Extra Armor Could've Saved Hundreds of Marines -- Pentagon Study

[Terran1212]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/06/politics/06cnd-armor.html?hp&ex=1136610000&en=cba30b2ab5b558f5&ei=5094&partner=homepage

A secret Pentagon study has found that at least 80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to their upper body could have survived if they had extra body armor. That armor has been available since 2003 but until recently the Pentagon has largely declined to supply it to troops despite calls from the field for additional protection, according to military officials.

The ceramic plates in vests currently worn by the majority of military personnel in Iraq cover only some of the chest and back. In at least 74 of the 93 fatal wounds that were analyzed in the Pentagon study of marines from March 2003 through June 2005, bullets and shrapnel struck the marines' shoulders, sides or areas of the torso where the plates do not reach.

Thirty-one of the deadly wounds struck the chest or back so close to the plates that simply enlarging the existing shields "would have had the potential to alter the fatal outcome," according to the study, which was obtained by The New York Times.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. So could have an honorable President

Not this assclown we have in the White House now.

--p!

[DemBones DemBones]

2. A couple I know wanted to buy high quality body armor

for their Marine son before he was deployed to Iraq but were told it was "against regulations."

[madokie]

4. It should be against regulations for a parent to be put in a position

where they felt the need or necessity to provide armor.

[madokie]

3. This is an outrage

the Pentagon has largely declined to supply it to troops despite calls from the field for additional protection,
"would have had the potential to alter the fatal outcome,"
This should not be true but something tell me it is.

[DS1]

5. "We've given the Commanders in the field everything they've asked for"

said the asshole-in-chimp

[Terran1212]

7. Bush the Liar? That's new!

[txindy]

6. Yet the freeps still claim the troops have all the armor necessary

Never mind that some have none and the ones who have it have inadequate armor, per the Pentagon's own study.

Oh, my. Freep heads will explode, again. Good thing there's nothing valuable in there.

[DS1]

8. Freep heads will remain intact

NYT = liberal lies

and it's not that bad over there

[txindy]

9. They won't explode over the idea, but over the Pentagon source

And the fact that someone dared print it. I have the feeling the Pentagon will soon be painted as "librul." :eyes: They already hate the NYT. I think nearly everyone does. They tried to please everyone at one time or another and lost so many. Deservedly so, too.