In 2006, however, the division had four brigades with more maneuver-capable companies. They had the M1A2 System Enhancement Package including improved armor, independent thermal sights, and embedded digital command systems. Their Bradley A3 tanks had improved armor, and embedded digital command systems. Battlefield situational awareness was enhanced by unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicles (UAVs) integrated by Army Battle Command Systems (Network Centric Warfare). Communications were by a digital command-and-control network, including satellites. All Tactical Wheeled Vehicles off the forward operating bases were to be armored and radios in a Brigade numbered 2,500.
The facts is that this president, along with Duncan Hunter and others, sought to give the military all the equipment they need because when they came in there was no equipment thanks to the skeltonizing of our armed forces under Bill Clinton.
Under Bill Clinton we heard such horror stories as our soldiers and sailors going without essential training because equipment was broken and there were no parts to fix it. There were reports of maintenance crews "cannibalizing" other pieces of equipment to make Band-Aid repairs on equipment that has worn out.
One observer warned that because no new tanks were purchased in 1995, there was a clear danger that by 2005 the tanks available would be older than the soldiers driving them. Thanks to President Bush and Duncan Hunter that was not allowed to happen.
Under President Clinton our military was drastically downsized. Under the new Democratic leadership in Congress our troops are now being denied the funding they need to prevail in Iraq.
Once again I have to ask why they want us to lose another war. Wasn’t losing in Vietnam enough?