Pentagon Loses Track Of Weapons For Iraqi Forces

Yahoo News ^ | August 5th, 2007 | David Morgan

[KantianBurke]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon cannot account for 190,000 AK-47 rifles and pistols given to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005, or about half the weapons earmarked for soldiers and police, according to a government report.

The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, said in a July 31 report to lawmakers that the Defense Department also cannot account for 135,000 items of body armor and 115,000 helmets reported to be issued to Iraqi forces as of September 22, 2005.

The GAO said the Pentagon concurred with its findings and has begun a review to ensure full accountability for the program to train and equip Iraqi forces.

"However, our review of the 2007 property books found continuing problems with missing and incomplete records," the GAO report said.

[KantianBurke]

This is beyond negligence. This is criminal. The Bush Administration needs to find and must punish those responsible for this outrage. One shudders to consider how many of our troops have been killed due to these weapons ending up in the wrong hands.

[Nextrush]

Our “friends” at the Democrat controlled, liberal GAO giving some “objective” analysis.

Government always means waste and things being lost, no matter who we elect to leadership.

That’s why government should be limited in its size and scope with national defense being a neccessity.

[LegendHasIt]

Ah well, I guess it could be worse. They made a MILLION “Liberator pistols” to be dropped randomly behind enemy lines during WWII to arm indigenous resistance fighters against the Axis powers.

While this is not good, and some, (or even many) of them have/ will come back to bite us later, I really can’t get too outraged about it. Stuff equivalent to this has happened in every major conflict in history. I’ll save my worry for things like misplaced Stinger missiles and similar, or worse things. Small arms like AKs and pistols are an almost negligible consideration in a war zone..... Easily acquired if you want them.

[My Favorite Headache]

[LibLieSlayer]

Perhaps they covertly found their way into iran... No, that would mean something positive is happening and the naysayer brigades on FR cannot have that happen!

LLS

[SirFishalot]

What’s the big deal. You can buy them for $85 a piece in Pakistan, I’m sure even less in bulk.

[varon]

This is beyond negligence. This is criminal. The Bush Administration needs to find and must punish those responsible for this outrage. One shudders to consider how many of our troops have been killed due to these weapons ending up in the wrong hands. (My emphasis)

Not going to happen, because:

The United States has spent $19.2 billion trying to develop Iraqi security forces since 2003, the GAO said, including at least $2.8 billion to buy and deliver equipment. But the GAO said weapons distribution was haphazard and rushed and failed to follow established procedures, particularly from 2004 to 2005, when security training was led by Gen. David H. Petraeus, who now commands all U.S. forces in Iraq.

Read entire original article here:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/05/AR2007080501299_pf.html

[SunkenCiv]

Starting with the bad news. It gets better. Last ping of the day, I believe.

[PEACE ENFORCER]

I Noticed this article came out in tandum with the Good News about the Surge in Iraq and how well it’s going.