The Pentagon often has dragged its feet or refused to spend on safer equipment for US troops in Iraq, forcing the Congress to step in, a study published on Tuesday found.

The report published in USA Today came as a crucial report on the military situation is due within days in Washington.

Among many examples, the newspaper cited hesitance by US army officials to buy Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles despite eager requests from commanders in Iraq.

The acquisitions have become higher priorities since Robert Gates replaced Donald Rumsfeld as defense chief in December more than two years after the first request from Marines in Iraq.

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