Security Assistance; and Logistics - Federation of American Scientists

Report No. SPO-2009-002 (Project No. D2008-D000IG-0141.02)December 19, 2008Follow-up Assessment on the Accountability of Arms andAmmunition Provided to the Security Forces of IraqWe commend DoD management and the field commanders for taking aggressive actionsto implement the recommendations. Of the 45 recommendations in the MAT I reportdirected to DoD management and field commanders, 29 had been completed and closedand 16 were open with corrective actions ongoing.Arms, Ammunition, and ExplosivesThe mission of the arms, ammunition, and explosives logistics supply chain is to providean effective end-to-end system that delivers materiel to the warfighter, while maintainingthe security and safety of the materiel and the public. Inherent in that mission is therequirement to implement procedures and mechanisms throughout the supply chain thatensure accountability and control of arms, ammunition, and explosives while enablingmission execution.We found that Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I), Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I),and Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq (MNSTC-I) had made significantprogress in improving the U.S. military’s system for controlling and accounting forweapons and ammunition being supplied to ISF. However, we formulated seven newrecommendations in the areas of weapons accountability and control and captured enemyweapons (see Part II of this report).Specifically, for example, MNSTC-I should advise and assist the Iraqi Ministries ofDefense and Interior in the development and implementation of, or contracting for, anArabic-based warehouse management system to manage their stored materiel. MNSTC-Ialso needs to help the Ministries of Defense and Interior implement management qualitycontrols at their warehouses to ensure the accurate recording of weapons serial numbers,as well as a schedule of sample inventories, to verify weapons quantities on-hand and theserial numbers of those weapons.While the ISF continued to make progress on weapons accountability, the handling ofcaptured enemy weapons remains a concern. MNSTC-I needs to assist the Ministry ofDefense in implementing its policy on captured enemy weapons, as well as completingthe inspection and serial number recording of the captured enemy weapons stored at theTaji National Army Depot and the Iraqi Army Location Commands. Further, MNSTC-Ineeds to ensure that the serial numbers for all captured enemy weapons are recorded andforwarded to the DoD Small Arms and Light Weapons Serialization Program. Moreover,MNSTC-I needs to assist the Ministry of Interior to complete and issue its formal policyfor captured enemy weapons.Foreign Military SalesThe Foreign Military Sales program has historically functioned primarily as a peacetimesecurity assistance initiative. However, the U.S. is now using Foreign Military Sales asthe principal means to equip, expand, and modernize ISF during wartime conditions. Tobe successful in executing this strategic decision, the Foreign Military Sales program inii