Here's a grassroots view of "the hidden extent of systemically ill-considered acquisition actions" for U.S. troops in Iraq, according to a weapons expert who brought it to my attention:

Date: 040718
Slug: VEHICLEARMOR
By: Sgt. Zachary A. Bathon

CAMP VIRGINIA, Kuwait - In a large warehouse outside of Kuwait City civilian contractors from more than 25 countries around the world work in two, 12-hour shifts seven days a week.

They are working around the clock in temperatures reaching 120 degrees to ensure U.S. Marines are protected from improvised explosive devices and small-arms fire during convoy operations by installing new panels, dubbed up-armor, to the gunner's turret, undercarriage and sides of their vehicles.

"Since February we have installed more than 5,000 kits on Marine Corps vehicles," said Chief Warrant Office 2 Eric Gilmer, who hails from Columbus, Ohio, and is a project team leader from Logistics Command, Marine Corps Base Albany, Ga. "The guys in my shop call this 'Operation Armor All.'"

The issue raised by Bathon's report is not how well protected those 5,000 vehicles may now be, our weaons expert says, but rather: "Do the services buy humvees and tanker trucks only for use in parades?" As we know from recent headlines, inadequately armored humvees and tanker trucks are still being sent into hot combat zones.

Sorry, I can't find Bathon's report online at the moment. But it's out there on one of the Marine Corps sites. When I have it, I'll let you know.