Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Millions' worth of gear left in Iraq
Washington comPost ^ | 12/7/2009 | Ernesto LondoƱo

Posted on 12/07/2009 1:33:20 PM PST by markomalley

Even as the U.S. military scrambles to support a troop surge in Afghanistan, it is donating passenger vehicles, generators and other equipment worth tens of millions of dollars to the Iraqi government.

Under new authority granted by the Pentagon, U.S. commanders in Iraq may now donate to the Iraqis up to $30 million worth of equipment from each facility they leave, up from the $2 million cap established when the guidelines were first set in 2005. The new cap applies at scores of posts that the U.S. military is expected to leave in coming months as it scales back its presence from about 280 facilities to six large bases and a few small ones by the end of next summer.

Some of the items that commanders may now leave behind, including passenger vehicles and generators, are among what commanders in Afghanistan need most urgently, according to Pentagon memos.

Officials involved say the approach has triggered arguments in the Pentagon over whether the effort to leave Iraqis adequately equipped is hurting the buildup in Afghanistan. Officials in the U.S. Central Command, which oversees both wars, have balked at some proposed handovers, and previously rejected an approach that would have granted base commanders even greater leeway.

U.S. commanders in Iraq say they have been judicious in assessing what equipment to earmark for donation. Alan F. Estevez, a deputy undersecretary of defense, wrote in an e-mail that "an important and vital goal is to leave behind fully functioning bases to the Government of Iraq to enable Iraq's civil capacities."

But a U.S. military official critical of the process said the new regulations allow too much latitude to commanders, provide little oversight and fail to account for the urgent need of American forces in Afghanistan, which need the same kinds of items...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: bhodod; defensespending; gear; iraq; oif; postwariraq; surplus; usmilitary
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

1 posted on 12/07/2009 1:33:20 PM PST by markomalley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: markomalley

That’s “our” equipment folks. This goes to show you that they could give two sh!ts about the taxpayer.


2 posted on 12/07/2009 1:38:18 PM PST by randomhero97 ("First you want to kill me, now you want to kiss me. Blow!" - Ash)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
This news is such a crime, because there are a lot of good, deserving Americans who could benefit from these supplies now that our economy appears to be circling the poo hole.

For instance, I could sure use one of them thar fancy generators for when the next hurricane hits.

More importantly, though, are the tons of military supplies like magazines, LBEs, up-armored Humvees, etc that we will be needing for the coming Civil War.

3 posted on 12/07/2009 1:39:24 PM PST by I Buried My Guns ( B.L.OA.T. : Buy Lots Of Ammo Today)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Just another move to ‘gut’ the military.


4 posted on 12/07/2009 1:39:30 PM PST by Outlaw Woman (If the First Amendment is taken away, we will be forced to move on to the next Amendment)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: randomhero97

Or it could be the fact the equipment is wore out and it would cost more to move it than its worth.


5 posted on 12/07/2009 1:41:30 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: I Buried My Guns

“For instance, I could sure use one of them thar fancy generators for when the next hurricane hits.”

Ok, you pay for shipping and I bet they’ll give it to you.


6 posted on 12/07/2009 1:42:29 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: I Buried My Guns
CONSPIRACY THEORY: Obama actually wants the equipment to be left in the field, so as to make the introduction of martial law and totalitarianism that much easier here in the States.

I just thought that conspiracy up, but it sure fits the template!

7 posted on 12/07/2009 1:42:48 PM PST by I Buried My Guns ( B.L.OA.T. : Buy Lots Of Ammo Today)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver
Or it could be the fact the equipment is wore out and it would cost more to move it than its worth.

Glad to see some common sense. Six months in that sandy $hithole called the Middle East will destroy mechanical equipment.

8 posted on 12/07/2009 1:43:55 PM PST by Night Hides Not (If Dick Cheney = Darth Vader, then Joe Biden = Dark Helmet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver
My alcoholic neighbor claims the local VA gave him 3 generators after the last hurricane because he is a vet.

Little does the VA know that they merely helped him stockpile Chivas, and the generators are most likely far, far away by now.

9 posted on 12/07/2009 1:45:25 PM PST by I Buried My Guns ( B.L.OA.T. : Buy Lots Of Ammo Today)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: markomalley; Allegra; big'ol_freeper; Lil'freeper; TrueKnightGalahad; blackie; Larry Lucido; ...

Obama is taking our enemies’ belief “that we will give them enough rope to hang us” to a new high!


10 posted on 12/07/2009 1:45:50 PM PST by Bender2 ("I've got a twisted sense of humor, and everything amuses me." RAH Beyond this Horizon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I Buried My Guns

I don’t think the VA is buying generators for vets. At least I never got mine.


11 posted on 12/07/2009 1:49:03 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Am I the only one here that doesn’t see this as a problem?

Look, if we want the Iraqi Army to be able to stand up to al-Qaeda, Iran, and Syria, then the sooner that we can equip them, the better. If it means giving them old hand-me-downs instead of shipping them back to the US where old equipment probably would have been recycled/sold as surplus anyway, that’s fine with me. In a perfect world, the Iraqi MoD would be paying market value, but considering that they are still in the developing phase, you can’t expect that yet.


12 posted on 12/07/2009 1:50:31 PM PST by ksm1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver
I used the word "claimed" because crazy Kenny is batsh|t!

He gives staggering, bitter, drunk veterans a bad name.

13 posted on 12/07/2009 1:58:56 PM PST by I Buried My Guns ( B.L.OA.T. : Buy Lots Of Ammo Today)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Bender2

Them’s the breaks...


14 posted on 12/07/2009 1:59:15 PM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver
Or it could be the fact the equipment is wore out and it would cost more to move it than its worth.Shhhh.... your common sense and correct analysis won't be embraced on this thread! People with logistics experience or who have studied history will know that this is not an uncommon situation.

In other news, it's interesting to see that the Compost has returned to sniping at the war in Iraq... I wonder what they're up to.

15 posted on 12/07/2009 2:00:44 PM PST by upstanding
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver
Ok, you pay for shipping and I bet they’ll give it to you.

Ding Ding Ding!

16 posted on 12/07/2009 2:01:51 PM PST by TankerKC (You need to lock it up, Major...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

The costs associated with returning or transferring such equipment is insanely prohibitive for all but the most expensive items. Packing up and shipping a 5kw generator, preclude any other option than simply buying a new one.

I’ve been on the shipping and receiving end of this equipment and it’s takes manpower, resources and money that would be better spent on new stuff (especially after a harsh duty cycle in the desert).

It got so bad that some equipment was simply “combat lossed” (ie, buried in the desert).

Nothing nearly as heartbreaking as watching the films of Hueys and Chinooks being pushed off carrier decks during the fall of Saigon.


17 posted on 12/07/2009 2:05:10 PM PST by SJSAMPLE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Hey Uncle Sam! I could use a generator or extra vehicle!


18 posted on 12/07/2009 2:06:22 PM PST by TexasCajun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJSAMPLE

My thoughts exactly. If IA/IP can make use of it, I say let them.


19 posted on 12/07/2009 2:06:38 PM PST by ksm1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

There are literally thousands of cargo containers that are suppose to come back. Odd thing is that there 10,000 of thousands sitting idle all over Asia.


20 posted on 12/07/2009 2:08:48 PM PST by mad_as_he$$
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson