Saturday, April 08, 2006

Anger, commence

Since I read this article in the L.A. Times several days ago, I've been meaning to post about it, but hadn't had the time yet. Well, now I have the time, and I'm pissed.

The U.S. Army, after six months ago saying they would reimburse any soldier who spent their own money on body armor, has now outlawed any armor not given by the Army to the soldiers.

Currently, the Army is using Interceptor body armor, armor that by all accounts, has been failing miserably. Many soldiers spent their own money to buy a competing armor, Dragon Skin, which not only is demonstrated in testing to be superior, but is used by the Secret Service protecting the President. One wonders, then, why if it's good enough for the Presidential Detail, why does the Army insist upon calling inferior?

Previous media reports have linked the makers of Interceptor armor to financial stakes of several Pentagon officials. This sudden about-face on the issue makes it seem more likely that the drive to not switch to Dragon Skin when it has been proven to be superior in field testing is motivated by financial gain, a sickening and disturbing motivation.

Furthermore, Dragon Skin provides side armor protection, which the Interceptor armor does not. Just on that alone, the Dragon Skin is the more superior armor, but it also uses more flexible and durable components than the Interceptor, which has been shattering on impact, leaving soldiers who take one shot without protection if shot again.

This administration cares about the troops? Then let them get the same armor the President's bodyguards get, the best one available, not some piece of shit that is lining the pockets of Pentagon officials. Otherwise, the emptyness of the words will just continue to grow.

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