Posted on 01/10/2006 1:39:42 PM PST by SAMS
Jan. 10, 2006 — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called the Bush administration "incompetent" when it came to protecting the troops in combat and called the lack of adequate body armor for soldiers and Marines "unforgivable."
So far in Iraq, more than 2,100 American troops have been killed. Critics like Clinton, D-N.Y., say that many of these deaths are the result of inadequate body armor. A secret Pentagon study of 93 Marines who were killed in Iraq found that 74 died after they were hit by a bullet or shrapnel in the torso or shoulders — areas unprotected by the armor most are issued.
The Flavor Point Diet A Family's Mission to Combat Lung Cancer Recipes from 'Flavor Point Diet': Day 7 "We perhaps could have avoided so many of these fatalities with the right body armor," said Clinton, who recently wrote letters to Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Armed Services Committee; Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee; and Francis J. Harvey, secretary of the Army, calling for an investigation into why troops were not being protected.
Clinton pointed to President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney as the culprits. Some have said that supplying Marines and soldiers with armor that covers their sides is too expensive — costing about $260 for each person. Clinton said that considering the United States' defense budget was half a trillion dollars, the additional protection was affordable. She said the administration had refused to listen to people in the field like Paul Bremer, former ambassador to Iraq, who said the United States needed more troops in Iraq to pacify the country.
"This is Bush/Cheney policy. … I've been one of the leading critics pointing out all the failures, the incompetencies," Clinton said. "I am just bewildered as to how this president and this vice president continue to isolate themselves from different point of views. He's [President Bush has] got three more years in office. Some of us wish this wasn't the case."
Congress recently passed a law to reimburse troops who purchased the armor themselves, but Clinton said not all of those people had been given their money.
"It's our duty to protect our men and women in uniform," said Clinton, who is rumored to be considering a run for the White House in 2008. "They are protecting us, our interest. They have been sent there by our president. The very least we can do is give them the very best body armor and armored vehicle."
The lack of adequate armor has been a hot topic during the war in Iraq. In 2004, a soldier confronted Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld during a Q&A session in Iraq about the issue. The question turned out to be planted by a journalist. Recently, Howard Dean, former presidential candidate and president of the Democratic National Committee, called for Rumsfeld to resign.
The Defense Department and Army said that they needed more time to acquire the armor and that publicly discussing issues of body armor aided the enemy — claims that Clinton dismissed as out of hand.
She said it was now incumbent on the president to stand up for the men and women fighting overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The president speaks out strongly and even harshly from time to time about issues he thinks are important," Clinton said. "Let's hear him speak about men and women who wear the uniform of our country."
It just chaps my hide when she carries on about the troops. She never gave a rats a$$ about us before, now all of a sudden she "cares".....transparent beotch!
One, that report is being misused greatly. Two, most of those vests were designed and made during which administration??? Any guesses??
She loathes the military. She should be exuberant that they are dying to keep her sorry butt free..........
The troops don't want the heavier armor.
Ironic words coming from a broad who has historically shared her husband's loathing of the military.
If it were a SECRET STUDY how did she get the info?
I just read an article that quoted an LT about how they keep piling armor on them and they move in the stuff! It is slowing them down & is too much of a hindrence.
Senator Clinton, I think you should give another speech on the subject in Mogadishu...
Government is inherently incompetent. If it weren't, 911 would never have happened, nor would the first WTC bombing, the OKC bombing, Ruby Ridge, Waco, and half the stuff that happens every day.
Good one. This woman makes me sick to my stomach.
Having been married to Bill, she should definately be an expert on incompetent, but I'm afraid that her statements are just a reflection of her inability to get past her own husband's screwing around...
"The Defense Department and Army said..publicly discussing issues of body armor aided the enemy — claims that Clinton dismissed as out of hand."
and everybody knew that cops wore body armour before MSM started whining about AP ammo.
i still don't see how these allegedly "smart" leaders of our country can be SO ignorant.
Um, believe she serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Has her staff fully investigated the issue and has she made recommendations?
Maybe the way to look at it is that body armor has saved a lot of people from death just not everyone.
Ping on the "Incompetency" issue. Clintons trying out campaign themes for 2008 right now.
Well....it's a step up from being an incompetent, traitorous, lying, thieving disbarred pervert, I guess!
Exactly, when I think of the word "incompetent," I think of Hillary Clinton's wifing ability. And desirability. Cankles, indeed.
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