“(Wish We Had Some!)”

http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=588

“(Wish We Had Some!)”
July 16th, 2007 by Jesse Lee

On Thursday we noted a new report from the Pentagon’s Inspector General which “found that a program to deliver special armored vehicles to protect military personnel in Iraq from roadside bombs has been marred by delays and questionable contracting practices that may have endangered troops.” Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-28), who requested the report, issued a release summarizing it:

Each manufacturer fell far behind delivery schedules, while Armored Holdings also produced inadequate and faulty equipment. Furthermore, the sole-source contracts were assigned even though senior military officials objected at the time to the process being used, advocating instead for competitive bidding.

Armored Holdings announced today “the receipt of a new prime contract award by the U.S. Navy for $518.5 million to provide Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.”

More disturbingly, USA Today publishes an extensive investigation into the delays in production of this vital vehicle on its front page today. Some of the most alarming findings:

Pentagon balked at pleas from officers in field for safer vehicles
Peter Eisler, Blake Morrison and Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today - July 16, 2007

Pfc. Aaron Kincaid, 25, had been joking with buddies just before their Humvee rolled over the bomb. His wife, Rachel, later learned that the blast blew Kincaid, a father of two from outside Atlanta, through the Humvee’s metal roof.

Army investigators who reviewed the Sept. 23 attack near Riyadh, Iraq, wrote in their report that only providence could have saved Kincaid from dying that day: “There was no way short of not going on that route at that time (that) this tragedy could have been diverted.”

A USA TODAY investigation of the Pentagon’s efforts to protect troops in Iraq suggests otherwise.

more...

DU thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1344824&mesg_id=1344824

This %&^*(%()^ occupation has gone on longer than WWII. For three years the US auto industry did not produce ANY cars for civilians. They produced frigging jeeps, and tanks, and whatever else we - our troops - needed to do their awful jobs.

If there is any justification for continuing this thing one minute longer, then there is justification for nationalizing any and all industries necessary to execute the damned thing!

STOP SENDING KIDS TO THE SLAUGHTER!

STOP SENDING KIDS TO GET THEIR HEADS FUCKED UP AND TURNED INTO MONSTERS!

Don't say "support the troops" one more fucking time, you slime, until you step up and either do the damned job right, or admit you are a completely worthless incompetant and resign.

(edited to correct various typos from being so pissed I can't see straight)

steamed. They quote the number of soldiers who died for lack of good equipment. The maimed weren't counted, nor those with brain trauma.:grr: :nuke:

Just like they do not see torture, do not see the depletion of the troops, etc.
:grr: