Even the Soldiers are getting pissed off...
In thier own words..
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
Secretary Rumsfeld COSCOM Town Hall Meeting in Balad, Iraq
Here are a few excerpts from the meeting he had in Balad, Iraq. They are quite enlightening.
Sir, my name is Sergeant Major [Pritsing] and I'm with the 1st Team. My question is of all the naysayers out there that think we need to pull out of Iraq, what can we do in the military to convince our public that we are making significant progress in both Iraq and in the global war on terrorism and that we have to remain committed to this important mission?
[Hooahs and Applause].
Rumsfeld: Sergeant Major, you're right. You are making progress here in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and certainly in the global war on terror. Pressure is being put on the terrorists and the terrorist networks, and those countries that are providing havens for terrorists all across the globe. Everything they do is harder today than it was. It's harder to talk to each other, it's harder to move, it's harder to raise money, it's harder to recruit, it's harder to retain people. The reality, however, is that terrorists of course can attack at any time, any place, and it's impossible to defend at every time and every place. So our task is to go after them where they are. The progress that is being made is measurable and solid.
The only way I can answer your question is is to keep using every means of communication you have. Think of it. You've got e-mail, you've got phones, you can write, you've got digital cameras -- you two both have digital cameras, I can see. [Laughter]. And ultimately the truth will come out.
You know the American people are amazing, if you think of somewhat less than 300 years of history. We staked everything on the idea that free people given sufficient information will find their way to the right decisions. That was an enormous gamble when it was made and it's worked. It has worked.
To be sure, in a wave of emotion people can get pushed to one side or a view can take place that really isn't the true view, but people have an inner gyroscope. They have a good mooring lines, and they come back to center. And if we keep saying what the truth is and we keep doing our jobs, by golly, they'll figure it out and they'll be supportive and you can count on it.
Question: Good afternoon, sir. I'm Sergeant Major Fillmore from 1st Corps Support Command.
Currently, the Sergeants Major and senior officers are required to retire at 30 years of active federal service.
Rumsfeld: I think that's ridiculous.
Question: Yes, sir. Some of us agree.
Rumsfeld: Of course at my age I have to say that. [Laughter]. But I do. I can't imagine people at the top of their game retiring when they're 38 or 40 or 45 or even 73. [Laughter].
Question: Well to support deployment, Sir, we currently have to put in a request to Human Resources Command to stay past that 30 years point. My question is, is the Army looking at changing the mandatory retirement date for Sergeants Major and senior officers?
Rumsfeld: If they're not, they ought to be and I will look into it. I've talked to Dr. David Chu, who is the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and I've told him that I thought given the fact of medical care today and health and the fact that people live so much longer, that we ought to increase the age at which people can enter if they'd like to, and we ought to increase the age at which people can retire if people would prefer to stay on. And it just stuns me to see a 38 or 40 year old come up to me and say that it's up or out and I'm gone when they're terrific, fine, servicemen and women.
Well those comments and questions are pretty good. I think they cover some of the issues I have seen raised here and other places. I would like to say, when all else fails, go to the source. Here we have men and women asking why there is such a negative opinion when they think they are doing such a great job. Another asking why he has to get out after 30 years, and wants to keep on serving, this speaks volumes about our fine men and women in uniform.
God bless them all...
Here are a few excerpts from the meeting he had in Balad, Iraq. They are quite enlightening.
Sir, my name is Sergeant Major [Pritsing] and I'm with the 1st Team. My question is of all the naysayers out there that think we need to pull out of Iraq, what can we do in the military to convince our public that we are making significant progress in both Iraq and in the global war on terrorism and that we have to remain committed to this important mission?
[Hooahs and Applause].
Rumsfeld: Sergeant Major, you're right. You are making progress here in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and certainly in the global war on terror. Pressure is being put on the terrorists and the terrorist networks, and those countries that are providing havens for terrorists all across the globe. Everything they do is harder today than it was. It's harder to talk to each other, it's harder to move, it's harder to raise money, it's harder to recruit, it's harder to retain people. The reality, however, is that terrorists of course can attack at any time, any place, and it's impossible to defend at every time and every place. So our task is to go after them where they are. The progress that is being made is measurable and solid.
The only way I can answer your question is is to keep using every means of communication you have. Think of it. You've got e-mail, you've got phones, you can write, you've got digital cameras -- you two both have digital cameras, I can see. [Laughter]. And ultimately the truth will come out.
You know the American people are amazing, if you think of somewhat less than 300 years of history. We staked everything on the idea that free people given sufficient information will find their way to the right decisions. That was an enormous gamble when it was made and it's worked. It has worked.
To be sure, in a wave of emotion people can get pushed to one side or a view can take place that really isn't the true view, but people have an inner gyroscope. They have a good mooring lines, and they come back to center. And if we keep saying what the truth is and we keep doing our jobs, by golly, they'll figure it out and they'll be supportive and you can count on it.
Question: Good afternoon, sir. I'm Sergeant Major Fillmore from 1st Corps Support Command.
Currently, the Sergeants Major and senior officers are required to retire at 30 years of active federal service.
Rumsfeld: I think that's ridiculous.
Question: Yes, sir. Some of us agree.
Rumsfeld: Of course at my age I have to say that. [Laughter]. But I do. I can't imagine people at the top of their game retiring when they're 38 or 40 or 45 or even 73. [Laughter].
Question: Well to support deployment, Sir, we currently have to put in a request to Human Resources Command to stay past that 30 years point. My question is, is the Army looking at changing the mandatory retirement date for Sergeants Major and senior officers?
Rumsfeld: If they're not, they ought to be and I will look into it. I've talked to Dr. David Chu, who is the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and I've told him that I thought given the fact of medical care today and health and the fact that people live so much longer, that we ought to increase the age at which people can enter if they'd like to, and we ought to increase the age at which people can retire if people would prefer to stay on. And it just stuns me to see a 38 or 40 year old come up to me and say that it's up or out and I'm gone when they're terrific, fine, servicemen and women.
Well those comments and questions are pretty good. I think they cover some of the issues I have seen raised here and other places. I would like to say, when all else fails, go to the source. Here we have men and women asking why there is such a negative opinion when they think they are doing such a great job. Another asking why he has to get out after 30 years, and wants to keep on serving, this speaks volumes about our fine men and women in uniform.
God bless them all...
I am very sorry I did not get back to you all faster, I was in an armorer course all day. I am on the DOD mail list(actually a few) and some others that are not so widely distributed. Here is a link to the DOD news Release I got my Information from, sorry I did not post it when I posted my orignal: