Pentagon seeks $750M to airlift armored vehicles into Iraq

[babylonsister]

$750M sought to airlift armored vehicles
By Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY

The Pentagon has requested $750 million from Congress to urgently airlift MRAP vehicles to Iraq. Michael O'Hanlon, a military analyst at the Brookings Institution, attributed the need to fly the vehicles to poor planning. "It's ridiculous that it took this long to send MRAPs," he said.
Enlarge image Enlarge By Tech. Sgt. Jeromy K. Cross, U.S. Air Force
The Pentagon has requested $750 million from Congress to urgently airlift MRAP vehicles to Iraq. Michael O'Hanlon, a military analyst at the Brookings Institution, attributed the need to fly the vehicles to poor planning. "It's ridiculous that it took this long to send MRAPs," he said.



WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has asked Congress for nearly $750 million to urgently airlift needed armored vehicles to troops facing roadside bombs in Iraq, according to budget documents.

The emergency funding request would allow the military to fly many of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to troops rather than send them by ship, which takes weeks. The flight takes 13 hours, allowing for same-day delivery, said Lt. Col. Ed Thomas, an Air Force spokesman.

more...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2007-08-07-1A-lede08_N.htm

[Booster]

1. They'll probably just lose them.

[acmavm]

2. EXACTLY what I was gonna post.

[Vincardog]

3. You know that as soon as we get the troops provided at great expense with vehicles that protect

them from a ground blast; the insurgents will simply move the blast up 6 feet.
DUH

[lpbk2713]

4. Look at all the money it takes for Smirky to use AF-1

Link: http://www.answers.com/topic/air-force-one-1

on his many photo ops. All he has to do is stay home for a while and the troops will have their armor protection. No one wants a visit from the lowest rated President in history anyhow.



Ed: Researched the expense of using AF-1

[FormerDittoHead]

5. Gotta support the troops! Just shut up and give them the money... and Dems will do it.

>Michael O'Hanlon, a military analyst at the Brookings Institution, attributed the need to fly the vehicles to poor planning. "It's ridiculous that it took this long to send MRAPs," he said.

DON'T ASK QUESTIONS UNLESS YOU WANT TO HELP THE TERRORISTS - THE MILITARY KNOWS WHAT IT'S DOING. TRUSTING THEM MEANS SUPPORTING THE TROOPS. THEY CAN MAKE NO MISTAKES. IT'S HARD WORK...

:sarcasm:

I say pull the money out like Bill Murray pulled the tablecloth out from the table in Ghostbusters.

Let's see the fucking plan FIRST.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. What does the Pentagon do with the $1 billion plus they get a day? That's just the normal budget.

They also get all that extra for their little occupation of Iraq. Not one more cent to the military!

[onethatcares]

7. come on, it's only 750 MILLION, sheesh, you'd think

something else could be done with that little amount of money, like create jobs to repair and create infrastructure here in the states? Or, provide scholarships or school lunches or medical treatment or actually use the American taxpayers' money on themselves.

[Spinzonner]

8. Can't they just take it out of the petty corruption fund ?