WP/AP: Army Signs $70 Million Deal for (ceramic) Body Armor

[DeepModem Mom]

Army Signs $70 Million Deal for Body Armor
Associated Press
Saturday, January 21, 2006; Page A08


The Army, under pressure to issue more protective gear to its soldiers in Iraq, has signed a $70 million emergency contract with a California company to rush ceramic body armor to the front lines.

The sole-source contract, with California-based Ceradyne Inc., was approved last week and announced yesterday. It comes on the heels of a Pentagon finding that side armor could have saved dozens of U.S. lives in Iraq.

The Army is planning to buy 230,000 sets of the ceramic side plates. Army spokesman Paul Boyce said that one company will not be able to deliver that order in the time required, so additional vendors are being sought through an open-bid process....

***

Each of the side plates weighs 2 1/2 pounds. Earlier this week, Army Secretary Francis Harvey said he thought soldiers should be required to wear the ceramic side plates even though they add weight and may limit mobility.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/20/AR2006012001813.html

[kurth]

1. Just get them home. Problem solved.

[thefloyd]

2. Bush signs several deals

and nothing gets done.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. But but but they said that they had all that they needed!!!! nt.

[soothsayer]

4. Clearly another sign that we're winning

[applegrove]

5. Bet that idiot with the daughter & the $1Million dollar birthday party

is really mad. It was his contract.... oh well .. he can take solace in the fact that fewer soldiers will die.

[uppityperson]

6. I wonder if they get to chose the pattern of their plates?

These would be pretty:

Notice the matching drinking cup.

On the other hand, while I am very glad they are perhaps finally getting some decent armor, just bring them home.

[HuffleClaw]

7. hmmm, and i suppose that OTHER body armor

the stuff that was recently outlawed by the military ISN'T involved in this contract?

[annabanana]

9. you mean the "good" ones?

the lighter weight, more flexible..."dragon skin" or something like that?

[LynnTheDem]

8. "EMERGENCY contract"...going on the FOURTH (4th) YEAR

Gee good thing bush gives a fuck about our troops huh. :sarcasm:

MFer.