What is it going to take for our leaders in Washington to finally commit to providing the best possible support for the Troops?
Today IAVA called on the Senate Armed Services Committee today to launch an investigation into the deadly body armor supply problems facing our Troops in harms way.
This follows the stunning disclosure this weekend of a secret Pentagon study that found that scores of Troops may have survived if they had been wearing the latest body armor.
The men and women of the military have long known that the body armor supply chain is seriously flawed, and three years into this war they're still waiting for a solution. No American should tolerate this continuing example of bureaucracy at its worst.
There should be no higher priority for our elected officials than protecting our Troops, but so far Congress has shown little interest in fixing the body armor supply problems. We're not talking about building a bridge or rewriting the tax code. This is a matter of life and death, and bureaucratic excuses just won't cut it.
The full text of IAVA's letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee is below.
January 9, 2006
The Honorable John Warner, Chairman
U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services
289 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510Dear Senator Warner,
On behalf of America's Troops and Veterans, I urge you to convene hearings on the body-armor supply problems that continue to place our Troops in unnecessary danger.
The men and women of the military have long known that the body armor supply chain is seriously flawed. Why, three years into this war, are they still waiting for a solution? No American should tolerate this continuing example of bureaucracy at its worst.
The Pentagon's own research has shown that hundreds of American lives could have been saved if the Troops had been wearing the latest protective armor. This is not news. Since the opening days of the war, our Troops have been forced to rig makeshift armor to cover the gaps in old-style protective vests. There should be no higher priority for our elected officials than protecting our Troops, but so far Congress has shown little interest in solving the body-armor supply problems.
When our Troops are sent into battle, they do not grasp for excuses as to why they can't execute their orders. Our leaders in Washington should follow that example. Modern body armor can save lives, and it is up to you and your fellow committee members to protect our Troops in every possible way.
It was a mistake to order our Troops into harm's way without the best possible equipment. But it is a far greater tragedy to let that mistake continue. We must have accountability. We must know why these problems still exist, we must know who is responsible, and most importantly, future generations of Troops must know that Congress and the Pentagon will not allow these problems to persist.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and for all that you do on behalf of America's military.
Sincerely,
Paul Rieckhoff, OIF Veteran
Executive Director and Founder
IAVA: Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America
770 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10003
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