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Fix the M4 carbine now, and speed competition

The Army wants to take the M4 of every soldier and make six fixes — everything from a heavier barrel to an improved trigger pull.

The proposed overhaul would be a stopgap measure to address M4 shortcomings until a competition can be held to find and field a more reliable carbine.

The one soldiers carry today has proven prone to jamming because of dust and overheating.

After the deadly firefight at Wanat, Afghanistan, in the summer of 2008, in which nine troops were killed, some soldiers complained their M4s jammed.

That problem had already been well-documented and the subject of a 2007 congressional inquiry, which ultimately led to the requirement for a competition.

Astoundingly, though, that competition has yet to be held and best estimates are that it could be four years until they select a replacement — and several years more before a better weapon is fielded.

With nearly 150,000 soldiers at war on two fronts, that is unconscionable. If any one initiative should be expedited, this is it.

The Colt-made M4 does have its defenders, and the Army cites an approval rating of more than 90 percent. Yet the M4 finished dead last in dust tests against three other carbines. Delta Force members and spec ops forces, who can choose their own weapons, have indeed opted for others they view as more reliable.

Fix the M4 now, but don’t let that serve as an excuse to further delay or cancel a carbine competition. And lawmakers and service leaders owe it to the troops to expedite that competition.

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