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A Daily Chronicle of Bush Administration Distortion November 2, 2004

     

Bush Misleads on Supporting Troops



On the campaign trail, Bush has repeatedly presented himself as the candidate who will unquestioningly provide American troops with the resources they need. At a last minute stop in Dallas yesterday, Bush said "there's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat."1 But there is mounting evidence that Bush sent troops to war without essential equipment.

A recent investigation by 60 Minutes found "a lack of armored vehicles, field radios, night vision goggles, and even ammunition -- especially for the National Guard and reserve units that now make up more than 40 percent of U.S. troops."2 Even though half of the injuries and deaths suffered by U.S. forces are the result of roadside bombs "the U.S. military still lacks thousands of fully armored vehicles that could save American lives."3 Part of the problem is that "most of the vehicles in Iraq arrived there without armor plating, because the Pentagon war planners didn't anticipate a long, bloody insurgency."4

Sources:
  1. "Remarks by the President and Mrs. Bush at RNC Victory 2004 Rally," The White House, 11/02/04.
  2. "60 Minutes Report - GIs Lack Armor, Radios, Bullets," CBS News, 10/31/04.
  3. Ibid.
  4. Ibid.



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