[ninenot]

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.

[DugwayDuke]

"Finally, your gratuitous and un-informed remark about "protectionism" demonstrates that you either don't understand FAIR trade, or you don't wish to."

Oh, I understand 'FAIR trade'. It's where a group of workers use the power of government to set artificial HIGH prices in order to take the hard earned wealth from their fellow citizens. Did I leave something out?