GAO: Terror groups could easily buy military items in U.S.
July 25, 2006
WASHINGTON — U.S. defense contractors sell surplus military equipment to virtually any buyer, a new government report said.
The Government Accountability Office has determined that sensitive surplus military equipment sought by Al Qaida-aligned groups could be easily purchased in the United States. The GAO report said the components included launcher mounts for shoulder-fired missiles and guided missile radar test sets.
"Many of the other military items have weapons applications that would also be useful to terrorists," GAO said.
The congressional watchdog sent investigators to purchase U.S. military surplus equipment from defense contractors. In June, two GAO investigators purchased $1.1 million worth of body armor inserts used by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, an all-band antenna to track aircraft, and a digital signal converter for naval surveillance.
"The body armor could be used by terrorists or other criminal activity," the report said.
This was the latest in a series of GAO investigations that reported the Pentagon's failure to control the sale of military surplus. A House subcommittee has scheduled a hearing on the issue on Tuesday.
"Based on GAO's most recent undercover investigation it looks like the store is still open," House defense subcommittee chairman Rep. Christopher Shays said. "We've seen partial changes that have resulted in over $34 million savings, but they still have a long way to go to make this system functional."
The report said surplus equipment meant for destruction was sold to the public. GAO said the components — including circuit cards used in U.S. Navy systems, a cesium technology timing unit with global positioning capabilities and 12 digital microcircuits used in F-14 fighter-jets — were sold at tremendous discounts.
In all, at least 2,669 sensitive military items were sold to 79 buyers in 216 transactions from November 2005 to June 2006. GAO concluded that the Pentagon failed to enforce regulations to prevent the sale of such equipment.
"DoD has not enforced security controls for preventing sensitive excess military equipment from release to the public," the report said. "GAO was able to purchase these items because controls broke down at virtually every step in the excess property turn-in and disposal process."
WASHINGTON — U.S. defense contractors sell surplus military equipment to virtually any buyer, a new government report said.
The Government Accountability Office has determined that sensitive surplus military equipment sought by Al Qaida-aligned groups could be easily purchased in the United States. The GAO report said the components included launcher mounts for shoulder-fired missiles and guided missile radar test sets.
"Many of the other military items have weapons applications that would also be useful to terrorists," GAO said.
The congressional watchdog sent investigators to purchase U.S. military surplus equipment from defense contractors. In June, two GAO investigators purchased $1.1 million worth of body armor inserts used by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, an all-band antenna to track aircraft, and a digital signal converter for naval surveillance.
"The body armor could be used by terrorists or other criminal activity," the report said.
This was the latest in a series of GAO investigations that reported the Pentagon's failure to control the sale of military surplus. A House subcommittee has scheduled a hearing on the issue on Tuesday.
"Based on GAO's most recent undercover investigation it looks like the store is still open," House defense subcommittee chairman Rep. Christopher Shays said. "We've seen partial changes that have resulted in over $34 million savings, but they still have a long way to go to make this system functional."
The report said surplus equipment meant for destruction was sold to the public. GAO said the components — including circuit cards used in U.S. Navy systems, a cesium technology timing unit with global positioning capabilities and 12 digital microcircuits used in F-14 fighter-jets — were sold at tremendous discounts.
In all, at least 2,669 sensitive military items were sold to 79 buyers in 216 transactions from November 2005 to June 2006. GAO concluded that the Pentagon failed to enforce regulations to prevent the sale of such equipment.
"DoD has not enforced security controls for preventing sensitive excess military equipment from release to the public," the report said. "GAO was able to purchase these items because controls broke down at virtually every step in the excess property turn-in and disposal process."
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 6:39 PM
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