Security Assistance; and Logistics - Federation of American Scientists

Observation 7. Foreign Military Sales – PerformanceFMS standard processing time standards for FMS cases used to equip ISF wereinadequate for wartime contingency operations in Iraq and were not meeting the train andequip requirements of MNSTC-I and ISF.This occurred because the 120-day case processing time standard 16 has not been adjustedfor wartime operations in Iraq.As a result, MNSTC-I was hindered in efficiently and effectively achieving its mission totrain and equip ISF in support of U.S. goals and objectives in Iraq.Applicable CriteriaDoD 5105.38-M. DoD 5105.38-M, “Security Assistance Management Manual,”October 3, 2003, provides guidance for the administration and implementation of securityassistance and related activities in compliance with the Foreign Assistance Act, the ArmsExport Control Act, and related statutes and directives and states:…[T]he maximum processing time between Implementing Agencyreceipt of the Letter of Request and release of the Letter of Offer andAcceptance should normally be no more than 120 days, with noadjustments for hold times, additional work needed to clarifyrequirements, or any other consideration. Although delays may occurwhile processing some LOAs [Letter of Offer and Acceptance],Implementing Agencies should process at least 80 percent of their totalnumber of LOAs within 120 days.U.S. Foreign Military Sales to IraqThe FMS program has historically functioned primarily as a peacetime securityassistance program. However, the United States is using a FMS program as the principalmeans to equip, expand, and modernize ISF during wartime conditions. Building aresponsive and proactive FMS program that is successful in this wartime environmentwill greatly enhance and expedite the ability of ISF to be fully combat ready in a timelymanner. To be successful in executing this strategic decision, a FMS program needs tobe fully supportive of the wartime equipping requirements of MNSTC-I and ISF.Further, a well-established FMS program enables the United States to further develop andmaintain close bilateral political and interoperable military ties with Iraq and, therefore,supports key U.S. national security interests and also facilitates the reduction of U.S.military forces.16 According to briefing charts provided by the Iraq FMS Task Force, Update of Actions dated November7, 2007, the 120-day processing time standard is from receipt of the Letter of Request by the securityassistance community to the release of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance to the recipient nation forsignature.65