[EdGreene]

Soldiers in Iraq Buy Their Own Body Armor
Fri Mar 26, 3:10 AM ET
By RYAN LENZ, Associated Press Writer
Soldiers headed for Iraq (news - web sites) are still buying their own body armor — and in many cases, their families are buying it for them — despite assurances from the military that the gear will be in hand before they're in harm's way.

Body armor distributors have received steady inquiries from soldiers and families about purchasing the gear, which can cost several thousand dollars. Though the military has advised them not to rely on third-party suppliers, many soldiers say they want it before they deploy.
Last October, it was reported that nearly one-quarter of American troops serving in Iraq did not have ceramic plated body armor, which can stop bullets fired from assault rifles and shrapnel.
The military says the shortfall is over and soldiers who do not yet have the armor soon will. But many want to avoid the risk.

"What we hear from soldiers is that they are told that they are going to get body armor just before they leave or just after they get there. But they don't want to take a chance," said Nick Taylor, owner of Bulletproofme.com, an online distributor of body armor in Austin, Texas.

More @ http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm.../ap/20040326/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_body_armor_1

 

[buddhafabio]

i supported the cause to go to war in iraq, not the said cause, the wmds, but the removal of saddam and his hell spawn sons of power, dont get me wrong i did think he had the wmds(may still do) but i didnt think he would use them till he was attacked.

that said, i still support our troops being there and i am only upset that they do not have the proper armor and weapons that they need. and that they are not going after the thugs attacking them.

 

[Rockn]

Maybe you should have read the report Ed!

"The military says the shortfall is over and soldiers who do not yet have the armor soon will. But many want to avoid the risk"

They even stated that they were thinking pf passing a bill to reimburse families that purchased body armor out of their own pockets.

They are buying it out of their own pockets in case the Military cannot immediately supply it for them. I thought you were in the military at one time, weren't there ever any supply or logistics problems when you were in the military??

 

[bassetman]

The military says the shortfall is over

Then it has to be true, the military has never lied to us before!