Comments on: MRAP Armor Update:

By: Rob N.

Rob N. — Fri, 16 May 2008 04:50:49 +0000

I say give Iraq Their Free Country & move our military to border regions in both Iraq and in Afghanistan. Drop all sanctions to boost world economy when it needs it.
We have Russia and Iran upset & Israel is more vulnerable then ever. China & NorthKorea neutral all as whole on us.
If we stay in Iraq, To The Eastern world it is no different then new Isreal. A Theme Park in The GreenZone come on! It’s their land.
I am American love this country. Respect theirs!
We rid Sadaam. Victory. If Sadr becomes top next election we in same boat.
We killed alot of those filled with hatred for us. Victory.
We took many losses But could have been much worse & still could be as well.
We set Iraq somewhat free. Victory. Finish it!
Now goto phase 3. Protect them from outsiders as they need. Keep at Israel’s back. We got to Baghdad in what ~30 hours. Use American power to take get out of their rightful place to be.
I support our troops. Job well done so far overall. Get to borders & underground entrances. Then come home.

By: WR

WR — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:47:14 +0000

While due diligence is very good in any task, total paranoia is a strong form of insanity.

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:02:28 +0000

“You see victory, I see “Stalingrad.“
Roy, you are delusional.

By: Roy Smith

Roy Smith — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:31:12 +0000

Brian
You see victory,I see “Stalingrad.” I also see Muqtada al-Sadr & his militia demanding,from a position of strength & post “Dien Bien Phu” type victory,that we immediately leave Iraq.….WITHOUT our equipment AND weaponry(just like the Eritrean government is demanding that the UN Peacekeepers there do).

By: pfcem

pfcem — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:58:30 +0000

Roy Smith,
A couple other corrections…
Coalition forces did not pull down the Saddam statute (& there was no “mission” for them to do so), IRAQI CITIZENS DID (something they could not possibly have done while Saddam was in control of the country).
The “mission accomplished” statement was in relation to & addressed to the sailers & airmen of the USS Abraham Lincoln who’s deployment was over (aka THIER mission WAS accomplished & THEY were going home). During that speach he took the opportunity to ALSO announced the “end of major combat operations in Iraq”. In hindsight it may have been better to have announced the “end of major combat operations in Iraq” is a separate speech to avoid the confusion caused by the misrepresentation by the main steam media.
OF COURSE those very smart bombers operate from knowledge in advance of what kind of vehicle is operating both where & when. You HAVE to patrol certain ares & travel on certian roads on a regular basis! It is not like the type of vehicle one may wish to attack can ONLY be attacked at ONE specific location at ONE specific moment…
You actually believe that the insurgents could take out the U.S. Commander of Forces in Iraq at any time & place but have not yet done so out of the kindness of their hearts…

By: HumanPestControl

HumanPestControl — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:22:48 +0000

[Gates said 6 percent of troops have been injured or killed while in the Mine Resistant Ambush Protection vehicles in 150 attacks, USA Today reported Tuesday. Six troops died.]
[The military’s main ground transport, Humvees, have a 22 percent casualty rate, Gates said, while attacks on Abrams tanks are more likely to incur casualties than attacks on MRAPs.]
UPI-May 12, 2008 at 12:55 PM
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/05/12/gates_mine-resistant_vehicles_save_lives/7555/

By: Roy Smith

Roy Smith — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:41:08 +0000

Maybe they are getting help from blond hair,blue eyed “Crypto-Muslims” enlisted in the military & who both operate on & provide maintenance for military vehicles.After all,our military leaders cannot even control the infestation of gang members,like the Bloods & Crips,into our military.

By: Roy Smith

Roy Smith — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:36:42 +0000

"the headline-producing-abrams flipping events are carefully planned and executed by smart people" THAT is EXACTLY my "paranoid" point.Those very smart bombers operate from knowledge in advance of what kind of vehicle is operating both where & when.Its like stealing signs from the pitcher in order to know what the next pitch is or how the New England Patriots spied on their oponents in advance of the games they played against them. The "insurgents" are operating on "insider" knowledge.They most likely even know when the U.S. Commander of Forces in Iraq is leaving the Green Zone & in what vehicle.They could blow him up any time they wanted to,like Yamamoto was taken out in WWII.Perhaps,with the aide of "allies",they can even plant triggering devices on said vehicles to detonate the IED when said vehicle drives over it.

By: TB

TB — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:00:20 +0000

Roy,
Its not fate or chance. Its called both sides knowing how to take notes and make improvements to their TTPs.
I wish I could explain to you how the IED-emplacing process works (its mostly classified and probably above your paranoid understanding), but put it this way, the headline-producing-abrams flipping events are carefully planned and executed by smart people.

By: Roy Smith

Roy Smith — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:26:57 +0000

Excellent examples of counter-insurgency are the French in Algeria(before they decided to just give up & walk out of Algeria,which,if I understand correctly,was considered part of France itself),the British in Northern Ireland & Malaysia,& Israel in the West Bank & Gaza.Israel building a wall to separate the Israelis from the Palestinians(another concept our government just doesn't get or understand) has helped decrease the suicide bombers in Israel.As far as tracked vehicles in urban environments go,you don't need speed versus "hauling ass" in the countryside like the "Left Hook" during Desert Storm,or the racing from Kuwait to pull down the statue in Baghdad.A 152mm gun(like on the Sheridan),which was useless in the open fields in taking out enemy tanks from long distances,would work just fine in urban areas for knocking down buildings housing enemy insurgent snipers.Or how about the much bigger 165mm demolition gun to knock down enemy held buildings? 120mm gun for the countryside to knock out enemy tanks(which,the threat of has not diminished,we still have enemies & potential enemies with tanks),& 152mm/165mm gun to knock down buildings in the city.Small dismounted foot patrols in "Indian Country" works also. Being totally paranoid & obsessively/compulsively checking over,under,& inside your vehicle for "bugs" or triggering devices(like the meth head "tweaker" who takes his TV,toaster,& microwave oven apart to look for listening devices &/or to see who's hiding inside it) before you pull out on convoy can also save lives.