Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
New York Times
December 7, 2007 WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (AP) — A Pentagon audit of a $5.2 billion fund used to train and equip Iraqi security forces found that United States commanders used sloppy accounting and could not always show that equipment, services and construction were delivered properly, according to a report released Thursday.
The report, by the Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General, said the command in charge, known as the Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq, was unable to provide “reasonable assurance” that the money was used to achieve the intended results and that it was not wasted.
The report recommended that the commander involved, Lt. Gen. James M. Dubik, improve controls for keeping track of the money and maintaining adequate records of its use. It said the commander reported that he had already taken steps to carry out the recommended changes.
The report, based on an auditor’s visit to Iraq from March to May, said the command’s ability to oversee management of the fund was diminished by high levels of violence. It also noted that the command had fewer on-site comptrollers and other oversight resources than large commands in the United States had.
The inspector general audited equipment purchases valued at nearly $1.1 billion for armored vehicles, weapons, ammunition and other items, from two sets of supply sources. Of $643.1 million in purchases from one set of suppliers, the inspector general was able to follow a paper trail for 12.9 percent of the total, or $82.9 million. Of $438.2 million from the second set, an audit trail was available for only 1 percent.
The command could not account for 18 of 31 recovery vehicles valued at $10.2 million. Also, the command could not prove that Iraqi security forces received 2,126 of 2,943 generators valued at $7.0 million. It also could not account for 6 of 18 garbage trucks valued at $700,000.
An examination of payments for services — for food preparation, maintenance, sanitation, freight, lodging and security — valued at $1.2 billion, showed that the command had sufficient documentation for 95.5 percent of it.
December 7, 2007 WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (AP) — A Pentagon audit of a $5.2 billion fund used to train and equip Iraqi security forces found that United States commanders used sloppy accounting and could not always show that equipment, services and construction were delivered properly, according to a report released Thursday.
The report, by the Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General, said the command in charge, known as the Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq, was unable to provide “reasonable assurance” that the money was used to achieve the intended results and that it was not wasted.
The report recommended that the commander involved, Lt. Gen. James M. Dubik, improve controls for keeping track of the money and maintaining adequate records of its use. It said the commander reported that he had already taken steps to carry out the recommended changes.
The report, based on an auditor’s visit to Iraq from March to May, said the command’s ability to oversee management of the fund was diminished by high levels of violence. It also noted that the command had fewer on-site comptrollers and other oversight resources than large commands in the United States had.
The inspector general audited equipment purchases valued at nearly $1.1 billion for armored vehicles, weapons, ammunition and other items, from two sets of supply sources. Of $643.1 million in purchases from one set of suppliers, the inspector general was able to follow a paper trail for 12.9 percent of the total, or $82.9 million. Of $438.2 million from the second set, an audit trail was available for only 1 percent.
The command could not account for 18 of 31 recovery vehicles valued at $10.2 million. Also, the command could not prove that Iraqi security forces received 2,126 of 2,943 generators valued at $7.0 million. It also could not account for 6 of 18 garbage trucks valued at $700,000.
An examination of payments for services — for food preparation, maintenance, sanitation, freight, lodging and security — valued at $1.2 billion, showed that the command had sufficient documentation for 95.5 percent of it.