190,000 AK-47s unaccounted for
OK, so we taxpayers spent close to $3 billion to purchase equipment to arm Iraqi security forces. This summary of a GAO report says the Pentagon lost track of approximately 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols that were supposed to be used by Iraqi security forces to help get them prepared to defend their country between 2004-early 2007. So where did those rifles go? Into the hands of the "enemy"? Are our men and women having pot shots taken at them by enemy snipers who are using US-issued guns? Were we buying the guns that are killing our own troops?
Talk about biting the hand that feeds you . The most galling thing of all is that the person in charge of arming and training those Iraqi forces during that particular period of time when accountability was especially lacking (2004-2005) was none other than the current commander of all Iraqi operations, Gen. David Petraeus. If accountability was that lax during his last watch, how can we be assured that accountability in the September report to Congress and the American people will be any better?
Miulang
OK, so we taxpayers spent close to $3 billion to purchase equipment to arm Iraqi security forces. This summary of a GAO report says the Pentagon lost track of approximately 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols that were supposed to be used by Iraqi security forces to help get them prepared to defend their country between 2004-early 2007. So where did those rifles go? Into the hands of the "enemy"? Are our men and women having pot shots taken at them by enemy snipers who are using US-issued guns? Were we buying the guns that are killing our own troops?
Talk about biting the hand that feeds you . The most galling thing of all is that the person in charge of arming and training those Iraqi forces during that particular period of time when accountability was especially lacking (2004-2005) was none other than the current commander of all Iraqi operations, Gen. David Petraeus. If accountability was that lax during his last watch, how can we be assured that accountability in the September report to Congress and the American people will be any better?
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.
The Pentagon did not dispute the GAO findings, saying it has launched its own investigation and indicating it is working to improve tracking. Although controls have been tightened since 2005, the inability of the United States to track weapons with tools such as serial numbers makes it nearly impossible for the U.S. military to know whether it is battling an enemy equipped by American taxpayers.
The Pentagon did not dispute the GAO findings, saying it has launched its own investigation and indicating it is working to improve tracking. Although controls have been tightened since 2005, the inability of the United States to track weapons with tools such as serial numbers makes it nearly impossible for the U.S. military to know whether it is battling an enemy equipped by American taxpayers.
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