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Posted on 12/18/2004 8:45:51 AM PST by crushelits
CHICAGO - The incoming deputy leader of Senate Democrats demanded answers Saturday from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as to why U.S. soldiers in Iraq (news - web sites) and Afghanistan (news - web sites) lack protective equipment for themselves and their vehicles.
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"We can, and we should, armor every Humvee and every truck our troops use in Iraq and Afghanistan," Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said in his party's weekly radio address. "No more excuses, no more delays. We can save hundreds of lives and prevent thousands of serious injuries."
Congress has given the Bush administration all the defense spending it has requested, yet there are still 3,500 Humvees without protective armor and about 44,000 soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan without adequate body armor, Durbin said.
"The Pentagon (news - web sites) says the lack of protective equipment is a matter of 'logistics,'" Durbin said. "No, it's not. It's a matter of leadership."
Durbin said Rumsfeld ignored warnings from top military experts that success in Iraq would require far more troops and that they were likely to meet strong resistance.
"Those responsible for planning this war were not prepared for the reality on the ground, and many of our soldiers have paid the price," said Durbin, who will become the Senate's minority whip in the new Congress next month.
Durbin said the "most valuable gift" America's troops received this holiday season may be a soldier's question to Rumsfeld at a town-hall meeting in Kuwait this month about why American soldiers in Kuwait and Iraq scavenge in junk piles for steel plates to protect their Humvees and trucks.
"It's a question a lot of us have been asking for some time now," the senator said.
"Secretary Rumsfeld, we have the Army we want. Now let's give them the equipment they need," he said.
An increasing number of Republicans have joined Democrats in criticizing the lack of armor and other aspects of Rumsfeld's conduct of the war. The secretary, however, drew support Friday from the Senate's top two GOP officials, Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee and Whip Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
As Democratic whip, Durbin replaces Sen. Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada, who was elevated to minority leader following Sen. Tom Daschle's loss in the November election.
The only answer Dems deserve is "Go f* yourselves". Rummy should refer them to the Veep for further elaboration.
Everytime one of them asks about this, they should be reminded that John Kerry voted against 87 billion dollars to fund it.
Liberals do this all the time, and we shouldn't let them.
This would be an easy answer, Bill Clinton, 1993-2000 defense budgets.
They are so brazen. Nothing really means anything to them but power. They don't care about the military. Yahoo is a bunch of commie yahoos.
Rummy Quotes
http://www.neoperspectives.com/rumsfeld.htm
I think he should tell the Dems and all of us the truth; that Clinton slashed the military during his eight years.
The hypocrasy on this issue is incredible. The destruction of the American military took place at the specific direction of Bill Clinton and his handiman who rebuilt the government Algore.
Anyone remember these?
Humvees are a damn sight better than them.
" An increasing number of Republicans have joined Democrats in criticizing the lack of armor and other aspects of Rumsfeld's conduct of the war. "
Thats disturbing as well, Republicans joining them.
Blaming the present Administration for military procurement problems is the same is blaming it fo 911 intelligence failings.
I crack me up sometimes.
5.56mm
Why are the Dems asking Rumsfield questions that only they know the answers to? It was they and Clinton that cut the Military budget to the bone, in order to fund socialist programs.
Dems count on us having short memories.
Connect the dots. Slime MSM type cons a not too bright soldier into asking a leading question.
Backup sliming faux outrage articles are immediately prepared to "follow up". Sometimes, this "connect the dots" game is way too easy.
I have a question for the Dems:
IS SANDY BERGER IN JAIL YET?
I have an answer for all their the-sky-is-falling questions. The answer is Ross Perot. Without Ross, there would never have been a Clinton in the White House. No Clinton in the White House would have left our military strong and ready.
Democrats = weak USA.
Word to the wise, the dems support the muslim terrorists not America.I wish Rummy would tell fatboy kennedy and crew to STFU!! What have the dems done for the war on terror? Aid and abett the enemy and try to tarnish the image of our Great President and the American Military. Rummy should tell them like Jerry Lee Lewis did when questioned about his marriage. "Boy" you can kiss my ass!!! The dems are the communist party of America,(except Zell Miller).
...and in the information age they are thinking in the past. Short memories is the last thing we'll have. I suspect along with Santa, we all have a long list of names of those unworthy to be called American's whether in public service (huge oxy-moron) or the average leftist commie dem.
Rumsfeld should tell them to go look in the mirror.
No, Dumba*s, the "most valuable gift" America's troops can receive this Christmas is a Congress that really cares.
How many bills have you introduced, Oh caring one, to make sure our troops have everything they need?
Five?
Three?
One?
Any?
.
Hello....?
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