zimv20
Apr 8, 2005, 01:05 AM
link (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-04-05-humvee-us_x.htm)
WASHINGTON — The Army has fallen short of its goal of having enough factory-armored Humvees in Iraq and other combat zones to protect U.S. troops, despite promises to hit that target by April 1.
In December, Army Brig. Gen Jeffrey Sorenson said the Army's goal was to have 8,105 factory-armored Humvees in the Central Command "theater," which includes Iraq and Afghanistan. That included a goal of 7,299 in Iraq, Sorenson said. As of March 28, however, the Army said it had 7,250 of the special Humvees in the Iraq-Afghanistan theater.
An Army official said Tuesday that the goal had never been to have all the vehicles in combat zones by April 1. Nancy Ray, a civilian spokesperson for the Army, said the Army's goal was to have possession of the new Humvees, which are specially armored to protect troops. "We completed the production at the end of March. We had them at the end of the month, we keep on sending them when we get them," Ray said.
The Army's explanation was met with some surprise. "I did not see the asterisk," said Rep. Robert Simmons, R-Conn., a member of the House Armed Services Committee. "What the hell good is it to possess a Humvee in America if the guy in Iraq doesn't have it to drive?"
Simmons said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other defense officials had made it clear that meeting the goal meant having the Humvees in the Central Command theater. Now "they start playing word games," he said.
The Army also disclosed that it had raised its goal for factory-armored Humvees in the Iraq-Afghanistan theater to 10,079. Army spokesman Col. Joseph Curtin said the goal is to be met in June.
(emphasis mine)
buried all the way at the end is an interesting little tidbit which indicates -- what -- an expectation of increased troop presence?
what should we be reading into that?
WASHINGTON — The Army has fallen short of its goal of having enough factory-armored Humvees in Iraq and other combat zones to protect U.S. troops, despite promises to hit that target by April 1.
In December, Army Brig. Gen Jeffrey Sorenson said the Army's goal was to have 8,105 factory-armored Humvees in the Central Command "theater," which includes Iraq and Afghanistan. That included a goal of 7,299 in Iraq, Sorenson said. As of March 28, however, the Army said it had 7,250 of the special Humvees in the Iraq-Afghanistan theater.
An Army official said Tuesday that the goal had never been to have all the vehicles in combat zones by April 1. Nancy Ray, a civilian spokesperson for the Army, said the Army's goal was to have possession of the new Humvees, which are specially armored to protect troops. "We completed the production at the end of March. We had them at the end of the month, we keep on sending them when we get them," Ray said.
The Army's explanation was met with some surprise. "I did not see the asterisk," said Rep. Robert Simmons, R-Conn., a member of the House Armed Services Committee. "What the hell good is it to possess a Humvee in America if the guy in Iraq doesn't have it to drive?"
Simmons said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other defense officials had made it clear that meeting the goal meant having the Humvees in the Central Command theater. Now "they start playing word games," he said.
The Army also disclosed that it had raised its goal for factory-armored Humvees in the Iraq-Afghanistan theater to 10,079. Army spokesman Col. Joseph Curtin said the goal is to be met in June.
(emphasis mine)
buried all the way at the end is an interesting little tidbit which indicates -- what -- an expectation of increased troop presence?
what should we be reading into that?
