Here's another thread on this subject:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1298471/posts
You'll notice this little tidbit in that article:
"Only some of the work has been contracted out, mainly to a plant in Ohio run by O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt, a unit of Armor Holdings. The rest of the kits are being produced by civilian employees of the Army working at depots in New York and six other states, where they are using laser-cutting machines to cut steel purchased directly from two mills."
And:
"Armor Holdings also produces armor for new Humvees, and the company said it told the Army last month that it had the capacity to increase its production to 550 vehicles a month, compared with the 450 vehicles is handling now."
Since only a fraction of this work is being "contracted out" to Amrican industry and since there is the capacity to produce more armor that is not being used, then this has exactly nothing to do with 'free trade' or china or protecting American jobs despite the fervent hopes of the protectionist crowd.
Your conclusion is not based on the concerns expressed by the Congressmen.
The fact is that 450/day is a VERY low number. There are more than 450 Humvees in National Guard and Reserve garages in Milwaukee, ALONE!
The larger point, however, is that industrial capacity in the US is simply LESS than it used to be. We have had trouble obtaining the crystals necessary for smart bombs/guidance systems, because they came ONLY from Switzerland. We have had trouble producing .223 and 9mm ammo for the purposes of the war. Now this.
Finally, your gratuitous and un-informed remark about "protectionism" demonstrates that you either don't understand FAIR trade, or you don't wish to.
Frankly, I hope it is the latter, but suspect that it's the former, caused by a simple lack of intelligence.