Pentagon expects US public to purchase ‘we weren’t holding stock’ excuse about lacking weapons despatched to Syria, Iraq

US weapons value $ 715 million had been warehoused poorly and troopers dealing with them didn’t hold receipts or data, so it’s unattainable to inform what number of, if any, ended up within the flawed fingers, the Pentagon says.

Provide items in Kuwait and elsewhere “didn’t keep complete lists of all tools bought and obtained” or “saved weapons exterior in steel delivery containers, exposing the tools to harsh environmental components, akin to warmth and humidity.” 

That is in keeping with the partially redacted report by the Division of Protection’s inspector common (IG), of an audit into the “Counter Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Prepare and Equip Fund” (CTEF), dated February 13 and printed this week.

That’s not to say that $ 715 million value of US weapons, supposed for the Iraqi army and “Vetted Syrian Opposition” – because the euphemism for US-allied militia goes – has gone lacking, as some stories might have instructed. In Pentagon-speak, there was “an absence of a central repository for accountability documentation.” As soon as you chop by way of the obtuse verbiage, the IG report principally says there’s no manner of figuring any of that out, as a result of the troops charged with operating this system didn’t keep data or receipts. 

The audit was commissioned as a result of the DOD requested $ 173.2 million for weapons, ammunition, autos, and different CTEF-S tools for the present fiscal 12 months, which started in October. With out correct data, the Pentagon dangers shopping for stuff it doesn’t want and “additional overcrowding” the warehouses in Kuwait, which is what brought about the expensive to be saved exterior within the first place.

Although the Trump administration declared Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS) defeated again in March 2019, guaranteeing the “enduring defeat” of the terrorists apparently requires that the weapons and tools should move. Whereas the US taxpayers don’t have a selection in footing the invoice, anticipating them to swallow the reason – that their noble women and men in uniform are simply too silly, lazy or incompetent to maintain a ledger – sounds a bit wealthy. 

Additionally on rt.com

Washington has a notoriously spotty file of pouring weapons into Syria and Iraq. At one level in 2015, the Pentagon admitted the failure of its program to coach and equip “Vetted Syrian Opposition” (often known as “reasonable rebels”). Having spent $ 2 million per fighter, the US noticed them defect to the Al-Qaeda affiliate group Al-Nusra, bringing the US-supplied weapons and equipment alongside.

So the Pentagon doubled down in 2016, spending untold tens of millions to coach “dozens” of rebels in Turkey. It’s unclear what number of of these “moderates” took half in final 12 months’s assault on areas held by US-allied Kurdish militias.

As late as September 2016, Al-Nusra commanders overtly talked about getting US weapons, each “instantly” and through third nations, akin to Saudi Arabia. The Syrian authorities has since dealt the militants one defeat after one other, and presently advances on their final remaining strongholds within the Idlib province.

Whereas the US authorities and media have objected to those operations – and NATO member Turkey truly despatched troops and tanks to Idlib in an try and halt them – a spokesman for the anti-IS coalition has simply overtly admitted Idlib is a nest of terrorists.

Additionally on rt.com

Like this story? Share it with a good friend!