[
Diarist's note: Yes, I know I diaried on this yesterday, but it slid off quickly into oblivion. I thought this was too important for that, so I'm giving it one more shot - no pun intended at all. Please forgive me for the dKos faux pas;
I think it is worth it. - OH]
If you care about the lives of our troops overseas, prepare to be outraged. Follow these simple steps:
Step 1.:
Watch these videos (WARNING: LARGE FILES) here, here and here. These are large files, but you simply must watch them. What you will see is a body armor vest of a type known as "Dragon Skin" taking multiple hits from, first, an AK-47-type 7.62mm (.30-cal.) weapon at 20 feet, followed by hits from an MP5 9mm (.354-cal.) submachine gun at 10 feet. Notice that the vest stops every single hit.
Step 2.:
Understand that the Dragon Skin body armor shown in these videos is the same body armor used by President Bush's Secret Service bodyguards.
Step 3.:
Understand further that the Interceptor body armor that is currently the standard issue for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan has been know to shatter on impact, and generally cannot withstand more than one bullet strike, unless the strikes are spaced far enough apart on the armor. As an article at Soldiers for the Truth states,
For years ballistics experts have known that the boron carbide SAPI inserts intended to defeat rifle-caliber bullet impacts self-destructs after one strike. For that matter boron carbide plates can fail after being dropped too hard, stacked too high, banged against walls, or smashed into the ground, something that frequently happens to war fighters ignominiously seeking cover to save their lives. It says so right on the SAPI plates.
Step 4.:
Read this story from last week:
About six months after the Pentagon said it would reimburse soldiers who bought their own gear to use in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army has prohibited the wearing of body armor not issued by the military.
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sorenson, the Army's deputy assistant secretary for acquisition and systems management, said Friday that the government had "provided the best body armor available anywhere in the world" to soldiers deployed abroad, and that the Army was not satisfied that commercial body armor purchased by some soldiers conformed to the military's safety standards.
and this:
The message specifically prohibited Dragon Skin gear made by Pinnacle Armor Inc., of Fresno, Calif.
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Sorenson said Friday the gear has not yet passed testing.
It "isn't anywhere near" the capability of the standard interceptor body armor in use, Sorenson said.
"All other claims being made (about Dragon Skin are) ... exactly what they are: claims," Sorenson said. "Until such time it is standard we won't give them the 'good housekeeping seal of approval.'"
Step 5.:
Commence outrage.
In case you're unsure of the inescapable conclusion you have come to, don't be, because all of the above means exactly what you think it means:
The Pentagon is lying about Dragon Skin body armor, and it could be endangering the lives of our soldiers in combat.
So why isn't Dragon Skin armor being issued to our soldiers in place of the vastly inferior Interceptor? The Pentagon would like you to believe that it's because Dragon Skin hasn't "passed the tests." But that's bullshit. Somehow I doubt that the body armor worn by the Secret Service's Presidential Protective Detail is inferior to that being worn by our troops - you know, the Interceptor armor that is
inherently brittle and fractures when dropped or slammed into solid objects such as the ground
according to an article at navyseals.com in November 2005.
The folks at DefenseReview.com, who have been following this very closely for some time, had this to say about the whole thing three days ago:
Everyone who's been following the U.S. Army's body armor drama involving Interceptor body armor program vs. SOV/Dragon Skin body armor is probably already aware that U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center (Natick) Natick Soldier Center and PEO Soldier (Program Executive Office Soldier) have essentially declared war on Pinnacle Armor. According to Major General Jefferey A. Sorenson, Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management, not only has Dragon Skin "not yet passed testing", but it also "isn't anywhere near" standard Interceptor body armor's capabilities.
Wow. Ya don't say? Hmm, well, that doesn't seem to jibe with some other, well, FACTS, not to put too fine a point on it:
Defense Review must admit to being somewhat shocked by the rather committed statements that Major General Sorenson has made, especially since DefRev and many tactical professionals (including military, law enforcement, and PSC/PSC) believe Dragon Skin/SOV body armor to be hands-down superior to [standard government-issue] Interceptor body armor in pretty much every way. Mr. Sorenson has really put himself out on a limb, here. If the Dragon Skin ballistic test data and shoot packs that Gen. Moran retrieved prove that Dragon Skin is superior to Interceptor, Mr. Sorenson, Natick, and PEO are going to find themselves in a really embarrassing situation.
Let's cut to the chase: Like we said in the first sentence of the first paragraph of this story, Natick and PEO have basically declared war on Pinnacle Armor and Dragon Skin. It's DefRev's opinion that what we're all seeing here is an economic and political fight, a high-stakes turf war, if you will. It would appear that U.S. Army Natick and PEO are actively protecting their Interceptor body armor program and preferred contractors (soft armor and ceramic hard armor components), and blocking Dragon Skin from being adopted/procured, even though (we believe) these organizations are already aware that Dragon Skin is superior to Interceptor, with Dragon Skin offering superior ballistic protection to Interceptor in terms of coverage area at the same weight, multi-hit capability, threat level protection, and durability.
If we're right, these organizations (U.S. Army Natick and PEO Soldier) are working against the best interest of our infantry warfighters, because they're keeping them from receiving the best ballistic protection that's currently available--technology that could better protect them from enemy ballistic threats. And, the worst part is, they're doing this during wartime. If we're correct in our assessment, then the actions we've described could actually rise to the level of treason. We don't use the "T" word lightly. The actions that have been taken so far by certain individuals are potentially criminal and thus prosecutable acts
A later, excellent article at navyseals.com challenges the Pentagon to fairly and openly test Dragon Skin:
Several independent and credible sources believe that any full and fair test will demonstrate beyond question that Dragon Skin is superior to the currently fielded Interceptor system in all significant areas, save one -- cost. Dragon Skin is more expensive to produce, but the economies of large-scale production should cause a substantial reduction in the per-unit-cost to the government.
The article blames flaws and corruption in the Army's procurement process, which it says are keeping this armor out of the hands of our troops, and it points out that
The bureaucratic opposition in the Army and Marine Corps to considering Dragon Skin as a possible alternative is even more puzzling after reviewing the Pinnacle Armor client list. The most impressive name on the list is the U.S. Secret Service, but it's who within the Secret Service wears Dragon Skin that deserves attention -- the Secret Service's Presidential Protective Detail. These folks could, and would, get the "best in the world," so their choice of Dragon Skin gave extra weight to Nat's consultants' claims that Interceptor was not the best-available body armor, notwithstanding the emphatic statements to the contrary of Army and Marine Perfumed Princes testifying at congressional hearings.
Pinnacle Armor's chief executive, Murray Neal, also expressed his puzzlement over the Army's actions:
"We know of no reason the Army may have to justify this action," Neal said. "On the surface this looks to be another of many attempts by the Army to cover up the billions of dollars spent on ineffective body armor systems which they continue to try quick fixes on, to no avail."
Whatever the case may be, one thing is certain: the Bush Administration puts the safety and welfare of George Bush's bodyguards well above the safety and welfare of our troops in combat.
The fact is, the Pentagon has known about Dragon Skin since 2000 and still has not been willing to provide it to our troops on the ground. Instead, our troops are supplied with inferior, heavy, clumsy body armor that is pretty much useless after one hit. (I suppose the Pentagon could issue a directive to all enemy forces specifying that they take only one shot at any given U.S. soldier; that would probably absolve Pentagon officials of any responsibility.)
But up until last week, at least if any of our men and women in harm's way wanted to protect themselves with the best possible armor, they could get it for themselves. Now the Pentagon has not only denied them that opportunity, but has lied to prevent the best available protection from EVER being made available to them.
THAT is inexcusable.
UPDATE: From DoDi in the comments:
Point Blank Armor, Inc which makes Interceptor, is a subsidiary of DHB Industries.
March 3, 2006
DHB Industries Receives $54 Million Purchase Order from U.S. Army for Interceptor™ OTV (Outer Tactical Vest)
David H. Brooks is the CEO of DHB Industries.
(also Gen. Larry Ellis has been on the Board of Directors ever since his recent retirement)
According to the Executive Excess in 2005 Report:
Body armor profiteer got 13,349 percent raise since 9/11:
David H. Brooks, CEO of bulletproof vest maker DHB Industries, earned $70 million in 2004, 13,349 percent more than his 2001 compensation of $525,000. Brooks also sold company stock worth about $186 million last year, spooking investors who drove DHB’s share price from more than $22 to as low as $6.50.
In May 2005, the US Marines recalled more than 5,000 DHB armored vests after questions were raised about their effectiveness. By that time, Brooks had pocketed over $250 million in war windfalls.
Coincidently Mr. Brooks donated $25,000.00 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee in June 2005.
Thanks, DoDi!