Give Back the Howitzers?

[Finbar]

Has anyone seen that the pentagon is requesting that 5 howitzers from ski slopes in Co. be returnes so that they can go into action in Afghanistan and Iraq?

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Gun shortage?

I always figured the avalanche control guns were decommissioned (y'know.... old outdated models, surplus, etc.).

[SheepyMcSheepster]

2. yeah, i heard about that, i found it quite odd.

are they really in that much need that they have to ask for 5 big guns back?

[benburch]

3. In a word. Yes.

We have spent a fortune on high-tech arms and not a dime on this sort of thing.

The guns in the field have fired as many rounds as are safe, and they need guns with some remaining life on them.

[Nashyra]

4. Yes it led on the local news in Reno last night

They had a clip about avalanche control and a story about an avalanche that killed 8 a few years back.

[Finbar]

6. But 5 guns?...

I mean I am not for big defense spending at all , but are we really that bad off that we have to send 5 guns thousnads of miles away?

Sarcastically, cant the other Nations of the Willing maybe each spot us a gun ?

[benburch]

7. We are down to a few dozen usable guns of that type.

Or so a military friend told me.

Shameful!

[Finbar]

8. IT just seems like asking that kid in elementary school to return that

sheet of paper he borrowed in 4th grade.

[benburch]

9. It does, doesn't it?

Sadly, we have no manufacturing capacity to make gun tubes of this type.

Literally, we cannot make any more 155 howitzers here in the USA. We'd have to send to another country to get them made at this point.

[CaptainClark23]

5. I asked a friend about this

He's between tours in Afghanistan..his only comment was:

"At least we know those particular guns actually work, so yes, the Army needs 'em back"

What he left unsaid is disturbing indeed.