http://rawstory.com/news/2007/NBC_US_soldiers_equipped_with_2ndrate_0518.html

Friday May 18, 2007


"For several years, I have heard reports from active duty troops and
military experts that Dragon Skin body armor is more effective than
that currently being used," said Senator Webb.

"We owe it to those who are in harm's way to examine conclusively
whether this is true."

The following video, from NBC's Nightly News, is one of the reports
that led to the Senators' letter.
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/NBC_US_soldiers_equipped_with_2ndrate_0518.html

Full transcript of press release issued by Sen. Clinton:
#

In light of recent media reports suggesting that a particular body
armor system may offer better protection than the system currently
being used by our servicemembers, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton
(D-NY) and Jim Webb (D-VA) - both members of the Senate Armed Services
Committee - today called on Comptroller General of the United States
David M. Walker to initiate a Government Accountability Office (GAO)
investigation to reassess the body armor systems currently being
issued by all the military services and the Special Operations Command
for effectiveness and reliability against the threats facing U.S.
troops in combat.

"With United States troops risking their lives daily in Iraq,
Afghanistan and elsewhere, we owe it to them to make sure they have
the best equipment possible," Senator Clinton said.

"For several years, I have heard reports from active duty troops and
military experts that Dragon Skin body armor is more effective than
that currently being used," said Senator Webb. "We owe it to those who
are in harm's way to examine conclusively whether this is true."

Recent media reports suggest that the Pinnacle Dragon Skin Body Armor
system may offer better protection than Interceptor Body Armor
currently being used by our servicemembers. In light of these
revelations - along with constituent concerns expressed to the
Senators describing servicemembers and government personnel in Iraq
and Afghanistan wearing alternative body armor systems because of
concerns about inadequate body armor currently being issued to service
members - the Senators requested that the scope of the GAO review
include:

1) A comparison and testing of the Interceptor Body Armor system with
other commercially available products including the Pinnacle Dragon
Skin Body Armor system and the Special Operations Forces Equipment
Advanced Requirements (SPEAR) to determine if troops are currently
issued the best available body armor system;

2) A determination of the necessary procurement steps required to
obtain and field the best body armor systems for the armed forces;

3) A review to confirm compliance and applicability of current body
armor system policies and Safety-of-Use Messages for wear that apply
to conventional forces and special operations forces in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

The full text of the Senators' letter to the Comptroller General
follows:

May 18, 2007

The Honorable David M. Walker Comptroller General of the United States
United States Government Accountability Office 441 G Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20548

Dear Mr. Walker:

We are writing to request that the Government Accountability Office
conduct an investigation that would reassess body armor systems
currently being issued by all the military services and the Special
Operations Command for effectiveness and reliability against the
threats facing our troops in combat.

Recent media reports suggest that the Pinnacle Dragon Skin Body Armor
system may offer better protection than Interceptor Body Armor
currently being used by our service members.

Additionally, we have received constituent inquiries describing
service members and government personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan
wearing alternative body armor systems because of concerns about
performance shortcomings with body armor procured by the Department of
Defense.

We owe it to our men and women in uniform serving in Iraq,
Afghanistan, and other hazardous regions to provide them with the best
possible body armor.

Continuing allegations that superior body armor may be available but
is not being acquired by the Department of Defense warrant an
independent assessment.

In light of these revelations and constituent concerns we request that
the Government Accountability Office reassess the various body armor
systems currently being employed by all branches of the armed forces
and the Special Operations Command for effectiveness and reliability
against the threats facing our troops in combat.

The scope of this review should include:

(1) a comparison and testing of the Interceptor Body Armor system with
other commercially available products including the Pinnacle Dragon
Skin Body Armor system and the Special Operations Forces Equipment
Advanced Requirements (SPEAR) to determine if our troops are currently
issued the best available body armor system;

(2) a determination of the necessary procurement steps required to
obtain and field the best body armor systems for the armed forces; and
(3) a review to confirm compliance and applicability of current body
armor system policies and Safety-of-Use Messages for wear that apply
to conventional forces and special operations forces in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

We look forward to your prompt response.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Hillary Rodham Clinton
James Webb

CC: Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense;
Senator Carl Levin, Chairman, Senate Arms Services Committee

_______________________________________________________

Harry