[vbmoneyspender]

I am surprised by General Speer's statement that he was not aware of the soldiers using scrap medal and used ballistic glass to up-armor the vehicles. I know that members of his staff were aware and assisted the 278th in obtaining these materials. Our own 230th Area Support Group from Dyersburg, now stationed in Kuwait also assisted in this effort.

Is a press release like this unusual in the military where one major general is implicitly calling another major general a liar? A statement like that seems pretty extraordinary, particularly in a time of war.

[Natural Law]

This unit was STAGED to enter Iraq as soon as it was operationally ready. The modification of the vehicles was a part of that preparation.

Field adaptation is nothing new. The Humvee is the modern equivalent of the jeep. It is a LIGHT multipurpose utility vehicle. It was never intended to be an armored assault vehicle. The military and initial troops into Iraq specifically did not want hardened humvees because it reduced carrying capacity, speed and manueverability.