Tom said: " ... it boggles the mind that we are just now developing vehicles that reflect current operational needs."

Boy do I agree with that sentiment.

The inertia at the DoD is maddening, and there is absolutely no excuse - none - for still having to "up-armor" HMMWVs this far into OIF2. On the other hand, there is a reluctance to properly fund the armed forces, both in the administration and congress. And ... there is the general ignorance among the American public as to what it really takes to go to war.

Ask yourself why it has taken this long for the Marines to deploy the MTV, and why the Interceptor is STILL being deployed to the army, without the side SAPI protection that the MTV has? At some point this points to recalcitrance of the country as to its moral obligation to equipment its men in uniform.