[ScreamingFist]

I think everyone would agree that the Pentagon procurement system has never worked well -- it's never had the flexibility we'd like. It's stupid to blame this on the Bush Administration, who are doing more than anyone to modernize all our defense systems. Congress is more to blame than anyone.

Well said. Adding my own two cents, asking a contractor (in this case GM) to "just hang some armour on it" is ridiculous. There are weight, power and reliability issues, all of which must be addressed, under government contract requirements, by engineers before forwarding to the management types, who then start negotiations with the Pentagon management types, who then bring in government engineers......you get the idea.

[68skylark]

Government can never match the flexibility and speed of private industry. But they could have more flexibility and speed than they now have. I blame Congress, mostly, plus some long-ingrained habits at the Pentagon.