Military Hardware Wearing Faster Than Expected

[jayfish]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6694659/

<SNIP>
Before the war in Iraq, Pentagon officials had predicted that by now, Iraq would be pacified and most American troops would be long gone. But as the war drags on, the toll it's taking is far greater than expected — not only on the soldiers, but their equipment as well.

In fact, senior military officials now tell NBC News all major military equipment — trucks, tanks, helicopters and even guns — is breaking down or wearing out at a faster rate than first estimated
</SNIP>

<SNIP>
"Should the war end today, it would take two years for the United States Army to replenish itself and bring its equipment back to proper state," says Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., and a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
</SNIP>

Gas turbines don't do real well in sand. Anyone remember the "two entire divisions, not ready for duty" attack against Gore? I hope our nominee in 08' remembers.

Jay


EDITED FOR CONTENT

[catzies]

1. Cue "made by the lowest bidder" jokes in 3...2...1

Or at least those were the jokes we made when I was in DoD contracting. And lots of "your tax dollars at work" jokes for good measure.

[billyoc]

3. That was back when there WERE bidders... n/t

[punpirate]

4. Except that...

... after the contracting "mainstreaming" changes by Frank Carlucci and the privatization/no bid routines implemented by Cheney during his tenure as head of the DoD, the equipment makers are getting top dollar for this stuff. Per unit costs are going up exponentially, equipment testing is being partially bypassed, and it's now all about finding legal ways of directing contracts to the firms with the best lobbying and campaign contributions....

[catzies]

7. I've been out of it for a dozen years now.

If I was soulless I'd go back because like what Willie Sutton said about banks, that's where the money is.

[lenidog]

6. One of Murphy's Laws of Combat

Remember your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Lots of things this administration misunderestimated.

[Erika]

5. They'll just send the bill to the middle class taxpayers...

the few of us who remain.

[Strelnikov_]

8. Most Of Our Equipment Was Never Designed For Occupation/Insurgency

It was designed to fight a short, high intensity war. As such, the extra maintenance of the gas turbine engines in the M1 was accepted due to the greatly increased performance and the consideration that the battle would be over before the engine needed overhaul.

How about all those rockets, DU rounds, etc. I am afraid that if the cost of equipment and munitions replacement were factored in, we have probably spent twice as much on the chimp's adventure as they are currently claiming.

Maybe we should ask Russia if they could sell us some T-80's and BMP's cheap?

[Erika]

9. Yeah, Bush's planning lacked intelligence.

But his corporate buds have never profited more. Who cares about those pesky American deaths. The "upper" class doesn't take such a risk. Their kids will be fine.

[moondust]

10. How long can the mechanics work night and day?

And how many spare engines can there possibly still be on hand? This may spell the end of George's Big Adventure.

[BrotherBuzz]

11. I heard on the radio last night...

the Defense Department has all the replacment parts it needs but the problem is they just don't know where the stuff is stored. LOL, great planning! I wish Rumsfeld spent time developing logistical skills instead of running his mouth.

[lebkuchen]

14. Our aircraft carriers have to abide by Middle Eastern countries' rules

when entering leaving their waters. A single missing part here or there has held up entire carrier missions until the problem was remedied.

[lebkuchen]

15. Many of those mechanics are corporate contractors

I wonder how their recruitment to Iraq has been faring.

[moondust]

16. I wonder about that.

I've had some past armor experience and did occasionally see a civilian contractor messing around in the motor pool but it always looked like they were testing NEW equipment. I don't remember EVER seeing a civilian contractor doing regular maintenance on a vehicle in the field.

Incidentally, I once had a near-death experience directly attributable to shoddy work by a civilian defense contractor.

[lebkuchen]

18. I'm told they have the menial non-combat jobs as well

like busting tires, but they have to be taught by the GIs how to do it.

Also, I've been told that when equipment breaks down, like a chopper, if corporate maintenance workers aren't nearby, the mission is screwed.

The corporations have been recruiting on overseas military bases for retirees. That tells me the Houston civilian market has been tapped out, but maybe I'm wrong.

[Mokito]

12. Halliburton* **

*No garantee included on all products

**Products may not last proposed durabillity

[lebkuchen]

13. That equipment gets swapped out with unit rotation

and put on aircraft carriers for repair stateside. Supposed new or repaired equipment is brought in with the new unit, a very expensive endeavour that isn't working out, like everything else about this fiasco.

[pacifictiger]

17. just heard on non-us news

there are now at least 5000 'deserters' from US military callups for Iraq. Seems like hardware isn't the only thing breaking down/wearing out.

[Erika]

19. No, Our Troops now know the futility and desperation

Please see at www.icasualties.org.

[Benhurst]

20. Let's not call them 'deserters'. Instead, in honor of The Leader,

they should be known as Bush's Lost Battalion.