[+/-] Armor companies could boost production; Bush ignored them

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who said Wednesday, "You go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you might want or wish to have" when confronted by troops about the lack of armor, vowed more would be done.

My gut told me that there was a lie in there somewhere. Turns out I was right: Two companies under contract to the Pentagon said their offers to boost production went unheeded.

Former Republican congressman Matt Salmon of Arizona, a spokesman for ArmorWorks in Tempe, Ariz., said his company will finish a $30 million contract with the Pentagon this month to make 1,500 armor kits for Humvees. "We are at 50% capacity, and we could do a lot more," he said. "They are aware of it."

Armor Holdings of Jacksonville told the Army last month it could add armor to as many as 550 trucks a month, up from 450, said Robert Mecredy of its aerospace and defense group. "We're prepared to build 50 to 100 vehicles more per month," he said.

What do you think? A lie? Rank incompetence?