Book Description

Since 2003, the United States has provided about $19.2 billion to develop Iraqi security forces. DoD recently requested an additional $2 billion to continue this effort. Components of the Multinational Force-Iraq (MNF-I), including the Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq (MNSTC-I), are responsible for implementing the U.S. program to train and equip Iraqi forces. This report does the following: (1) examines the property accountability procedures DoD and MNF-I applied to the U.S. train-and-equip program for Iraq, and (2) assesses whether DoD and MNF-I can account for the U.S.-funded equipment issued to the Iraqi security forces. To accomplish these objectives, GAO reviewed MNSTC-I property books as of January 2007 and interviewed current and former officials from DoD and MNF-I. To help ensure that U.S.-funded equipment reaches Iraqi security forces as intended, GAO recommends that the Secretary of Defense do the following: (1) determine what DoD accountability procedures apply or should apply to the program; and (2) after defining these procedures, ensure that sufficient staff, functioning distribution networks, and proper technology are available to meet the new requirements. DoD concurred with both recommendations.