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| Iraq |
| Pentagon seeks funds to fly special armoured vehicles to Iraq |
| 2007-08-09 |
| The Pentagon has asked Congress for nearly $750 million to airlift urgently needed armoured vehicles to US troops facing roadside bombs in Iraq, USA TODAY reported in its Wednesday edition. The emergency funding request would allow the military to fly many of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles directly to troops rather than send them by ship, which takes weeks, the newspaper said. USA TODAY quoted an Air Force spokesman as saying the flight would take 13 hours to reach Iraq. The transportation money is part of an emergency request for $5.4 billion for the Pentagon's MRAP program for the fiscal year beginning in October. Congress must appropriate the money, the newspaper said. All told, the military seeks about $12 billion through 2008 for about 8,000 vehicles, whose raised chassis and V-shaped hulls protect troops against roadside bombs, the newspaper said. The vehicles are one of the Pentagon's top acquisition priorities. The Defence Department's objective is to acquire as many vehicles as can be produced. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 |
| Posted by: Pappy 2007-08-09 21:20 |
| #6 It will end quickly and we can be done with this mess. Sure, 'General'. The same way we won Vietnam with all that heavy bombing... |
| Posted by: Pappy 2007-08-09 21:14 |
| #5 Why to we continue to treat the phueching symptoms. I'm all for protecting our troops, but lets protect them by unleashing the dogs of war and permitting airlifters to be replaced by strategic bombers. Hit these vile bastards like we did the Japanese and Germans in WWII. It will end quickly and we can be done with this mess. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-08-09 09:06 |
| #4 If we retreat from Iraq the terrorists have easy access to Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Africa and Europe. Terrorists already have easy access in all these places. In Arab countries because these are their home base. In Europe because it's EUrope. And in Israel, because of Bush II insistance of giving Palestinians another chance (#38976). |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2007-08-09 08:09 |
| #3 "Mine Resistant" is okay, but "Ambush Protected" HINTS at super-sophisticated ambush detection systems??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-08-09 02:38 |
| #2 Iraq is the western front in the WOT. If we retreat from Iraq the terrorists have easy access to Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Africa and Europe. The terrorist will become more powerful and will be able to make gains on the eastern front in Afganistan, Pakistan, India and southern Asia as well. If we retreat from Iraq it will be just as bad as succeeding western Europe to Hitler. The terrorists will be launching attacks from Europe toward the US soft underbelly. We will need an Iron curtain (Israeli like high wall) to protect ourselves at our borders if we let the terrorist out of the Middle East. We will need the MRAP vehicles to patrol our border crossings to keep the terrorists out. So much for our democracy if we look to house and senate leaders for our war strategy over the wise experience and recommendations of our field generals. |
| Posted by: Push over pushes back 2007-08-09 01:57 |
| #1 Next question is -- when the Demos succeed in getting us out of Iraq quickly.... do we leave them there? Or do we request additional funding to get them back here as fast as they get to Iraq.... 'cause we're gonna need them if that happens. Each and everyone of them. Well-- I can just see these vehicles, driving through the streets of the People's Republic of Austin.... deep in the heart of Texas! Sadly, the good folks of Austin, would never put the two together. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2007-08-09 00:20 |