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Military adds armor to protect troops in Iraq

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Congress OK's $22 billion for 15,000 blast-resistant vehicles

The U.S. military is reinforcing the sides of its topline mine-resistant vehicles to shore up what could be weak points as troops see a spike in armor-piercing roadside bombings across Iraq, The Associated Press has learned.

This is my favorite quote from the article.......

"We naturally are conscious of cost, and conscious of how much America has sacrificed to put all that capability in the hands of soldiers," said Speakes. "But when you hear a division commander just say 'thank you ... I estimate you've saved 40 of my soldier's lives,' it kind of puts it all in a different perspective."

Better late then never, I guess.....Check it out

Peace

raheims

11 responses // Military adds armor to protect troops in Iraq

  • 2.2 million defective helmets sold contract to replace them goes to the same company that made them

    National Gaurd and army Troops sent to active war environment without armor. Then told that it was made against regulations for them to purchase armor themselves or to have thier families send it.

    Only three out of ten bullet proof vests issued by the army were sent through best practice testing to ensure they met army standards. The man in charge of those testing practices retires and takes the helm of the company producing the armor that was untested, to the tune of two billion dollars in nobid no test contracts. The army has said that it doesn't represent a conflict of interest.

    MRAP and up armored humvee development were delayed perhaps by conflicts of interest by defense contractors ahead of the interests of our soldiers. Then civilian oversight reports on this subject were potentialy censored.

    Each of these issues has tied up the inspector general and sadly little or no action has been able to be taken in any because of the (ok, this is again an opinion, just one bourne out of the sad situation of the last eight years) incompetence and corruption within the department of justice.

    Yeah. I'd say this is too little too late but its better to make the effort.
    ocanada
  • I'm surprised that MRAPS took this long to develop. Hell I came up with the idea of using angular surfaces to deflect blasts and bullets when I was like, what, 10?
    And by Blackwater, also interesting (note for airsoft players: Blackwater overcharges like you wouldn't believe for their gear, yet another reason why I don't like them that much).
    Dmitri_Molotov
  • They give them to the troops after how many years? I can hear some burbmom's arlready, "Honey, Jenny's husband bought her a MRAPmobile and I want one. My Hummer has a ding in the door." sigh.
    patsarts
  • Its about time they gave our troops something to protect themselves better.
    Ice_cream_Man
  • I also heard that FEMA is NOW sending buses to New Orleans to get people out...(get it, they are both late, ha ha - incompetent reactive crony government!)
    Wessagusset_Oracle
  • I'd rather just bring them home. Now.
    HappyYoga
  • http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1807849
    This is what will be done with this new investment.
    Adumbration
  • the mrap stands for mine resistent ambush protected vehicle it is it not efp proof the government is just side stepping the issue of protecting troops with vehicle armor take it from some one who has witnessed the effects first hand of what EFP's can do to a person and vehicle. Imagine slugs of copper and various other metals flying at humvee's and bradley's at speeds of up to mach 6 (yes mach 6). An abrams tank armor is classified yet EFP's still burn through its hull i lost my 1SGT to an EFP while he was ridding in a tank unless the government can come up with something like a star trek shield we are(troops) screwed like no other
    gardea_11b
  • Plus EFPs are extremely easy and relatively cheap to make guerrilla style, and the pro versions are just as effective at about the size of a DVD case.
    Dmitri_Molotov
  • Good point. I was just getting at the point that they're wasting 22 billion dollars that could be better used, say, getting them out of there. We send the vehicles over, we do less to bring them home, and they go around doing that in Iraq.
    Adumbration
  • I would argue that this particular $22 billion is being spent in the correct place, assuming that it all will be spent to protect our troops lives.

    On the other hand, I think that we could do a better job investing money elsewhere that is currently being spent on no bid contracts to fund Haliburton.
    Varex_Sythe

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