This isn't breaking news, Bloomberg had
reported on it as early as last night, but I can't seem to find a diary devoted specifically to this subject and this is something that needs to be discussed.
Donald Rusmfeld, U.S. Secretary of Defense, told our troops that it was not physically possible to produce any more armor for their vehicles and that is why they must rummage through dumping grounds for hillbilly armor. Yet, as it turns out, there is plenty of unused capacity. In fact, Armor Holdings Inc could push out 22% more armored vehicles every month than they are already producing.
Talk about "Support our Troops". All Armor Holdings Inc needs is for someone to order more armor. The capacity is there.
When I first heard that comment by Rumsfeld how they were doing everything they could to produce the armor as quickly as possible I was immediately skeptical. There are plenty of unemployed American workers who could go to work building this stuff and would do it with a smile because its for the war effort. Even if there weren't, surely Bushco could simply outsource that job overseas. But there it is. The president of Armor Holdings, Robert Mecredy, saying that they could have 50 to 100 MORE vehicles out per month than they are currently producing. I can assure you Mr. Mecredy was very unhappy with Rusmfeld's suggestion that his company lacked capacity and was at fault for the lack of armor. Just look at the
dip his stock took Wednesday.
Rumsfeld looked into the face of soldiers who were headed into battle without the proper armament on their vehicles and lied. Lying may be par for the course in this administration but this has to be some kind of new low. How in the world could he say that the Army was working as fast as it can and supply is dictated by "a matter of physics, not a matter of money."? How could he say "It's a matter of production and capability of doing it,"? And how could he tell the soldiers "You go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you might want or wish to have" when the Army that our soldiers wish to have is within their reach. All that is needed to attain it is Rumsfeld's signature.
This is not a liberal rant. Drive down the street and look at the "Support Our Troops" car magnets. Our entire country wants our soldiers to be provided with every piece of technology available to keep them safe. All of America, red and blue MUST be outraged at Rumsfeld's blatant, bald-faced, egregious, deplorable, outright LIE in the face of (literally) our troops that he and Bushco pay lip service to supporting but always fall short of doing.
This is disgusting and everyone needs to know about it. Call into talk radio shows, email Olbermann, tell you're cube-mate. The troops need as much support as they can get and 50-100 more armored vehicles a month is a much more constructive way to support them than a cute little car magnet.
Update: And within 10 minutes my diary falls off the top 10 new diaries posted and into oblivion never to be heard from again.
Update #2: Commentary from Senator Biden
"This was a war of choice, not necessity, to be waged on our timetable, not Saddam's, ... why is it that, 20 months after Saddam's statue fell, our troops still don't have the protection they need? Congress has given this administration virtually every dollar it has asked for in Iraq."