It is surprising how quickly the US government can move when matters of  “vital interest” are at stake.  Regardless of what feelings one may have regarding our intervention in Libya, it is quite amazing how we can focus our attention to prevent atrocities in a country which we have largely neglected for 40 years.

Compare our resolve in Libya to the interminable delays in getting our troops in Afghanistan the proper equipment to deal with IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices).   Congressman John Olver is quoted by IDGA as saying that “one-third of deaths and casualties could have been avoided if proper body armor and vehicle armor had been provided from the start of the war.”

Indeed, SFTT has reported on this issue for several years as our frontline troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered injury and death from equipment that is simply not up to the task.  It may seem reassuring to some that defense industry lobbyists are sponsoring yet another conference on this subject,  but wouldn’t it be far better if  Congress, the Executive office and our military leadership would demonstrate the same sense of urgency to protect our own troops.

Consider the litany of unfulfilled promises and gross incompetence shown by our military leadership and documented by SFTT in getting our troops the proper protective gear.   After all, we have been in Afghanistan for more than ten years and IED attacks against US troops have been escalating at an exponential rate and all our military officials can say is that we “have the best equipment available.”  Honestly, how can one  fully trust BG Peter Fuller, Program Executive Officer of the Soldiers System Center, with the litany of combat equipment  failures so regularly documented by the GAO and others?  Is anyone home?

Take the case of the Advanced  Combat Helmet (or is now called the Enhanced Combat Helmet?).  We have been embedding sensors in helmets of troops in Afghanistan for well over 3 years.   Surely, we must have sufficient information now available to design and field a better helmet.   Don’t our troops serving in harms way deserve the same “fast track” treatment that we have so graciously provided to unknown civilians in Libya?