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Subscribe to RSSA civilian military depot in California is trying to plug soldier-reported gaps in U.S. supply lines literally on a shoestring budget — by providing bootlaces along with tourniquets, tracheotomy tools, goggles and other gear to service members in Afghanistan who say they are increasingly strapped for basic equipment.
But TroopsDirect, a nonprofit with one full-time employee and a small squadron of corporate backers, calls the latest request sent from soldiers soon to be in harm’s ways a disturbing first: They say they need key materials to protect them in a combat situation.
An Army unit slated to deploy to Afghanistan to clear roadside bombs has asked TroopsDirect for 30 special vests designed to carry armored plates because, according to the unit’s commanding officer, the Army will only outfit half of his 60 members with those vests.
The reason: Defense Department budget constraints, the unit’s sergeant told Aaron Negherbon, president and founder of TroopsDirect.
The nonprofit Troops Direct is bypassing bureaucracy to help soldiers get the supplies they need in a timely manner. So far, 15-tons of much-needed items have already been shipped with much more on the way. NBC's Mike Taibbi reports.
“That’s just not going to work,” Negherbon said. “Thirty lives are at risk. If one of the guys died because of lack of equipment, who will then say anything about budget cuts? What’s the value of a human life or a human limb?
“A sergeant I spoke to, who is under the company commander in this unit, said there was a budget issue tied to this,” Negherbon added. “To that end, he said: ‘If this was a few years ago, we could have gotten anything that we wanted. Now, it’s a make-do kind of thing.’ The company commander even put in an additional appeal (with the Army) and never heard back on it. So they reached out to us.”
TroopsDirect shared with NBC News its communications with the unit member who requested the 30 vests. NBC News agreed not to reveal the unit’s location or name to protect its leaders from potential discipline for going outside the Army’s supply chain.
The vests eventually will be fitted with armored plates that are slipped into Velcro pouches inside the nylon fabric. The unit already possesses the necessary plates. But, without the vests, 30 of the men would have no way to cloak themselves in the armor, Negherbon said, unless they were to duct tape the plates to their uniforms or bodies. An order verification form, obtained by NBC News, shows that Darley Defense in Itasca, Ill., will ship the vests — at a total cost of $1706.89 — to the nonprofit’s headquarters in San Ramon, Calif., at the end of February.
“I fully support what Aaron and TroopsDirect are doing,” said Jeff Freeman, the Darley salesman who sold the vests. “What is strange is when these troops are deploying, they may not be deploying with enough gear to support them for their 6-month, 9-month or 14-month deployment. At some point, they then have to turn to TroopsDirect, or to (their branch’s) supply system, to fulfill those needs. I don't know if that’s a budget issue or a planning issue.”
NBC News contacted the Army's media relations division on Tuesday afternoon, seeking comment on the work being conducted by TroopsDirect. An Army spokesman had not responded to that interview request as of Wednesday morning.
Last year, outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced his plan to cut almost $500 billion from the defense budget over the next 10 years, focusing on shrinking ground forces in the Army and Marine Corps.
With the U.S. military drawing down in Afghanistan — and with 34,000 more troops scheduled to return to home soil during the next year — the requests for needed gear have simultaneously picked up at TroopsDirect, according to Negherbon.
Last month, he heard from the commander of an Army mortar unit outside Kandahar, Afghanistan, who complained that the ear protection donned by his soldiers was so worn, some men were having their eardrums blown out by weapon percussions and were bleeding from their ears, Negherbon said. He’s pulled together an order of ear-protection devices for that unit.
When combat medics waited more than four weeks to be resupplied, TroopsDirect gathered stretchers, stethoscopes, syringes and gauze rolls in a few hours and shipped the material overseas.
According to GuideStar, a charity-monitoring website, TroopsDirect reported $350,858 in income (contributions) in 2011 against $209,419 in expenses — including $27,466 spent on administrative costs. Its corporate contributors include Gatorade, PowerBar, REI, American Trucking Associations, Darley Defense and 18 other companies.
Founded in 2010, the nonprofit self-reports that 87 percent of its total organizational expenditures go directly to program expenses and that it already has shipped more 60,000 pounds of equipment to service members overseas.
“We’re seeing a lot more of this one-off kind of stuff — like vests — that once was available and now isn’t,” Negherbon said, adding that troops who reach out to him have reported that some of their equipment needs are budget related and some are caused by logistical glitches arising in the Afghanistan drawdown.
“I will hear things like: ‘We’re in the south and our supply chain is in the north and because they’ve closed down so many distribution facilities and are retrograding at a rapid rate, we can’t get anything anymore,’ " Negherbon said.
“I can see telling them to ‘make do’ without a certain type of pouch. But these things (like vests and ear-protection requests) are something I’m seeing a lot more of. We just sent a bunch of medic packs to a Marine Special Operations unit. They were issued stuff that was ineffective for a medic out in the dirt tending to the wounded.”
Freeman’s company began selling to TroopsDirect in April of 2012 and has done deals on helmet lights and gloves, he said.
“There’s probably two sides to that story,” said Freeman, a veteran. “At times, the Army (members) may use him as an ‘easy button.’ If they know they’re going to have difficult time getting something out there, maybe they go to him because they’ve used him in the past and he’s provided such great customer service to them that it might be a little easier for them to use him.”
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get our troops the f*** out of that cesspool no more disasterous oversea deployments to feed the MIC we've got plenty for them to do in our cities and mexican border
One problem with using US troops on US soil. A little thing called the Posse Comitatus Act. The day that gets overturned is the day i'm outta here. FUJIMO
This is amazing... the crooks in Washington DC pi$$ away almost a trillion of dollars a year on defense and the soldiers still keep buying basic combat related items on their own... Our politicians are nothing but f...king traitors who sold out the country to military industrial complex and other special interest groups.
One need look no further than this story to see the complete financial incompetence of the DOD. Or, if one did want to look further, look at the GAO audit report:
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-271R
As Max^108 we spend almost $1Trillion on defense, the military industrial complex is getting filthy rich, yet our troops are going without armor in some cases.
Nice they've finally put this article out on the net, waaay too late in my opinion. Americans have been sending supplies to the troops for a number of years now as they do not have what they need. First it was items like socks and toiletries, now actual equipment they need to protect themselves. This is awful how they are treating these soldiers. Just another example of how Washington is wasting our tax money. Obviously, our soldiers health and safety should be a primary priority. But, due to the incredible mismanagement (and gameplaying on the part of the Administration,) this is what they get.
Thank you TrropsDirect for helping our soldiers!
The pentagon still seems to find money for parties and banquets though, and redoing offices just redecorated last year.
So do the fat pigs in congress.
Get of your arsses congress or there will be a revolution and it won't be televised.
You know that money they wanted to spend on Tanks they didn't need? HOW ABOUT GETTING VESTS OUR TROOPS DO NEED YOU IDIOTS
This just seems incredible that our troops are being put in harms way without adequate equipment while a large contract for over a billion dollars has just gone down the tubes with nothing to show for it. The Department of Defense is being scammed by sharp operators with political connections, while money needed to supply the troops is being choked off. The contractor who walked away with over a billion dollars for providing nothing is still being paid. Obviously political idiots are running our military!
The government can't even manage the military budget efficiently.
Yet some people want the Government in charge of everything in their lives.
I'm all for cutting back on DOD spending but it is not entirely they're fault. When congress approriates money it also specifies how that money is to be spent. DOD has told congress several times that they didn't need some of the defensive systems and planes but the Reps. and Sens. have a monetary stake (ie:jobs) in these systems because they are located in their state. DOD should ask for what they need and congress should give it to them if it is feesable without adding on stuff that DOD doesn't want.
I want to thank you for your service. Please be aware that when you are deployed we would like you to make do with what is provided at your destination. Have no fear, we have plenty of people back home pulling for you and your efforts to keep our country safe
I TOLD ALL OF YOU ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE AND ALL OF YOU THAT ARE NOT HERE STARTED YOUR UNEDUCATED NAME CALLING
This all started in April 2009 with President Obama as Commander In Chief Ordered US Defense Budget Cuts. I told all of you before about how this resulted in the loss of Funding for Maintenance of Aircraft, Vehicles, Ships and Submarines, Weapons Systems, Facilities, etc. and a loss of Sustainment Funding for Ammunition, Fuel, Food, Water, etc. with us eating canned ham, canned green beans, powdered potatoes, during the holidays unlike the President Obama propaganda news videos showing turkeys, mashed potatoes, yams, pumpkin pies, etc.; rationing ammunition, weapons magazines, etc. to the point that US Military Families were sending thru the mail weapons magazines. I told all of you how we were scavenging parts to repair things from battle damaged vehicles, including washing skin fragments and blood off some vehicle parts.
I told all you that are NOT the 1% currently Serving in the US Military as the 92% that have NEVER Served that the US Defense Budget is mostly for the too expensive overpaid "Fair And Living Wage" almost a hundred million US Citizens directly or indirectly employed by US Defense.
I told all of you before about WHY the US Military ends up with Obsolete US Military Equipment.
I told all of you before that US Defense is NOT only the US Military. And includes the majority of the US Domestic Programs, like the US Army Corps of Engineers Infrastructure Projects within the US; US Intelligence (to prevent another 9/11 2001 Attack); US Law Enforcement; Homeland Security; TSA; Border Security; etc..
I told all of you before about the hundreds of thousand overpaid too expensive US Civilians sent here since President Obama's August 2009 US Civilian Surge; and how they f**ked things up here. Long before the Mission to Redacted I told all of you about how the US Civilians that manage the supply system here did not want to give us the batteries for our stereoscopic night vision devices.
I told all of you before where the Billions USDs were being spent and who was doing that with the US Military and the Afghans suffering. Billions USDs spent by President Obama's Political Appointees with nothing built nor done.
I told all of you before about why the US Spends Billions USDs more and still cannot keep up with the 21st Century Russian Federation and Chinese Military Buildups.
I told all of you before about President Obama as Commander In Chief Ordered Reduction In Forces (RIFs) of 90,000 US Military Personnel to be thrown on Unemployment further straining the Veteran's Affairs, and the unemployment of 108,000 US DOD Civilians. Translation the remaining US Military end up with MORE deployments for longer tours (results more suicides, more domestic violence, more divorces, etc.). As the stated reason that Secretary of Defense Gates in protest tendered his Letter of Resignation.
I told all of you before about President Obama signing an agreement with President Karzai for the US Military to remain indefinitely. And I told all of you about how President Obama's Failed Foreign Policies lost the US Military Logistics Support Bases at Pakistan required to support the United Nation's Mission at LANDLOCKED Afghanistan; as without these US Military Logistics Support Bases, Pakistanis Seaports, Khyber Pass the Unsupported United Nations, US, NATO Military Forces MUST abandon US Ally Afghanistan to be massacred again by the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban. As only 30,000 can only be supported, including International Aid Workers without the US Military Logistics Bases at Pakistan. Our arses stuck here Indefinitely, without the support and backup of the US and US Allies Military Conventional Warfare Forces, that abandon US Ally Afghanistan 2014.
I told all of you before pertaining to Illegal Aliens, US Borders that it is ILLEGAL to use the Active US Military at the US. And it is against President Obama's April 2009 and August 2009 Policies, "US Military will not be used to secure US Borders".
I told all of you about President Obama as Commander In Chief intent of chopping the US Military by 50%; as instead of being capable of conducting Two Wars, and Contingency Missions (like United Nations Missions), chopped to only One War or Contingency Mission. President Obama as Commander In Chief Ordered 11% Defense Budget Cut. Secretary of Defense Penetta, 2012, response, "A 10% Defense Budget Cut will result in a Million (US) Civilians becoming Unemployed. As the reason that Secretary of Defense Penetta is tendering his Letter of Resignation, and 2013 news interview, to work on his (Walnut) Farm with a different kind of Nut.
I told all of you about President Obama refusing to listen to the Commanders on the Ground and his demanding their Letter of Resignation like General McKiernan, General McChrystal, General Petraeus, now General Allen. And I explained each in detail before (still getting all the facts pertaining to General Allen).
My Facts versus your Non Participant no experience Opinions:
Common Definitions from Dictionary.com:
"Fact, noun
3. a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true.
Opinion, noun
1. a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.
2. a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.
Opinion See Definition of Prejudice:
Prejudice, noun
1. an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason."
When we were young we did not listen either to the "old people" (survivors with experience) resulting in from the almost thousand of us that started as the US Military Training Teams to US Ally Iraq during the Iran Iraq Wars, rotated to Operation Cyclone till now only a few dozen of us survived, the rest dead as our lessons learned during the Real World Life or Death School of Hard Knocks.
The politicians are in the pockets of the MIC and therefore could give a rats ass as to the actual benefit of a weapons program to the actual soldiers. TRILLIONS spent on weapons systems that will only be used in conventional wars while medics, mortar platoons and EOD get NOTHING. The MIC pay (AKA BRIBE) these congressman and senators by contributing (thanks citizens united and the traitorous up SCOTUS) unlimited amounts of money to their campaign coffers. The preamble to the constitution should be re-written to reflect the true nature of the US government... NOT "we the people..." but rather "we the wealthy [Koch nutjobs], the corporations [LM, NG, B, R, etc.] and special interests [NRA, Evangelicals, oil industry, wall street, etc.] in order to form a more perfect union for us alone f_ck the average citizen..."
We keep listening to the nut jobs that think we will be invaded and forced to surrender if we cut the defense budget. That is a lot of Horsesh!t.
What this country has become is a very corrupt system that is stealing the wealth of the nation for a few punks like the Koch Brothers and the Military industrial complex, International Corporations and our elected "public servants".
They are working hard at taking away our vote. We cannot let them do that whatever it takes.
Wow Max...glad you could wake-up and join us. I've been seeing this sh!t since 1969. Soldiers don't profit from Defense expenditures...contractors do. Ya, some of it might trickle down but only years later; long after the cost overruns and missed deadlines ate up the taxes.
Dear Davod 475776 (I told you all before) I think you should include that it is quite possible that you are full of the brown smelly stuff, forty years ago I was warned that I would forever regret leaving the Republican Party, ha ha ha ha,,,never regretted it one day, and am ready to commence finishing the digging of the hole the Republicans are preparing or their burial, why because they are Stupid, enough said!~~
When my son was in Kindergarten, one of his classmates had a father fighting in the Middle East. We (the boys kindergarten class) sent his father all sorts of things from armor, food, baby wipes, etc. I thought it was sad we had to do so. It makes me ashamed to be an American, especially as I am the daughter of a Vietnam Vet.
My son is now in his first year of high school (9th grade) and we are STILL at war in the Middle East, with civilians sending our soldiers care packages and armor to save their lives, because our government is too cheap to do it themselves.
I went and had my taxes done yesterday. I ended up owing, just a bit over $700+ what I paid all year. It makes me wonder what fat ass pork project or illegal alien my money went to pay for, instead of going to the military men who fight our wars.
Great story. And I'm sure that the timing has absolutely nothing to do with the upcoming sequestration.
Or everything to do with it. It's interesting how the media times the release of articles and the quantity being released to stress their editor's own particular view on that subject. The gun control issue is another example of that.
There seems to be plenty of money for Solyndras, auto, insurance and bank bailouts. We send fighter jets to Egypt but troops don't have shoelaces? Maybe the priorities are askew and big government does not manage very efficiently or use common sense.
pgulrich,
"Maybe the priorities are askew and big government does not manage very efficiently or use common sense."
All of the above would be true. I worked for the government for 20 years so I know how bureaucracy works. Bureaucrats are usually more interested in building their own little bureaucratic empires than in anything else, and the military is full of bureaucrats, especially in the Pentagon where I worked for 5 years.
Anyone who has studied the shameful history of how Congress has treated the military over the existence of this nation will not be surprised.
Yup, this is nothing new. Every generation has had it's issues with Federal support (or lack thereof) for the troops under their charge.
It is definetky not just Congress. The military brass has alot to do with this too. They secure @!$%#ty overpriced contracts for things the military doesn't need... because they know that after handling those contracts, they can get a nice position with those companies when they get out. They also spend alot of money on @!$%# that is rediculous. I was stationed at Ft Riley for a while and there was a point where they had limited rations at the chow hall due to "budget constraints" and then the general spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to get a Big red One made out of concrete put infront of the soldiers center...This is why the military doesnt have equipment... you have retarded, self asorbed people running @!$%# and making budget decisions.
#@&^*(^%$ &^%$#@ *&^%$( *&^%) #@!%$^^&&. There. Now I feel better.
So my question to our leaders (who always say we have the best trained, equipped, and most powerful military in the world) is WHERE THE F#CK does this 600+billion dollars go every year for the Pentagon? You think you MORONS could at least save some of that money for basic equipment our troops need. Should never be a supply/money issue when you commit troops to warfare. As long as the money keeps flowing to the people on top, thats all our Congress give a Sh!t about. You would think that with how lousy a pay these guys get for putting their life on the line 24/7 they could at least get the basics. Can't take care of them on the battle field or off when they return. Makes ya wanna puke!
It truly makes me sick and angry. I wonder if there could be a civilian controlled fund (with civilian oversight) to manage donation's and then those donations people can deduct from their taxes. Basically a way to circumvent Washington and control part of the flow of funding to support the military by the people. As long as it could be deducted it would work.
The 1967 pay for a buck private was $95.70 per month, or about 76.6 times the Federal minimum wage of $1.25/hr.
The 2013 pay for a private E-1 is $1516.20 per month, or about 209.1 times the Federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr.
The difference in buying power (almost 3x) is mostly due to having to attract an all-volunteer force.
denver bill 2 - You need to go back to school. $1.25/hr times 173 hrs /month equals $216.25/month. This is assuming a 40 hour work week.
The money goes to bigger but not necessarily better 'toys'.
I worked for 12 years at a one of the major supplier of 'toys'. Here's how the system worked (1) Big bucks for new 'toy' research. (2) Someone wants another unapproved 'toy'. (3) Big Buck, unneeded 'changes' are authorized to the first 'toy'. (4) Money 'finds' its way over to new 'toy'. (5) First 'toy' gets built... More changes, etc. That's how the money disappears.
Buying thousands of custom, out of date, portable computers and storing them out in the desert helps too.
Denver Bill: the other thing you have to do is adjust the minimum wage for the fact that it has not kept up with inflation. If it had, minimum wage would now be above $15.00 an hour.
The funny thing about deciding you want to wage an unending "war on terrrorism" someone has to fight it and those who do need equipment. All of that costs money. So you have a choice, stop fighting unending wars, or find a way to pay for them (increase taxes to pay for war.)
Anybody notice Feisty, Pigorty and their ilk isn't weighing in on this article? Could it be because they know they cannot defend the great (smirk) POTUS & admin on this one.
Are you even slighly aware of where the Fed. budget (or lack of one) comes from? The House of (sort of) Reps.
Are you aware that the President only signs it, which is mostly a formality.
No? OK.
Wanda - this situation is disgusting and absolutely shameful.
But I've been reading stories like this for about a decade - this isn't a new problem.
And it needs to be fixed!!!!
Tired-of-it,
Do not attempt to make lame excuses.
President Obama as Commander In Chief since April 2009 Ordered US Military Budget Cuts, these do NOT have to go thru US Congress.
The US Congressional Appropriations to Fund the US Military must go thru US Congress. Taking away the Funding can be done Unilaterally by the US President as Commander In Chief.
denver bill 2,
Recalculate your US Civilian calculations to more than a 40 hour week.
You want to do something for the US Military DEMAND of US Congress to change the US Laws, and allow the US Military to Unionize, so that we too can get a "Fair and Living Wage" and Cadillac Retirements like the $90,000 Retirements of US Law Enforcement and Firefighters at California.
Maybe you should heed your own advice. Your numbers are correct. They are also totally irrelevant to my comment or to my calculations.
No, actually it cannot. It can be redirected from one funding stream to another but it can not be reduced by the administration. And it can only be redirected if it was not directed to a specific funding stream by Congress.
The US House of Representatives control the purse strings, not the President of the United States. The President can "suggest" a budget and he can request emergency and/or supplemental funding but he cannot reduce or increase the amount authorized by Congress. As the US House of Representatives is currently controlled by the Republican Party under Congressman John Boehner...I suggest you take up the matter with him.
Ol_Doc,
Nope. I was here, after President Obama as Commander In Chief Ordered the April 2009 US Military Budget Cuts, and also got to talk with the Secretary of Defense.
Also my involvement with Operation Odyssey Dawn.
DO NOT EVEN TELL ME "TEXT BOOK" THINGS THAT YOU READ, WITHOUT YOU HAVING REAL WORLD FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE.
More proof you know NOTHING, just attempting to play the Demoncrap Blame Game:
I did my time assigned to US Congress, go bullsh!t someone else; before the Honorable Senator Inouye died I knew him, go look at what his job was.
David,
I'm curious, what did President Obama do with the money? Did he give it back to Congress? Did he transfer it to the Department of Education? Did he replace Air Force One?
And speaking of funding, what is the President's authority to transfer funds outside of an agency appropriated by Congress?
What exactly does your "involvement" in Operation Odyssey Dawn have to do with the Defense budget...other than spending part of it?
You say you were assigned to the US Congress...in what capacity. I'm somewhat familiar with the US House of Representatives and if you are implying you were "employed" by a Member, then you have something to say I might be willing to listen to. Assigned sounds like you were an Agency employee assigned to a Liaison's office or perhaps you worked for a lobbyist. I know at least a Dozen members of the US House and half a dozen senators...so what? The put their pants on one leg at a time and they don't divulge inside information to people "assigned" to Congress...unless of course you were "assigned" as someone's Chief of Staff.
Unacceptable. Email your congressman/woman and demand our troops to be properly supported. We should have exo skeletons for them by now fully armored to stop up to 30-50 cal. I am sick of Washington (including Obama) treating our troops like human sandbags.
Please dont forget Bush,Cheney. They were not the first nor the last.treatment of soldiers poorley goes back to Rome and even before that.That is the price you pay to protect the scumbags that are afraid to serv. Did you serve ? I did
That was done by US Congress; not Bush nor Cheney, as US Congress refusing to Appropriate the Funds for the US Military to conduct President Clinton's US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein in accordance with President Clinton's US Law H.R.4655 "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998" Section 3 US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein, Section 2 Findings (Justifications) Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Previously, it was the belief of President Clinton (42) that the Cold War Era US Defense, US Intelligence Agencies, US Military were no longer needed. So President Clinton as Commander In Chief Ordered the Chops to the US Defense Budget, Gutting of the US Intelligence Agencies (that were previously built up by the Director of the CIA Bush (later President Bush (41)), Cut to the Bone Reduction In Forces (RIF) of the US Military. With the Results:
1. President Clinton (41) as Commander In Chief Ordered Chops to the US Defense Budget, resulting in the longterm US Army Corps of Engineers Infrastructure Projects within the US no longer funded, like the Levees at New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina. US Congressional Katrina Hearings that later absolved the US Army Corps of Engineers of any blame. Go research what else the US Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for as Infrastructure Projects within the US. Before anyone says something uneducated, the funding must occur years to decades in advance due to Court Cases, Environmental Studies, GAO, CBO, US Congressional Reviews, required Contracting oversight, etc..
2. President Clinton's Gutting of the US Intelligence Agencies that left the US Blind and Deaf to the Events leading to the 9/11 2001 Attacks. Bipartisan US Congressional 9/11 Commission (Committee) Investigations, Findings, and Recommendations, with former President Clinton saying, "I'm a so sorry". During the numerous Missions we did not have local national intelligence assets to link up with nor gain current situational intelligence, as the local national intelligence assets were no longer funded, so they became that Nation's Anti US Counter Intelligence Agents, Law Enforcement (including Secret Police), Military Intelligence (Counter Insurgency), etc. to make a living to feed their families. It took decades to inplace these Pro US local intelligence assets.
3. President Clinton's Cut to the Bone Reduction In Forces (RIFs) of the US Military. Many US Military Units were either Deactivated or became State's National Guard or Reserves. The States National Guard or Reserves being under funded resulting in lack of training, lack of current equipment, lack of maintenance and repair parts. It took President Bush (43) from 2001* till 2003 to rebuild the US Military to accomplish President Clinton's US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein. Many of those that were previously RIF'ed refused to return to US Military Service. So changes to Policies occured, in that the States National Guard would be Activated and sent into Combat, with many of the States National Guard "Weekend Warriors" stating that is not what they signed up for, then saying "Iraq Illegal Unfunded" and being wrong as Legal due to President Clinton's US Law, H.R.4655 "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998" with US Congressional Appropriations becoming 2003 Operation Iraqis Freedom .
To attempt to accomplish his US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein; President Clinton as Commander In Chief Ordered his Failed 1998 US Military Operation Desert Fox, resulting in the Islamic World Condemning the US as the Great Satan and in retaliation Osama Bin Laden plans the 9/11 2001 Attacks against the Great Satan (US) at the same targets as his 1993 First World Trade Center Bombings.
*After Afghanistan October 2001 in response to the 9/11 2001 Attacks; we were at Northern Iraq since 2001 conducting Operation Viking Hammer, the elimination of the Taliban, Al Quada, Islamic Jihadists that escaped us at Afghanistan and they combined with the Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK and became Ansar Al Islam. Then Operation Hotel California. So from experience we were at Iraq from 2001 till 2003, until President Bush (43) could rebuild the US Military that President Clinton (42) destroyed.
President Clinton had the US Army Anti Aircraft Missile Batteries, and the USAF Interceptor Jets (Armed) on "Standby" at US Commerical Airports removed; as originally to protect the US Cities and US Airports against USSR Aircraft (Bombers). According to the Bipartisan US Congressional 9/11 Commission (Committee) Investigations, Findings, and Recommendations these would have been "more than capable" to intercept the Airliners long before the 9/11 2001 Attacks, as the USAF aircraft that did respond had to fly from the nearest USAF or State's Air National Guard Airbases "when each minute counted".
Didn't you want to know the real reasons (Historically Documented and from Firsthand Experience (verified by declassified sources below), unless you were involved you would not know where to even start looking for the Facts):
President Clinton's 1998 State of the Union Address, US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein, Weapons of Mass Destruction, US Support of the Holy Warriors of Islam at Bosnia, etc..
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/01/27/sotu/transcripts/clinton/
President Clinton's US Law, H.R.4655, "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998", Section 3 US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein, Section 2 Findings (Justifications) Weapons of Mass Destruction with US Congressional Appropriations
http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/US/Legislation/ILA.htm
October 2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxKhJIjIiY
Operation Viking Hammer
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/041018/18excerpt.htm
Operation Hotel California
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol.-54-no.-2/operation-hotel-california-the-clandestine-war.html
Before any of you say anything about lies about Weapons of Mass Destruction (proof you did not read and comprehend the above declassified References), research Sargat Iraq. Or saying "no Al Quada at Iraq", again read and comprehend the declassifed References above, as we chased them (Al Quada, Taliban, Islamic Jihadists) to Northern Iraq along the Old Silk Road from Afghanistan. And why did we fail at eliminating them, before we could Iran gave them Islamic Sanctuary and many fled to southern Iraq and got Islamic Sanctuary from the Shia of Iraq without Sunnis President Hussein's knowledge (he would have had them hunted and terminated, his hatred of the Shia originally from Iran). And being a United Nation's Mission, NATO appointed British General McColl as Commander ISAF, and he did not stop them from returning thru Iran from Iraq or from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
President Obama making the Same Mistakes as President Clinton and expecting Different Results. The Holy Warriors of Islam also know this, as they have announced their changing to targeting locations within the US.
This situation is inexcusable and unacceptable. Newviners Unite! Contact your Representatives and Senators and demand some action.
This is amazing... we pi$$ away almost a trillion of dollars a year on defense and the soldiers still keep buying basic combat related items on their own...
Thats because the money doesn't go to the soldiers, they spend it on things like a concrete big red one emblem in the sidewalk in front of the soldier center on Ft Riley, while they have limited rations in the chow hall due to "funding issues". The military is just as much to blame for this as the politicians....also Air force one and Marine one are included in Defense budget...everytime air force one leaves the ground with the president, so do 2 others that are empty and they go to different locations, a kind of misdirection play incase of an attack, not only do all 3 fly, they each fly with a full fighter compliment. If you do the math on the fuel, maintenance and man hour cost each time airforce one flys the POTUS around you will quickly come to realize where alot of the budget goes. especially when he was campaigning and flying 2-3 times a day. You are talking probably close to a million dollars everytime he flys. I bet half of the 1 tillion dollar defense budget goes to ferrying the POTUS around. I bet that is the one area where the budget doesnt get cut however...
Well sure. the politicians who do the appropriations (congress)are much more concerned about a defence contractor in their district than any dogface getting shot at. That's how they make their living. Anything that threatens the self licking ice cream cone of military budget process is akin to treason. This from demogogues who would send other people's kids to get their asses shot off avenging some real or imagined insult to the flag. After all, they wrap themselves in it at every opportunity. So the military gets a several billion dollar airplane in quantity which they can't figure out what to do with and the ground folks get to shop in storefronts for the stuff they need to try to stay alive in what could easily be construed as a fools errand. The Iraqi episode most surely was. The Afghanis were capable of handling their own affairs when i was there in '75 and i am sure that they are still capable. Sure the Taliban are a grotesque but so is the Hillsboro Baptist Church and I don't think that the Afghanis are about to take another dose of these loonies for very long. I digress.
The nut of it is how we elect these folks with the help of secret money. Unless we fund elections publically and jail anyone who goes outside the boundaries, not as felonious but as treasonous, this crap will go on until the end of time. Sorry to have taken so much time to get here.
That was before the USSR 40th Army Occupation, and their USSR Total Conventional Warfare.
That was before Operation Cyclone.
That was before the 1990s Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban fully supported by the USSR Backed Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran massacred the 1980s Pro US Afghan Muhajeen.
That was before the 1990s Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban started massacring any suspected Collaborators to the Christian, Jews, Unbelievers; then destroying anything that was "Western", "Modern", "Non Islamic".
What you knew during 1975 as built up by the US as a 20th Century US Ally from the 1950s till 1979; is NOT the same Afghanistan nor are the Afghan People that were previously Pro US, as they were mostly killed off by the 1990s Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban, fled Afghanistan or ended up hiding up here in the mountains.
I don't understand all the ins-and-outs of military logistics. My personal political position on wars in general and the war in Afghanistan in particular is not germane here. GET OUR TROOPS ALL the equipment that they need - on time and in the quantity needed. O, and BTW, spend the resources on the VA, especially hospitals, staff, access, ETC! There is NO group of our citizenry that we can possibly owe more gratitude to then our vets. I don't care where, when or how they served: we owe the vets virtually all the freedoms that we (still) have. Libs, cons, left wing nutzos, right wing nutzos, gun freaks, anti-gun freaks, pro abortion, antiabortion, etc, etc all owe their free minds and free voices to our vets. Keep a lamp lit for those who serve and those who are serving. It's our given responsiblity to bring them back in the same condition as when they left. PASS OUT all 60 vests.....and do it now!
Our government treats our troops horrendously. One of my first concerns is the government having the Chinese make our military supplies. What we need to do for the troops is take away the entitlements our "elected representatives" have given themselves I.E life time full pay. Once they are fired or retired, they should be like the rest of us. They should be planning their future just like the rest of us not be guaranteed a full time living on our tax dollars.
Our "governments have this knack of taking away from the places of need, first. Like schools and the troops. They are the first to suffer. Our "elected" representatives make sure they get the exorbitant cut first.
True. From the local level on up you never hear about getting rid of duplicate assistants or administrators, it's always police, fire, teachers. Just scare tactics to get more money they can waste and steal.
wonder how much Obama's inauguration and balls cost. just sayin'
Ummm...
Less than the three Bush inaugurals?
Dork.
Tired of it------You can't really believe hat can you. If you do, you are really dumb!
Government don't want solders to come back just wounded so they wont have to pay for medical care.
It would appear that the Commander-in-chief is a massive screw up. Maybe Seal Team Six should take care of the other "O" terrorist.
I have no love for Obama, but Lil Bush played dictator in chief ahead of him. Whatever power the previous president gains, is passed on to the next, none turn that down. All these years, and 3000+ lives have not been avenged, they did not become reasons for retribution against those that killed them, but, excuses for the president of the US to settle personal scores. A vile and dishonorable man in my opinion. I do not see Obama as an improvement, his approach is much different, and, no less vile. His agenda seems to be, divide and spend the US out of existence, and, he is getting plenty of help with that.
I can agree with you on some of that. We can blame Bush for the Patriot Act and the Department of Homeland Security. Two things we did not need. We can blame Obama for making them worse though.
If you are still in the one-oh-one (101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)) at Fort Campbell, go ask the guys with the black beret flash with white trim about what happened in October 2001.
During that we ended up in fierce urban warfare at the Afghan Cities. Most of us did not survive. After being resupplied and consolidating with the other Teams we were chasing the Al Quada, Taliban, Islamic Jihadists along the southern part of the Old Silk Road killing them without hesitation and with extreme prejudice, until we were ordered to stop as not to violate the Sovereign Nations of Iran and Iraq.
If you are talking about the lame Demoncrap propaganda of "attempted to kill my daddy". Nope that was just one more of President Clinton's Section 2 Findings (Justifications) to Declare War Against Iraq, as the Declaring the Overthrow of another Soverign Nation's Government is a Declaration of War, just as if the Chinese and or Russian Federation declared to Overthrow President Obama.
President Clinton's US Law, H.R.4655, "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998" Section 2 Findings (Justification) Weapons of Mass Destruction and:
http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/US/Legislation/ILA.htm
Do you know why I know all of this, because: 1. I want to know everything about why we might end up getting killed (having to convince Teams as real Leadership as well as stop any fear (of the unknown(s)) with detailed Facts. Their 100% willing to do things versus being Ordered)*. 2. For Mission planning purposes you must know all the details. 3. Most of us that survived the US Military Training Teams to US Ally Iraq during the Iran Iraq Wars, rotated to Operation Cyclone, were opposed to the Overthrow of President Hussein, as we knew that President Hussein was the Counterbalance to the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran using the Iraqis Oil Wealth and the lives of the Iraqis Citizens of the Iraqis Military; under threat of jail (prison) just after President Clinton's US Law H.R.4655 was signed into US Law, we went into Iraq 1998 instead of going to prison. 4. Also so that you do not obey an Illegal Order (no US Law).
*When I was a young US Military Officer, we were thrown on aircraft, not told anything, you could smell the cold sweat and fear on everyone. After that experience, I always tell my Teams everything that I can (and do not say OPSEC, as what are you going to do jump out of an aircraft without a parachute, we did not have cellphones back then and were usually held with no communications before the Mission(s), all our families knew was that we went to work (routine day or night training)). A book I read a long time ago, Frank Herbert's Dune:
Very good idea there rober34.
Our troops need the things that will keep them alive, since sotelo has made them stay there practically defenseless! They were sent over there to fight, not hold hands and skip to my lou. But to not give them the items they need to stay alive, I have to agree with a poster above who said, "the government doesn't want them to come back wounded, cause they don't want to pay for medical treatments".
I think the American people should stand up and support the military (until they are all home) and make this congress and clown in chief look like the fools they are for not providing equipment.
As for patreas and the others who believe the men and women should be equipment starved, may they rot in h-ll for their direlection of duty to this country and it's citizens.
I Love the United States and what it stands for; have served with honor for over 22 years and going. but our crooked Politian's that rip off the citizens with taxes, and lack of action required to support our military, no matter where they send us, is dumb founding, they go on vacation or breaks with the government going broke and budgets not planned or met and STILL get paid ungodly salaries and benefits while we their troops stand guard, would sure be nice to kick them all out both senate and congress and start all over with people who serve the people's best interest and not their own political careers and ambitions. they cut our budget, cut our troops, don't supply us with proper training and equipment then send us off to fight some war, while their own children sit back confortable and safe, and Yes I know we signed up and no one made us, bring back the draft and take ALL men and women 18 and over to serve atleast 2 years, then they might have a say as to what is just and what is not
This what the GOP is giving us sending the troops into harms way with out proper gear, But them the Democrats are not to much help either.. The need to get off the royal behinds and do something about the budget!!! The rich man is getting richer but his kids are not serving in Harms way >If they were the budget would be passed and the troops would be getting the gear that was needed to fight their war. If you can give them the gear pull them out or get voted out... Maybe they should change the whole bunch of them from the Top on down!!!
God Bless TroopsDirect for doing what the government is failing to do. And silly PARTY DRONES will keep returning these pols to office!
Send the entire Armed Services Committee over there with no armour and a baseball bat and make them fight for 30 days. When those that are left get back you can bet your butt the troops will get what they need ASAP.
That'll never happen though. Kind of strange how there's no money to properly arm our troops in a combat zone, but plenty of money to give welfare recipients cell phones. Ask yourself who has the most pressing need ?
No wonder we are the laughing stock of the world bases on the sheer stupidity of how DC works, or doesn't.
Maybe they can ask Cher for some more money. I believe she has spent more money on buying safety equipment for our troops that the DOD has. Pieces of crap Congress is on vacation right now and can't be bothered with our petty problems. PIGS, I can't think of a single one that shouldn't be tossed out on their fat a$$
Your so called wars are a little different now than when I was doing it, (1961-1988) To the guy who wanted better armor,(exoskeleton or something like that) It will not, repeat NOT stop a 50 cal. Everyone now has to have night vision, bottled water, cell phone, internet access, and comm. with everyone just to go out on a patrol. Bull@!$%#, that's how the enemy knows where you are at. You go into a green zone at night, you leave from that green zone in the morning, very ignorant way to wage a so called war. If little Johnny can't call his honey, or mom every night or day he gets pissed. I made less than $200.00 per month when first in combat zone, 3 times in 13 months got close enough to a landline military phone to make a collect call to wife, ( at $4.00 per min) only managed to get through 2 times. Everything has to be candy coated these days to keep everyone happy.Bull crap.... U.S.M.C. 27 yrs.
And, a bunch of goat herders with mortars, RPGs, Aks, IEDs, have fought our highly trained, motivated, hi-tech professional military to a stand still. 10 or more years of wasted men and women, to accomplish no more than they could have in three to six months. Yes, Vietnam, over and over again. Fight, win, or, don't go. That concept maybe too complicated. Next time, if a nation is what you want to build, send Brown & Root, and 100,000 diplomats.
They also fought the Russian (then Soviet) army to a standstill. Defending one's homeland is much easier than propping up someone else's regime, regardless of ideology.
That is because you were not a LRRP/Ranger. Fighting smartly, not US Military Conventional Warfare (97% Majority).
james-101st,
You are proving that you never were with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as they were previously to my south at FOB/COB Eagle. And they know the difference between US Military Conventional Warfare versus Asymmetric Warfare Afghanistan.
"They" (1990s Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban nor the later Al Quada) did NOT fight the Russians (USSR 40th Army), we did after vetting, training the 1980s Pro US Afghan Muhajeen then leading them into Asymmetric Warfare Combat during Operation Cyclone.
The USSR 40th Army Occupation, 1979-1989.
We did not train the 1990s Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban, nor did we have anything to do with Osama Bin Laden living with his rich Saudi Arabian Relatives. We very carefully vetted everyone that we trained to prevent USSR Infiltrators, USSR Afghan or Pakistanis Intelligence Assets, USSR Spetsnaz, etc.; this is what we still do, unlike the US Civilians that vetted Afghans for the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces resulting in Al Quada, Taliban Insurgents killing US Military Conventional Warfare Forces Personnel and US Civilian Law Enforcement Trainers; those US Civilians that do the vetting do not give a sh!t, a just a 9-5 job, not their arses that will get killed.
If you ever figure out where the 1990s Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban came from you will see just how uneducated your post is.
LOL!! A legend in his own mind............ Too much Call of Duty me thinks. Are you sure you're not Walter Mitty???
Why would this company have vests that were basically surplus army equipment? It sounds like something is real dirty in the procurement wing of the DOD or their suppliers.
Hit the nail on the head there.
Spent all the money on expensive hi-tech toys, that do not seem to have won any major "conflicts", or somebody elses' civil war since the end of WWII. Pull the troops out, (should have been out in three months to start with), send in the drones, if needed. The military "leadership" has been so politicized they don't have the balls to protect their troops, or to stand up and resist sending troops into harms way with no plan on how or when to get them out. Politicians do not learn from their mistakes, because they are not the ones that die when they make them.
There was a Experienced US Military Leadership until President Obama demanded their Letters of Resignation.
To denver bill 2: You don't know what you are talking about. First, the military does not work regular days or hours. In Country we were on duty 26 days out of 30 days. And more than 8 hours per day. But even if you do the math for 8 hours a day, 26 days per month the pay still works out to about minimum wage. Minimum wage with no over time. Get it right, fool!
Ya, and he doesn't understand you are on duty 24/7 with people shooting at you.
This is nothing new, it has been going on for years.
President Obama's Promise (Verbal Contract) of "Hope(less) and (No) Change".
President Obama's "Everything he (General McChrystal) needs, he will get". So General McChrystal requested 90,000 US Military to accomplish the General McKiernan War Plan to Win Afghanistan (stolen renamed the Obama War Plan to Win Afghanistan) as ordered by President Obama. President Obama sent 1/3rd of the 90,000 as 30,000. The President Obama War Plan to Win Afghanistan fails miserably resulting in the unnecessary deaths of US Military and US Ally Canadian Military Forces, then President Obama Political Appointees on General McChrystal's High Level Staff start saying, "This Administration Does Not Know What It Is Doing".
As a retired Army guy.... I am very curious as to the units that were there before and what happened to the vests they no longer need? I really hope this is not some political statement....
Maybe it is not fashionable to wear some tacky old used vest?
As a recently retired Army logistician, this story smells. I'm willing to bet that the body armor they want is some fancy type armor for a unit that won't see much time outside the wire. There are a s*^^ ton of body armor in and out of theater, and with the recent reduction in troop levels, there isn't a shortage.
There is a distinct difference between need and want.
Yup - :) I suspect you are right Brad... I smell politics
jbd-5823068
Good question. Where is the equipment? The largest Military budget in the world and troops cannot get the basics? The same thing happened serveral years ago. After a press conference in the field (Iraq/Afganistan?) then secratary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld took questions from a soldier who mentioned the lack of basics, rebuilding vehicles to add armor plates. etc.
Cut defense spending where needed. not in the field.
PTSD, cut VAMC, Solider suicides, Mistrust the government? Yes, I do. I was on duty when Pres. Nixon resigned.
What is the future of this mission?
I don't know how long you have been Retired (I want to go back on Retirement again, submitted my packet again):
First, the "vests" are not one size fits all. The vests must be the correct size so that the carbon boron strike plates protect the wearer.
Second, the "vests" usually go back with the person that it was issued to. If this is the "Interceptor Body Armor", you really do not want a used one (less protection), also the "Interceptor Body Armor" is used to carry the load carrying pouches unlike the previous LBE and separate "Flack Vest".
Fortunely for us we wear actual Bulletproof Vests (also covers the crotch, and has sleeves) under our uniforms, unlike the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces; as not to scare the crap out of the locals (by looking like StarWars Imperial Storm Troopers).
All this crap started since the President Obama as Commander In Chief Ordered April 2009 US Military Budget Cuts. Those of us that have been here for years of consecutive tours witnessed the changes and equated this to a modern day Valley Forge, especially during the near Arctic Afghan Winters up here in the Afghan mountains.
Nope. After the President Obama April 2009 US Military Budget Cuts, there were US Military Families sending ammunition magazines for M-16s/M-4s. Many States National Guard Units families were buying Body Armor for National Guard Units deployed here. It was to the point were there was ammunition rationing, and 100% accountability for each cartridge, including emptying each magazine and counting each round.
Being a "recently retired Army logistician" sitting at a desk with no Strategic Situational Awareness, Brad M., you post the Strategic need for the Pakistanis Sea Ports, Khyber Pass, and the US Military Logistics Support Bases at Pakistan, that were all lost due to President Obama's Failed Foreign Policies. With those Losses since you more than likely do not know, where are the current things coming from to support the United Nation's Mission here, some of my Teams provide Security Overwatch of that MSR (part of our pain in the arse AOR). This is the identical mistakes that the British did; the USSR 40th Army did with us continuely screwing the Russian Logistics up.
Before you even say something, I was a US Military Officer Logistician desk jockey before, and even won second place during the Billards Tournament at the Logistics Bowl at Fort Lee. Then someone found out about my other Training and I was given the choice volunteer for extremely harsh US Military Officer Career Field US Military Asymmetric Warfare (aka Special Warfare) or get out (before 20 year Retirement).
I told you at post#1.13 and Secretary of Defense Penetta told you, 2012, "A 10% Defense Budget Cut will result in a Million (US) Civilians becoming Unemployed."
David....
One size vests never have existed to my knowledge.... and unless they are custom fitted to each person... I retired in 98 at Fort Bragg, NC where I continued to work for the command I was under before retirement until 2007. I was not in logistics nor did I ride a desk until just before retirement and physical injuries forced me too. If soldiers in CONUS have magazines sitting in an arms room and there is ammunition sitting around then the issues are different... it's not that the items do not exist.... they may just not be where they are needed the most.
Reserve and NG units have always been at the bottom end of the supply chain... even in peacetime environments... which is why they generally got what was used already.
Since that problem has always existed... probably since before Obama was born.... how can this not be a political statement?
If it's really about the troops then let's leave all the political shrill out of it and do someting to fix whatever problem there is.