Gates: Armored Trucks Worth Every Penny

Defense Secretary Inspects Transport Trucks Designed to Withstand Roadside Bombs in Afghanistan

(AP)  Defense Secretary Robert Gates says armored transport trucks that protect soldiers from roadside bombs are worth every dime spent on them.

Gates visited in Oshkosh, Wis., on Thursday to see the newest versions of the vehicles, specially designed for Afghanistan.

The trucks weigh 25,000 pounds — and they're lighter and more nimble than the version developed for Iraq.

Gates says he's making a new push to find ways to counter the bomb threat, which now accounts for 80 percent of casualties in the war zone.

Gates told employees of the vehicle's manufacturer, Oshkosh Corp., that they have the gratitude of countless U.S. troops and their families.

He said troops love the trucks and commanders sleep better knowing their soldiers have them.

Hundreds of employees gathered for Gates' speech. Many nodded when he said the work they do saves American lives.

The Pentagon has ordered about 6,200 of the vehicles. The contracts are worth more than $3.2 billion.

Meanwhile, Gates said Thursday that President Barack Obama wants to take the best elements from several options for the next U.S. steps in Afghanistan.

Gates told reporters that the decision is near on whether to add more U.S. forces to the 8-year-old war. Speaking to reporters accompanying him on a domestic trip, he said Obama did not choose any of the specific options laid out for him at a White House meeting on Wednesday. Instead, Gates said that Obama wants to select the best ideas from among many presented.

At issue is how fully to answer Obama's war commander, who wants about 40,000 additional U.S. forces and a reworked strategy. Gates would not spell out details of the four options presented Wednesday, nor what he thinks represent the correct approach.

Asked about the rejection of the options the military had presented, Gates said it was "more how can we combine some of the best features of several of the options to maximum good effect."

"There is a little more work to do," he said. "I do think that we're getting toward the end of this process."

One issue in the discussions has been, "How do we signal resolve and at the same time signal to the Afghans and the American people that this isn't an open-ended commitment," Gates said.

[dontknowitall]

The shame of it is that we had the technology and the resources to build these prior to the war on terror. Unfortunately George W. Bush lost his sense of VALUES.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

True, instead we have hum V's that can't take a hit.

[Hosheen]

What would save American lives is not engaging in wars that only serve as a giant recruiting effort for the terrorists.

Obama has been a huge disappointment in that he has not had he testicular fortitude to openly state what so many know. That it's time to stop wars that are counter-productive and serve only to water the money tree of defense suppliers with the blood of American military people.

While we're at that, lets prosecute Bush, Cheney, can company for treason, malfeasance in office, an toss them into a hard-time prison for the rest of their lives.

[zootsuithap]

You know, South Africa developed several "MRAPs" in the '70's as a response to their experience against mines and IEDs. Whey don't/didn't we make use of that expertise? I suspect the Israeli's have similiar survivable vehicles...who knew?

[ToolMangler1]

That is good for them, I would rather that our military not be in a position to be crippled because of a disagreement between a foreign manufacturer and our "Accounts Payable" dept, Lets keep our military hardware stamped "Made in USA", (Means work for Americans also).

[retm-w]

ToolMangler1 I agree 100% American Made, keep the badly needed jobs in America, not africa or Australia.

[lawyertom1]

They are not perfect, but amen to giving our troops the tools that they need.

[Ms_enza]

These armored trucks were available in 2001...

The Australian Bushmaster and ASLAVs were available to provide US soldiers with safe IED-proof transport but the Pentagon refused to purchase the Australian vehicles in favor a years-long procurement process that would put money in the pockets of their friends and future employers at US defense contractors.

10,000 MRAPs at a cost of over US$500,000 each -- buys an awful lot of VP positions at Oshkosh, Raytheon, Hughes, etc...

Oh, and the lives of 6,000 soldiers and the arms and legs of 28,000 more.

[zootsuithap]

amen brother- see my post below. The South African's developed just such a capaibility in the 70's

[sedean1]

Let's never forget the hyprocisy of that administration and the cost of lives from the war they started!

[wiseoldmantoo]

I think it great for our troops to have a great military mind like BHO making the most important battle field decisions.

[dhague]

I fail to see how it could be any worse for our troops than the important battlefield decisions made by GWB. The Shinseki affair comes to mind...

[zootsuithap]

it's time code pink, the repubs, and others start hammering this administrtion for a failed policy, going no-where, a lost war, etc., etc. the same way they hammered GWB. Oh, I thought this was not a war of "choice" and a "must win?" Looking more and more like a stalemate.

[wiseoldmantoo]

I think it great for our troops to have a great military mind like BHO making the most important battle field decisions.

[Hosheen]

What decisions has BHO made? To take out the pirates in Somalia? Or to continue the wars that Bush started? Obviously you are a "great military mind" so give us the benefit of your idiocy.

[talcoolone]

Cool

[pistol7621]

We may need to use these near Muslim gatherings to counter the frequency of home grown terrorist efforts.

[Hosheen]

"We may need to use these near Muslim gatherings to counter the frequency of home grown terrorist efforts."

Exactly what "terrorist efforts" would those be?