Lawmakers blast US Army delay in fielding Humvees

WASHINGTON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers on Thursday criticized the Army for delays in getting over 800 new armored Humvees to Iraq, where they said U.S. troops face about 30 insurgent attacks using improvised roadside bombs every day.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, said the Army's decision to hold back 824 Humvees for U.S. troops that are not deploying the region until January could mean the "difference between life and death" for soldiers there now.

"Our troops deserve nothing less than the best possible protection. They need to know that not only is the best equipment being provided to them, but that it is being done in a timely manner," Hunter said at a hearing.

He said the Army should have sent the new M-1114 Humvees to Army soldiers in Iraq as soon as they rolled off the production line, or to Marines, which had only 6 percent to 7 percent of the up-armored Humvees in Iraq at the moment.

...more...

Check out the last paragraph -

Link Here