Report: DoD No Bid Contracts Has "Put Troops At Risk"
This literally makes me so angry that my hands are shaking as I type this. For all the rhetoric that gets spun out in the media that the anti-war movement is hurting the troops, here is very real, very tangible proof that the troops ARE being hurt. But not by those of us who want them out of harm's way. No, they're being hurt by those who decided to send them there.
A study completed in late June by the Pentagon's Inspector General concludes that the Department of Defense (DoD) has risked the lives of U.S. troops in Iraq due to malfeasance in awarding and monitoring contracts for badly-needed armored vehicles.
The study, which was requested by Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter of New York, found that since 2000 the DoD has awarded "sole-source" contracts valued at $2.2 billion to just two companies, Force Protection, Inc.(FPI) and Armor Holdings, Inc (AHI).
Inspector General auditors found that the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) made these two companies the sole providers of armored vehicles and armor kits for troops, despite knowing that other suppliers may have produced the equipment so desperately needed in Iraq substantially faster. Both manufacturers fell far behind delivery schedules, while AHI also produced inadequate and faulty equipment.
Rep. Louise Slaughter has really been at the forefront of demanding answers. Please give her some props for her hard work and commitment.
DUDE!!!
http://murphys-ponders-from-the-litter-box.blogspot.com/2007/07/death-fr...
I Posted that same thing on my blog . via military news . com. as i subscribe to its email.
isint that some shit???????????????
ANSWERS FOLKS WE MUST DEMAND ANSWERS!!!!!!!!
disgusting as usual. The fat get fatter!!! When will people start hanging from trees that are guilty?
Want to get sick, check out both stock prices over the last year:
FRPT and AH
Stories like this have become old news. The only people that can help the military from being pawns in this mess are the military. They gotta revolt.
Support our troops, yeah right? As a former government contracts attorney, sole-source contracts are the antithesis of government procurement. Only in emergencies. I hear it coming, but Iraq is such an emergency. Sorry, an emergency is temporary. Had they bothered, they could have planned for this. Besides the loss of lives, limbs and mental sanity, this little neocon adventure has cost this country greatly in treasure. Our children's children will be paying back this debt to China long after Bush is gone. And, in the end, China and all the other oil thirsty countries will be the true benefactors of our largess.
I'm sure FPI and AHI donated to all the right GOP congressmen. Perhaps we should ask Jack?
He broke it, we own it. And who is paying for it?
I admit I haven't checked, but I bet FPI and AHI have some pretty powerful Republican connections.
"This literally makes me so angry that my hands are shaking as I type this."
I'll argue that there's something important to learn from that comment, & it doesn't speak well of any of us.
People like her reassure me that maybe, just maybe, all is not lost. Even when you've got all of this other shite happening, it's reassuring to know that at least a few people in Congress have the right idea.
It's a well-known fact that DoD awards the lowest bidder. Take a look at the M16.
Stories like this are a-plenty, and I'm right there with Nicole on the shake-inducing anger.
Moreover, these types of stories are why I couldn't stand the arguments (even from the seemingly sincere) who voted to continue to fund the war. How, they asked, could they vote in good conscience not to provide the troops their equipment if they knew that Bush were going to keep them in harm's way no matter what? How? I'll tell you how! Because the troops aren't getting the proper equipment anyway! And they never were. Your funding will go to corporations providing shoddy equipment or no equipment, and any soldier who has his family send him better body armor on his own dime loses his health care or death benefits.
I worked very hard in my own district and neighboring districts to unseat Republicans in Congress. I walked precincts on my arthritic legs to change over Congress to try to end this shit. They absolutely have to impeach every officer in this government a this point. They have to. Pelosi has to get going now to get the majority in the House, and Reid has to start building the bipartisan coalition to convict them.
po @ 6:
Our children's children will probably be working in a Chines garment factory 12 - 24 hours a day for slave wages if the neocons have their way.
JustAGI @ 10:
1) The M16 is a good rifle so I don't get your point.
2) The DOD awards contracts to the lowest bidder who met the specification. The "lowest bidder" comments people throw around jokingly (or not) isn't the whole story. Of course I'm talking about contracts that get bid on which isn't the case regarding the topic of this thread.
JustAGI @ 10:
That's just not true anymore, JustAGI, there are so many stories coming to light that bids are going to friends and buddies of those in power (check out the body armour fiasco)even though there are better and CHEAPER products out there. Think about who made the HUMMER and who Andy Card used to work for before he worked for Bush.
Ron @ 12:
Where's the connection? We need to do some digging and find some names, I'll bet you find a few "loyal bushies" amongst those corporate boards.
JustAGI Says:
It’s a well-known fact that DoD awards the lowest bidder. Take a look at the M16.
That was Mattel Toy Company wasn't it?
Bic Says:
“This literally makes me so angry that my hands are shaking as I type this.”
I’ll argue that there’s something important to learn from that comment, & it doesn’t speak well of any of us.
You know that's right.
unbelievably disgusting. another example of how the Bush Administration supports our troops.....not.
here are some more examples of this administration not supporting the troops:
Wieghtman testifying about privatization of Walter Reed
two soldiers killed in friendly fire, not in combat
injured troops being deployed
veterans disabilities being downgraded
neglection at Walter Reed #18
sending troops to war without the right amount of troops needed
Hi Nicole,
You know, as much as we have disagreed over the last few months, I must say that I think this story and what it means is going to bring EVERYONE together in a common cause against all that is wrong in this country.
On the one hand what we have here is something C&L has always shown very well to be the case: The two-timing, double-speaking, lying, and really quite evil, Bush administration. Always printing their lies keeps us in focus on more important things.
On the other hand we also have a prime example of "corporatism". This is something true libertarians absolutely hate with a passion, due to it helping to misguide people into thinking that there exists some kind of "failure of the free market", i.e. free market run amok. Private companies, etc etc...
What this actually shows is that we are on the same side on this issue, and you know why? Because, however tragic the underlying circumstances are, people's lives are being used as a means to another person or person's ends. I think that everyone's life is of the utmost value and importance, and so they should never be used in this way just so the government and certain contractors can milk the public system for all its worth (which is negative and lessening).
As such, this allows us to use our energies to finally come up with an arrow of approach, that is, a singular path that cuts through all the bullshit and reveal what our country is really becoming.
From my point of view, of course, I think that if government were strictly limited to its proper functions, then these no bids would not need to occur, nor be able to occur. Of course there are also those who think that if there was only a good government put in place, then this wouldn't happen either.
As far apart as these ideologies are, there IS one thing in common. Both approaches think that business and government should NOT be "in league" with each other. That is, they should be separate entities, as it were.
I think this should be the case, and from what I gather from your post, you agree with as well.
Hmmm...perhaps there might just be a way yet....
Here is another article that the EXTREME RIGHT WING MAIN STREAM MEDIA (ERWMSM) doesn't want you to know about.
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/linkframe.php?linkid=38489
I think it is monumentally pathetic that our soldiers can't have good armored vehicles to keep them safe in Iraq yet this nation is spending millions of dollars on worthless crap like SDI (aka Star Wars) or near worthless programs like the V-22 Osprey. Other militaries have good designs that are very affordable and are used by the average soldier in foreign armies yet those armored vehicles are reserved for only the VIP's in Iraq.
With the money that our country spends on the military, we should have something equivalent to the Israeli Nemerah, which is a Merkava heavy tank converted into an APC.
Poll at militarytimes.com
Iraq: Should we stay or should we go?
http://www.military.com/hp/poll?poll=undefined
Oh man Nicole, you think this sent you off into another relm of outrage, ABC just did a piece on how the government is misdiagnosing wounded vets ON PURPOSE to deny them the life time benefits they are owed and need. UGH. Typos. Can't type. Too Pissed.
Go_Pliars! @ 16:
I found Prince Bandar, one of Bush-Cheney's bestest friends, was bribed $2 billion a while back by Armor Holdings.
No. 19, Ron: Oh, I'm sure the GOP base is going to love this one. We can just sit back and watch the fireworks. Can you imagine Rush and Hannity waxing philosophical about the good ol' USofA becoming part of Mexico, Latin America and South America.
I DO realize that 1/3 the "troops" there are corporate mercenaries who are unaccountable to laws like the legit troops are. the mercenaries are doing horrible things that get the real troops hated and killed more! halliburton/kbr/blackwater is using legit military as human shields or hostages, pretty much.
as cheney gets richer for yet MORE no-bid contracts
-yeah, it's all relative.
There's always one... Though he seems to create a nice little conundrum w/ this statement:
“The president has the power and authority to issue executive orders to do exactly what he wants,”
Based on this recent comment, is it his position that the president is above the law and/or the constitution?
If so, then wouldn't that also contradict the oath of office?
War is evil act's war is evil but who is doing what to who? this war is not what you think it is, it is a war to keep our eye's off of what the real plan of evil is, if people keep the BS Up you will become like the Roman's Only frond in some history book. sad to say if Bush can if hillary can if the one world guy's can all of us who think like American will be removed and we will become just like the Roman are now, only in a history book or some third world pot.
Just Say No to Evil, and buy Gun's for life.
Ron @ 20:
I hope people in the US read this article and get Very PISSED OFF. I AM A CANADIAN AND HAVE NO DESIRE TO BE PART OF A NORTH AMERICAN UNION. WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE DOING?
Where is the media outrage? Where is the responsible media?
the Cato Institutization of government by the junta is staggering. Randi Rhodes read a stat on her show that 70 percent of intelligence gathering is done by private companies
In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) a Justification for Other than Fair and Open Competition (JOTFOC and the other less wordy title that is often used is a sole source justification) has to be prepared and attested to by a Technical Expert and the Contracting Officer who is signing the contract. Generally a Contracting Officer doesn't have the technical knowledge to determine if an item is sole source so that's why a Technical Expert assigned by requistioner prepares most of it. It is up to the Technical Expert to prove to the Contracting Officer that an item is indeed sole source. Since it's a Contracting Officer who would be legally responsible for any sole source purchase that is protested and found to not hold up as a sole source (generally under a protest by another Contractor to the GAO), the Technical Expert must sign the JOTFOC that all statements are accurate to the best of their knowledge.
Now in the case of high dollar contracts such as we're talking here, more than likely the Technical Expert would be a high ranking military officer. An officer with sufficient clout to push through the sole source even under a Contracting Officer who didn't buy the JOTFOC argument. This is the problem with DOD contracting in that very senior officers have too much pull since they will always pull out the "safety of the troops/sailors" card. No Contracting Officer wants to overrule a senior officer and risk holding up a contract with the resulting delays causing injury or deaths in the field.
If my memory serves correctly, there are six reasons for approving a JOTFOC. The one that covers emergencies is called "compelling urgency" and it not a blanket approval for lack of planning or a war/natural disaster. To use compelling urgency you must document the fiscal ramifications of not competing the purchase as well as situations such as deaths, injuries, etc.. So if a Republican tries to pull the emergency card it wouldn't hold water...well in the real world it wouldn't. In the right wing it probably would since they're delusional and of course they could always say that Clinton did it.
While usually a compelling argument, government contracting is not always to the lowest bidder. The actual wording of the FAR is that the purchase must be fair and reasonable. So you can go with a higher bid as long as the cost is again fair and reasonable (by comparing with other bids) and there is a reason to go with the higher bid. Say you were buying a machine gun...gun A was $100 and gun B was $125 and you can easily argue that an extra $25 isn't unreasonable and that gun B has a 50 round clip and gun A only has a 20 round clip. For that $25 your customer gets the safety of another 30 rounds so you can justify and purchase that more expensive weapon and it will more likely than not by upheld by the GAO as a nonprotestable contract.
I'm retired military and for the last 10 years of my career I held an unlimited contracting warrant. Practically all the fights I ever had to fight were over the sole source procurements. High ranking officers want what they want and they don't want anyone to tell them no (sound familiar?...Bush). And if you do try to say no, well that high ranking officer is going straight to your boss and lean on him/her. Threaten them with poor fitness reports that will impact their advancement, threaten you with poor fitness reports that will affect your advancement, and generally making everyones lives miserable until they get what they want. And all you're trying to do is what you're paid to do, follow the FAR, give the customer the best product at the best price, and most of all afford the tax payer with proper stewardship of government funds (yours and my tax dollars).
Government procurement is nasty...and don't get me started on vendor protests to the GAO. I love the GAO but being between them and two manufacturers all screaming and yelling is not the best way to keep your blood pressure in its optimum range.
I hope I haven't droned on too long but the the moral of this story...a high ranking officer had a real good reason for these two companies to get these contracts. Who suffers? Your tax dollars but first and foremost the lives of our soldiers who's boots are on the ground in Iraq.
Marines got their armor made for them? We had to make our own armor for our vehicles. I was a gunner for convoys a couple weeks ago (just got back) and our turrets were hand made Haji metal welded toegether by some 92A (paper pushers). It got so bad that we had to make our own weldshop to armor up our vehicles. We got metal from the locals and welded them together. The armor was so weak that the glass was better protection than the armor. We called them: Haji Turrets, because the guys shooting at us probably sold us the metal. The metal was rusted/corrodid/etc beyond imagination, some even warped and riddled with holes (just welded another peice behind it). Turrets looked like cardboard boxes really. Man... i cant type anymore.
Wait a minute. I really need to set the record straight on this. Force Protection's mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles are vastly superior to any other being manufactured anywhere, including countries like Israel and South Africa. That's the reason the DOD gave the entire contract to them. Ask any soldier what kind of vehicle he wants to be in, the unanimous answer is the Cougar from Force Protection. Armor holdings builds them under license from Force Protection. General Dynamics is also working with Force Protection to expand production.
The Buffalo mine clearing vehicle is the only vehicle in its class and is the baddest truck you have ever seen. It has a liitle crane mounted to the front with a camera that is used to dig up mines and IEDs. The Buffalo units have saved countless lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. To date, only two soldiers have been killed in Force Protection vehicles.
The reason the troops haven't gotten these vehicles sooner is the DOD waited too long to order them. They are expensive to build, and weigh so much they are expensive to transport. Remember, Donald Rumsfeld thought he could conquer the Middle East on a budget. Going to war with the army you have, and all that bullshit.
It is true that Force Protection's management overpromised and underdelivered. But the other side of the coin is, no one else makes these things, and the DOD didn't start ordering them until at least two years after they knew they were facing a new type of threat.
http://www.forceprotection.net/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef81qVH4n2k
Pres PNACcio, I don't doubt your assessment and I haven't had the time to research the facts surrounding these vehicles. But what is better, no vehicles or say vehicles that while not quite as good as your Cougar they are better than an unarmoured HumVee? Clearly this administration did try to fight this on the cheap and with an attitude that the actual hostilities would be over quickly and then we would be enter a policing/training position. So I agree that we're in a catch-up mode and Force can't ramp up production fast enough to meet the orders of the government.
I concede all these facts and tell you that's why you don't issue sole source contracts. Actually with the production levels of Force that would be more than a compelling reason not to issue them a sole source contract. You issue a multiple award contract and that does not guarantee the other companies any orders whatsoever but it gives you OPTIONS. War is not cheap and you are going to end up buying equipment that has a very short shelf life. You need 500 of these vehicles but you know you want the Cougars for the heavy lifting in the field. But Force can only build 200 in the timeframe you need them in...well instead of our troops doing without you buy from other contractors to meet that 500 unit figure. Then you prioritize you deployment of the units basing there capability versus the mission. You have a high risk mission you get the Cougar but if you mission is deemed a lower risk you get Model C from the XYZ Company. Granted as a soldier I would pick the best, but as a soldier who wants to return home some day I would probably want that Model C which while it might be 90% as effective against IED's as the Cougar it beats that unarmoured HumVee all to hell.
Again this all about options, all about being able to meet your customers needs. By issuing a sole source contract the DOD can't meet their needs so how is that protecting the troops? How is this giving the tax payer the best value for their tax dollar? Will Force Protection ever be able to meet demand? What if they decide to build a larger facility, buy more equipment, hire more workers to meet the needs of our soldiers and then with a change in administrations we immediately pull out of Iraq? They will have spent capital they can never recoup and does anyone think they're going to make that business decision?
Yes, in a perfect world a sole source contract to the best manfacturer is the way to go. Unfortunately the world of government contracting and the world in general is not perfect. Give the soldiers the equipment they need in the amounts they need. To do that you have to have as many options as possible and with sole source contracting you just don't have those options.
One last thing...sole source contracting dramatically cuts down on future competition as well. No other companies will risk building something if they don't believe they have a chance of getting a big buck government contract. Once you lock in a manufacturer of equipment such as these vehicles it's hard to then go to source B due to the inevitable stocking (and usually overstocking) of spare parts, training skilled mechanics, etc..
In the end I just hope that we get the hell out of the Middle East but barring that, at least we have to give the troops what they need to stay alive.
Speaking of no-bid contracts, read this if you think Rudy Giuliani wasn't responsible for the lack of functioning FDNY radios on 9/11.
Why didn’t the firefighters have equipment that worked? The Giuliani administration had in fact bought new radios less than a year before the September 11 attacks. The $33 million deal was struck with Motorola Corporation under a no-bid contract.
The radios, which were bought sight-unseen and without the field-testing that is required under the Fire Department’s regulations, were designed for use by intelligence agencies, with encryption functions that have no use in firefighting.
These radios were issued to firefighters and then recalled within barely one week after widespread failures, including one in which a probationary firefighter nearly lost his life.
While New York’s firefighter unions called for a grand jury investigation into the deal, a convincing explanation of why these radios were purchased in this extraordinary manner has never been forthcoming. The transaction is consistent with a number of contracts struck by the Giuliani administration with the apparent aim of rewarding political allies or currying favor within Republican circles as part of the mayor’s positioning himself for a run for national office
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/apr2006/w911-a04.shtml
Don't get this wrong. Capitalism regulated and kept in some check can be pretty decent.
But this story brings to mind ultimate free marketeers wanting Government work. They can't survive without government work. Yet, republican greedy ideology is to make us believe government is bad. And privatization is good and must occur. As Haliburton slurping at the government no bid contract trough.
If we elect good representative we can have good government. When someone runs for public office on the premise he hates government and wants to do away with most of it. And we continue to elect people who do not like government. We shall continue to be governed poorly and in the interests of Corporations and their elite.
The problem is, even bid contracts would not have worked, since the government has no way of controlling the contractor once the contract as awarded. After that point, the contractor can choose to charge whatever he wants, since fixed price contracts are dead.
Japanese industry, unlike U.S. government and U.S. industry, awards contracts to multiple bidders, then continually reallocates shares of the contract as a function of how well each contractor performs. This forces them to continue competing with each other, since their is no sole winner of the contract.
But America, in all of their infinite wisdom, handles contracts naively.
Nicole,
According to these reports, the study you cite isn't entirely accurate:
The Defense Review writes here that Protected Vehicles, Inc. (PVI) (Charleston, SC) makes the new Golan vehicle designed and developed with the help of Rafael Armament Development Authority (Haifa, Israel). Protected Vehicles, Inc was started by the former CTO of Force Protection.
This link describes how
This link describes Armor Holdings' involvement:
The Israeli defense contractors are involved in this up to their teeth, both in design and production; however, since it's a big no-no to criticize their involvement — what the hell are we doing allowing a foreign country to make our military vehicles, anyway — we will never get to the bottom of this. Be mindful that most Israeli defense contractors have shell companies here, and most are located in the Bible Belt: Armageddon country. We send taxpayer dollars to Israel, and they spend it creating companies here. NBC/MSNBC did an expose on the controversy of inferior Israeli armored vehicles designed by Rafael (Haifa) in the past year. (Can't remember the name of the woman who did the expose, but she's good.) The DoD was calling them shit-cans that didn't save anyone. The Israelis were lauding them as superior.
On this story, the Crooks and Liars readers who are commenting really don't know a thing about Force Protection, Inc. and/or the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) program in general.
Have you ever seen Bill Maher's show when he talks about the Cougar being the best life-saving vehicle in Iraq and wondering why the troops don't have them in Iraq? Have you ever heard Biden speaking about both the Buffalo and the Cougar as being vehicles that the troops desperately need ASAP? After hearing these things are you outraged that more isn't being done to get these vehicles to the troops ASAP? Well, if so, then you're playing both sides of the fence if you're against getting a contract in the hands of the manufacturer that makes these much needed vehicles.
Why? Because both of these incredible life-saving vehicles are made by Force Protection, Inc. They make the absolute best vehicles on the planet to stop IEDs, and the problem isn't in the buzzword "no bid contract" that congers up images of Halliburton and kickbacks. The problem is the Bush administration's lack of leadership and vision to demand other companies churn out Force Protection's Buffalo, Cougar (and soon-to-be Cheetah) as soon as possible. The only drawback to Force Protection, Inc. is that they are a smaller start-up who pioneered the V-shaped hull in thwarting bomb blasted from below which deflect the force outward and save lives. To date I believe only 3 soldiers have died in Force Protection vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan COMBINED. Compare that to the THOUSANDS of soldiers who have died in up-armored Humvees (made by Armor Holdings, now bought out by BAE) or similarly inadequate protection from General Dynamics' Stryker which was never designed for IED protection. Force Protection's vehicles are saving lives. Period.
If anything this administration should have forced other military contractors like Navistar, General Dynamics, AH, BAE and others to produce Force Protection's Cougar and Buffalo vehicles for them. Ask a soldier over there and they will say that these vehicles are what they want over anything else. By having a lengthy testing and bidding process for contracts, we still to this day only have Force Protection vehicles in the hundreds over there when it should be in the THOUSANDS.
So Crooks and Liars readers, what do you want? The best vehicles in saving our troops lives as soon as possible? If so, you should educate yourself on the vehicle lineup offered by Force Protection, Inc. before saying we need to have a two year testing phase to allow other companies to make prototypes, all the while the troops die and the best we can offer them is added steel for Humvees which are sitting ducks to IED blasts.
Mike M. @ 41:
Not quite as the South Africans have been making Casspirs for quite a long time now. They were practically giving them away, selling them at closeout prices at the end of Apartheid.
Smack_dab @ 42:
It's true that South Africa was the inspiration for MRAPs, but I'm obviously talking about the US military's needs after the invasion of Iraq. The Casspir only served as a prototype for the US Military's MRAP program. It was never a contender "out of the box" as the US military needed other production requirements that the Casspir could not deliver. Force Protection's Buffalo model is the US production vehicle based on the Casspir. The RG-31 is another South African vehcile which in June actually received production orders from the US Military through military contractor General Dynamics. That said, you're going off on a tangent a bit as it doesn't change the fact that the Cougar and Buffalo from Force Protection, Inc. have proven to be far more effective in protecting the troops than any other vehicle in Iraq.
War is lucrative for many industries, always has. That is why there will always be wars or the drummed-up threat of a war on the horizon. Just make sure your kids never sign up to be cannon fodder for these fucking assholes. If there ever is a GOOD reason for my children to fight for our country, I’ll dutifully go into battle first. Chimp’s reasons for war are laughable and totally corrupt. I would never fight for this idiotic administration's self-righteous delusions.
No. 41, Mike said: "If anything this administration should have forced other military contractors like Navistar, General Dynamics, AH, BAE and others to produce Force Protection’s Cougar and Buffalo vehicles for them."
That's what I'm talking about. The Government has that power, yet, in this and many other instances it has elected not to do so. Why, because FPI wouldn't be the benefactor of the taxpayers' largess. Too often, people think procurement is an either or proposition. In "wartime" however, the rules are quite different. Hell, even in times other than war, the Government has the ability to give proprietary and even patented information to a business competitor to ensure more than one source for necessary items. That's all we're asking for. They say that can't. Well, guess what, you might be surprised to hear, but they lie.
CSpan showed a hearing several years ago ...Chris Shays was chair. DOD selling equipment..flak jackets ..on E Bay. Sending defectives to Iraq. Pentagon "lost" over a trillion in one year. GAO set up a sting and bought enough equipment to set up a bioterroism lab with fake ID. No oversight...shows how much they think of the troops. Bake sales to pay for relatives flak jackets. Republicans hate the troops.
When arguing against Universal Health Care, conservatives are quick to sight the "free-market system." Only the free market system will ensure the best service and goods - we can't let the government control it without the invisible hand. Yet when it comes to the lives of soldiers, apparently a free market system (competition and bidding) isn't needed. They can just pick whichever company they like. Hypocrisy at its worst.
This reminds me of conservatives arguing for individual rights and less government governing, but then telling people whether or not they can have abortions. I used to agree with some Republican values. Oh well.
Oh, our poor young men and women . . .
This is corporate greed and cronyism at its worst in decades.
Louise Slaughter...anyone else see the irony in that name. It's great that she's coming forward with this story, but if it's true why hasn't it made larger headlines?? How would they honestly know if other providers would have provided armour quicker?? If you haven't already CHECK OUT THOSE STOCK PRICES that's fucking rediculous! Wish I would have known about this contract a year ago.
.....Goddamn you George Bush!!!! And all the rest of your pathetic administration... If I start really ranting on this I ain't going to be able to stop....
Let me just put it this way... IF, knowing what I know, which ain't even the whole sordid story, but just knowing what we all know... And I was a jarhead on the line??? I know who I would hold responsible, and I know who the hell I would want to point my weapon at... And it ain't no half scared witless Iraqi family hinding in the rubble 1500 yards away from my position... Which is not to say I wouldn't blow away some terrorist if given the opportunity.. But this is not about that.. This is about lies, ideology trumping sound intelligence, and inadequate support from an administration who is just dying to implement and see work a privatized for profit war model...Sick demented bastards!!!! JD
Comments are closed on this entry