Troops in Afghanistan told to wait for armored vehicles

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=39184

A top Central Command adviser promised troops here Sunday that he would work to put more armored vehicles in Afghanistan, but said that the roadside bomb threat in Iraq still outweighs the needs in this country.

The comments of Command Chief Master Sgt. Curtis Brownhill, adviser to CENTCOM commander Gen. John Abizaid on sustainment issues, came in response to a question from 1st Sgt. Jeff Gray of the 755th Mission Support Group during a question-and-answer session.

Gray said airmen and soldiers in his unit routinely rely on “soft-shelled” SUVs when they travel off base, because of the lack of fully up-armored Humvees for the number of missions in country.

Brownhill said commanders are aware of the problem and are working to get better protected vehicles to troops in country. But the insurgency in Iraq and its reliance on roadside bombs are still considered larger threats than Afghanistan’s militants.

“All of our Humvees are being up-armored now,” he said. “It’s just a matter of prioritization, and obviously Iraq is a pretty critical need. It’s based on risk and based on threat.”

As I've said before I'm so glad these idiots weren't in charge during WWII.

[htuttle]

1. And all that money is going for WHAT exactly?

I'm sure most of it is getting siphoned off by contractors through the miracle of privatized military logistics, but isn't somebody supposed to be in charge of making sure the contractors deliver the goods?

[MadMaddie]

2. So in other words the soldiars are on their own...with

equipment that is either destroyed or just plain worn out....Wow the Repugs sure know how to support our troops....:sarcasm:

[LynnTheDem]

3. Hey it's only been 5 years...geeeez some whining soldiers!

They knew what they signed up for; to be sent sans bullets and armor etc to kill & die for a politician's pack of lies and make his war-profiteering buddies richer!

It's only :sarcasm: if you're NOT a MFIng rightwingnut.

[krkaufman]

5. That's what I was thinking. It's 5 full years since 9/11 ...

... and the troops fighting against those who attacked us are undermanned and without sufficient equipment. Criminally negligent management of the war effort.

[blonndee]

4. SHIT! THIS IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY!

And Afghanistan is getting more and more critical every goddamned day. If they hadn't started the clusterfuck that is Iraq, there'd be plenty of equipment (and troops) to get something done in Afghanistan and get the hell out of there already! :banghead:

Sorry for the language. My friend is in Afghanistan, on his third deployment and counting down the days. So this hits especially close to home.