The Pentagon's Byzantine bureaucracy isn't just holding up bomb-resistant vehicles. Urgent requests for equipment from Marines in Iraq appeared to go almost nowhere once the paperwork reached the suits back in the United States. According to an Associated Press article, an internal Marine Corps report criticized acquisition officials who dragged their heels on what could have been life-saving requests:
Of more than 100 requests from deployed Marine units in February 2006 to February 2007, less than 10 percent have been fulfilled, the document says. It blamed the bureaucracy and the "risk-averse" approach of acquisition officials.
Among the items held up were a mine-resistant vehicle and a hand-held laser system.
"Process worship cripples operating forces," according to the document. "Civilian middle management lacks technical and operational currency."
The 32-page document - labeled "For Official Use Only" - was prepared by the staff of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force after they returned from Iraq in February.
Trying to create a bureaucracy that can respond quickly to the needs of deployed troops, yet not buy shoddy equipment, is a difficult balancing act.
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* Military Dragged Feet on Bomb-Proof Vehicles
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* Shortages for New Armored Vehicles?
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