multi-billion dollar arms deals keep on trucking - and why not? It has only been ten years and one war since former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki came up with the notion of an air transportable armored force and everyone knows these things take time and money – particularly lots and lots of money! After all, the failed anti-aircraft programs took almost $9 billion, thirty years and three wars to die.

Meanwhile the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coasties fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan every day are still buying their own personal body armor, making do with makeshift vehicle armor, and generally adapting the way American troopers always have, with their heads held high.

FCS, who needs stinking FCS – where's the beef, and the body armor, and survivable HUMVEEs?

DefenseWatch Editor Nathaniel R. "Nat" Helms is a Vietnam veteran, former police officer, long-time journalist and war correspondent living in Missouri. He is the author of two books, Numba One – Numba Ten and Journey Into Madness: A Hitchhiker's Account of the Bosnian Civil War, both available at www.ebooks-online.com. He can be reached at natshouse1@charter.net. Send Feedback responses to dwfeedback@yahoo.com.