Commanders have shuddered as the M114 Up-Armored Humvees fail in the battlefield. They do not provide the protection that was forcasted. The vehicle is drastically over weighted, and the height windows have made them highly vulnerable to IED's. There is no need for Soldiers to suffer these catastrophic injuries, put the troops back in the M113A1 ACav.
4 comments:
I went through and read how some of our soldiers are dying in Iraq. First of all, God bless these soldiers for their sacrifice and courage. Thankfully our Country still has men and women who are willing to hear this Country's call and serve with honor. As I was saying looking at how our soliders are dying there seems to be one continuing consistency. They are dying in their vehicles. As a Police Officer responding to a high risk call we stop a block from the fight and get out of our vehicles so we are not trapped in a fire fight in what I consider a box of death.
Comparatively, the problem is the soldiers in Iraq are constantly in the danger zone, they are in a war zone trapped in their vehicles wich are not suited for the mission at hand. These soldiers are not Police Officers patroling relatively safe streets. They are in a war, they are in the battle zone at all times and are in a high risk situation constantly. So there are two choices either put all the soldiers on foot, which is not really a viable option, or get them some Armor.
Having read Shawn Stanfill's posting, there are 750 M113 Acavs(Gavin)in Kuwait. I gurantee there are soldiers and command staff that know about these armored vehicles and want them. I would venture to guess they have asked for them and are being denied. Why would they be denied Armor. Interseting question but a relatively easy question to answer. Political, political, political. The problem is the people running the show lack the courage to do the right thing. They know the second they bring in the Gavin, they won't hear "hey way to come through for our soldiers and get them the equipment they needed, good job and good thinking." They will here, "why weren't the soldiers using this from the begining, lives were lost needlessly, President Bush is to blaim so on and so on." They fear the political fall out and rightfully so. I am not exusing their political cowardess, but this is the reality.
Possibly once the election is over this fear will be gone and they will do the right thing and get our soldiers the equipment they need to win a war. The problem with politics is no one does anything until they are pressured to. Sad but true. Since most American citizens are ignorant as to fighting and war, there is no pressure. If they do get our soldiers some decent armor like the Gavin, it will be after President Bush is reelected. If Kerry is elected I see little chance of our soldiers getting Armor, considering he will probably way it on a "global scale." He wouldn't want to upset the U.N. by rolling armor on the Streets of Bahgdad.
Tanner
Respiratory Therapists
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