Protecting our troops

Incredibly, with a local reserve unit about to deploy Iraq, local people have been raising money to buy for them bullet-proof vests. The failure to provide this equipment would be quite a scandal, and Republican congressional candidate Kevin Triplett is trying to pin the blame on Congressman Boucher, as reported here ("Ninth District hopeful Kevin Triplett lashes out at Boucher," 2/7/2004) in the Bristol paper. On Thursday, for what it's worth, military officials gave assurances that the reservists from Southwest Virginia would all be fitted with the proper gear before leaving Fort Dix, New Jersey, according this report ("Officials say soldiers assured of receiving body armor ," 2/6/2004) in the Bristol paper. Senator Allen's office put out this press release that he had been reassured by the Defense Department that the Southwest Virginians would get their body armor.