American soldier in Iraq (Archives)
Photo: Reuters
Report: Thousands of US arms missing
Government Accountability Office report says 190,000 American assault rifles, pistols go missing on way to Iraqi security forces
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has lost track of 30% of the weapons transferred to Iraq from the United States, according to a government report newly published in the country.
The Washington Post reported Monday morning that about 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols given to Iraqi forces in 2004 and 2005 were not accounted for, according to the report released by the Government Accountability Office.
Since 2003, the US has invested about $19.2 billion in efforts to develop Iraqi security forces. According to the GAO, at least $2.8 billion were used to purchase and deliver equipment.
But the GAO criticized the distribution of the weapons, and said it was “haphazard and rushed”, and failed to follow established procedures.
In response to the report, Pentagon sources announced that an internal investigation board had been established in order to inspect failures in the distribution which may have led to the loss of the weapons.
A senior official in the Pentagon admitted that the weapons were likely being used by Iraqi rebels, and pointed out that the Iraqi brigade created at Fallujah in September 2004 quickly disbanded, with its troops turning its weapons against US soldiers.
