Pentagon press release (June 21, 2005, emphasis added):
The Marine Corps is adapting the way it protects its servicemembers against improvised explosive devices, according to a statement read to the House Armed Services Committee here today.
...
"While there is no one absolute armor, technology, tactic, technique or procedure that can counter these growing threats 100 percent of the time, we too are adapting and are providing our warfighters more and more effective solutions as the threat changes and we understand what works and what doesn't," Nyland [assistant commandant of the Marine Corps] said.
For instance, Marines now know that up-armoring vehicles is a good way to save the lives of those who encounter an IED.
...
Now you're figuring this out? Haven't we basically understood about the benefits of armor for over 2000 years?
Naturally, the Pentagon press release is only part of
the story:
Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, Gen. William L. Nyland, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, and Brig. Gen. William D. Catto, the chief of Marine Corps Systems Command, attributed the delay ["two months to issue a contract for armor kits to protect the undersides of Humvees"] to a "lack of leadership." They assured the committee that all Humvees and military trucks that the Marines used in Iraq would be adequately protected by December.
"Lack of leadership"--sure. Just to be clear here, these two are talking about
their own lacks of leadership:
Catto, who has oversight of all Marine Corps equipment issues, took the blame for the delay. "This is a lack of leadership on my part for not paying more attention to that specific contract," he said.
Nyland also accepted fault, but said increased production of armor kits in the United States had made up for the shortfall.
Two bad apples? I doubt it--just loyal officers taking the blame.
The real lack of leadership probably lies a few steps up in the chain-of-command. But at that altitude, folks tend to be too cowardly and/or arrogant to admit error.
One more thing: "They assured the committee that all Humvees and military trucks that the Marines used in Iraq would be adequately protected by December." That is, December, 2005. This article, Bush, Rumsfeld Pledge to Protect Troops (Dec. 9, 2004), may help you put that passage into perspective:
President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld today moved to allay soldiers' concerns about the safety of their vehicles and other issues, pledging that the government would do
all it can to protect troops deployed in Iraq.
In brief comments to reporters at the White House, Bush said concerns about a lack of armor on some U.S. military vehicles bound for Iraq "are being addressed," and that he did not blame soldiers for raising the issue.
What a nice guy. It's nice to see he has no hard feelings toward these folks--you know, the ones dying daily in his war. This is the sort of guy you'd really like to have a beer with.
Continuing directly:
Bush said he has told the families of service members that "we're doing everything we possibly can to protect your loved ones in a mission which is vital and important."
Bullshit--unless you assume that by "your loved ones," Bush meant "me and my heartless, corrupt administration."