Clinton, Webb call for body armor investigation

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Raw Story

Two Democratic Senators are calling on the Comptroller General of the United States to probe whether or not US soldiers have been issued "second rate" body armor.

"In light of recent media reports suggesting that a particular body armor system may offer better protection than the system currently being used by our servicemembers, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Jim Webb (D-VA) - both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee – today called on Comptroller General of the United States David M. Walker to initiate a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation to reassess the body armor systems currently being issued by all the military services and the Special Operations Command for effectiveness and reliability against the threats facing U.S. troops in combat," states a press release issued by the Clinton campaign obtained by RAW STORY.

Clinton added, "With United States troops risking their lives daily in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, we owe it to them to make sure they have the best equipment possible."

“For several years, I have heard reports from active duty troops and military experts that Dragon Skin body armor is more effective than that currently being used,” said Senator Webb. “We owe it to those who are in harm’s way to examine conclusively whether this is true.”



Read more: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/NBC_US_soldiers_equipped_with_2ndrate_0518.html

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Watch Lisa Meyers report embedded in the Raw Story report.

[magellan]

1. Long overdue

Let's hope they sort it out finally and ensure the best equipment is getting to ALL our troops. It'd be nice if they also examined why this disparity has existed for so long and go after those responsible.

[murray hill farm]

3. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay long overdue.

This administration...and the lack of even basic caring for humans that are american citizens..is toast...JHC, in the middle ages, this would not be acceptable. Now we have people who care..and have some balls, standing up and for us..all of us, including the troops. It is way overdue...and it is about time.

[jody]

2. Congress has been derelict for not already insuring our troops have the best equipment. n/t

[LynnTheDem]

4. This is, in fact, true. But Dragon Skin costs more. Why waste $ on cannon fodder

that is "fungible".

[Cronus Protagonist]

5. That's pretty much what Rummy said about the matter of up-armoring vehicles

I kid you not.

[MasonJar]

6. Bill Moyers had a segment on this problem last night. The army

big wig saying their body armor the best in the world; the guy who invented the army armor saying that the new type much better. That's the world of Bush. I wonder which corporate GOPer funder makes the current armor.

[Forkboy]

7. Great...NOW she gives a shit...after helping send them there.

[NickB79]

8. Here is DragonSkin's website

http://www.pinnaclearmor.com/body-armor/

On the site they have videos of their armor in testing. One vest withstood 11 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammo (much more powerful than either the 5.56mm round used in the M16 or the 7.62x39mm round used in the AK-47).