Today's Article
It however appears
that U.S. soldiers on
the ground have a
good idea of who
now has at least
some of this military
hardware.
that U.S. soldiers on
the ground have a
good idea of who
now has at least
some of this military
hardware.
The American Spark
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
$1 Billion In Military Weapons And Gear Missing In Iraq
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 7th, 2007
Crates full of machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, tractor trailers and tank recovery vehicles are only
some of the military items and services sent to Iraqi security forces which are now missing--a massive loss of
American weapons and services which exceeds $1 billion, says a damning study released yesterday by the
Pentagon Inspector General (IG). The study was first obtained by CBS News.
IG auditors poured over equipment contracts which add up to $643 million, but could account only for $83
million worth of gear.
The audit may provide one of the largest exposures to date of the Bush Administration's simple inability--
thanks either to carelessness or corruption--to properly account for the military support it gives to Iraqi security
forces, all of which is paid for by the American taxpayer.
To give an example, the report states that the Pentagon could not verify what has happened to 12,712 out of
13,508 weapons given to forces working for the Iraqi government. These weapons include rocket propelled
grenade launchers, machine guns, pistols and assault rifles.
It however appears that U.S. soldiers on the ground have a good idea of who now has at least some of this
military hardware.
They have an intimate knowledge of the absolute hatred which still thrives between Iraq's rival religious and
ethnic groups, and have come to know the priorities of that country's current Shi'ite-dominated, Islamist
government--which has been openly allied to some of the very militants now "cleansing" Iraq of everyone who
is not a 'proper' Shi'ite Muslim.
They've seen with their own eyes how the Bush Administration's "partners" in the Iraqi National Police soon
became some of their most wily enemies. They've personally seen how Shi'ite militiamen--working with that
same Iraqi government-sponsored "police force"--have actively worked to wipe out neighborhoods of decent,
middle-class Sunni families.
"It's just a slow, somewhat government-supported sectarian cleansing," Maj. Eric Timmerman, operations
officer for 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, recently told The Washington Post.
"We were so committed to them as a partner we couldn't see it for what it was. In retrospect, I've got to think
[the action of Shi'ite militias and Iraqi police forces] was a coordinated effort," Timmerman told the Post.
"To this day, I don't think we truly understand how infiltrated or complicit the national police are" with Islamist
Shi'ite militias, he added.
The IG study was released on the very day that U.S. Army procurement officials were slated to face a tough
grilling from the Senate Armed Services Committee on their clearly failed procurement policies.
One procurement official--Claude Bolton, assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology--already
has handed in his resignation as the criticism of U.S. Army contracting methods are reaching a higher pitch.
Bolton will be leave his post on Jan. 2nd, 2008.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 7th, 2007
Crates full of machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, tractor trailers and tank recovery vehicles are only
some of the military items and services sent to Iraqi security forces which are now missing--a massive loss of
American weapons and services which exceeds $1 billion, says a damning study released yesterday by the
Pentagon Inspector General (IG). The study was first obtained by CBS News.
IG auditors poured over equipment contracts which add up to $643 million, but could account only for $83
million worth of gear.
The audit may provide one of the largest exposures to date of the Bush Administration's simple inability--
thanks either to carelessness or corruption--to properly account for the military support it gives to Iraqi security
forces, all of which is paid for by the American taxpayer.
To give an example, the report states that the Pentagon could not verify what has happened to 12,712 out of
13,508 weapons given to forces working for the Iraqi government. These weapons include rocket propelled
grenade launchers, machine guns, pistols and assault rifles.
It however appears that U.S. soldiers on the ground have a good idea of who now has at least some of this
military hardware.
They have an intimate knowledge of the absolute hatred which still thrives between Iraq's rival religious and
ethnic groups, and have come to know the priorities of that country's current Shi'ite-dominated, Islamist
government--which has been openly allied to some of the very militants now "cleansing" Iraq of everyone who
is not a 'proper' Shi'ite Muslim.
They've seen with their own eyes how the Bush Administration's "partners" in the Iraqi National Police soon
became some of their most wily enemies. They've personally seen how Shi'ite militiamen--working with that
same Iraqi government-sponsored "police force"--have actively worked to wipe out neighborhoods of decent,
middle-class Sunni families.
"It's just a slow, somewhat government-supported sectarian cleansing," Maj. Eric Timmerman, operations
officer for 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, recently told The Washington Post.
"We were so committed to them as a partner we couldn't see it for what it was. In retrospect, I've got to think
[the action of Shi'ite militias and Iraqi police forces] was a coordinated effort," Timmerman told the Post.
"To this day, I don't think we truly understand how infiltrated or complicit the national police are" with Islamist
Shi'ite militias, he added.
The IG study was released on the very day that U.S. Army procurement officials were slated to face a tough
grilling from the Senate Armed Services Committee on their clearly failed procurement policies.
One procurement official--Claude Bolton, assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology--already
has handed in his resignation as the criticism of U.S. Army contracting methods are reaching a higher pitch.
Bolton will be leave his post on Jan. 2nd, 2008.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!