In response to the growing use of IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices, or simply, roadside bombs) during the U.S.’s occupation of Iraq, the Department of Defense countered it with the purchase of the Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. It isn’t just the MRAP blowing up – what about the money blown on the MRAP?
These war machines cost a pretty penny, and fortunately, their production ended in 2012. Unfortunately, the production of the M-ATV (a smaller version of the MRAP) took over.
However, if you’re interested in swooping up one of the updated MRAPs, Oshkosh Defense went through the trouble of designing a wonderful brochure for you!
Cost of the MRAP
It is no secret that government contractors get top dollar for their services. Navistar, producers of the MRAP, is no exception.
Whistleblower Duquoin Burgess shared that Navistar messed with books and overcharged about $1,280,000,000 for its MRAPs. In terms of the U.S. Government, this isn’t much money. However, there are many better ways that money could have been spent.
What about the cost that is unseen? Lawyer fees, the hundreds, if not thousands, of hours spent on figuring out this mess, court fees, travel costs, etc. all need to be thought of as well.
Besides the money the government has faultily spent on the Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected vehicle, how much does the MRAP itself cost? Take a look at a piece of a Time article:
“Correspondingly, MRAP production surged from 82 vehicles a month in June 2007 to 1,300 vehicles a month in December 2007. The average MRAP costs about $1 million.“
Here’s the math for you for December’s cost of MRAP production:
$1,000,000 x 1,300 = $1,300,000,000
Again, the unseen. What about maintenance, fuel, transportation to the Middle East, and the soldiers to operate the MRAP? Is all of that included?
No.
Current Presidential candidate Vice President Joe Biden fully supported the MRAP. In March of 2007, he pushed for a bill that allowed for $2,500,000,000 be spent on 2,500 more MRAPs by the end of 2007. In his speech, he even pushed to borrow money from the next year’s budget!
With how much Trump proclaims he has the best military ever, there is no doubt he’s OK with the millions or billions spent on the next generation of MRAP and light vehicles, to include the M-ATV and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
More Money Blown
But what about the MRAP’s and other equipment the U.S. government destroyed? And what about the cost of $385,000 to just repair a single M-ATV? That last number is surprising because it’s directly from the Marines website.
Don’t you forget about the gas! An MRAP given to law enforcement in Wyoming in 2014 has a 74-gallon tank. It was $300 to fill it, and the range of the Cougar variant is 350 miles. The MRAPs in Wyoming looks like it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, so one could make the educated guess it gets a little better gas mileage!
That’s not even enough gas to get it from the west state line to the east state line.
Always Read Carefully, Even When Its not Money Blown on the MRAP
While conducting research for this post, I found an article from The Heritage Foundation. It talks about how Trump and Congress boosted the military for 2019.
Look at the following excerpt:
“Recent years have been unkind to our Armed Forces, as all four branches have experienced decline in multiple areas, For [sic] example, the Air Force is the smallest it has ever been and possesses the oldest planes since it was formed.“
There is no context in that statement. By Active Duty Air Force Personnel alone, according to Stastia, there were 321,618 members of the Air Force. According to the Air Force’s own Statistical Digest of 2011, 2005-2011 had fewer personnel. 1911-1941 had fewer personnel.
Granted, the F-16 has been in service for over four decades. However, how effective is one F-16 in comparison to the P-51 Mustangs of World War 2? That statement from The Heritage Foundation insinuates the U.S. hasn’t purchased a jet for so long, it must be old and out of date.
Lockheed-Martin just opened up a new F-16 facility in Greenville, South Carolina in April 2019. What is the likelihood that wasn’t done without help from the government? Was that plant in production shortly before it was opened? The article also states many dealings with other countries through the U.S. government in the sale of F-16s.
What is the likelihood of the U.S. Air Force not having any new jets in the last decade? Well, according to F35.com, the 500th F-35 was announced in March 2020 to be delivered to the Vermont Air National Guard of all places. They are also proud of the 250,000 flight hours by the F-35. But just how much money is that?
Money Blown on the MRAP for What and for Whom?
After billions have been spent on these Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected vehicles, one may wonder for what and who these vehicles are created. The first thought most people would lead them to the soldier, marine, or whatever servicemember that has to ride around in those bullet magnets. That’s exactly what the Chicken Hawks want you to think.
You probably can guess these expensive war machines are for the Chicken Hawks, especially those working in government. Logically speaking, the mission of the military is to save face for all of the errors the United States makes in its foreign policy.
A great number of conflicts the U.S. involves itself with in today’s world is because it does so voluntarily. The 19 year occupation of Afghanistan could have been avoided if America stayed out of the region in the first place.
This history is deep, but one recommended reading is Scott Horton’s Fool’s Errand.
One thing people generally do is look at the surface of problems. This isn’t just in politics, but in life, and it needs to be stopped.
Fool’s Errand goes back decades and shows us how American involvement in the Middle East leads up to a lot of problems we have today. As it is said repeatedly by a few, “History didn’t begin on 9/11.” Chicken Hawks seem to think so, which is honestly amazing.
When it comes to government (really, mostly everything in life), most people don’t bother to dig deep. There are so many examples in which we have failed to do so. I thought that maybe the Nathan Phillips situation would change things at least a little bit, but I should have known better.
So, to correct the mistakes the government has made in the past, the Chicken Hawks need the MRAPs and billions of dollars of other war equipment and citizens to do their bidding.
