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Are bomb-resistant vehicles worth the cost?
By Anne Flaherty
Associated Press
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- An independent study released Wednesday questions whether the Pentagon is buying too many bomb-resistant vehicles for troops in Iraq in its frantic rush to correct earlier shortfalls.

The question, put forward by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington, is a provocative one. There is a long-held assertion in Congress and the military that the more armor given to troops, the better.

But averaging about $800,000 a piece and weighing two- to five-times that of the common humvee, the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles are a hefty national investment that may have a short shelf-life, according to the study.

The center estimates the military plans to spend some $25 billion to buy upward of 20,000 vehicles.

"We're not saying don't buy them. We're saying, have we thought this through?" said Andrew Krepinevich, the center's executive director.

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway raised a similar question on Monday. Conway said he sees the current procurement plans for the vehicles as a moral imperative, but that a longer-term assessment of military requirements is probably necessary.

"Can I give a satisfactory answer to what we're going to be doing with those things in five or 10 years? Probably not," he said at a lunch sponsored by the Center for a New American Security. "Wrap them in shrink wrap and put them in asphalt somewhere is about the best thing that we can describe at this point. And as expensive as they are, that is probably not a good use of the taxpayers money."

The study and Conway's remarks are unlikely to affect the Democratic-controlled Congress.

"I have a different bottom line: saving American lives now," said Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., in response to the study. "At a time of war, when commanders in the field have requested technology that is proven to reduce casualties by 69 to 80 percent, I think we owe them a full-faith effort to provide it and it's money well spent."

Earlier this year, the Marine Corps came under fire for not responding quickly enough to urgent requests for the vehicles from troops in Iraq. In May, Defense Secretary Robert Gates declared the blast deflecting V-shaped hulls the military's highest priority acquisition program.

Production problems contributed substantially to the Pentagon's struggle to get more MRAPs to Iraq, officials have said.

The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments says that it is unlikely the fleet of vehicles would suddenly become useless, considering the popularity of improvised explosive devices. But in several cases, MRAPs may not be the panacea many hope, the study concludes.

"The reality is that U.S. forces will, at times, have to put themselves at risk in order to destroy enemy forces, protect noncombatants or keep warring parties apart long enough for political solutions to be found and implemented," the study says.

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Reader comments on this story - 14 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

jimmy b. wrote on Oct 21, 2007 3:22 AM:

" "To All"...it is truly a shame that we need to spend more but we do...we are fighting a cowardly enemy who does not wear a uniform but expects Geneva Convention considerations..and this enemy has no regard to human life or women or children...I'm sure that our two Illinois senators will agree...... "

to Native wrote on Oct 19, 2007 6:32 AM:

" There's no chance that they're the same person. BN Republican effectively uses satire and Republican talking points. BN Democrat and BN Liberal use Republican talking points about Democrats which makes for bad satire since they have little basis in reality. "

Native wrote on Oct 18, 2007 5:02 PM:

" I find it sad that anyone gives BN Republican or BN Democrat any crediabilty by responding to either one. Besides they are more then likely the same person trying to stir the pot. Get a grip. "

BN Democrat wrote on Oct 18, 2007 4:54 PM:

" I am shocked that you doubt me. And I even believe in Peace and Justice. "

To: to BN Democrat wrote on Oct 18, 2007 4:38 PM:

" I hope you are right. We do not need any more of those here. "

to BN Democrat wrote on Oct 18, 2007 3:21 PM:

" "What satire?" ... yeah, I couldn't find it either, but fortunately, you're not a Democrat or Liberal, either. "

Cynic wrote on Oct 18, 2007 3:01 PM:

" To BN Democrat; When did the Democrat leadership support Armor for the troops? Are you talking about the same Democrats that voted to cut all funding for the troops? "

BN Democrat wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:56 PM:

" What Satire? "

to BN Democrat wrote on Oct 18, 2007 1:01 PM:

" You fail at satire and life. Democrats have always supported efforts to buy armor for troops. Satire is only funny when its exagerated reality. Think early season Simpsons. "

apologetic wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:53 PM:

" we should be sorry for letting the administration send our soldiers into battle without the proper gear. Talk to a wounded veteran and ask what he/she would pay to get their limbs back. "

BN Democrat wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:08 PM:

" No, they're not. Do not spent anymore money on the military. So what if a few soldiers get killed. They should not have been there to begin with. The more die the less we have to reintagrate later. "

What a crock wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:06 PM:

" I wonder if someone was thinking what they would do with P-51 Mustangs in 10 years during WWII. "

BN Republican wrote on Oct 18, 2007 10:12 AM:

" No, they're not. You go to war with the army you have. You don't go thinking up new ways to spend money when a draft will replace lost soliders easily. "

Well, i guess it'd be worth it~~ wrote on Oct 18, 2007 10:08 AM:

" if your car GETS BOMBED!!!!! "
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