[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Who do you hear the complaints coming from? Enlisted personnel or reservists? I haven't heard this kind of complaining from Marines who are taking the brunt of it. They pass it on up the chain and then adapt until the problem is solved.

The complaints need to stay within the family and should not be aired to the fifth columnists within the press

[FreedomCalls]

I haven't heard this kind of complaining from Marines who are taking the brunt of it. They pass it on up the chain and then adapt until the problem is solved.

From yesterday's Star-Telegram:

Marines in Iraq say armor is fine

By Katarina Kratovac
The Associated Press

NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq - Marines patrolling the former insurgent stronghold of Fallujah -- some in open Humvees -- say they've had some close calls but "get by well" with the vehicle and body armor they have.

"I think the armor we have for the vehicles is getting better, and our body armor is OK; I have nothing against it," Sgt. Aaron D'Amico said Wednesday.

Told about complaints from soldiers who told Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld earlier Wednesday that they lacked armored vehicles and other equipment, D'Amico said, "I'd definitely opt for higher production of armor, but the Marines get by well with what we have."

D'Amico, 24, of Cleveland, Ohio, said his unit, the 1st Battalion of the 8th Marine Regiment, received new, upgraded vehicle armor a year ago, with Kevlar-protected seats. D'Amico's only complaint is that the open-roof Humvee provides no protection at the back.

The armor the Marines receive is "usually leftovers from the Army; the Army usually gets the better stuff," he said.

Capt. Joe Winslow, 36, of Dallas said the lifesaver has been not so much the armor but the tactics of the Marines.

"It's the aggressive convoy procedures, paying attention to the basics, vigilance by the gunner and the driver," Winslow said.

Winslow said he had just seen on television footage of the soldiers' exchange with Rumsfeld and was "surprised" because the armor we have is "top notch."

"I don't know why they said what they said. I can't speak for another person," he said.

Cpl. Adam Golden, 21, of New York agreed that the armor they have is serving them well, but said he would prefer "castled-in armor," especially armor over the Humvee's open canopy.

"Our body armor stops appropriate rounds, and it works great to save lives," Golden said.

Cpl. Joshua Munns said it isn't easy to make the best armor.

"It has to be tested against the heaviest weapons infantry would encounter," said Munns, 21, of Redding, Calif.

[Eagle Eye]

Oh, so YOU haven't heard complaints....I see...YOU know what is going on in Iraq...YOU have the inside scoop, eh?

And guess what? Those who can get steel plates don't tend to complain, those that don't do. Not all. Not all the time.

And you also have to realize that there is generally a lot of denial of mortality in theater. A lot. A shrug of the shoulders, "hey, if it's my time, it's my time" is what most say.

But I'm sure you already know that.

Oh, BTW, your view of things is so skewed and knee jerk that you haven't an objective bone in your body left. You are part of the collective groupthink on FR.