John Kerry Credits Failed Leadership by Bush and Rumsfeld for Troops Not Having Body Armor That Can Save Lives

This weekend a secret Pentagon report was released by the NY Times that showed that "as many as 80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived if they had had extra body armor."

While traveling on a 12 day tour of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Senator John Kerry issued a statement on that report today, calling for an investigation and immediate delivery of new body armor:

“There is simply no excuse for our troops not having the body armor that can save their lives. It’s a tragic and stark reminder of the very real human cost being paid for this administration’s mistakes. Failed leadership by the President and Secretary of Defense is no excuse and no solace.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to those families whose hearts are breaking again with this news.

“Congress has appropriated billions of dollars for this very need—the failure is the administration’s. It’s time for them to hold people accountable and deliver. No more rhetoric, no more lip service. Our troops deserve no less.”