Bastards aren't even supplying the proper body armor to troops

[RamboLiberal]

No link - this was a letter from a mother of a soldier in Iraq read on local talk radio in Pittsburgh.

Her son wrote and said they are not getting enough of the ceramic plates that slip inside the Kevlar vest. These plates are designed to stop most rifle rounds.

Why the hell aren't the RW flag wavers screaming about the shortages the troops are experiencing from the screwed Rummy system?!

Guess it the fault of Clinton's penis.

[ewagner]

1. If

If this can be documented I'll blast it out to my address book.

[RamboLiberal]

4. So far I've only found this from July 21st USA Today

As hostilities in Iraq drag on, the Pentagon has slapped rush orders on supplies like body armor, air conditioning units and fresh food supplies for U.S. troops, offering a glimpse into the changing role of the armed forces in the problem plagued nation.

"We're going to be there for a long time," said Joel Moskowitz, chief executive at ceramic armor maker Ceradyne. The company on July 17 received a $7.1 million expedited order for more of its small arms protective inserts. "The war, no matter how you define it, is not over."

http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/iraq/2003-07-21-iraq-extended-stay_x.htm

And this:
TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 23, 2003--Simula Inc. (AMEX:SMU - News) announced today that it has received new delivery orders from the US Army Robert Morris Acquisition Center - Natick Contracting Division for Small Arms Protective Inserts (SAPI) body armor plates in support of the U.S. Marine Corps. The delivery orders total $12.5 million and all deliveries are scheduled to be completed by June 2004. The Company has announced a series of similar orders by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps over the last eight months totaling $33.3 million.
"We take great pride in protecting American lives with this lightweight body armor that we pioneered in 1998 and have consistently delivered to the Marines over the last five years, including for front-line operations in Iraq. Simula is proud to have fielded more SAPI plates to the armed services than any other supplier in the world," said Brad Forst, President & CEO.

Simula designs and makes systems and devices that save human lives. Its core markets are aviation safety, personnel safety, and military ground vehicle safety. Simula's core technologies include inflatable restraints, energy-absorbing seating systems, advanced polymer materials, lightweight transparent and opaque armor products, personnel protective equipment and emergency bailout parachutes. For more information, go to www.simula.com.

Safe Harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual experience to differ materially from that which is anticipated. These forward-looking statements include statements about contract orders. Risks to the Company's business include on-going product procurements by military customers and other business factors described in the Company's periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect unanticipated events or circumstances occurring after the date on which such statements are made.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030623/235361_1.html

Which is probably saying they are short of those inserts. I have seen tons of stories on how this body armor is saving troops in a Google search.

[RamboLiberal]

6. Got one - from back in May

Don't know when the mom got the letter but it must have been recent - so shortage must be continuing.

Palazzo, whose unit is patrolling Ramadi, canceled a checkpoint Wednesday because of a shortage of body armor. As an armored unit, these soldiers typically wear vests that stop shrapnel, not bullets, so now they share body armor.

“I’m not going to put my guys out there in jeopardy,” he said.

http://www.gazette.com/war/0502wara.html

[Karenina]

2. THE BOTTOM LINE.

The corporatists running this clusterfuck DO NOT CARE if American servicepeople pay the price with their lives. They receive "no-bid" contracts that insure black ink on THEIR BOTTOM LINE whether they deliver or not. Better that woman's dear son be sacrificed to their greed than return and tell the tale. America MUST wrap her brain around this principle and decide if it is one she can support.

OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS ARE IN THE DESERT WITHOUT ENOUGH WATER TO DRINK.

Can we start there? What the hell will it take? :argh: :argh: :argh:

[kclown]

3. Bush and Rumsfeld care about soldiers

like Tyson cares about chickens.

[wryter2000]

5. OMG

That's it exactly!

[arcane1]

13. Goff nailed it!

glad to see it catching on!

the troops are merely venture capital, expendable expenses to be suffered in this enormous entrepenuerial endeavor mis-named "war"

[texastoast]

7. The Right Wing Does Not Care

The military complex does not care that their products are not made the best. They get the government contract, they get their $40,000 for a toilet seat. And screw the taxpayer and the soldier.

Over the last 15 years product liability lawsuits against military contractors have mostly ended with the "sovereign" protection that is afforded to the government. That is, "We made this product for the government and fuck that we didn't make it well. We don't have to. Soldiers getting killed? Whoa! Too bad."

Go rent the movie Afterburn with Laura Dern. Or find out the reality behind the official government blame of the captain of the USS STARK.

http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/91/91-02432-0.htm

This is just damned pitiful that we send our soldiers out with crappy stuff while the CEOs of General Dynamics, Lockheed, and the like don't worry all that much about it.

MILITARY CONTRACTOR FAKED TESTS; MILLIONS WASTED

http://www.taxpayer.net/TCS/wastebasket/nationalsecurity/3-14-00.htm

[texastoast]

8. The Military Industrial Complex Does NOT Care

The military complex does not care that their products are not made the best. They get the government contract, they get their $40,000 for a toilet seat. And screw the taxpayer and the soldier.

Over the last 15 years product liability lawsuits against military contractors have mostly ended with the "sovereign" protection that is afforded to the government. That is, "We made this product for the government and fuck that we didn't make it well. We don't have to. Soldiers getting killed? Whoa! Too bad."

Go rent the movie Afterburn with Laura Dern. Or find out the reality behind the official government blame of the captain of the USS STARK.

http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/91/91-02432-0.htm

This is just damned pitiful that we send our soldiers out with crappy stuff while the CEOs of General Dynamics, Lockheed, and the like don't worry all that much about it.

MILITARY CONTRACTOR FAKED TESTS; MILLIONS WASTED

http://www.taxpayer.net/TCS/wastebasket/nationalsecurity/3-14-00.htm

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

9. The RWers don't WANT the soldiers to have those plates--

They need 'em all for their back-woods war games practice sessions. Wouldn't want ol' Bubba to hurt his buddies with his assault rifle now, wouldja?

You can probably pick up a supply at Ted Nugent's compound, if you want to send a care package to the soldiers...

[RamboLiberal]

10. I did email the host with Colonel Hackworth's email address

And suggested the mother at least send him her son's comments. And I suggested she contact local media and her local congressperson and Senator.

Any other suggestions I'll be glad to pass on.

[RamboLiberal]

11. I did email the host with Colonel Hackworth's email address

And suggested the mother at least send him her son's comments. And I suggested she contact local media and her local congressperson and Senator.

Any other suggestions I'll be glad to pass on.

[RamboLiberal]

12. Sorry for the dupe - GD seems to have some glitches today

eom

[bigtree]

14. speaking of needed supplies...

US Troops, Using Confiscated Iraqi AK-47s
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/236/world/U_S_troops_using_confiscated_I:.shtml

U.S. troops in Iraq may not have found weapons of mass destruction, but they’re certainly getting their hands on the country’s stock of Kalashnikovs and, they say, they need them.

The soldiers based around Baqouba are from an armor battalion, which means they have tanks, Humvees and armored personnel carriers. But they are short on rifles.

A four-man tank crew is issued two M4 assault rifles and four 9mm pistols, relying mostly on the tank’s firepower for protection.

But now they are engaged in guerrilla warfare, patrolling narrow roads and goat trails where tanks are less effective. Troops often find themselves dismounting to patrol in smaller vehicles, making rifles essential.

’’We just do not have enough rifles to equip all of our soldiers. So in certain circumstances we allow soldiers to have an AK-47. They have to demonstrate some proficiency with the weapon ... demonstrate an ability to use it,’’ said Lt. Col. Mark Young, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.

’’Normally an armor battalion is fighting from its tanks. Well, we are not fighting from our tanks right now,’’ Young said. ’’We are certainly capable of performing the missions that we have been assigned, there’s no issue with that, but we do find ourselves somewhat challenged.’’

Some complain that standard U.S. military M16 and M4 rifles jam too easily in Iraq’s dusty environment.

What about just equipping the men for the mission with our own rifles before we put them out there? Are the commanders being told to make do with what they have? Is there a real issue with weapons supply?

My gut tells me that the weapons aren’t the only deficiency being forced on these soldiers. I’m certain they can handle it. I’m less sure that they should have to scrounge for supplies and such. Don’t like to hear stories like this.

[ComerPerro]

18. Idea for a sign

"We support the Troops.
Why don't you, Bush?"

Its disgusting how they claim to be concerned for the country's well-being, but then underfund and supply the soldiers. All the while they are cutting their pension and denying them raises, as well.

[karlschneider]

15. The best body armor they could have would be

the sheets on their own bed in Peoria, Mobile, Tulsa, Boise..........
and so on.
:grr:

[dansolo]

16. Where is the $4bn/month going?

When are the people going to wake up and realize that not only is $4 billion a month is being sunk in Iraq, but that very little of it is going to actually supporting our troops that are there. I wish there was a breakdown of where exactly the money is going.

[Karenina]

17. Start here:

Bechtel
Halliburton
Kellogg, Brown and Root

That will keep you busy for a while. And be sure to brew yourself a nice strong pot of chamomile tea bbefore you start reading to wash down the valium you'll likely require afterwards. ;-)

[cap]

19. i think the money is going to overseas contractors

and is being siphoned off. This is just a guess.

If a billion a week were being spent in America some part of this economy would be booming.

B&R is making money hand over fist. I think using international contractors has destroyed our logistics system. We had a world class logistics system in Gulf War I. Industry came over and studied what the military was doing. We have contracted this system out to B&R and they have ruined it.

I am guessing right now. But something is terrible wrong.

[Karenina]

20. "But something is terrible wrong."

BINGO! FUBAR!!! Spending time on this board has had me following the money... What a bloody fucking mess we have on our hands here. :crazy: