60 Minutes: Soldiers buying own communications. Bullets in short supply.

[BUSHOUT]

Using old guns unsuitable for a war zone. There were others also, like armor.

Why isn't Bush funding the troops?

The commander they were talking to was so torn...he was weighing his words VERY carefully..he said he would "make adjustments".
When asked what adjustment, he said make the soldier on the ground the priority.

Another Bush failure.

EDIT:

Found story: http://cbsnewyork.com/topstories/topstories_story_305195404.html

Oct 31, 2004 7:52 pm US/Eastern (CBS)
Gen. Byrne says stories about families in Oregon having to go out and buy for their sons and daughters radio equipment, body armor, GPS gear, computers and night vision goggles because they weren't being issued are true.

He said some Guard units are also using Vietnam era M-16 assault rifles, which he calls adequate for state duty but not acceptable for duty in Iraq. There is also a bullet shortage for training, he says.

It bothers him, but "there's nothing I can do about it," he says.

"If I was making the decisions, I would readjust," he says. "The soldier on the ground should be a focus. When that's taken care of you can take care of other stuff."

[Kanary]

1. The commander's tongue was so tangled I thought he might choke on it.

I'm glad I recorded this one........ should be shoved in the face of every RWer with a damned yellow ribbon on their War Wagon.

But, no, I'm not at all pissed........... :grr:

Kanary

[BiggJawn]

17. I could see the scales working inside his head.

"Oh shit...What to do? Keep my career safe, or tell the TRUTH? maybe I can let a little slip and not risk my pension..."

It was obvious to me that he finds Rumsferatu's Kool-Aid to be a drink most bitter.

[against all enemies]

21. I give the guy credit, he told the truth. Unlike anyone else in the

Bush military, he put his soldiers before himself. He should be thanked.

[MnFats]

2. I was stunned. Failure to plan cost Americans their lives!

I was sputtering mad.
Our country's soldiers, dead because the administration was deluded into thinking this could be done on the cheap.
Soldiers into violent battle zones in vehicles without armor? What arrogant stupidity!

[Kanary]

3. Yup, "privatizing" works just fine, eh?

Wait til you see what privatizing does for Social Security, the National Park Service, Post Office, etc.

We're in for some big treats.

PPppppttttttfffffffffffff

:(

Kanary

[kayell]

18. And not just failure to plan.

Because this administration is completely incapable of admitting to any mistakes whatsoever, they haven't done the work needed to rectify the situation.

[number6]

4. bad news

:(

[nefarious]

5. I can't believe the ride Bush*Co has taken America for

$200+ billion and counting to finance this ridiculous adventure.

Halliburton charges the taxpayers $21 per head for hot dog lunches, even if soldiers/ workers don't show up at the mess hall.

They have unarmored transportation, antiquated rifles, a shortage of ammo, body armor, communications, and no plan to secure or destroy a series of high-explosives warehouses?

The Bush* administration is more than just greedy - it's criminally insane!!!

If I were a soldier, I would vote the morons out of office.

[Florida_Geek]

6. Fucking Baby Wipes

a sign at the company I am working at wants ppl to send things like Baby Wipes to the local reserve company that just went to Iraq.

At the begining of this invasion I could understand things like Baby Wipes not be in supply for the troops BUT IT IS 18 months later. The Military knows there troops need things like this for the heat and desert...... Shit.

[Gloria]

7. kick

[JohnOneillsMemory]

8. "Pentagon granted authority to pay, equip foreign forces." And our own??

(Looks like the Pentagon is ready to get local mercenaries wherever needed in the new American Empire. Our own troops are screwed.)
...................

Pentagon granted authority to pay, equip foreign forces


Critics worry the military program could be abused
By GREG MILLER
Los Angeles Times
October 31, 2004

WASHINGTON - Moving into an area of clandestine activity that traditionally has been the domain of the CIA, the Pentagon has secured new authority that allows U.S. special operations forces to dole out millions of dollars in cash, equipment and weapons to international warlords and foreign fighters.


The U.S. Special Operations Command will have, the new policy states, as much as $25 million a year to spend providing "support to foreign forces, irregular forces, groups or individuals" aiding U.S. efforts against terrorists and other targets. Previously, military units were prohibited from providing money or arms to foreign groups.

Pentagon officials said the new capability is critical in the war on terrorism, enabling America's elite soldiers to buy off tribal leaders or arm local militias in pursuing al-Qaida operatives and confronting other threats.

But the idea of entrusting soldiers with a job traditionally reserved for spies has raised concerns that the program might lead to abuse. Even those who support it say they worry that it could be used to fund and arm unsavory foreign elements that later might use their U.S.-provided weapons and equipment against American interests.

more: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2875888

[kayell]

19. Much, much easier to siphon off some cash when the alleged recipients

are willing to play along, and unlikely to be easily audited.

[ogradda]

9. where the fuck is all the money we're spending over there going?

i saw another thread tonite said they didn't have toilet paper either. this is a crock of bullshit who in the hell is in charge of supplying them that useless asswipe rumsfeld?

[Kanary]

10. Halliburton has DEEEEEEP and HUNGRY pockets........

I seem to remember some chums of * being connected with Halliburton......

Naw, they wouldn't be *that* greedy, would they?

Naw, couldn't be.......

:grr:

Kanary

[flygal]

12. It's going to civilian contractors...

An Army Dr. was over there for a year and kept an on-line journal to help her deal with all the attrocities she encountered (mostly children). One day she was invited to dine w/the contractors. It was plush, gourmet and at her table a civie gushed about how wonderful it was to be there, "best kept secret". The dr. got up and left.

[Habibi]

13. Hey flygal

is that journal still online? Do you have a link? Thanks!

[flygal]

15. No, it was sent via email to her friends and..

she gave permission for it to be sent on. My sister is a friend of hers and passed on a couple to me. I will ask if it's published somewhere. She was suffering from shock (left a baby in the states) and working on so many children was so hard on her. She was advised to write a journal to help. It was very sad and after reading two excerpts I couldn't read anymore.

Anyways, she's back and doing fine now.

[Straight Shooter]

11. Out of 87 billion, only 18 million went to military personnel

bush is lying like a cheap rug when he claims Kerry voted against $87B for body armor.

Kerry might well ask, "Just what did you DO with that 87 billion???" and paint the chimp right into a corner.

[Zinfandel]

14. What about the 470 billion we send to the military for the defense budget?

[wishlist]

16. Congress (Repub) pork barrel projects in U.S. directly taking funds away

This is the fault of Repub leadership and Pentagon leadership who have put the troops in harms way and then squander billions that should have gone to arm and equip them.

The report stated that the Administration planners did not expect the insurgency or use of explosives against U.S. troops after the invasion.

[OneTwentyoNine]

20. Yep...here's the smoking gun quote.....

Winslow Wheeler, a long time Capitol Hill staffer who spent years writing and reviewing defense appropriations bills, thinks he knows one reason why those shortages exist, after looking at the current Defense budget. Army accounts that pay for training, maintenance and repairs are being raided by Congress to pay for pork-barrel spending.

Wheeler says $2.8 billion that was earmarked for operations and maintenance to support U.S. troops has been used to "pay the pork bill."