Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Marines Demand Probe Into Armor Delay

Blast resistant vehicles 'could have cut deaths in half'

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 26, 2008 4:48 AM CST
Email

(Newser) – The US Marine Corps has asked the Department of Defense to investigate delays obtaining vehicles with blast-resistant armor for combat units in Iraq. An internal USMC memo claims the money needed for the vehicles, which could have cut deaths from roadside bombings by 50%, was diverted to other projects, reports Stars & Stripes.   

An urgent 2005 request for vehicles with life-saving extra armor, known as MRAPs, fell victim to the "byzantine" procurement system, according to the memo. Decisions were also unduly influenced by retired servicemen who were more concerned with protecting the budget for other programs than with saving marines on the ground, the memo charges.

Marines in Falluja point out blast marks on their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) during a visit by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Camp Falluja in Iraq's Anbar province in 2007. The Marine Corps has asked for an invstigation into delays getting the vehicles into the field.(AP Photo/Lolita...
Marines in Falluja point out blast marks on their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) during a visit by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Camp Falluja in Iraq's Anbar province in 2007. The...   (Associated Press)
A Category I mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle, is driven on a test course at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland in this Aug. 24, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)
A Category I mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle, is driven on a test course at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland in this Aug. 24, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)   (Associated Press)
A mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle, is driven on a test course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. The Marine Corps has asked for an investigation into delays getting the vehicles to combat units in Iraq. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
A mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle, is driven on a test course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. The Marine Corps has asked for an investigation into delays getting the vehicles to combat...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Armored Vehicles

Pentagon asked to examine blast-resistant vehicle delays
Associated Press

Big wheels for Iraq's mean streets
New York Times

 
Iraq • Pentagon • roadside bomb • budget • Department of Defense • MRAP • Marine • deaths • USMC • Plans, Policies and Operations Department • casualties • vetting • Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle • whistleblower • Naval Audit Service • Government Accountability Project

More Newser Stories

Joint Chiefs Head Calls for Wider PTSD Screening

Wounded Warriors Saluted at Pentagon

Protect or Prevent? Iraq Tanks Raise Heavy Issues

Confident Marines Cut 'Bombproof' Truck Orders
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne