Thursday, March 10, 2005

Rumsfeld Ignores Reimbursing Soldiers for Equipment

The Defense Department hasn't developed a plan to reimburse soldiers for equipment they bought to fight in Iraq and Afghan-istan despite requirements in a law passed last year, a senator says.
In a letter sent yesterday to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., sought details on the Pentagon's progress in setting up the reimbursement program and questioned why it was not in place.
"Very simply, this is either negligence on their part because they were not happy with this when it passed, or it's incompetence," Dodd said.
Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke said Rumsfeld will respond to Dodd's letter after he has reviewed it. She had no comment on the progress of reimbursement regulations.
Soldiers serving in Iraq and their families have reported buying everything from higher-quality protective gear to armor for Humvees, medical supplies and global positioning devices.

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