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turned out well but

Posted: December 27th, 2007, 7:05 am
by Full Quiver
story

In any other line of work the contractor would have been replaced. When deadlines are in jeopardy like this the contract is voided and someone that can get the job done gets the contract. I'm glad these soldiers got home in time but if they had not have what sense would it had made?

Southwest flew 180 National Guard troops from Ft. Bragg in NC back home to Texas for free. The troops who almost didn't make it home could have flown commercial or even on a military transport flight.
I guess my question is are we so hung up on these contractors that we would have actually let our troops miss Christmas with their families?

Re: turned out well but

Posted: December 27th, 2007, 1:15 pm
by RamboPreacher
Full Quiver wrote:story

In any other line of work the contractor would have been replaced. When deadlines are in jeopardy like this the contract is voided and someone that can get the job done gets the contract. I'm glad these soldiers got home in time but if they had not have what sense would it had made?

Southwest flew 180 National Guard troops from Ft. Bragg in NC back home to Texas for free. The troops who almost didn't make it home could have flown commercial or even on a military transport flight.
I guess my question is are we so hung up on these contractors that we would have actually let our troops miss Christmas with their families?
as one that works with contractors and contract vendors daily, I assure you that dealing with them is a sticky-wicket. there are many variables, not to mention the least of which is the reduced list of "useable" contractors. This is referred to, sometimes, as the preferred vendor's list.

When dealing with them, there is also a time factor involved, in what can be done, when it can be done, and who's available to do it. I can say though, that in this case, the use of this contract vendor will be looked at very closely the "next time".

We also have to consider costs. While I can empathize with the soldiers challenges in timing for Christmas family quality time (better than ANY present). The bottom line, is the bottom line (unfortunately) - remember that in the eyes of many people, soldiers are a "resource" and not person. I don't agree with it, but that's how it is, especialy with the military bean-counters.

Posted: December 27th, 2007, 1:18 pm
by Full Quiver
We also have to consider costs. While I can empathize with the soldiers challenges in timing for Christmas family quality time (better than ANY present). The bottom line, is the bottom line (unfortunately) - remember that in the eyes of many people, soldiers are a "resource" and not person. I don't agree with it, but that's how it is, especialy with the military bean-counters.


Surely not the sentiments of a couple of compassionate conservatives.

I have been stuck

Posted: December 27th, 2007, 1:27 pm
by Pastor Gary
I was stuck in Atlanta for about 12 hours when a part had to be flown in from somewhere west of there, and this was on a regular old scheduled flight.

I sat in the tarmac in Honolulu for 2 or 3 hours last year because the Pilot's seat belt buckle wouldn't click properly, and they had to wait for a waiver from an FAA person in Atlanta who was in bed asleep... and we waited while somebody tracked him down, got his signature on some form, and faxed it to Honolulu's FAA guy.

Stuff happens in the air travel industry, and it has little to do with soldiers, contractors or anything... if the plane doesn't fly over some technical issue, they have to find the part and fly it in from wherever it exists, period.

Posted: December 27th, 2007, 2:00 pm
by RamboPreacher
Full Quiver wrote:
We also have to consider costs. While I can empathize with the soldiers challenges in timing for Christmas family quality time (better than ANY present). The bottom line, is the bottom line (unfortunately) - remember that in the eyes of many people, soldiers are a "resource" and not person. I don't agree with it, but that's how it is, especially with the military bean-counters.


Surely not the sentiments of a couple of compassionate conservatives.
re-read my post, your comment is answered.

Posted: December 27th, 2007, 2:04 pm
by Full Quiver
I was referring to Bush and Cheney! :)