Lemme take a stab at this story before you read the NY Times version.:

U.S. Upgrading Soldiers Armor Again

DATELINE WIZBANG: For the second time since the Iraq war began, the Pentagon is upgrading the body armor of U.S. troops to better protect the soldiers from insurgent attacks.

The effort to upgrade the existing armor began in May 2004, just months after the Pentagon finished the previous upgrade to ceramic plates which provided greater protection than the armor used at the start of the war.

The Pentagon had no timeline when the upgrade would be complete.

"We are working as fast as we can to complete it as soon as we can," Maj. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sorenson, the Army's deputy for acquisition and systems management, said Wednesday in an interview at the Pentagon.

But of course this is the New York Slimes we're talking about...

U.S. Struggling to Get Soldiers Updated Armor

For the second time since the Iraq war began, the Pentagon is struggling to replace body armor that is failing to protect American troops from the most lethal attacks by insurgents.

The ceramic plates in vests worn by most personnel cannot withstand certain munitions the insurgents use. But more than a year after military officials initiated an effort to replace the armor with thicker, more resistant plates, tens of thousands of soldiers are still without the stronger protection because of a string of delays in the Pentagon's procurement system.

The effort to replace the armor began in May 2004, just months after the Pentagon finished supplying troops with the original plates - a process also plagued by delays. The officials disclosed the new armor effort Wednesday after questioning by The New York Times, and acknowledged that it would take several more months or longer to complete.

Citing security concerns, the officials declined to say exactly how many more of the stronger plates were needed, or how much armor had already been shipped to Iraq.

Obviously we don't need a news media that specializes in blowing wind up our skirts. (like they did with the "Clinton" economy) But this story by the NY Times is just ridiculous. I didn't even know we had developed a better type of armor until I read we we're "struggling" to get it to soldiers. If we did find a way to save more soldiers' lives, shouldn't that be the news?

Isn't it obvious to a third grader that if you have a new product to develop and ship to thousands of people half a planet away it might take a while? I think the fact that the Pentagon has developed, approved and started making a new product this fast is actually quite impressive!

If Clinton were in office, there'd be a photo-op of him when the first one came off the line and the media would be telling us how it was a joint effort between Al Gore and Hillary. But with a Republican in office, the New York Times makes sure the glass is half empty and has a hole in the bottom.

I expect a certain level of bias in the media but this is just absurd.