Wounded Soldiers

Two stories out on wounded soldiers in Iraq in the last day. The bigger story was in the NYTimes last night/this morning. (well worth a read.)

A secret Pentagon study has found that as many as 80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived if they had had extra body armor. Such armor has been available since 2003, but until recently the Pentagon has largely declined to supply it to troops despite calls from the field for additional protection, according to military officials.

I don't know enough about this to pass any more than a gut level judgement. I can accept the original decision was made because they feared the extra plates would slow them down and restrict movement. Quite frankly, they could put the marines in full body armor like those two bank robbers in LA, but they would then be so slow, that they would be sitting ducks for heavier armaments.

But, when the commanders started asking for the extra armor, it should have been delivered immediately. FDR didn't wait for some podunk contractor to expand his production capacity. I thought we were at war.

The article also mentions that the marines are still waiting for a vehicle to replace their unarmored Humvees because of production problems. Still.

The second article sounds what's becoming a theme, more seriously injured soldiers are being saved, thank god, but that means there will have to be substantial long term medical care. Vot for Vet benefits every chance you get. These guys held up their part of the bargain.