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The Washington Post — No weapon is more important to tens of thousands of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan than the carbine rifle. And for well over a decade, the military has relied on one company, Colt Defense of Hartford, to make the M4s they trust with their lives. Now this exclusive arrangement is being criticized as a bad deal for American forces as well as taxpayers. At about $1,500 apiece, the M4 is overpriced, jams too often in sandy environments, and requires far more maintenance than more durable carbines.