Durbin Calls on Pentagon to Respond Quickly to Troop Needs in Iraq
DURBIN CALLS ON PENTAGON TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO TROOP NEEDS IN IRAQ
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that recent reports about "mortality studies of Marines in Iraq and the vulnerabilities of their body armor are deeply disturbing."
In a letter to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Durbin stressed that the Pentagon must respond quickly to meet the needs of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. "As injuries and deaths mounted in the field, why was a move not made earlier to provide additional plating and enhanced coverage to soldiers and marines in the field? Clearly, concerns about weight and heat dissipation were part of the equation, but as injuries increased, particularly injuries occurring while riding in vehicles, the need for greater protection must have become increasingly apparent. One media report quotes military medical examiner Dr. Craig Mallak as telling a medical panel in 2003 that the information screams to be published,'" Durbin wrote.
Durbin noted that following the disclosure last week of an August 2005 Department of Defense report entitled "Marine Lethal Torso Injuries," the Army announced that it will begin ordering new equipment. Durbin said that "this seems tragically late" and the slow reaction by the Pentagon "raises questions about the thoroughness of wound analysis that is taking place and about the Department of Defense's responsiveness to findings from the field."
The report, which was classified as official use only, found that the cause of death for 93 of the 401 Marines who died from combat injuries was a lethal injury to the torso; 39 of these injuries occurred outside of the area covered by armor plating.
Taking a broader view of the situation, Durbin also raised questions about whether other preventable and deadly injuries might be going undetected. In his letter to Rumsfeld, Durbin asked, "Are there additional patterns of injury that need addressing? How is the Department of Defense collecting, examining, and responding to patterns in injuries incurred by our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan?" Durbin asked.
Below is the full text of the letter to Secretary Rumsfeld:
January 12, 2006
The Honorable Donald Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-4000
Dear Mr. Secretary:
Recent revelations from defense watchdog groups and the media about mortality studies of Marines in Iraq and the vulnerabilities of their body armor are deeply disturbing. The safety of our troops is of utmost importance to all of us: they deserve every available protection that equipment and training can provide.
The Department of Defense report entitled "Marine Lethal Torso Injuries," completed in August 2005, raises a number of troubling questions. As injuries and deaths mounted in the field, why was a move not made earlier to provide additional plating and enhanced coverage to soldiers and marines in the field? Clearly, concerns about weight and heat dissipation were part of the equation, but as injuries increased, particularly injuries occurring while riding in vehicles, the need for greater protection must have become increasingly apparent. One media report quotes military medical examiner Dr. Craig Mallak as telling a medical panel in 2003 that the information "screams to be published."
The Marines began ordering additional plating several months ago and yesterday's press conference and today's news accounts indicate that the Army will now do so. This seems tragically late. It also raises questions about the thoroughness of wound analysis that is taking place and about the Department of Defense's responsiveness to findings from the field.
Sadly, there is an abundance of data to examine: more than 2200 U.S. service men and women have been killed in Iraq and thousands of others have been seriously wounded, meaning there are thousands of autopsy reports and documents prepared by field medics to examine. Are there additional patterns of injury that need addressing? For example, turret gunners in HMMWVs, according to anecdotal evidence, are particularly vulnerable to catastrophic injuries from vehicle rollover. Do these injury rates demand either structural changes in the vehicles, remote firing devices, or additional protective equipment?
How is the Department of Defense collecting, examining, and responding to patterns in injuries incurred by our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Thank you for your prompt attention to this very important issue.
Sincerely,
Dick Durbin
U.S. Senator
http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=250423&&