Bush, Rumsfeld Try to Soothe Angry U.S. Troops

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) said on Thursday U.S. troop concerns about inadequate equipment for Iraq (news - web sites) combat are being addressed and he did not blame soldiers for raising the issue with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

A day after he was bombarded with criticism from U.S. soldiers based in Kuwait, Rumsfeld promised more would be done to protect forces. He also said steps were being taken to deal with explosive devices, a leading cause of death in Iraq, where more than 1,000 American soldiers have been killed in action.

Since invading Iraq last year, administration critics have accused it of failing to send adequate forces and armor to stabilize the country, allowing the current bloody insurgency to develop.

The latest complaints put the administration further on the defensive. Bush had rejected charges from Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) in the campaign for last month's election that military forces in Iraq did not have sufficient protection.

"The concerns expressed are being addressed, and that is, we expect our troops to have the best possible equipment. And if I were a soldier overseas, wanting to defend my country, I'd want to ask the secretary of defense the same question," Bush said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&e=1&u=/nm/20041209/ts_nm/iraq_usa_rumsfeld_dc_12

Screw it up. Massive incompetence and corruption. Then talk a bunch of shit.

"He also said steps were being taken to deal with explosive devices, a leading cause of death in Iraq, where more than 1,000 American soldiers have been killed in action."

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It would have been nice if had started by GUARDING the 360 million pounds of explosives that are being used to kill our soldiers.

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"And if I were a soldier overseas, wanting to defend my country, I'd want to ask the secretary of defense the same question," Bush said.

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Fortunately for our Coward-In-Chief, he has NEVER BEEN a soldier overseas.