Kit Blamed in UK Gulf Death - body armour taken away, guns failed...

[Pert_UK]

"The stepfather of a soldier killed in the Gulf War says his son would still be alive if he had had the right equipment.

Desert Rats tank commander Steven Roberts, 33, ...was shot through the chest during a riot in Al Zubayr, near Basra, three days after the conflict began.

...The Ministry of Defence confirmed Sergeant Roberts was issued with body armour but had to take it off - because it was needed by infantry soldiers.

His family said Sergeant Roberts' pistol jammed after he had fired two warning shots, and a tank's gun also failed."

Full story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/3124953.stm

[IkeWarnedUs]

1. They can't afford it

That's because the 2003 Military Budget was only $396.1 Billion. Are they really expected to provide working equipment for all of the troops?

Maybe next year they can buy some more body armor and new pistols.

Analysis of New FY 2004 Military Budget

$399.1 billion - Military budget request for FY 2004 (Budget Authority)

$70.1 billion increase from FY 2001

$16.9 billion increase from FY 2003

Note: These figures do not include the cost of a supplemental appropriations request expected to be presented to Congress for fiscal year 2003 to cover the war on terrorism and the cost of the likely war against Iraq. The Pentagon estimates that it needs more than $13 billion *without* including the costs of the war.

more: http://www.clw.org/milspend/dodbud04.html

[Rose Siding]

4. And yet they were going to roll in with chickens on the trucks

Remember? At one point it was reported that chickens would be used as a "back up" to the detectors of chemical exposure. They put cages on top of the vehicles. The plan was scrapped because of sand storms, as I recall.

Tres high tech :eyes:

[goforit]

2. Now that is embarrassing.........Rummy needs to take a cut in pay!

That is a sad story!!!

I bet you that these heartless thugs could give a hoot!!

[Lithos]

3. Different country

The soldier was from the UK, not the US.

L-

[Undemcided]

5. Bloody scandal

I had a friend in 2 Para a long time ago who said they were the best trained and worst equipped soldiers in the world.