lol...you ASSUME that my misspellings were mistakes...maybe not!
First off, I don't think the US has done all it could or should to equip or protect the troops. I think Rumsfeld underestimated the number of troops needed and that has prolonged everything else. He had urgings to increase troop strength but chose not to. I think he's been penny wise and dollar foolish.
The HUMVEE isn't the best vehicle for the patrols or convoy escort. There are many wheeled armored vehicles that would do nicely, but the HUMVEE isn't one of them.
Nothing stops everything and there are always tradeoffs.
You say that famlies are not in the chain of command, yet they can fire the commander in chief or derail his agneda if they don't support it. If the families feel that the president is being careless with their kids' lives they will stop him better than his generals can.
'If the families feel that the president is being careless with their kids' lives'
I think the families should do some soul-searching from the standpoint of safety. Since you admit that the hummer even up-armored is insufficient, lobby Congress to buy something else. War is an inherently unsafe endeavor. Having no war or training/liberty (time off) is the only way to be totally safe. It isn't realistic. Troop strength is an area best left to the mil. There may be other factors or contingencies in play. If you are a soldier, bitch away, I understand that since if they're not bitching they are not caring.