Marines fail to get gear to troops -- Is this how we support the troops?

Question

Marines fail to get gear to troops By RICHARD LARDNER
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070525/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/marines_critical_gear

WASHINGTON - The system for delivering badly needed gear to Marines in Iraq has failed to meet many urgent requests for equipment from troops in the field, according to an internal document obtained by The Associated Press.

Of more than 100 requests from deployed Marine units between February 2006 and February 2007, less than 10 percent have been fulfilled, the document says. It blamed the bureaucracy and a "risk-averse" approach by acquisition officials.

Among the items held up were a mine resistant vehicle and a hand-held laser system.

"Process worship cripples operating forces," according to the document. "Civilian middle management lacks technical and operational currency."

The 32-page document — labeled "For Official Use Only" — was prepared by the staff of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force after they returned from Iraq in February.

The document was to be presented in March to senior officials in the Pentagon's defense research and engineering office. The presentation was canceled by Marine Corps leaders because its contents were deemed too contentious, according to a defense official familiar with the document. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it publicly.

The internal document, however, states that the cost of building new vehicles was a primary reason the request was denied by the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va.
(less tax breaks for the wealthy and more equipment for the troops)

Answer 1

ya i posted that on here and urged people to call their senators and the whitehouse and demand that they untie the hands of the troops and let them do what they were trained to do and get them the vehicles and equipment they need or bring them home and i got rated down for it! musta been an army wife :P

Answer 2

We received everything we requested in a timely manner when I was in country 2004-2005. We even received several pieces of 'experimental' gear for evaluation purposes. So while I will not deny there may be some issues that need to be addressed, don't let it get blown out of proportion.

Answer 3

They only "support" the troops with all the hot air coming from their mouths!! The Republicans should be ashamed, and now the Dems, too!

For those who say we should "crush the enemy", do you think that all Iraqis should be killed? They are the ones we are supposed to be trying to "help". How would you feel if you or your loved ones were the "collateral" damage in an act of war? God created ALL people and loves all people!

Answer 4

what is it...75% of Americans like you? do not support our president...our troops, oppose this just war....how about we restart the draft and send an overwhelming force to end this war? how about we pull our troops and carpet bomb the enemy into submission, how about bombing the nuke facilities in Iran...the ones they built in heavily populated areas? how about all Americans support our president and our troops...pull out all the stops and provide a united front against our enemy....screw the ultra liberals pukes like DETROITRULES, we are losing this war because liberals are in opposition to this war, like fighting with one hand behind our back over there, worried about political fallout in regards to collateral damage, thank god CNN was not covering WW2, many Americans are opposed or apathetic about this war, afraid they will be inconvenienced if more money is diverted to this just war....the public is accountable for not properly supplying our troops! our government is crippled by public opinion....liberal puke opposition. let us unite and crush the enemy as we did in WW2!

Answer 5

Nooo.....see you support the troops by supporting the war...not the tools you use to fight the war or the hospitals the troops go to after they lose limbs in the war...

Answer 6

Ah yes, treatment of the military at the hands of the chickenhawk GOP.