I don't understand how these guys invent and innovate things againt the most powerful army in the world or former most powerful........?


2 soldiers' deaths in Iraq raise doubts about MRAP vehicle
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/35931.html


WASHINGTON — The deaths of two U.S. soldiers in western Baghdad last week have sparked concerns that Iraqi insurgents have developed a new weapon capable of striking what the U.S. military considers its most explosive-resistant vehicle.

The soldiers were riding in a Mine Resistant Ambush Protective vehicle, known as an MRAP, when an explosion sent a blast of super-heated metal through the MRAP's armor and into the vehicle, killing them both.

Their deaths brought to eight the number of American troops killed while riding in an MRAP, which was developed and deployed to Iraq last year after years of acrimony over light armor on the Army's workhorse vehicle, the Humvee.

The military has praised the vehicles for saving hundreds of lives, saying they could withstand the IEDs, or improvised explosive devices, which have been the biggest killers of Americans in Iraq. The Pentagon has set aside $5.4 billion to acquire 4,000 MRAPs at more than $1 million each, making the MRAP the Defense Department's third largest acquisition program, behind missile defense and the Joint Strike Fighter.

But last Wednesday's attack has shown that the MRAPs are vulnerable to an especially potent form of IED known as an EFP, for explosively formed penetrator, which fires a superheated cone of metal through the vehicle's armor.

Military officials are still trying to determine whether last week's attack is a sign of "new vulnerabilities (in the vehicle) or new (weapons) capabilities" on the part of insurgents, said Navy Capt. John Kirby, a spokesman for Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

U.S. officials don't know if the EFP that pierced the MRAP was larger, redesigned or a lucky shot from an old one. But explosive experts in Iraq are investigating, said Col. Jerry O'Hare, a military spokesman in Iraq.

The attack comes at a precarious political juncture in Iraq. U.S. officials have accused Iran of shipping EFPs across the border and arming militias. They charge that despite assurances from Iran that it would curtail its shipment of EFPs, new weapons have arrived this year.

So far, military officials in Baghdad don't know whether the EFP used in the attack was Iranian-made or if it was shipped to Iraq this year.

Five of the eight soldiers who've died in MRAPs were killed in April, said Geoff Morrell, a Pentagon spokesman. Earlier in the month, a soldier was killed when an explosive struck an MRAP and it rolled over. Another two died in April when their MRAP rolled over and they drowned, Morrell said.

(Jonathan S. Landay and Warren P. Strobel contributed.)
McClatchy Newspapers 2008

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"We haven't turned any corners, we haven't seen any lights at the end of the tunnel. The champagne bottle has been pushed to the back of the refrigerator. And the progress, while real, is fragile and reversible."-------Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq:

Yeah, it's concerning since we go on about how powerful we are and we can't even quell an insurgency in Iraq.

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'May no obstacles arise on the path of enlightenment!
May the enlightened intention of Those Gone to Bliss, past, present and future, be realised,
May I neither be bewildered in migratory existence
Nor I lulled by the solitary quiescence [of nirvana]!
But may I liberate beings throughout the expanse of space!'

- Tibetan Book of the Dead by Padmasambhava

Insurgents devising...lol? Well I guess if you include Iran as part of the insurgency then they devised them....also would explain why the insurgency has got legs.

Fact is that half the insurgency is quelled and fighting AQI with us and now the other half is going learn the lessons the Sunnis did.The 'insurgents' dont really fight as you know.They bury bombs in the road and hide in the weeds.When they actually stand up with small arms or attempt an attack they are summarily disposed of.

If you know any soldier/Marine who is serving currently and has experience with MRAP they most likely will tell you its an amazing piece of machinery.Iran has got the expertise and the capital to take the next step,in turn the US will make the MRAPs better.Unfortunately its takes real world experience to determine the threshholds of resistance in something like this.Its certainly better than anything they ever had.

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WASHINGTON — The deaths of two U.S. soldiers in western Baghdad last week have sparked concerns that Iraqi insurgents have developed a new weapon capable of striking what the U.S. military considers its most explosive-resistant vehicle.

LOL 2 dead soldiers was the first 20 seconds of the Normandy landing. Give me a freaking break, the insurgency is dying, their only hope is a Democrat winning the oval office.

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"True Freedom is the Freedom to oppress others"

The Liberal does not want success in Iraq.

Any news which encourages defeat of the U.S. troops in Iraq is welcomed by their ilk.

We could certainly 'quell' it. We have enough fire power to turn half the globe into a parking lot. The issue come in when we try to accomplish the same goal diplomatically and while minimizing civilian losses.

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Anyone notice that only right-wing bigots use the word "liberal" these days?

Anyone notice that only right-wing bigots use the word "liberal" these days?


Only right-winger's are bigots?
That's strange, Mr. Wright is a Democrat, Sen. Byrd is a democrat, Jesse Jackson,
Al Sharpton, Farrakhan, all democrats.

To borrow a phrase from Mr. Wright:
Your crowd fits the mold of a typical bigot.

..

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The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson

We need concentrate on winning and not what people think.

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ABoyNamedSue - Speaking of Crestwoods posts - And then there'll be some link to some page, written in hindu or something, talking about sherpas and A&W root beer, and how George Bush is to blame for some Jewish neo-nazi death camp, run by Elvis Presley, on the far side of the moon that's been busted for killing kittens or something

I'm calling anyone who uses the word "liberal" in a negative context a bigot and it's mainly used as a negative by right-wing bigots these days especially on this forum.