American Marines are a proud, tough bunch. They expect to be sent into the most dangerous battles and expect enemy fighters to come at them with everything they have. But they also expect, and have every right to expect, the Pentagon to provide them with the most effective armor available to maximize their chances of staying alive and in one piece

regardless of your view of the war this should be regarded as a scandal. Rumsfeld and his delusions about how the war and the military should be run have a lot to answer for.

Marines without armor - Editorials & Commentary - International Herald Tribune