This damn thing isn't even armor plated

[CatWoman]

Our tax dollars at work :eyes:

WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps is paying $100,000 apiece for a revamped Vietnam-era jeep as part of its program to outfit the hybrid airplane-helicopter V-22 Osprey, Pentagon records show.

That's seven times what a deluxe commercial version of the vehicle costs. It's also three times what U.S. Export-Import Bank records show the Dominican Republic paid four years ago for a military version of the vehicle, called the Growler, a recycled version of the M151 jeep.


Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, a non-profit group that monitors Pentagon contracts, says taxpayers are getting a deal that "stinks" on an unarmored vehicle that makes no sense for today's missions, where troops face ambushes and roadside bombs.

"In a time of war, we should not be wasting money on a junker which will not protect our troops," Brian says. Under current military safety rules, the Growler would be barred from service in Iraq except as a utility vehicle that doesn't leave the security of a base.






http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-12-28-corps-jeep_x.htm

[Oreo]

1. It's basically a go-kart that fits in an Osprey.

The V22 and this minijeep aren't going into service until 2007

[CatWoman]

4. at least the helicopter is spiffy

:D

[Solon]

10. The only problem are those damn landings...

:)

[formercia]

11. Lose a rotor on that baby.......

That aircraft is an accident waiting to happen. A couple of well placed small arms rounds is all it takes.

It will last about 30 seconds on a hot LZ.

[Solon]

12. Believe me, it doesn't even need that "help" to crash! n/t

[formercia]

2. $100,000 dune buggy

I'll ride in back and let my buddy's body armor protect me. What a joke

[karlrschneider]

3. Our golf cart is more heavily 'armored' than that POS and I wouldn't ride

in it OR an Osprey for a million bucks.

[karlrschneider]

5. CNN is about to do a piece on this...probably in 5 minutes from 1615 CST

...just noticed flipping chans

[Historic NY]

6. My Marine buddy called it a "boondoggle"..........n/t

[symbolman]

7. Oh, that's okay..

Ali would have a little trouble driving it anyway.. Anyone Remember Ali?



Take a look at my New Blog "Grooving on the Rubble" at http://www.symbolman.com/blog

Good catch Catwoman!

[madeline_con]

9. We all remember Ali....

:cry:

[Walt Starr]

8. A Growler kit costs like $7500

What a total and complete waste.

[yasmina27]

13. It looks like a golf cart

:puke:

[TheCowsCameHome]

15. that was stolen and stripped after it broke down.

What a POS. Who makes them - Tonka?

[AZBlue]

14. Let's see....General Dynamics....

Good friends/ex-employers of both Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld (via Gulfstream Aerospace). Gordon England, Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense (Wolfowitz's replacement) & Secretary of the Navy, is their former VP. General Dynamics donated $809,400 in 2004 to Republicans. Former Pentagon officials and armed services members are on their Board of Directors (former U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Technology, Paul Kaminski; LtGen Julius Becton, Jr., ret. U.S. Army; George Joulwan, former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and General, U.S. Army, Ret.; Carl Mundy, Jr., former Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps; and Carlisle Trost, former Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy).


I'd say $100,000 is a bargain!
:sarcasm: