Are Bomb-Resistant Vehicles Worth It?

[unhappycamper]

Are Bomb-Resistant Vehicles Worth It?
By ANNE FLAHERTY
Associated Press Writer
Oct 17, 6:32 PM EDT


WASHINGTON (AP) -- An independent study released Wednesday questions whether the Pentagon is buying too many bomb-resistant vehicles for troops in Iraq in its frantic rush to correct earlier shortfalls.

The question, put forward by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington, is a provocative one. There is a long-held assertion in Congress and the military that the more armor given to troops, the better.

But averaging about $800,000 a piece and weighing two- to five-times that of the common humvee, the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles are a hefty national investment that may have a short shelf-life, according to the study.

The center estimates the military plans to spend some $25 billion to buy upward of 20,000 vehicles.

"We're not saying don't buy them. We're saying, have we thought this through?" said Andrew Krepinevich, the center's executive director.

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway raised a similar question on Monday. Conway said he sees the current procurement plans for the vehicles as a moral imperative, but that a longer-term assessment of military requirements is probably necessary.


Rest of article at: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/ARMORED_VEHICLES_IRAQ?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-10-17-17-58-16

[nightrider767]

1. Yes Buy Them

I don't view that huge order as "pork". I view that huge order as a reflection of the reality that we will be will be in Iraq for a very long time. Doesn't matter what Congress saids, though they're saying little, doesn't matter who's gonna get elected. Unless it's Kucinich or Ron Paul. That's the sad assed fact of the matter.

So at least those vehicles will help to save some troopers lives. I hate this war as much as the next guy. But let's do what we can to help protect our soldiers.