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Gen.: Troops in Iraq Now Have Body Armor
Yahoo! News ^ | Mon, Jun 07, 2004 | BILL BASKERVILL, Associated Press Writer

Posted on 06/07/2004 2:21:41 PM PDT by AM2000

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. - The Army's top supply commander said Monday that all American troops in Iraq (news - web sites) are now equipped with bullet-resistant vests, after a shortage that led many soldiers to pay for costly body armor themselves.

As late as March, some soldiers headed for Iraq were still buying their own body armor, despite assurances from the military that the equipment would be available before they were in harm's way.

Gen. Paul Kern, commander of the Army Material Command, said the shortage eased after manufacturers stepped up production of the lifesaving vests.

Kern spoke at a news conference where Honeywell Specialty Materials announced it would increase production of Spectra fiber, a key component of the vests. He said the vests had saved dozens of soldiers who were shot at close range.

Kern recalled that troops in Vietnam had to be ordered to wear cumbersome flak jackets. "You don't have to discipline them to put on protective gear today," he said. "They are looking for it."

Last October, it was reported that nearly one-quarter of American troops serving in Iraq did not have ceramic-plated body armor, which uses four-pound armor plates to stop bullets and shrapnel.

The vests can cost several thousand dollars each.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bodyarmor; iraq; military; terrorism
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To: zarf

Sevent percent of the DoD budget goes into pay, pensions, housing and benifits/services for the soldier and family. The rest is divided amongst R&D and procurements. Volunteer forces are not cheap.


41 posted on 06/08/2004 8:01:42 AM PDT by Fee (Amatuers always tell you what they want, but it is the professionals who figure out the logistics)
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To: All

I'm tired of this armor subject. I'm wondering who really needs these vest? Combat soldiers? Right? Do office workers need the new and improved vest to protect them from office staples? Other post are right. The government order the new armor and it takes time to manufactuer them. Ask the previous Administration why they didn't spend funds to protect our armed forces with the latest armor technology and make the armour as apart of standard issue? Bush only inherited a poorly equiped military. His Administration has to work with resources given to them. The Dem's having a field day knocking Bush over the head with armor plates and they are the ones who created this situation.


42 posted on 06/08/2004 12:00:40 PM PDT by Milligan
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To: TShaunK; Gucho

You think exactly what the main stream media wants you to think on this subject. Seek other sources before stating opinions. You'll avoid embarrassment later.


43 posted on 06/08/2004 3:27:50 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: hosepipe
They're that crass.
44 posted on 06/08/2004 3:30:57 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: RobbyS
Why is that an insult? Should they have been first? War is a come as you are affair. Active duty combat arms got the IBA first. NG CSS in units that hadn't been activated since 1945 got it last. How would your Basis of Issue Plan been any different?
45 posted on 06/08/2004 3:34:30 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: Brad's Gramma
They deserve to be as safe as possible. WE deserve to be as safe as possible.

Let us think with our brains instead of our hearts. Our troops cannot be kept safe and at the same time seek and destroy the enemy through firepower, maneuver and shock. Force protection is not the mission. Every once in a while Hadji will do something right and accomplish his mission.

Accomplishing the mission is often detrimental to the welfare of some of the troops. Such has it always been. They would be much safer at Fort Hood, or Camp Pendleton, or Illesheim, but they can't do the job from there.

If WE deserve to be as safe as possible, then the maximum speed limit on the nation's highways would be 30 mph. think how many lives that would save. If it saves one life, wouldn't it be worth it?

46 posted on 06/08/2004 3:44:07 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

The probelm was that they were there and being shot at, just like regulars. Not that the veterans among them didn't know how to scrounge what they needed, but since the army knew they didn't have enough bodies to accomplish the mission without the guard and reserves, they shouldn't have let paper work/indifference get in the way. It is always a mell of a hess when people know that there are warehouses full of stuff they need and they can't get them through channels.


47 posted on 06/08/2004 4:28:02 PM PDT by RobbyS
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To: Cannoneer No. 4

Oh Yeah??...Is G. Gordon Liddys son a liar too??? He was on the way to Bagdhad and the son and another soldier had to split plates facing the outside while they both had breast plates....In other words they had to split 1 whole body armour unit so they would both have some protection.
G.Gordon said this himself!
I say the planners of this war should be in cuffs to go into this half ass....should have waited a year anyway.

And nobody wants to see them succeed more than I do and Bush be reelected than me.


48 posted on 06/09/2004 5:00:38 AM PDT by TShaunK
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