Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell OWNS asshat Jake Tapper in this interview. Tapper, what a piece of dog****....

'Lone Survivor' Takes on CNN's Jake Tapper Over Whether His Deadly Afghanistan Mission Seemed 'Hopeless' | NewsBusters

He considered himself the same when he was writing Combat Outpost Keating.
Watch the video. Start at about 13:00.
CNN's Jake Tapper & The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor - YouTube

I saw that interview with Luttrell & I cringed when I heard his question. I think he just got tongue tied and asked the wrong question.
Here's a documentary Tapper did on CO Keating.
Jake Tapper Reports: An American Hero 1 - YouTube

"Hopeless" is not a useful word in a conversation with a man who lost so much but kept going.

I didn't watch the video, but I know enough to understand that anyone who thinks the proper course of action is to do something even if it is wrong would never see any situation as hopeless. If he had considered it hopeless at the beginning he would have taken steps to revise the plan so that it was not hopeless. Duh.

I guess Tapper thought this might be a question his viewers would wonder about, but it reminds me of the old reporter joke of never asking anything like: "So, Mrs. Lincoln, besides that.... How was the play?"

I watched the video clip, saw the movie last weekend, read the book when it first came out in hard cover, and am re-reading it now on the e-book reader.

I have to say, it's an amazing mind-set that he, or the other seals, didn't see their situation as hopeless, at least to this civilian's eyes.

They were approx. 4 vs. 200, had an appallingly bad position backed-up against the edge of a cliff, which they had to continuously fall down to avoid getting killed. All throughout the ordeal, there were continuously being shot at via small weapons and small caliber machine guns and RPG's. They had no communications with their base, they had limited supply of ammunition. They were losing most of their weapons as they catapulted themselves down the mountain. And they were getting hit with bullets and RPG's throughout the roughly 45 minute battle, from which they eventually died one after the other, which the exception of Marcus, who survived and wrote the book.

Apart from his training and mindset, I don't understand why a reasonable, sane person wouldn't describe their situation as hopeless.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

That's how these guys survive the selection process -- men who never give up. Hopelessness is the first stage of giving up.

Like Not said, plus there were more like 40 to 50 tailban, not a had ratio if the had been in a decent defensive position.

The book says they estimated 135 to 200, but ended up with a 185 number as "best guess".

It was at least a 40 to 1 ratio.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Tapper's viewpoint colors his reality which makes up his vision of life. The soldiers viewpoint is different. We all do this. In order to accomplish tasks your viewpoint is critical. No one person's viewpoint is right of wrong, but obviously some viewpoints are better than others when attempting to complete a task. The task of the soldier required his viewpoint which Tapper does not have nor does he appear to be able to understand- if he did he would have seen his error in asking his questions. I don't think Tapper is worthy of scorn if you comprehend his viewpoint is different and his capability to understand the soldiers POV appears limited. I saw no malicious intent in Tapper's question, just ignorance.

arrogance & ignorance is enough reason for me to scorn him.....he should at least have been able to see this from the perspective of his guest and phrased his questions accordingly....he's an *******