$$$ For MRAPS From Israel Aid

"Overstretched US cuts aid to Israel" from the UK Telegraph reports that the US has had to cut back on aid to Israel in order to fast forward the deployment of the MRAP vehicles - to help defend against Iranian roadside bombs.

The Pentagon has come under intense pressure to speed up deployment of the new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP), which boasts a V-shaped hull and a raised chassis and is proven to withstand a range of explosive projectiles common in Iraq.

The army has ordered 8,000 MRAP vehicles at a cost of $12 billion. But a request by the Pentagon for an emergency transport budget illustrates the increasing danger faced by troops on the ground.