There will be boots on the ground. Thirty billion bucks just for new trucks.

[Scuba]

http://www.jsonline.com/business/report-oshkosh-wins-30-billion-contract-to-produce-new-armored-truck-b99564023z1-322870241.html

Oshkosh wins contract worth up to $30 billion to build Humvee replacements



The Army plans to buy up to 50,000 of the vehicles, at a cost of about $250,000 each, while the Marine Corps would purchase 5,500. In addition, there could be years worth of parts and services for the multipurpose vehicles, which are meant to replace thousands of military Humvees.

Defense industry analysts say it's the largest military vehicle contract in the foreseeable future, and the competition for it was intense.

...

The company initially plans to hire about 100 salaried employees, Szews said, and more production employees might be hired later. Production would ramp up from a few hundred vehicles per year to 3,000 vehicles per year under the contract.

...

The Humvee replacements are expected to offer better protection from improvised explosive devices, and they're supposed to be faster and more maneuverable than other armored trucks. The new truck is dubbed the JLTV, for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

[Jokerman]

1. "better protection from improvised explosive devices"

Better than "don't invade and occupy other countries"?

I don't think so.

[IDemo]

5. But "don't invade and occupy other countries" puts a huge kink in profits

Priorities, priorities.

[CrispyQ]

2. This is why we can't have nice things.

You know, like roads without potholes & with enough lanes to actually handle traffic. I could list about a 100 other things the average American's life would be enhanced by, instead of war machines like the above.

Some days I hate this country.

[BlueJazz]

20. Yes, I was thinking as I read the story: Well, there's a bullet train...there's education for...

...a million students...there's new bridges...

It can truly piss you off !

[global1]

3. Looks To Me That Someone(s) Is Preparing For Another War.....nt

[shanti]

17. or something....

[NightWatcher]

4. And if there's no war, Mayberry's PD is going tactical

Don't pay your parking tickets and Knock Knock guess who's at your front door at 2am...

[Octafish]

6. What happened to the old ones?

Seem to remember a fleet was abandoned somewhere. Now, what was the name of that country? Iraq? Iran? Youtah? What the heck, they're all the same sitting on top of our oil.

[Amishman]

19. a large number are being sold off as surplus

a couple thousand I think i read somewhere

[lonestarnot]

7. oh yippee, more war machines. Now what about that education?

[Glassunion]

8. Well duh.

If we are going to spend all this money on the new toys, we damn sure better start using them.

Let's see, Iran is on deck, how about No. Korea as well?

[LeftinOH]

9. The manufacturer could make a little money on the side...

by selling to the civilian market. I can just see pro sports stars driving these around.

[bemildred]

10. Sort of like a Toyota with a machine gun in the back, but with lots of armor.

And electronics out the wazoo no doubt.

[KG]

11. coming to the streets of your cities and town in a few years.

[hifiguy]

13. As sure as eggs is eggs. nt

[MisterP]

12. they're proof against heavy fire, road bombing, and can carry 2 tons: ISIS *loves* Humvees

http://www.businessinsider.com/isis-turning-us-humvees-into-iraqs-nightmare-2015-6

[Scuba]

14. I don't think anyone is disputing that our troops deserve the best.

[MisterP]

15. no, I meant "ISIS *loves* Humvees" once they get their hands on them

[bemildred]

18. They make great car bombs, very hard to take the engine out as they drive at

breakneck speed towards your checkpoint. All that armor makes great shrapnel too.

[DirkGently]

16. Cool truck. Let's not use them.

We could maybe throttle back to just spending as much as the top two or three other countries combined, instead as much as the next 10?

We'd probably be okay. And with the change, we could fund universal college and healthcare, and still probably have enough left over for a few missions to Mars.

Our priorities are so out of whack.

[FLPanhandle]

21. If it saves lives, injuries, lost limbs, then it's a good thing

I'd rather our money be spent on protecting the troops than spending money on death benefits and prosthetic limbs.

Have the best equipment, but let's try not to use it.

[Scuba]

23. +1 and Welcome to DU Raleighsdog!!!