The Opinionated Bastard

From this press conference:

Q     Sir, this is Tony Capaccio with Bloomberg News.  We met back in November when I was up there.  I have an equipment question. Not only are you fighting the insurgents, but you're the highlight unit for the Stryker, that's gotten mixed publicity.  We were told by The Washington Post earlier this year that it could be unsafe for soldiers to ride in.  Give me the unvarnished assessment of how well the vehicle has performed and what are some of the weaknesses that need to be corrected.    

            COL. BROWN:  Yeah, Tony, I'm glad you brought that up, because I'll tell you, nothing makes our soldiers madder than criticism of the Stryker.  That report, I think, was absolutely ridiculous.  The Post -- I'll be honest with you.  They had a reporter up here and he wanted to provide input.  I said, “Go talk to any soldiers you want.  Go ask any soldier which vehicle they would prefer to ride in; they would choose a Stryker, I guarantee it.”  And they never asked them.  They published the report based on a lessons learned report of how you could improve the vehicle.  Well, of course, we try to improve every vehicle we have.  No vehicle's perfect.   

            The Stryker's fantastic.  It has incredible mobility, incredible speed.  It has saved hundreds of my soldiers' lives.  I'm telling you hundreds of their lives.  We've been hit by 84 suicide VBIEDs have hit Strykers, and I've had the greater majority of soldiers walk away without even a scratch.  It's absolutely amazing.  If I were in any other type vehicle, I would've had huge problems. 

Later:

I will tell you, interestingly enough, that same Washington Post reporter, after that report came out, he came to me and he said, please, Colonel Brown, do not make me ride in a Humvee.  He said please, let me ride in a Stryker.  And I was too nice a guy.  I should have made him ride in a Humvee.  I let him ride in a Stryker.