Security Assistance; and Logistics - Federation of American Scientists

Status of Implementation of Recommendation M.1We did not change or modify recommendation M.1. Because we believe that the successof the FMS program for Iraq is so critical, we asked that DoD senior managementreconsider their non-concurrence with the proposal to establish an Executive Agent todrive this program and address the areas that still need improvement.On August 15, 2008, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Security Affairsresponded to our request to reconsider their non-concurrence, reiterating that position.He noted that DoDD 5101.1, “Department of Defense Executive Agent with change 1,”May 9, 2003, established that an Executive Agent shall be conferred when “(n)o existingmeans to accomplish the DoD objectives exists.”The Assistant Secretary stated that DSCA exists to accomplish the DoD objectivesregarding FMS and had the necessary financial and logistical delivery systems in place toadequately provide defense articles and services to Iraq. He believed that creating anExecutive Agent would duplicate investments in time, funding, and personnel alreadymade by DSCA. He further noted that the Deputy Secretary of Defense Iraq FMS TaskForce had made substantial progress in eliminating bottlenecks in the Iraq FMS supportprogram. Creating a Joint Program Management Office under a newly establishedExecutive Agent would create unneeded bureaucracy.Based on this latest input from USD (P) and recent decisions by the Government of Iraqon where and how to procure defense articles for their military and police organizations,we have closed recommendation M.1. We will continue to monitor the performance ofthe FMS program to determine if improvements resulting from the Deputy Secretary ofDefense Iraqi FMS Task Force efforts ensue.Recommendation M.2We recommended that the SECDEF, with appropriate Congressional approval, establish aDefense Coalition Support Account to acquire a pool of high priority, high demand,urgently needed equipment that will be immediately available for shipment to ISF toexpand forces, modernize forces, and replace combat losses.Management Comments to Recommendation M.2USD (P) concurred, stating that DoD included the establishment of a Defense CoalitionSupport Account in its package of legislative proposals, which was currently pendingCongressional action.Status of Implementation of Recommendation M.2This recommendation remains open.Recommendation M.3We recommended that the Commander, MNF-I establish and approve authorizedpositions for the MNSTC-I security assistance office in the MNSTC-I JMD that provides22