H
Harry Hope
Guest
The investigation is potentially politically embarressing for General
Petraeus, currently leading U.S. efforts in Iraq, because he himself
oversaw the effort to arm and train Iraqi security forces when much of
the equipment went missing.
http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/28/337066.aspx
August 28, 2007
More on the missing weapons investigation
by Aram Roston, investigative producer
A U.S. law enforcement task force is investigating whether American
military officials were involved in the disappearance of large numbers
of weapons meant for Iraqi forces, sources confirm to NBC News.
Investigators believe, sources say, that some weapons paid for by U.S.
taxpayers were diverted and sold.
Audits have already determined that more than 190,000 weapons are not
accounted for.
Previously officials had argued this might have been due to
bookkeeping errors rather than corruption necessarily.
Some weapons meant for Iraqi security forces were found in Turkey, and
investigators are trying to determine how they were diverted there.
The New York Times first reported on the investigation this morning.
The investigation is potentially politically embarressing for General
Petraeus, currently leading U.S. efforts in Iraq, because he himself
oversaw the effort to arm and train Iraqi security forces when much of
the equipment went missing.
Sources say he is not implicated.
According to sources, investigators believe that potentially, a ring
of corruption involving the missing weapons may have been connected to
a massive bribery scheme in Kuwait for which a U.S. Army Major has
already been indicted in Texas.
U.S. Army Major John ****erham was indicted in federal court, accused
of accepting more than $9 million in bribes -- although the
indictment mentions contracts for bottled water, and nothing about
weapons.
American officals who were in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 tell NBC News
there was chaos in the way weapons were distributed in Iraqi. Lt.
Colonel David Styles tells NBC News he personally saw the disorder
involved in Iraqi weapons distribution.
"I saw an entire truckload of AK-47s delivered to Ministry of Defense
and people swarmed over it like bees on honey."
Styles said "Everone who wanted AK47s drove up and took what they
wanted. It was a free for all."
____________________________________________________
Harry
Petraeus, currently leading U.S. efforts in Iraq, because he himself
oversaw the effort to arm and train Iraqi security forces when much of
the equipment went missing.
http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/28/337066.aspx
August 28, 2007
More on the missing weapons investigation
by Aram Roston, investigative producer
A U.S. law enforcement task force is investigating whether American
military officials were involved in the disappearance of large numbers
of weapons meant for Iraqi forces, sources confirm to NBC News.
Investigators believe, sources say, that some weapons paid for by U.S.
taxpayers were diverted and sold.
Audits have already determined that more than 190,000 weapons are not
accounted for.
Previously officials had argued this might have been due to
bookkeeping errors rather than corruption necessarily.
Some weapons meant for Iraqi security forces were found in Turkey, and
investigators are trying to determine how they were diverted there.
The New York Times first reported on the investigation this morning.
The investigation is potentially politically embarressing for General
Petraeus, currently leading U.S. efforts in Iraq, because he himself
oversaw the effort to arm and train Iraqi security forces when much of
the equipment went missing.
Sources say he is not implicated.
According to sources, investigators believe that potentially, a ring
of corruption involving the missing weapons may have been connected to
a massive bribery scheme in Kuwait for which a U.S. Army Major has
already been indicted in Texas.
U.S. Army Major John ****erham was indicted in federal court, accused
of accepting more than $9 million in bribes -- although the
indictment mentions contracts for bottled water, and nothing about
weapons.
American officals who were in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 tell NBC News
there was chaos in the way weapons were distributed in Iraqi. Lt.
Colonel David Styles tells NBC News he personally saw the disorder
involved in Iraqi weapons distribution.
"I saw an entire truckload of AK-47s delivered to Ministry of Defense
and people swarmed over it like bees on honey."
Styles said "Everone who wanted AK47s drove up and took what they
wanted. It was a free for all."
____________________________________________________
Harry
