Security Assistance; and Logistics - Federation of American Scientists

Recommendations, Client Comments, and OurResponse2.a. We recommend that the Commander, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq advise and assist the Ministry of Defense to implement its captured weapons policyand complete the serial number inventory and inspection of captured enemy weaponsstored at Taji National Army Depot and Iraqi Army Location Commands as soon aspossible.Client CommentsCommander, MNSTC-I concurred. The Commander stated that his command hadcoordinated captured enemy weapons procedures with MNC-I and that the approvedCEW process had been documented in MNC-I FRAGO 08-540 and MNSTC-I FRAGO08-028. He reported that MNSTC-I had processed over 17,000 captured weapons fromthe backlog at Taji.Our ResponseCommander, MNSTC-I comments were partially responsive. The comments do notmention the completion status of the serial number inventory at Taji, nor do they addressthe status of any inventory of captured weapons that may be found at other Iraqi LocationCommands. The MNSTC-I response does not speak to the status of implementation ofthe captured weapons policy within the Iraqi MoD. We request that Commander,MNSTC-I provide this information in reply to the final report.2.b. We recommend that the Commander, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq with assistance from the Director, Defense Logistics Agency, advise and assist theMinistry of Defense to establish a demilitarization capability as part of the Taji NationalMaintenance Depot Small Arms Shop.Client CommentsCommander, MNSTC-I concurred. The Commander stated that captured weaponsdetermined to be potentially repairable are held for transfer to the Taji NationalMaintenance Depot for repair. Once repaired these weapons are returned to the Class Vwarehouses at the Supply depot for subsequent reissue. Weapons not authorized, notincluded on the ISF Inventory, or determined as beyond repair are segregated and storedin a secure location pending demilitarization. He stated that MNSTC-I J4 had worked anagreement for demilitarization of the backlog of captured enemy weapons with the IraqiMine and Clearance Organization.Our ResponseCommander, MNSTC-I comments were partially responsive. We agree that formalprocesses have been established for the demilitarization of captured enemy weapons;however, it is unclear if the arrangement with the Iraqi Mine and Clearance Organizationis a temporary one to accommodate the disposal of the existing backlog of excess44