NEWSWEEK: Study Suggests 1 in 4 Would Be Alive Today Had They Been in Properly Armored Vehicles

Prnewswire ^ | 4/25/04

[Brian Mosely]

Press Release

Source: Newsweek

NEWSWEEK: Study Suggests One in Four Soldiers Killed in Iraq Would Be Alive Today if They Had Been in Properly Armored Vehicles

Sunday April 25, 10:38 am ET

Light-Skinned Humvees Were 'Never Designed To Do This,' Says General, About Facing Vast Roadside Bombs

# NEW YORK, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- An unofficial study analyzing the casualty figures in Iraq suggests that many U.S. deaths and wounds simply did not need to occur, Newsweek reports in the current issue. According to the study by a defense consultant, that is now circulating through the Army, of a total of 789 Coalition deaths as of April 15 (686 of them Americans), 142 were killed by land mines or improvised explosive devices, while 48 others died in rocket-propelled grenade attacks. Almost all of those soldiers were killed while in unprotected vehicles, which means that perhaps one in four of those killed in combat in Iraq might be alive if they had had stronger armor around them, the study suggested. Thousands more who were unprotected have suffered grievous wounds, such as the loss of limbs.(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040425/NYSU005 )

The military is 1,800 armored Humvees short of its own stated requirement for Iraq. Despite desperate attempts to supply bolt-on armor, many soldiers still ride around in light-skinned Humvees. This is a latter-day jeep that, as Brig. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, assistant division commander of the 1st Armored Division, concedes in an interview, "was never designed to do this...It was never anticipated that we would have things like roadside bombs in the vast number that we've had here."

[solo gringo]

How can anyone stand to read the crap that newsweek prints much less believe it another bash Bush piece of junk.

[Starboard]

According to the study by a defense consultant, that is now circulating through the Army, says Newsweek, but they never ID the study or the consultant. If it is the one I have seen it is by a guy with ties to the company (FMC) that makes the obsolete M-113 APC, and is part of a campaign to "improve" things by replacing Strykers with Vietnam-era M113s (in which the soldier is inside a box... unlike a Stryker or Bradley, he can't even shoot back!).

Lies from the press, trying to tear down the military -- and elect their guy in November.

This story has agenda written all over it. Newsweek has found it convenient to collaborate with a commercial interest when it has information that can be used to discredit the Bush administration and tear down the military. Note the numerous unspecific references without attribution:

"An unoffical study..." -- by whom?

"According to internal Pentagon e-mails" -- could we see at least see portions of the text?

"Sources say that the Army brass..." -- at what level?

"According to a well-placed Defense Department source..." how high up?

"But Pentagon sources say..." -- that could be virtually anyone in the massive bureaucracy.

"And even at the Pentagon many officers say..." -- there are many officers in the Pentagon, which ones?

"a senior Defense official tells Newsweek..." -- could that official just happen to be a Democrat?

Aside from the obvious dearth of attribution, there is vitually no attempt in the article to critically evaluate the accuracy or limitations of the study. Only "information" that is totally supportive of their thesis is presented. Newsweek is a joke.

[q_an_a]

historians agree that if Patton had been allowed to follow his plan the germans could not have created the siege called "The Battle of the Bulge"

Communists in American science helped the Russians build the A-Bomb which created the cold war. Because Stalin had the bomb he had no fear of killing 20 million country men. All because of American Communits like the Rosenbergs and Oppenheimer. //woulda coulda shoulda historican hindsight off

[SuziQ]

Lies from the press, trying to tear down the military -- and elect their guy in November.

Yep, that's the only reason the story is there.

[LS]

I think some of this is true, but an Army vet of Korea and Vietnam, who has trained people for these kinds of operations, insists that the major problem is that most of our people who are Reservists or Nat. Guard are NOT properly trained in perceiving ambushes, dangers from roadside attackes, etc. He claims that most of the caravan/convoy casualties come from inadequate training, and that the regulars and Marines only receive casualties in direct combat.

[ChadGore]

The reality is that our enemy will seek out lightly armored vehicles, no matter how few there are.

"jihad_joe" doesn't live very long if he "alaoooooackbaaas" with his pithy little AK against and M1A1.

Below is a picture of the TOW missle that did in Uday and Qusay.
Note: Not a single US life was lost in this battle.

[b4its2late]

Newsweek Newsweak is a joke.

[Agnes Heep]

Honestly, I don't know how we ever prevailed in World War II. The Germans had us completely outclassed in their tanks and armaments, and their soldiers were, by all accounts, better trained. Maybe it's because we weren't afflicted with a pack of demoralized naysayers back home constantly reminding us of just how badly we sucked militarily.

[reed_inthe_wind]

First, the stats in this report don't take into account that the insurgents will switch to a strategy that works. So, if the RPG doesn't do the job, they will move to something else that does work. However, it seems like one of the lessons that we need to incorporate into future plans is that our troops need better protection from RPGs. As far as I am concerned you can handcuff mullahs to the running boards - just do something in the future to address this problem.

[Starboard]

NewsWEAK and its cousins in the liberal media get away with publishing "stories" which are not far removed from yellow journalism. To say that their writing standards are relaxed is an understatement, but then again they have an agenda to promote.

[King Prout]

you knew I would ask: What the HELL is that THING?

[prairiebreeze]

There is no doubt about the timing of this article and the NY Slimes article announcing the 9-11 Circus of the Stars is going to slam the Pentagon and Norad. The left has absoltuely no conscience, no morals and no shame.

Newsweek: Study Finds That 4 In 4 Have Lower Blood Pressure and Improved Mental Health When They Refuse To Read Newsweek.

Prairie

[Ranger]

Thanks for the ping. I think the 1/4 figure is probably low as a percentage of wounded. KIA percentage is probably higher if one looks at recent months versus earlier periods because IED effectiveness is up.

Army needs for armored humvees and retro kits is underfunded to currently stated need by about $600 million ($400 MM new vehicles and $200 MM kits).

If someone gets a link to the actual study or consultant please post it and ping me.

Of curious note is the low (single digits) of effective and operational M1A1 tanks. I think there were 125 total in Iraq at present, but to see such a low number actually in working order is disturbing.

[mountainlyons]

Could have 1 in 4 lives might have been saved in Vietmam and later if nEWSWEEK did not have armor against the truth!

[FreedomCalls]

Well duh! The Humvee's weren't designed for that.

They could buy some BTRs from the Russians. They are designed for that.

And they are inexpensive (compared to the Stryker or up-armoring the Hummer).

[Feckless]

Our military tactics are not, nor should they be, based on a Maginot Line mentality. We could build Hummers that weigh 70 tons but then they would be M1s. Aggressive manuevering is the answer... move, shoot, communicate.

[mhking]

The tv show's car and the modern movies' cars were all done by George Barris. Did he make this car as well?

I don't think so, but don't quote me. The only thing I know thus far (the only thing leaked about it thus far) is the two photos on the official site.

Here's the other one:

[mhking]

What the HELL is that THING?

It's a joint WayneTech/DOD design that Bruce Wayne "lifted" for his use in his personal "war on crime."

[Chewbacca]

We need some of those trucks from the movie Damnation Alley, or Soldier.

Those were cool.

[King Prout]

ahhh...
is there any hope that the next Batman movie will not suck?