Hightower Lowdown

Good God Almighty! Is there no one at the Pentagon or in the White House with a brain...or a soul? From the beginning of Bush's wretched war in Iraq three years ago, our troops have been screaming to get adequate armor for both their bodies and their vehicles. Yet, astonishingly, Bush and the other dunderheads at the top have fumbled these life-and-death requests. Now, a secret Pentagon report reveals that up to 80% of the marines killed in Iraq from upperbody wounds would not have died if they had the proper body armor.Yet the marine brass did not even begin buying this armor until last Septemberand more than 90% of the units ordered still have not been delivered to Iraq.

Equally disgusting, many soldiers have died because their lightly armored Humvees are easily penetrated by roadside bombs. An armored truck called the Cougar could have saved their lives, but the Pentagon started ordering this vehicle only last May, and delivery to Iraq is three months behind schedule!

This delay comes because the Cougar contract went to a small, politically connected outfit in South Carolina that had never mass-produced vehicles and botched the job. A dozen prototypes did get to Iraq, but they had to be recalled because of failing transmissions, etc.

Meanwhile, our blasé leaders dismiss criticism, saying they're doing all they can as fast as can be expected. If George, Dick, and Rummy really gave a damn about soldiers, top corporations like General Motors would have been brought into a crash program immediately to meet the needs of our vulnerable troops. Instead of continuing to make $50,000 Hummers for war-evading yuppies, GM should've been enlisted to make Cougars. But that would require a real president.