14,000 U.S.-supplied weapons reportedly missing in Iraq
whygo
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Thousands of weapons the United States has provided Iraqi security forces cannot be accounted for, and spare parts and repair manuals are unavailable for many others, a new report to Congress says.
The report, prepared at the request of the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Virginia Republican Sen. John Warner, also found that major challenges remain that put at risk the Defense Department's goal of strengthening Iraqi security forces by transferring all logistics operations to the defense ministry by the end of 2007.
A spokesman for Warner said the senator read the report over the weekend in preparation for a meeting Tuesday with Stuart W. Bowen Jr., the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
Warner, who requested the report in May, "believes it is essential that Congress and the American people continue to be kept informed by the inspector general on the equipping and logistical capabilities of the Iraqi army and security forces, since these represent an important component of overall readiness," said Warner spokesman John Ullyot.
The inspector general's office released its report Sunday in a series of three audits finding that:
Nearly one of every 25 weapons the military bought for Iraqi security forces is missing. Many others cannot be repaired because parts or technical manuals are lacking.
"Significant challenges remain that put at risk" the U.S. military's goal of strengthening Iraqi security forces by transferring all logistics operations to the defense ministry by the end of 2007.
"The unstable security environment in Iraq touches every aspect" of the Provincial Reconstruction Team program, in which U.S. government experts help Iraqis develop regional governmental institutions.
The Pentagon cannot account for 14,030 weapons -- almost 4 percent of the semiautomatic pistols, assault rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other weapons it has been supplying to Iraq since the end of 2003.
The missing weapons will not be tracked easily: The Defense Department registered the serial numbers of only about 10,000 of the 370,251 weapons it provided -- less than 3 percent.
Missing from the Defense Department's inventory books were 13,180 semiautomatic pistols, 751 assault rifles and 99 machine guns.
The audit on logistics capabilities said there is a "significant risk" that the Iraqi interior ministry "will not be capable of assuming and sustaining logistics support for the Iraqi local and national police forces in the near term." That support includes equipment maintenance, transportation of people and gear and health resources for soldiers and police.
The audit on Provincial Reconstruction Teams said that, because of security issues, they "have varying degrees of ability to carry out their missions." Auditors reviewed nine teams and four satellite offices and found "4 were generally able, 4 were somewhat able, 3 were less able and 2 were generally unable" to accomplish their goals.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The report, prepared at the request of the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Virginia Republican Sen. John Warner, also found that major challenges remain that put at risk the Defense Department's goal of strengthening Iraqi security forces by transferring all logistics operations to the defense ministry by the end of 2007.
A spokesman for Warner said the senator read the report over the weekend in preparation for a meeting Tuesday with Stuart W. Bowen Jr., the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
Warner, who requested the report in May, "believes it is essential that Congress and the American people continue to be kept informed by the inspector general on the equipping and logistical capabilities of the Iraqi army and security forces, since these represent an important component of overall readiness," said Warner spokesman John Ullyot.
The inspector general's office released its report Sunday in a series of three audits finding that:
Nearly one of every 25 weapons the military bought for Iraqi security forces is missing. Many others cannot be repaired because parts or technical manuals are lacking.
"Significant challenges remain that put at risk" the U.S. military's goal of strengthening Iraqi security forces by transferring all logistics operations to the defense ministry by the end of 2007.
"The unstable security environment in Iraq touches every aspect" of the Provincial Reconstruction Team program, in which U.S. government experts help Iraqis develop regional governmental institutions.
The Pentagon cannot account for 14,030 weapons -- almost 4 percent of the semiautomatic pistols, assault rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other weapons it has been supplying to Iraq since the end of 2003.
The missing weapons will not be tracked easily: The Defense Department registered the serial numbers of only about 10,000 of the 370,251 weapons it provided -- less than 3 percent.
Missing from the Defense Department's inventory books were 13,180 semiautomatic pistols, 751 assault rifles and 99 machine guns.
The audit on logistics capabilities said there is a "significant risk" that the Iraqi interior ministry "will not be capable of assuming and sustaining logistics support for the Iraqi local and national police forces in the near term." That support includes equipment maintenance, transportation of people and gear and health resources for soldiers and police.
The audit on Provincial Reconstruction Teams said that, because of security issues, they "have varying degrees of ability to carry out their missions." Auditors reviewed nine teams and four satellite offices and found "4 were generally able, 4 were somewhat able, 3 were less able and 2 were generally unable" to accomplish their goals.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Comments
This is what I said would happen. What happened to the Republican Guard and Fedayen who didn't take on our Army and Marine forces during the 'Combat Phase'? I've been asking this same fucking question for 3 years now... I suspect that many of them ended up in the current Iraqi Security Forces that our guys are supposed to rely on in firefights. No fucking thanx, fuckers... I'll watch YOUR back because I don't trust your Saddam Hussein loving ass to cover mine. And... Isn't this the same force we're supposed to 'Stand Up', so our forces can 'Stand Down'?
...
Great fucking plan, Mr. President. Asshole.
Hail, Hail!!!
you sound so much like a politician
what is holding it together is the arms
there is no cohesive government
How is that so different from what I said?
Keeping it together is not a major achievement - it does not exist.. It is an illusion created by politicians.
Frankly, I am miffed as to why. Even I don't see Bush as inherently evil - and if he were half as stupid as he seems, someone would have taken care to get rid of him..
I can't imagine why they keep this game going - I don't even believe its political.. I believe some pretty smart men feel there is something big at stake... and it actually benefits Americans -
I do believe these politicians see the Iraqi people as expendable things and don't even consider the devistation we have brought to bear against them.
I also don't believe anyone thinks we have done anything to reduce the likelyhood of an attack on America - well besides a bunch of easily influenced voters..
So what the heck is it..
the economy? do they believe the Euro - and oil put our economy at serious risk? I suppose it has to be that...
if so, I don't know why they can't just come out and say it - whatever it is.
I see what you're saying, but my comment wasn't intended to be a pat on the back to anyone. An Iraqi military as such exists, but its a bloody disaster.
I don't know what the ultimate benefit would be either, but I am inclined to agree with you ... Surely someone in the know sees SOME fucking benefit. If not, WTF?
It is this way because the number of 'troops' was placed at a higher priority than the quality of the recruit. The Bush/Rumsfeld doctrine was to get as many boots filled to pacify the grumblings at home so Iraq would not be a distraction to the real terrors facing America... Illegal Alien Busboys and Gay Marriages. That is why you see old grey haired old fat asses along with former Republican Guard and Fedayen Fighters in Iraqi Security Forces uniforms. Quantity, not quality... that is the priority.
...
Which explains why the Bush administration's claim of 300,000 trainned Iraqi forces have lead to how many U.S. Divisions being sent home?
Anyone who believes Bush is good for our national defense only needs to look at how he is fucking over our uniformed soldiers. Bush and Rumsfeld are wrong when they say that American citizen's dissent is bringing down morale in the troops... it's their fucked up policies and lies they've been sold that drops their morale. Quit trying to blame the American people for fucked up political policies.
Hail, Hail!!!
i loved the repsonse to the entire police battalion that was torturing ppl in secatartian bs...they just need to be...retrained...yeah, i'm sure that'll do it :rolleyes:
he had a voice that was strong and loud and
i swallowed his facade cos i'm so
eager to identify with
someone above the crowd
someone who seemed to feel the same
someone prepared to lead the way