What if 1,000 Armored Vehicles Didn't Get to Troops and No One Cared

In the news jumble today -- a new White House front group targeting Republicans on Iraq, Ari Fleischer not knowing the name of the veterans he used in the ads, the president saying we should have stayed in Vietnam while he was defending the airspace of Texas from the VC, and the tragic helicopter crash that killed 14 of our troops -- an important story is getting buried.

Reuters reports that "U.S. troops in Iraq will receive at least 1,000 fewer special armored vehicles than expected this year due to the amount of time needed for shipment."

This is unacceptable. Completely and utterly unacceptable. The issue of getting the most up to date Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles has been a problem for a while, and it's no closer to getting solved.

For years, the United States Marines have urgently requested MRAP vehicles for use in Iraq. Ever since a 2005 memo was sent up the chain of command by then-brigadier general Dennis Hejlik, the Bush administration's civilians in the Pentagon knew of the need for MRAP vehicles. Yet, it wasn't until March of this year that the Pentagon began to move on providing the 3,700 MRAP vehicles requested by the Marines, and over 17,000 requested by the Army. Even still, contract requests that were put out to eight companies didn't forsee production and distribution of the vehicles until 2009.

Now we're finding the ones we've produced can't be shipped quickly enough? That is an outrage. Senator Joseph Biden has it right. In response to the slow production schedule foreseen by the administration, Biden told USA Today, "You cannot tell me that this country is incapable in the next six months of building every single damn one of these vehicles that needs to be built."

History says Senator Biden is right. America's industry has stepped up to the challenge of quick, quality production before:

- In the spring of 1941, the first M3 combat tank rolled off the line at a Chrysler facility -- just four months after Chrysler received the blueprints for the brand new vehicle. (Source: The New York Times, April 24, 1941, Editorial)

- During World War II, the Ford Motor Company applied its mass production innovation to the production of B-24 bombers. By the end of the war, Ford was producing one B-24 every 63 minutes. (Source: "Airpower Classics," Air Force Magazine, June 2006)

- At the Richmond Kaiser Shipyards during the second world war, it was only taking a little over two weeks to assemble an entire Liberty ship. (Source: National Park Service)

What excuse is there for the shamefully slow production and shipping of MRAP vehicles? If our industry once was able to build an entire bomber in an hour and an entire Navy ship in two weeks, why does the Bush administration show no problem with it taking over a year to build 20,000 MRAP vehicles? Why hasn't the President himself taken responsibility and called industry and the Pentagon out on their BS? Where is the leadership? Hell, where is the outrage?

Troops lives are at stake. In the military, if I knew troops lives were at stake and I just sat and watched a problem that put them in danger, I would get a serious reprimand, probable demotion, maybe court martial. But, the president and civilians at the Pentagon? Nada. That is the definition of outrage.

P.S. I also wanted to highlight a new ad we're unveiling today at VoteVets.org. You can view it below. We're kicking it off in Maine in a few days, and then plan to take it to ten other states and districts. Oh, and unlike Ari Fleischer, I know the name of this veteran -- John Bruhns. I talk to him almost every day, as well as many, many other troops and veterans who also served in Iraq, like me.

Follow Jon Soltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jonsoltz

Comments

[Zyzzygowski]

Have you forgotten, "You don't go to war with the army you want. You go to war with the army you have." And, that means you use what you have to fight, not what you want.

The situation is positively Rumsfeldian.

[cadawa]

This has been going on since the beginning of the illegal invasion of Iraq which Biden shamelessly pimped.
We can solve this problem very easily. Cancel the order, pull the troops out and impeach the perpetrators.

[Think82]

Voting for the Authorization and then tirelessly warning about the consequences of invasion for 6 months before it happens is not the same as "pimping" the war. It matters now who has the forethought to get us out. Biden has a practical plan to get us out without leaving disaster behind.

[Observer47]

Sorry, Think, but the vote for the authorization was damning beyond salvage. You can't have it both ways.

[DumbDad]

Okay, guys--it sure SOUNDS like bullshit, but surely it's not that simple. More likely, it's the abandonment of traditional industrial organization in favor of just-in-time shipping of modular assemblies from cheap labor sources none of which gives a rip about our military. Probably if you hired real American labor to manufacture these vehicles the way Ford did it they'd cost a million each and the labor force wouldn't exist able to do the work for another two years. But anybody who's not mad as hell about it is insane.
Probably just proves that when there's no competition, there's no hurry, no matter who's paying for the delay.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Or maybe it's the fact that Bu$hCo gave the contracts to unproven companies that contributed to their campaign coffers. Force Protection Inc. makers of 'Buffalo' & 'Cougar' models of the MRAP vehicle contracted to have these vehicles in theatre in 2005. The first 'Cougars (10 proto-types) made it to Iraq early this year. All 10 experienced 'catastrophic failure' of the transmission due to SAND and had to be returned to America. How is this possible you ask... well I don't have the answer, but I'm sure the whistle-blowers from FPI could give us all of the gory details of falsifying quality control reports, falsifying engineering reports, and other FREE-MARKET business modeled actions taken by FPI to keep it's lucrative government contracts.

BTW, before The Global War For Empire, FPI manufactured jet boats in Colorado - Heckuva Job fellas!

[Gary50]

I don't know about the ten Cougar prototypes that experienced catastrophic failure in 2005 but I do know that since then hundreds of Force Protection vehicles have been deployed and attacked repeatedly with IEDs and no one has been killed. They are the vehicles that the troops want. The safest place to be in Iraq is inside of one.

[Maschine]

Nonsense. The vehicles you are thinking of are Rg31's made by BAE, the same companyntyhat was investigated for bribes in Europe , the same company that visited the white house for approval of the Armor holdings aquisition, the same company that got a pass from the White house on the UK scandal.

Cougars and Buffalo's are the best MRAPS in theatre. Check the record.

[azphil]

The requirement for this type of vehicle has been known for years. The scandal is not just how long it takes to ship them to Iraq but why it took so long for the need to be accepted and acted upon. This style of v bottomed vehicle to combat mines was first developed by the South Africans way back in the 70's. It's not a totally new concept and I believe that it was on Rumsfield's watch that this vehicle was rejected in favor of the cheaper, unarmored humvee.

[TexasDem0]

Jon, it’s because BushCo is being advised by Henry Kissinger, a war mongering, Greed Obsessed Pig like the rest of the GOP chickenhawk bastards.

“Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” - Henry Kissinger
From the book, “Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW’s in Vietnam”

[jesusquintana]

This should have happened a long time ago. But I have a better idea: get all the troops home NOW. We can mothball the MRAPs and use them on our next failed imperialist adventure.

[ShanghaiGuy]

Hear, f***ing hear!

[Kungfublood]

"U.S. troops in Iraq will receive at least 1,000 fewer special armored vehicles than expected this year due to the amount of time needed for shipment of the more important poppy harvesters that are needed in Afghanistan".

[richw23]

We saw this story on the news and it ended with the statement in a blase tone, that the problem was not production, but delivery, as though the explanation solved the problem. We both commented on it.

Still don't like Biden. Don't like any of them actually, but I like him even less. Well, he's probably about fourth, so maybe I dislike him less than I think - wow, I'm Laura Bush'ing here - I often think I dislike something more than I think I do but then something else comes along... but this time I really think I really think... I'm like Laura Bush with the official Xmas tree every year.. I declah, I just go round and round trying to think what I really think.

[LizM]

You'll be a true blue Biden supporter before too long!

[hopeless277]

Republicans do not care about troops. Oh, they SAY they do but when it comes right down to it, well, the proof is in the MRAP.

But as long as the SAY they do, the Corporate Sponsered Media will duly report their words and not their deeds.

Iraq is not the enemy of America. Al Queda is not the enemy of America. Republicans, they are the enemy of America. Every last greedy, lying, shit slinging one of 'em. Support the troops, keep 'em in Iraq FOREVER.

[enoughalready]

Amen - If the GOP honestly cared they would not be obstructing the Dems from ending this war and bringing our troops home, period!!!!!!

[kevinabt]

If the Democrats actually cared either they would have stopped this war. I can't stress this enough, both parties (as a whole, not necessarily individual members) support the international corporate establishment not the will, desire, or best interest of America.

[BBackSoon]

This is bullshit.

It takes 50 days to put radios and radar into one of these things and ship it? Hell I could Install electronics Equipment by following the instructions and you could drive the damn thing there if you could get the boat from Alaska to Russia faster than 50 days.

[TXfemmom]

Silly boy. You give a damn about our troops.

Obviously, they are not a priority for the Pentagon, or at least the political HACKS of Bush who run the place.

This should demonstrate to ANYONE, that Bush doesn't give a damn about our troops, or the country.

[1fliteup]

All I want to say to all of you blogging here is go get a copy of the Rolling Stone Magazine, dated Sept 6, 2007 issue, there is an artical in it that will blow your mind. Just read it.

[RobertPaul]

Well Jon, it's like this.
Them grunts over there in Iraq Nam just can't make any contributions to the Republican re-election campaigns.

Ya see, that's the mark of a TRUE Amercan! One that wants to serve their gov'mt.

Besides, cain't ya see were a'winnin over there boy?

Once we gettum under our thumb, there won't be no need no how fer a buncha souped up Suv's.

Sides, lookit the gas milage them thar things git! Why they could be the cause of this here Global Warmin they been tellin me about.

So, whyn't you just sit back and relax there son and don't go 'round stirrin up stuff you don't unnerstand.

"Cuz ya never know, we might just hafta git you back on over there someday...­soon...if ya get my drift?

[kevinabt]

Just thought I'd point out that more than half of the military has contributed to the Ron Paul election campaign. More than all other candidates combined. If you've never heard of Ron Paul, his position is to remove all forces from Iraq, Afghanastan, Korea, Europe, Africa, South America and every other place where they don't have any legitimate business being stationed and put in danger. He also would cut the budget for the military industrial complex by 1/3 to 1/2. Which wouldn't be a problem because the military would be used only for defense under his command, rather than the imperial offensive role they play now.

[ZanIts1984]

Sucks doesn't it.

I found it interesting in his speech yesterday, Bush had this to say, "Here’s my answer is clear: We’ll support our troops, we’ll support our commanders, and we will give them everything they need to succeed."

Uh, no you aren't. The troops lives are not of personal interest to him. He uses them for political and financial gain. We have seen this over and over again in Walter Reed, the non-commitment to our troops and the governments role in helping out families of the so called price for "Iraqi Freedom." His family doesn't have anyone fighting and Iraq therefore it doesn't matter. They are like little green army action figures you get at KB Toys for a $1. They mean nothing.

I have had 2 of my friends come back in caskets and 1 other who is suffering horribly from Post Traumatic Stress disorder. Bush and his cronies do not care. My community cares, my friends care, us common folks care but we have no voice in the matter because the government doesn't want to listen to the people who are actually feeling the grossly negative impacts this war has created.

What good is it doing? No armored vehicles means nothing to these politicians. War is politics and the nations backbone suffers because of this.

[400poundnudist]

"Here’s my answer is clear: We’ll support our troops, we’ll support our commanders, and we will give them everything they need to succeed."
Zantlts, are you telling me that the troops need more than a thumbs-up and a smirk to succeed? Gosh, I'll bet George doesn't know that. Someone should tell him.
The media has once again turned its back on what is really important, instead choosing to focus on Michael Vick and what happens to dogs used in fights. It'd be nice if they got this most worthy story out to the masses. It is a shame that we cannot give these men and women basic protection against one of the biggest dangers they face!

[LizM]

I share your outrage, as do many of us. But I must thank you for the attention you have given to Senator Biden's efforts in this regard.

As you know, he has been working tirelessly in the Senate to secure the funding for these vehicles and, at the risk of sounding too political on a life-and-death issue, he was the only one of the Democratic presidential candidates in the Senate who voted for this funding and who understands how to support the troops.

I hope that you will join forces with him and tell us what you think of his strategy for ending the war in Iraq by helping to facilitate a political accommodation there without leaving chaos behind and the need to return at a later date.

Thank-you.

[wolf58]

FUBAR

[kevinabt]

Soltz,
This most definately is outrageous, but it shouldn't come as a surprise. For Washington "Support the Troops" is a slogan, not a mission statement. All the resources that should have gone to supporting the troops went instead to Halliburton type companies, tax breaks, hedge fund bail outs, bureaucratic waste, investment in Chinese industry, the military industrial complex (but not in a way that actually helps the troops very much), creating and dispensing propoganda.

For Washington these wars on Iraq, Afghanastan, and 'Terror' are not so much wars as they are business opportunities. If you are of the managerial class you have to keep your eye on the bottom line. What costs more, a brand new armored vehicle and 4 soldiers who live to require lifetime benefits, or a used humvee and 4 dead soldiers who require a folded flag? Do the math, they certainly have.

[Maschine]

Biden is enamored with a product that Ceradyne makes. The BULL.

The problem with the BULL is this, first Ceradyne does not make a vehicle. Second, they partnered with OshKosh for the vehicle. Third OSHKOSDH's vehicles failed MRAPS based on 2 designs. Fourth, stell is the easiest material to manufacture. There are onlt 2 steel manufacturers in the US that can make the steel for MRAPS.

Ceramics, are very difficult to make, especially large pieces. There are only 2 compoanies that make ceramics in the US, there is no way they can produce enough of it to manufacture hundreds let alone thousands of vehicles.

Becasue of Biden, the DOD has initiated MRAP 2, more delays.

[shelbinator]

Biden isn't advocating one particular MRAP over another; he's simply asked SecDef to consider the viability of this reactive ceramic armor in its plans, which is wise. But you seem to have a hard time discerning the parts of different vehicles and who makes what and whether we have a steel shortage or a ceramic shortage, so...maybe go work on the facts a bit, first.

Here's Biden talking about a number of MRAPs we need to get delivered that don't necessarily have reactive armor, and about how he has no stake in who wins what contract so long as they start making vehicles:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JNRoM4lNJq4