posted by Charles H. Russo on Aug 7
You must have heard that the Pentagon has admitted roughly a third of the weapons provided to train and equip Iraqi forces have been “lost.” According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, some 190,000 assault rifles and pistols supplied to Iraqi security forces have gone missing, presumably in the hands of insurgents.
Some 135,000 pieces of body armour and 115,000 helmets also have vanished. To date the US has spent more than $19bn developing Iraqi security forces, including nearly $3bn on weapons. The GAO report said distribution of the weaponry was “haphazard and rushed” and failed to follow established procedures. The Pentagon does not dispute these accusations.
The conflict in Iraq has now lasted longer than the First World War. Patrick Cockburn writes in The Independent, London that six months after George Bush sent in 20,000 extra troops, Iraq is more chaotic and dangerous than ever. Read his special report here.
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