We Can’t Account For Weapons?

Ken AshfordIraqLeave a Comment

At least 190,000 weapons issued to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005 cannot be accounted for, the Government Accountability Office concludes in a new report.

The Pentagon "cannot fully account for about 110,000 AK-47 assault rifles, 80,000 pistols, 135,000 items of body armor and 115,000 helmets reported as issued to Iraqi forces." The weapons vanished from the ledgers as the Pentagon was trying to rebuild the Iraqi army to counter Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias. President Bush disbanded the army after the 2003 invasion.

The GAO report also says that despite "greater emphasis on collecting the supporting documents," military commanders still aren’t keeping track of all weapons.