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It sounds like the quote is taken from a longer interview and is out of context. What else is new.

No units are going to Iraq without weapons. No individuals are going to Iraq without weapons either. When we have people go to Iraq from Qatar they draw a weapon, ammunition and body armor.

Nearly all units going to Iraq go through Kuwait first. Any deficiencies in personal equipment are made up there.

The Stay Behind Equipment (SBE) is a hot topic in the military right now. There is also Prepositioned Equipment (Prepo) available from the Army Prepositioned Stocks (APS). At this point most of that equipment has been drawn and used and some of it returned and is being reconstituted. Most vehicles - in particular armored HMMWVs - are left behind for the new unit to fall in on. When a new unit arrives, they work with the departing unit for a week or more depending on the mission to learn the ropes.

"Nearly all units going to Iraq go through Kuwait first. Any deficiencies in personal equipment are made up there."

or during Stateside training before deploying. (and individual soldiers can buy extra stuff in Kuwait too . . .)

"The Stay Behind Equipment (SBE) is a hot topic in the military right now. . . . Most vehicles - in particular armored HMMWVs - are left behind for the new unit to fall in on. "

I am glad to hear about the emphasis on SBE. It only makes sense. With the improvised explosives, etc. I hate to think of anyone running around in Iraq without an up-armored vehicle -- esp. if the up-armored vehicles that had been there were shipped back to the States with a returning unit!

Thanks for the update.