Congress Keeps our Troops in the Dark

During my first tour in Iraq, my team of four had one set of ANPVS-14 night vision goggles between us.  They were passed from driver to night security constantly.  On my second tour, we were provided two sets for our vehicle.  Things seemed to be improving.  But the recent move by the Senate that removed funding for “Night Vision Equipment” to fund the troubled V-22 Osprey (pdf), still baffles me.

Of all the time I spent in Iraq, I never saw an Osprey in action.  Recent reports say it will not be in use in Iraq until 2008.  It's hard not to assume that defense contractors are still dominating the ear of Congress, without listening to what our troops need right now.

POGO recently sent a letter to all members of Congress outlining this change in spending.  It upsets me to think about our men and women in the armed services sitting in the dark when there is a clear way to help them.  Let Congress know you want the needs of troops to come first.

-- Todd Bowers

Comments

[Posted on: Jun 09, 2006 at 11:48 AM]

Took a look at the report, the committee recommends 230 million dollars to procure 3 Ospreys. Googled anpvs-14 night vision goggles, and found a sight offering the standard mvpvs-7's over the counter at just under 4 thousand per. One Osprey equals 19,167 sets of "standard issue" nvgs. Couldn't we just do with 2 Ospreys? Didn't find out how much is actually being cut though (the display is sideways and I got a crick in my neck reading it). It is this sort of "how many hamburgers will a million dollars buy" comparison that ordinary folk (like me) need to comprehend what's going on in the soporific world of finance. Figures don't mean much until you open your wallet to see what's there. If only Fox News cared about soldiers instead of the pentagon. I want to see how many soldiers are wandering around in the dark, even if they can't.