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No CEO in America would retain a manager with so clear a record of failure and neither should President Bush" - Nancy Pelosi
Originally posted by JoeDoaks
Toelint I could agree with you easily. Just not the this case, however.
American soldiers were sent to war with 'the very best' and Humvees are used and issued to be used as everything from a utility vehicle to a lite-armored car.
The American administration started the entire equipment imbroglio by bragging about things that are not proven to be true, such as protected convoys, body armor, etc. (Humvees).
It is not that anyone denigrates field ingenuity it is that it should be admitted as what it is- making do for deficiencies. During every war the filed forces create new ways of using equipment (not just Americans).
During WW II for example:
the Imperial Japanese stationed on islands in the South Pacific created a way to utilize native coral instead of cement to build bunkers. As coral is largely calcium as is limestone (basis for cement) the Japanese made-do (created) not only suitable bunkers but ones that were virtually indestructible.
the Russians surrounded by Fascist forces at Leningrad developed a method to utilize parts of pine trees as a food. This in itself was stupendous and greatly aided their ability to withstand a siege.
Duct-tape, originally designed for air duct work quickly became a temporary fix-all for everything from holes in aircraft to holding broken parts in place.
I'm sorry that you perceive this story as some type of liberal attack or spin- it isn't. It is the facts. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld clearly was 'shotting from the hip' like he has done many times in the past. This Iraq war is serious, it is not something the leader of a nations military should use for a stump speech, which in this case backfired.
Originally posted by ShadowXIX
Wow the Mercedes symbol on the grill of a military truck just don't look right to me.
Originally posted by Aelita
I may be partial, as my first car was a Mercedes, but a Mercedes symbol on anything is a mark of quality. Being anal goes a long mile when you are an engineer, and the Germans are just that. I'm not bashing the BMW, it's a fantastic vehicle with great hadnling, but Mercedes just has a different feel and I happen to like it.
Originally posted by soulforge
The G-Wagen doesn't look at all armored. It looks like a truck.
The G-Wagen provides superb mobility, reliability, and economy, both off- road and on-road. It optimally fulfills its intended mission as a vehicle for transporting personnel or loads at a maximum two metric tons, and for towing trailers or artillery.
Designed for air landings, the vehicle can be transported easily as an external load below a helicopter or as an internal load for aircraft, including the U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Osprey. It can also be air-dropped by parachute.
The G-Wagen is offered in several armored versions, with protection ranging from small arms to mine blast protection. It has performed successfully for German special forces in Afghanistan and U.S. Marine Corps Force Recon Units in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. Powered by a modern turbocharged common rail diesel engine, the G-Wagen military series meets the latest requirements of modern armed forces with respect to fuel efficiency and exhaust emissions.
At O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt, the Ohio firm that turns specially designed Humvees into fully armored vehicles at a cost of about $70,000 each, spokesman Michael Fox said they, too, can provide more if the government wants them.
Originally posted by ShadowXIX
Wow the Mercedes symbol on the grill of a military truck just don't look right to me. The G wagon has a much smaller stance then the Humvee I can also tell from the picture that the Humvee has better ground clearance.
"83.5 HP or a 2.5 naturally aspirated diesel with 75 HP. " Man thats a weak engine I had a 4 banger with over twice as much horse power. Not sure about the Torque numbers I assume they are much higher.
Give me a Humvee anyday even in the civilian world I like BMW better then Mercedes