Meehan crashes news conference on Humvee funding

Lowell Sun ^ | Thursday, April 29, 2004 | IAN BISHOP

[Cannoneer No. 4]

WASHINGTON A show-and-tell press event using an armored Humvee as the prop devolved into what amounted to a partisan street fight on Capitol Hill yesterday morning.

With smiles on their faces and backslaps still fresh, Rep. Marty Meehan, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Rep. J.D. Hayworth, a Republican from Arizona, excoriated each other over whose party is doing more to protect troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Clearly, funding for armoring Humvees has not been adequate," said Meehan, who infiltrated Hayworth's staged event without invitation and circulated a press release saying it was "outrageous" that the vehicle was in Washington rather than Iraq.

Meehan's presence and comments prompted Hayworth to steal back the spotlight in front of the assembled media.

"I think we all want to support our troops in the field," he said. "Just for the purposes of full disclosure, I think Marty wouldn't mind if I pointed out that when it came to $87 billion to protect our soldiers, Marty voted no," Hayworth said. "And the man he supports for president, Sen. John Kerry, in the final analysis voted no. It's something to keep in mind."

"I'm glad you brought that up," Meehan retorted. "Because when I see this administration trying to make it seem like the $87 billion was their way or no other way that package was loaded with no-bid contracts to Halliburton. It didn't provide the funding needed to up-armor Humvees."

The political spat underscored the dangerous conditions facing U.S. troops. Only 60 percent of the 12,800 Humvees the Defense Department estimates is required to support the ongoing endeavor in Iraq are equipped with reinforced windows and doors.

An Associated Press story earlier this week said the Army is making a "full-court press" to locate and deliver every armored Humvee in its inventory to Iraq.

Seven of the 23 Massachusetts troops killed in Iraq as of this month died while riding in unarmored vehicles, including Army Pfc. John Hart of Bedford and Marine Cpl. David Vicente of Methuen.

Hart died of injuries he suffered when his unarmored Humvee was ambushed near Kirkuk, Iraq, in October.

The vitriol between Meehan and Hayworth didn't quell when the cameras stopped rolling.

"If (the concern) is so great, vote with us to arm the troops in the field," Hayworth said. "Or is he like Sen. Kerry, did he vote for (the $87 billion supplemental budget to fund the fight in Iraq) until he voted against it?

"We're always pleased to see our friends, and we welcome free and open discussion, but let's tell the entire story," Hayworth added. "Not some of the woulda, coulda, shoulda. But what do we do to help people in the field right now? And the inescapable fact, no matter how you want to bash anybody else, is, sadly, Marty and Sen. Kerry voted against the very appropriation that would provide this kind of armor."

Meehan responded by pointing out that the bill passed by 78 votes in the House last fall yet 40 percent of Humvees in Iraq still lack armor.

"The president threatened to veto (the $87 billion) if it contained loans for the reconstruction rather than grants," Meehan said. "Does that mean if he vetoed it, he would've been against the troops?

"It's such a joke," Meehan added. "They think they can put a bunch of corrupt crap in (a bill) and everyone will vote for it like sheep."

From the outset yesterday, Hayworth sensed a fight was at hand when Meehan arrived uninvited at the event with a podium in tow.

"Are you guys here to mix it up politically?" Hayworth asked.

"We're on the same page," Meehan assured him.

Meehan said his actions yesterday were motivated by a commitment he made to the Hart and Vicente families.

"I made a promise to those families that I would not stop fighting to make sure our troops get the equipment they need," Meehan said.

Meehan has filed a nonbinding resolution urging the Pentagon to release all funds approved by Congress to armor Humvees as quickly as possible.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Does Meehan give you your talking points or do you give him his?

[hobbes1]

Someone should just toss em some boxing gloves, and say Settle it outside.


Then Meehan could really get what he has earned.(besides contempt that is...)

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ping

[Future Snake Eater]

It didn't provide the funding needed to up-armor Humvees.

That would be very interesting, if true. However, since it's a commie puke spewing it, how can we know if it's true?

[xzins]

Everything I'm reading says the uparmored Hummers don't cut it either.

Israel says we should use tanks and bradleys.

I agree.

[AppyPappy]

Zactly. It's still RPG bait.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The Israelis have turned many T-55 and Centurion tanks into heavy infantry carrier vehicles. They seem to know what they are doing when it comes to running armor in built up areas. I would give serious consideration to what they have to say.

Archy, do you have those pics handy?

[steve in DC]

To armor or not to armor Humvees was an Army decision.

The USMC armored all of its humvees. It was their decision as to where to spend their funding. But then, the USMC is always betting on all of its men and materiel being deployable at a moment's notice, anywhere.

The Army perhaps had been stationed in Germany for too long. But now its mission is changing rapidly. The doctrines underpinning their past Humvee aquisition decisions are not now operable. The increased costs for acquiring and operating armored Humvees, for largely rear area deployment, didn't seem to be correct at the time. In today's view it appears to be a "how could you be so stupid" decision.

As an aside, Foster Miller, of Waltham MA is making the armor refit packages for the Humvees in Iraq, and having them flown into Iraq, just as fast as it can. I cannot remember is Waltham is in Meehan's district or not.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Troops in Iraq killed, wounded because of brass inaction

Pentagon officials asked to explain Iraq armor difficulties

[Valin]

"We're always pleased to see our friends, and we welcome free and open discussion, but let's tell the entire story," Hayworth added. "Not some of the woulda, coulda, shoulda. But what do we do to help people in the field right now? And the inescapable fact, no matter how you want to bash anybody else, is, sadly, Marty and Sen. Kerry voted against the very appropriation that would provide this kind of armor."


Meehan responded by pointing out that the bill passed by 78 votes in the House last fall yet 40 percent of Humvees in Iraq still lack armor.


Very good Marty. Now how did you vote?

[CaptRon]

Halliburton, Halliburton, Halliburton. Evil incarnate. Got an issue? Halliburton was probably involved.

If I were Halliburton I'd be a lot more vocal in defense of myself. Not to mention litigious.

[xzins]

Let me add to what you've said.

I think the Army has long resisted the notion of minimal numbers of deaths being a battlefield liability. We now live in an era when the media is clearly partisan, and is used as an anti-war political tool. Therefore, minimal numbers of deaths are, for the propagandizing of the viewing public, treated far more gravely than in the past.

In WWII, for instance, the old jeep seldom had any kind of siding....even the canvas siding to keep out the cold. The same in Korea and Vietnam. There were probably plenty of folks killed in jeeps who would not have been if they had been in APCs instead.

I honestly don't think there've been any improvements in the ability to kill light vehicles that's suddenly rearing its ugly head in Iraq. You could always kill light vehicles with fairly light weaponry.

The difference now is how the deaths are handled in the media. Period.

Since that's a battlefield reality that affects the outcome of the information battle, then we need to use real armored vehicles (tanks, bradleys, apcs, strykers) as a part of any convoy that includes many lighter-skinned transports.

[BillyCrockett]

"I honestly don't think there've been any improvements in the ability to kill light vehicles that's suddenly rearing its ugly head in Iraq. You could always kill light vehicles with fairly light weaponry. The difference now is how the deaths are handled in the media. Period."

Right on the mark.

[dts32041]

What you need to remember about marty the mouth meehan, is volunteered to term limit himself, then broke his word.

He is a typical copperhead demo rat.

No I am not posting the kerry award for being a copperhead.

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

There is an INFOWAR being waged. You and I and all who post are INFOWARRIORS, whether we admit it or not, for one side or the other.

[steve7]

The name of the person that is the Director of Kerry's campaign is Meehan. I beleive that it is Marty's son.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ArmorWorks given $30M Humvee armor order

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Humvee horror haunts army

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US rushes more tanks to soldiers

No matter what the Army does, somebody is going to say they are wrong.