We are a few weeks away from being able to step away from the grinder as you aptly put it. The supplemental needs to pass. Quietly you will note the House has passed an earmarked $25 billion supplemental that includes about $700 million or so for armored vehicles. Huge news that goes a long way toward addressing a problem the Pentagon largely pretended in public didn't exist. The Senate will push it through too. No one (Congress or Administration) wants to be accused of not supporting our troops come November. Perhaps not optimal, how this is done, but the result will save hundreds. Had the grinder not turned, its unlikely that anything would have happened. The procurement system has become fossilized. Lots of smart people working in aggregate dumber than any of them. Remember in November we were being told we couldn't get half the number of vehicles out in twice the time (Aug 05). Fact is, PFCs on the line and their jarhead brothers, were poorly served by the Pentagon. Cranking the handle with one hand and holding one's nose with the other at least got something done.
As to BRAC, what a mess. Nothing will happen until after the election. BRAC played a role in delaying vehicular armor, from what I can figure this year. The military armories were put on 3 shifts to justify their existence while civilian contractors were barely tapped on some items. The result was full employment of facilities in some areas targeted for closure, but delays in getting equipment to the field. Our industrial might wasn't engaged and for the most part still isn't. To me this is very worrisome. Because we've chosen to fight a war on terrorism with one hand tied behind our back, we can't assume that those who hate us will be so generous. I think this is going to be a long hot summer as al-Qaeda's leadership is preparing for an encore presentation.