Petraeus' Weapons Picks

So which weapons systems did General David Petraeus call out in his underwhelming testimony before Congress?

*The advances you have underwritten in weapons systems and individual equipment; in munitions; in command, control, and communications systems; in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities; in vehicles and counter-IED systems and programs; and in manned and unmanned aircraft have proven invaluable in Iraq. The capabilities that you have funded most recently – especially the vehicles that will provide greater protection against improvised explosive devices – are also of enormous importance. *

Aka MRAPs, Predators, Ravens, Global Hawks and helicopters. Surprisingly, Warlock jammers ("counter-IED systems") are on the list, despite scant evidence that they actually work to reduce bombing fatalities.

What's funny is that one of the items on Petraeus' list -- MRAPs -- was rejected by Pentagon weapons-buyers for years preceding the current "surge," and only won approval after repeated pleas from troops in the field and intense media pressure. Another desperately needed weapon, the Marine Scan Eagle drone, is still stuck in bureaucratic limbo. Petraeus' speech would have been an excellent platform for demanding change in the military's back-asswards acquisitions community. The general preferred to play nice. Sometimes speeches, like the surge, are all about appearances.

Related:
Army of Dude: surge sucks
Marines denied drones
Trucks defeat bombs
Troops love tiny drones
IEDs vex Pentagon bomb-squad