McClatchy: : IT'S A MIRACLE! Pentagon finds $1.2 billion for mine-fortified vehicles

[babylonsister]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/18142.html

Pentagon finds $1.2 billion for mine-fortified vehicles
By Nancy A. Youssef | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, shifting money among the military branches, has come up with another $1.2 billion to supply troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with special armored vehicles that are built to withstand explosive devices and mines.

The money, which awaits a sign-off by key committee chairmen in Congress, would allow the military to order another 2,650 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. Officials think that the vehicles are best equipped to fend off improvised explosive devices, the most common type of weapon launched against soldiers in the two countries.

Gates has said that getting more of the special vehicles to Iraq and Afghanistan is his highest priority, since such homemade bombs are responsible for 70 percent of U.S. casualties. Three times heavier than armored Humvees, MRAPs have V-shaped hulls designed to deflect blasts from below.

Gates went to Capitol Hill on Tuesday night to seek approval for the money shift, which would bring to $5.4 billion the amount of money allotted for the vehicles. MRAPs are the third-largest Defense acquisition program, behind only missile defense and the Joint Strike Fighter, said John Young, the chairman of the department's MRAP task force.

In all, the Defense Department hopes to have 3,900 vehicles in hand by the end of the year, the majority of them deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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[blogslut]

1. I caught a teeny bit of the presser on that today

Some squirrely little guy was being kinda asshole like with the press. He look sort of silly with all these big soldiers standing behind him. I guess he was the company man.

[babylonsister]

3. I guess they decided not to mess with the Senate and ask for more

funds, as was suggested yesterday. Senator Reid doesn't appear to be in the mood!

[babylonsister]

2. .