nonsense, the higher the rank, the better the protection that should be given." Why? I thought the first rule of command was that commanders have resposibility for those under them -- that they should see the troops needs before their own? The brass should eat the same food and the troops and live in the same conditions. Paul Hackett, who is running in the special election in Ohio for Portman's House seat, is just back from Iraq. He says one of the problems with training the Iraqi forces is since they are strictly segrated from US forces, the Iraqi's believe US troops are living in luxury while live they (the Iraqi's) live in squalor. Now I'm not saying this is true, but the perceived difference effects moral. I know if I was making do with jury-rigged armor for my Humvee and Mom and Dad back home held a bake sale to buy body armor for me, I'd be pissed if VIPs come thru on photo-ops with super special protection.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#9)
    by Darryl Pearce on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    Kennedy! Look, when I say "Kennedy" they all say "He killed a girl." Say it again! Kennedy! And Laura Bush killed a kid too. ...big effing deal!

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    Darryl,

    O-o-o-o-h-h-h! Give me five!

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#11)
    by unbill on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    Check out the Rhino Runner here.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#12)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    et al - Difference is, Laura Bush was immediately taken and checked out. She had no alcohol content. It was am accident. And when this happened she was a teenager, unmarried and unkown. Teddy, on the other hand, ran off and no one saw him for almost 24 hours. There was no alcohol test, although many said he had been drinking heavily at the party before driving off with the victim. Now, if you can't see the difference, I'll just put you down as a Bush Hater At Work. The Mad Brewer writes: Now I'm not saying this is true, but the perceived difference effects moral.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#13)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    oops .... Brewer, if you think that is true, how devasting do you think it is for the troops to see and hear attack after attack on them and their mission by members of the Left? I mean, really.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#14)
    by Darryl Pearce on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    Uh, huh... and George W Bush claims to have beaten his chemical dependencies. But he remains a drunk/addict to this day. But if one's honest, one must admit to "recovering" no matter how long one's been sober. I mean, really.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#15)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    The folks who really support the troops are the ones wanting to bring them home.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#16)
    by bad Jim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    Would any of the supporters of the Bush administration care to defend our troops' lack of armor? Are there any suggestions for ways to keep our occupation going for the next three, five, fifteen years, given the reluctance of our young citizens to enlist in this excellent adventure?

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#17)
    by desertswine on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    george bush is still a snivelling coward no matter how much he pretends to be Il Duce.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#18)
    by bad Jim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    From today's L.A. Times, so far headlined Bush's Credibility Takes a Direct Hit From Friendly Fire
    Rumsfeld said the insurgency could conceivably "go on for four, eight, 10, 12, 15 years, whatever…. We don't know.
    So why aren't we awarding contracts for a fleet of armored vehicles? Is life so cheap? God forbid that we raise taxes, but can't we just borrow the money from China?

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#19)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    how devasting do you think it is for the troops to see and hear attack after attack on them and their mission by members of the Left? That's another flat out lie by a repeated liar at this site.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    PPJ says,

    "how devastating do you think it is for the troops to see and hear attack after attack on them and their mission by members of the Left?"

    Perhaps if you would define "attack" we might be better able to explain our position to you. You seem to need constant clarification.

    Anything we have to say about this debacle in Iraq is nothing compared with the poor planning and judgement by Bush, Rumsfeld, and everyone else involved. If Rumsfeld and his crew can ride around in this batmobile in front of our troops who are DYING for lack of armor, the words of we who want them brought home and out of harms way may be all the hope they have left. Look at why they are dying, when we have the technology to much better protect them in battle.

    So, define "attack" for us, for the people on the Left, because all I hear from them is concern for the troops, and a desire to hold Bush and company accountable for their crimes in this mess, this nightmare, in Iraq! They LIED to get our troops into this, and it will take the TRUTH now to get them out of it!

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    By the way, PPJ, your cheerleading for Bush and co. from behind a keyboard is little comfort to ANY of our troops. Tell me how you think you are helping them. Better yet, tell it to the Gold Star Families.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#22)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    I thought that I might write about how I support the troops in water supply, they are 100% from the Guard, and keep getting extended tours. Then I thought that I'd write about how I do not support military doctors (and interrogators) participating in torture. I could have written about how I support the troops without body armour, or a coherent plan to keep them alive, then I thought that I might write about how I did not support the troops who are "official spokespersons" telling us lies daily. In the end, I decided that "support the troops" jingoistic bullsh*t will trump reasoned discourse anyday when you are talking to Repubs

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#24)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    et al - You are an obtuse bunch if you didn't understand what I meant. But I think you did. How about this thread? Calling Rumsfeld an incompetent coward. Do you think that helps the troops believe that you support them? How about the demand for a withdrawal schedule? Don't you understand that the troops know that all that does is empower the terrorists to hang on a little longer? Do you think that helps morale? How about Kennedy demanding Rumsfeld resign? Do you think the troops are concerned when Senators attack the SecD? How can you not know that this empowers the terrorists to hang on, believing that the anti-war Demos will force a withdrawal. The troops know that. The troops know that this makes the terrorists happy. And you don't undersatnd what these young men and women are hard pressed to ignore that? Why do you add to their burden? You claim to care? I see no caring. I could go on and on, but you know I write the truth.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#26)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    Jim, By your logic, If ONE soldier in Iraq believes in his or her heart that the war is wrong, then either that person is a traitor or YOU are.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#27)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    How about Kennedy demanding Rumsfeld resign? Do you think the troops are concerned when Senators attack the SecD?
    Did you take a poll of what the troops think of Rumsfeld? And who the f--- appointed you as their spokesman anyway??

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    Yes, Jim, We need to keep the blinders on our soldiers, because if they thought realistically about this war, none of them would want to fight. Forget that laying down arms might save their effing LIVES. Who is doing them a disservice?

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#29)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    Please, Jim, take all your enthusiasm for this war and get yourself over there. The true believers sitting at home at their keyboards are going to cause us to lose this war. Your certainty and moral clarity are just what is needed in Fallujah, Mosul, Tikrit. I will chip in on your ticket.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:35 PM EST
    I will chip in on your ticket.
    I got 5 on it! Get you rightwing butt over there and bring 'em on, cheerleader boy!

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#31)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:35 PM EST
    PPJ,

    "Do you think the troops are concerned when Senators attack the SecD?"

    The troops themselves asked their "SecD" when they could expect to have sufficient body armor for their mission. Now THEY know he is an incompetent liar. Do you think they care that we, or any Senator for that matter, know it, too? Get real. That shows them that we are on their side! It was THEIR complaint, remember?

    Now, tell me how you think you are helping them, or supporting them. Come on, PPJ, give us an example. A real one this time. Like I said, your cheerleading for Bush and co. is no comfort to them. So come on, MAKE MY DAY. Explain your support that you so blithely give from behind your keyboard.

    Don't be afraid. You have Superman's powers, or so we've been told!

    And, here you go, I've got a fifty on that TICKET TO BAGHDAD! Let's get a pool going!

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#32)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:35 PM EST
    Laura Bush ran a stop sign and killed someone. She did this in a different era, in a relatively small town, when women were judged differently, when we ALL were judged differently. She might not have been charged then, but who's to say she wouldn't have been today? The situation was sad, but she WAS at fault, she WAS negligent and got someone killed.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#33)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:35 PM EST
    As for Rumsfeld, a more miserably failed human I can hardly think of. And a tiny little joint, to boot, that keep him from standing up like a man and taking his licks and saying "hey, I was really full of sh*t, and I should pay SOME price." But no, like Bush he probably can't think of anything he's really done wrong. Every extra breath this guy takes in his job is wrong. Every extra breath, period, could be argued.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#34)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:35 PM EST
    If I were there I would be damn glad that someone over here was making a stink about undersupply problems. I'm so sorry if it's PUBLIC, Jim, but no one should STFU just because you have some warped perception of secrecy. By the way, in case we forgot, major combat operations in Iraq ended by the POTUS's announcement in May of 2003. How many "Operations This" or "Operations That" have we had since then? How many lies must be exposed before we arrest these SOB's?

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#35)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:35 PM EST
    Posted by Chupetin: "This is nonsense, the higher the rank," in the USPNAC... ...THE HIGHER THEY SHOULD HANG.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#36)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:35 PM EST
    Military families and soldiers speak out on Rove's LIES. The same applies to Rumsfeld, in spades.

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#37)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:35 PM EST
    correct link

    Re: An Incompetent Coward (none / 0) (#39)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:36 PM EST
    Wow. So she asked the hand-picked troops she was allowed to talk to if they were GUNGHO? And they said Yes? Astounding. Well, that settles it. Some members of the US Military are treasonous liars. And it doesn't really matter to you, because you support the POLICY, not the troops.

    An Incompetent Coward | 36 comments (36 topical)