Military Waited Year To Fulfill "Priority 1 Urgent" Request For Bomb Proof Iraq Vehicles

[babylonsister]

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/05/military_dragge.html

Military Dragged Feet on Bomb-Proof Vehicles (Updated)
By Sharon Weinberger

May 22, 2007


The Marine Corps waited over a year before acting on an "priority 1 urgent" request to send blast-resistant vehicles to Iraq, DANGER ROOM has learned.

According to a Marine Corps document provided to DANGER ROOM, the request for over 1,000 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles came in February, 2005. A formal call to fulfill that order did not emerge until November, 2006. "There is an immediate need for an MRAP vehicle capability to increase survivability and mobility of Marines operating in a hazardous fire area against known threats," the 2005 "universal need statement" notes.

Mrap Back then -- as now -- improvised explosive devices, or IEDs -- represented the deadliest threat to American troops in the region. "The expanded use" of these bombs "requires a more robust family of vehicle capable of surviving the IED... threat," the document adds. "MRAP-designed vehicles represent a significant increase in their survivability baseline over existing motor vehicle equipment and will mitigate... casualties resulting from IED(s)."

"The (Marines) cannot continue to lose... serious and grave casualties to IED(s)... when a commercial off the shelf capability exists to mititgate these threats," the request continues.

Despite the stark language, however, that request was not acted upon. Instead, the Marine Corps waited until November, 2006 to issue a formal request for proposals to buy approximately 1,200 MRAPs.

more...

[babylonsister]

1. Am I the only one furious at this? Another way to 'support the troops'. nt