The cut price war

So Barry’s used car lot is supplying the British military transport in Iraq, with the normal deadly effects of Barry’s vehicles.

THE FATHER of a soldier killed in Iraq has accused the government of allowing troops
to die needlessly by deploying old and inadequately armoured Land Rovers in the
conflict zone.

Roger Bacon, whose son Matthew was killed by a roadside bomb last September, says the second-hand "Snatch" Land Rovers have led to unnecessary deaths.

His comments reflect growing concern over the use of ageing vehicles shipped out from Northern Ireland.

They are not designed to withstand powerful explosions. At least 18 soldiers have been killed in attacks on them, representing nearly a quarter of all casualties lost in hostile action in Iraq. Troops say the Land Rovers are seen as a soft target.

Well, I suppose if they are going to get blown up, a fully rigged Range Rover would be out of the question. But these old bangers aren’t even safe on English roads. So after a few complaints, and a secret ‘official’ report, there was talk of alternatives.

It has been confirmed that one heavily armoured vehicle considered by the Ministry of Defence, the RG-31 built by a division of BAE Systems would have
provided significantly more protection. Ministers say it was rejected because it
was considered too wide to go down some streets.

Relatives of the dead and campaigners say the RG-31 is a viable alternative, as most of the fatal incidents have been on open ground. Bacon, 34, an intelligence officer, was killed as he was being driven to Basra airport on a dual carriageway.

Brigadier Bill Moore, who is in charge of a programme at the MoD to find a new
vehicle, said the use of heavy armour had to be balanced with the need to
interact with local communities.

Good one Brigadier Bill, they sure as hell get to interact with local communities. Sounds like British troops in these decrepit Rovers are being spread a bit thin across the communities though.