"It's about physics"?

By now everyone has probably seen the video of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld answering questions yesterday from the troops in Kuwait, troops about to be sent into Iraq. Internet watchers have probably also tuned into the controversial discovery that the most contentious questions from the soldiers were not spontaneous, but were staged by embedded reporters.

I'll focus only on the most serious aspect of the story: Rumsfeld's answers.

Now I'm a fan of Sec. Rumsfeld and I think he did a stellar job in reforming the Cold War structured military to fight and win two terrorist based wars, first in Afghanistan and then in Iraq. I'm a fan. And I'm glad he's staying on in the administration.

But this particular press conference is very troubling. I do applaud the Secretary for stepping up to the mike and taking questions unscripted. And, granted, I'll have to assume that we did not see the whole story on the MSM reports. I heard expanded coverage which indicated that he was well received and even had a standing ovation from one group. I'll assume that the whole conversation was taken out of context in the soundbites, as it invariably is.

Having said that, I would have to say that his answers yesterday to the troops were beyond pitiful. Three answers in particular were deplorable:

1. The answer to the question of why the army didn't have enough armored vehicles: "It's not about the army's desire, it's about physics, it's about production."

Not good enough, by far. You're the Sec. of Defense. Break through all of that. Find out if they have enough armor. If they don't, get it to them. Period. You owe it to the troops.

2. General answer to some bitching: "You go to war with the army you have, not the one you want to have."

True, but not good enough. You're the guy who's supposed to deliver the army that you want to have. Deliver it already.

3. Further answer on the question of armor: something to the effect of "you can have a fully armored vehicle and still get blown up"

Are you kidding me? You would say that to a gathering of troops heading into battle? Are you a heartless robot?

Howard Fineman of MSNBC and Newsweek had it right tonight when he said that the last statement showed a hopelessly "cavalier" attitude toward soldier's lives. Absolutely right.

John Stewart, of "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central skewered these answers in a devastating and hilarious montage.

President Bush stepped out today and rightly corrected these ridiculous comments. And hopefully he gave Rumsfeld a thorough dressing down. We need Rumsfeld's leadership to finish the job there. But he needs to learn a lesson here. His answers were plainly not acceptable.