Politics and Procurement

 

MRAPs arrive at Haditha Dam in the Fall of 2007

Senators will call for an investigation into an internal report stating that field commanders were given a lower priority for the acquisition of MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Proctected vehicles).

I spoke to many procurement specialists in both Afghanistan and Iraq. I can assure you no one purposely sought to deny the troops in the field anything that could save a life. 

The MRAP procurement push came at a time when Marines were learning that the best defense against an IED was not thicker armor, but an Iraqi showing a Marine where the explosive was planted.  The "up-armored" strategy had proven ineffective in places like Baghdad.  The MRAP, for all its many advantages, follows that same "fortress on wheels" logic.

 

It's important to note that the Marine Corps reduced the initial order for MRAPs by 1400 vehicles.

It's great to have a healthy debate about what could and should have been done, but I take ssue with politician attempts to capitalize on the controversy for political payoff.

Here are the comments of Senator Joseph Biden: 

"This is a stark warning that the military brass back home is not acting on needs of our war fighters,"

He quickly added:

We need an official investigation to figure out why this happened and to make sure it never happens again."

Does anyone honestly believe the senator will solve anything after this "investigation"?