Gov't is so damned inefficient!

Troops Concerns Being Addressed, Bush Says

Washington DC (Reuters)

Mata Musing:

When you run into stories like these... soldiers scrounging for scrap metal to add to their vehicles, or homeless vets... one can sense the glee of the reporters with the "gotcha, Bush" mentality. No doubt if Kerry were still around, he'd make it an election issue. Another Bush personal failure.

Truth is I don't think any Commander in Chief wants our troops in want for *anything*. And I'm quite sure Rummy feels the same way. For all the flaws and sleaziness of politics and politicians, they are also humans with compassion.

What is apparent is that government, with all the dollars approved last year despite Mr. Kerry's nae vote, still can't seem to get their shit together and get the supplies and weaponry needed in place.

This isn't anything new. If you want a program to be the most mediocre, with the worst service on the planet, make it a government run program. And it's highly unlikely this is going to change, even if God were elected President. As the responsibility goes down the food chain, there are too, too many that just drop the ball and do not perform up to snuff.

So while I support our Commander in Chief and our quests, I still rail against the inefficiency of bureacracy. *Especially* when it effects our warriors in need. They deserve only the best.

And this just in.....

Rummy says it's a matter of physics that the troops are not receiving the needed gear more quickly.

Rumsfeld responded that the Pentagon had taken steps to equip soldiers being sent to Iraq, but that factory production was limited. "It's essentially a matter of physics. It isn't a matter of money. It isn't a matter on the part of the Army of desire. It's a matter of production and capability of doing it."

The insurgency in Iraq, Rumsfeld said, has forced the Pentagon to shift its priorities toward outfitting every vehicle in Iraq with proper armor, something planners had not seen as a necessary expense before the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.

"As you know, you go to war with the army you have," Rumsfeld said. "They're not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time."

MM: I sure like Rummy, but this is not a statement to endear...