[Yo-Yo]

My vote is for the M14 as well. With a 20in barrel instead of the 22in barrel and a bird cage flashhider instead of the long flash hider and one of the telescoping stocks.

Is that a package that would be small enough to fit inside of an MRAP?

Today's war in Iraq requres a short barreled weapon for quick exit from an MRAP and for close quarter battle.

The standard M14 is fine in Afghanistan in the hills, but not for Sadr City.

[castlebrew]

I'd vote for the M1A in the SOCOM (I or II) or the Scout platform.

Maneuverable in tight spaces (like the M4 carbine); good knockdown to 500 - 600 yds (and one can make that shot); penetrates heavier cover that deflects .223...

Plus it looks cool...

[valkyry1]

//Today’s war in Iraq requres a short barreled weapon for quick exit from an MRAP and for close quarter battle.

The standard M14 is fine in Afghanistan in the hills, but not for Sadr City.//

Like you say, but its not more the time of the war but the environment of the war. Your Afghanistan/Iraq comparison works well.

[Future Snake Eater]

The standard M14 is fine in Afghanistan in the hills, but not for Sadr City.

Absolutely. The M14 has its place, but it's nowhere near the proper weapon for widespread use in predominantly urban terrain. We had two M14s per PLT during my Iraq tour, and we used them in security positions fairly infrequently. Generally the areas are so tight (especially in Sadr City as you mentioned) that an M4 is all you need.

Plus, unless you have one of the new-fangled M14s with the rail systems, you won't be able to use any of the IR sights with it, making it next to useless at night.