Damned-If-You-Do/Don't Rant

It's common knowledge that our soldiers in Iraq are still trying to get the government to ship them body armor... body armor that the Pentagon admits could have reduced American deaths from torso wounds by some 80%.

So, with the Pentagon dragging its feet on getting body armor to our soldiers in the field, what has been happening? Soldiers, and their concerned parents, are going out and buying the body armor with their own money. (Think about that: American soldiers are having to spend their own money to equip the United States Army.)

What is the final insult?

The soldiers were ordered to leave their privately purchased body armor at home or face the possibility of both losing their life insurance benefit and facing disciplinary action.

Oh... that's fair. How much you want to bet that the officer who told them that was wearing army-issued-and-approved body armor at the time?