Surge success causes MRAP slowdown

There's been a whole rash of articles basically saying the same thing. Things are better in theater in Iraq so maybe we don't need all those MRAP's after all.

Like this quote from an MRAP article on Weekly Standard's online site.

But since arguments against the surge are harder to come by these days, the services are taking the first steps in slowing the MRAP freight train. Late last month, the Marine Corps announced it would cut 1,300 vehicles from its order, saving the Pentagon $1.7 billion and removing the logistical headache of moving the weighty vehicles to the field and trying to find something to do with them.

Reading through these articles I notice we get to hear from the big brass now. Before it was the one or two star general run out to take the fire from the press and congress. Both of which were eager to criticize the administration and the war effort but still wanting to appear pro-military by calling for immediate and miraculous production to MRAP's to protect our war fighters. Not exactly a very friendly environment. As with any organization when the news is bad or you expect to take some heat, send out the spokesperson or lower level management. But now that there are reasons for optimism in Iraq we hear from Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway and Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the number two commander in Iraq.

In the end fewer MRAP's will be produced but for now the manufacturers are still going full-tilt to field as many of these life-saving vehicles as they can. The front-line folks want them because they save lives.

Here's a recent article from USA Today about the positive effect the MRAP's are having in Iraq.