U.S. Troops Tell Rumsfeld They Use Scrap as Armor in Iraq

Troops in Iraq have complained to visiting Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that they spend time rummaging through landfills looking for scrap metal to armor their vehicles. The improvised armor often uses shot out ballistic glass and other items to shore up inadequate protection in their light vehicles. Rumsfeld indicated that he had discussed the issue with military commanders including the pace at which the vehicles were being converted. Currently around 400 a month are converted.




Again, what is Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld doing here? This alone should cause heads to roll. Coupled with the stories that families are buying and sending body armor to their loved ones in Iraq requires a Congressional level investigation. Only a few months ago an Army National Guard unit refused a mission because they lacked armored vehicles.

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (Reuters) - An American soldier complained to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Wednesday troops were being forced to dig up scrap metal to protect their vehicles in Iraq (

[edit on 8-12-2004 by ZeddicusZulZorander]

How much are we spending on defense again? And where exactly is all these hundreds of billions of dollars going?

What I wonder is, is when are people going to notice the 3,200lbs gorilla sitting in the living room, that is government corruption? I hear a bunch of right-wing zombies around here constantly repeating the "There is no solid proof, that's speculation," mantra over and over. Well you know what, you don't need solid, video proof of things such as this. When the circumstances in comparision with peoples behavior tell the story and you just choose to deny it, you are as guilty as those committing the crime...

Freedom is on the march.
Your billions are going into billionaires pockets, while your troops create their own armor out of garbage.

Sweet liberty, with a hefty side of corruption! Can you spread some more of it around?

Moved to WOT Forum.
Already posted as news here:
www.abovetopsecret.com...



[Game On]

Rummy should be forced to resign - I have taken up for him in the past, but not anymore.
Most of my contact with the military, in fact all of my contact is with USAF and DoD suits... So I don't hear a lot of negative about him at work.

But if half the material I read is correct concerning inadequacies in numbers and hardware for US troops in Iraq - then he has not done his job and at least some of the casualties can be hung on his wall as a trophy to his, if not incompetency then complacency regarding the safety of our heroes..

Well thats disgusting,

This is just another case of America taking jobs away from the locals, anyone would think they invaded Iraq just for the work.

Afterall The iraqis have lost work in

1. Killing each other (although they are making magnificent attempts to create their own jobs here)
2. Destroying their own infrastructure
3. Abusing each other in prisons

Now they have lost jobs in..
4. Scavanging for goods froom the rubbish dumps.



I think the Americans should go back to their own country and scavange from THEIR rubbish dumps, and leave the Iraqi dumps to their own people.

I bet this is a another plot by Bush. Firstly steal all the oil and clean out all the treasures at the dumps!!

Saddam is just outsourcing.

Also covered HERE but locked because it was covered in ATSNN.

Will someone please tell us where we are meant to post in this thread?
This is the second thread I have found on this topic. that thread was locked, now we are told there is ANOTHER thread we are meant to post in.

Its soooo confusing

Originally posted by curme
Also covered HERE but locked because it was covered in ATSNN.

Both threads that were closed point to this one....and all roads lead to Rome.

Of course you'll have to pick up some rubbish armour to take the road through Iraq.

[edit on 8-12-2004 by dbates]

Originally posted by Thorfinn Skullsplitter
How much are we spending on defense again? And where exactly is all these hundreds of billions of dollars going?

ofshore accounts so when they retire they have a huge cash payout

Originally posted by curme
Also covered HERE but locked because it was covered in ATSNN.

My mistake. I was wrong, I thought it was because it was covered already in ATSNN. I should of read what was in front on me! Sorry.

You are forgiven, go forth and sing no more....

Originally posted by intelgurl
Rummy should be forced to resign - I have taken up for him in the past, but not anymore.
Most of my contact with the military, in fact all of my contact is with USAF and DoD suits... So I don't hear a lot of negative about him at work.

But if half the material I read is correct concerning inadequacies in numbers and hardware for US troops in Iraq - then he has not done his job and at least some of the casualties can be hung on his wall as a trophy to his, if not incompetency then complacency regarding the safety of our heroes..

If Intelgurl wants Rummy drawn and quartered, somebody better get a rope.

I think his usefulness as Abu Gharib scapegoat is just being extended though. He should have been fired then as an appeasement, but he provides a nice cushion of contempt for the President now. Very few cabinet members left to blame for Iraqi messes now but Rummy. He's vital to our political success even if a huge detriment to American lives.

And we know Bush is blameless for rushing to war ill prepared. So Rummy is all the more critical. Somehow I'm pretty sure though this is all Kerry's fault. Just like the coming flu pandemic. If liberals would have just kept their mouths shut we wouldn't have had all these problems they kept warning us about. Too bad Kerry didn't know how easy it is to poison our food supply during the campaign. Then Bush would have won by at least 60%. That would have shown Canada a thing or two.

I'm just glad gays can't marry. Just think of military moral if they could. Iraq would be a disaster. Yes, everything's coming together in this second term just like Jesus planned. I'm so happy I could spit. We're winning every war everywhere. The economy is wonderful. Future so bright I've got to wear a blindfold. See you at the mass wedding.

I thought the lack of equipment and armor for OUR soldiers was because of John Kerry.

Originally posted by Samhain
I thought the lack of equipment and armor for OUR soldiers was because of John Kerry.

Exactly. The dissenting vote of one Senator on a bill that passed anyway despite his cries to use Iraqi oil money rather than US taxpayer money is the reason.

It's all his fault.

I tell you what liberalism is just ruining this country. Remember when you could call a retard a retard? I hate political correctness.

I'm going to pray now that they all may be smited. The real soldiers know better than to question Rumsfeld. Our President is just doing the best he can. All praises to the Reverend Moon.

Originally posted by Samhain
I thought the lack of equipment and armor for OUR soldiers was because of John Kerry.

Well i wouldn't blame Bush (or Kerry) for this because i don't think he knows much about running armies and has to rely on his advisors. However from what i have heard Rumsfeld could be the person to blame, from the start of his career he has been disagreeing with top army guys on the direction the army should go. He wants it to be smaller and more mobile while the top army guys want it to be bigger and equiped for fighting large scale wars. When Iraq was on the drawing board the head of the army said they would need 700 000 men for a sustained occupation of a country like Iraq to contain the problems faced in a country with so many domestic problems. Rumsfeld wanted to invade with 50 000 and luckily Frankes who was charged of the job of planning it with him (although the final say was Rumsfelds) was able to talk him into sending 140 000 but this was still probably not enough. I think the US has to start thinking about going back to conventional army thinking if it is going to mount large scale invasions and occupations like this.


[edit on 8-12-2004 by Trent]

This is just Insane. Im probably going to Blog this because there has to be something deeper for him to still be around. The comment he made that really pissed me off was that he was old and it was early in the morning. This is the guy who runs our Offense??? To be joking about this situation is uncalled for even on Michael Moore standards. BTW we are also giving the PA $20 million a month. WTF , why aren't our troops sent into battle with the best Money can Buy?? While I don't agree with the War, We need to protect our troops. Why not just send them in with absolutely nothing, because no matter how much armor there is, It still can be blown up. And for anyone to throw this on Democrats, is Ludicrous as well. They Have the Money!!!! What is it being used for??? I'm sorry but the Priorities should be the Safety, and proper armorment of our troops.**Im currently watching replays on Hardball, and is it me or does it look like a hologram of him ** anyway a good point was brought up, when Rummy said "you go to war with the Army you have", it was on the US's timetable as to go to war, why were they not prepared??

Originally posted by Trent

Originally posted by Samhain

Well i wouldn't blame Bush (or Kerry) for this because i don't think he knows much about running armies and has to rely on his advisors. However from what i have heard Rumsfeld could be the person to blame, from the start of his career he has been disagreeing with top army guys on the direction the army should go. He wants it to be smaller and more mobile while the top army guys want it to be bigger and equiped for fighting large scale wars. When Iraq was on the drawing board the head of the army said they would need 700 000 men for a sustained occupation of a country like Iraq to contain the problems faced in a country with so many domestic problems. Rumsfeld wanted to invade with 50 000 and luckily Frankes who was charged of the job of planning it with him (although the final say was Rumsfelds) was able to talk him into sending 140 000 but this was still probably not enough. I think the US has to start thinking about going back to conventional army thinking if it is going to mount large scale invasions and occupations like this.


[edit on 8-12-2004 by Trent]

Well,as the commander in chief it's HIS JOB to know about running army's.
Bush and Rumsfeld are directly to blame for this.I thought Bush was a war president?this reminds me of the nazi offense into russia,and the german soldiers were starving and freezing to death,in the mean time,leaders are telling their people that victory is near,and that god is on their side.
It's funny how people have such a double standard when it somes to bush and his failures.
If this was a football game,and the players got on the field and didnt have enough helmets,or all their pads and shoes,would you blame the towel boy?
Attention to detail and thoroughness starts at the top,unfortunately this is a sympton of the culture in our leadership right now.

I think it's funny that the Bush zombie cult has avoided this thread so far...