Niteshift

Take heed those of you who say I never disagree with the adminstration, this is one of those time.

WTF is the Pentagon and the Marine Corps thinking with this boondoggle?



WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps is paying $100,000 apiece for a revamped Vietnam-era jeep as part of its program to outfit the hybrid airplane-helicopter V-22 Osprey, Pentagon records show.

That's seven times what a deluxe commercial version of the vehicle costs. It's also three times what U.S. Export-Import Bank records show the Dominican Republic paid four years ago for a military version of the vehicle, called the Growler, a recycled version of the M151 jeep.

The Marines and the contractor, General Dynamics, say the vehicle has been thoroughly revised with modern automotive parts and adapted to fit on the V-22. How appropriate, an over-price, half-azzed jeep to fit on an over-due, unneeded, expensive aircraft.

"Yes, it did start off with jeep technology, and it does look like a jeep in a lot of ways," says John Garner, the Marines project manager. But he says it's now "state of the art."

Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, a non-profit group that monitors Pentagon contracts, says taxpayers are getting a deal that "stinks" on an unarmored vehicle that makes no sense for today's missions, where troops face ambushes and roadside bombs.We already have an unarmored vehicle. Plenty of them.

"In a time of war, we should not be wasting money on a junker which will not protect our troops," Brian says. Under current military safety rules, the Growler would be barred from service in Iraq except as a utility vehicle that doesn't leave the security of a base.And we know how important it is to be able to fly vehicles into secured bases one at a time on small aircraft.

The Marines have budgeted to buy more than 400 Growlers, along with a French mortar and ammunition that it would tow, under a contract that could total $296 million.Damn, a French mortar too? We can't buy from a an ally? Well, the dwarf jeep looks like something Renault would make anyway, so I guess it fits.

The Growler beat two other vehicles for the contract, Garner says.

Built by Ocala, Fla.-based American Growler, the original Growler is made partly from salvaged M151 jeep parts and is available in several versions for as little as $7,500 in kit form. At the high end, there's a $14,500 upgraded "tactical dune buggy" with a "bikini top."That's right, they said recycled parts from the vehicle we replaced 20 years ago.

The Marines' version has considerable upgrades from the commercial and Dominican Republic models, the Corps and contractor say, including a turbo-diesel engine, disc brakes and other systems adapted from modern vehicles.Well hell, that makes all the difference in the world. I guess the turbo-diesel is so it can run away fast (that's what a French mortar is designed to do).

"It's not your grandfather's jeep," says Kendell Pease, a General Dynamics spokesman.No, my grandfathers jeep served for decades, enduring everything thrown at it for WAY lass money. My grandfathers wrench probably won't fix it either. This will need some $800 platinum wrench.

The Osprey is a twin-engine airplane that turns its rotors up for vertical takeoff and landing like a helicopter.

Under development since 1986, the V-22 is scheduled to go into service in 2007. It has a history of technical problems and several fatal crashes. Yep. They've been jerking with this thing for 20 years and MIGHT get it into service next year.........just in time to be completely obselete. And now we have a dwarf jeep made out of recycled parts to go on it. Seinfeld couldn't write this stuff.

The Growler is expected to be deployed with the V-22 in 2007, Pease says.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...tm?POE=NEWISVA

Here is a pic of this contraption:

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A burning desire for social justice is never a substitute for knowing what you're talking about. -Thomas Sowell

Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is muzzle flash.