WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 20, 2007

Are Lost U.S. Weapons In Enemy Hands?

Investigation Shows Missing U.S. Weapons May Have Turned Up In The Hands Of Iraqi Insurgents

  • Play CBS Video Video Taxpayers Funding Insurgency

    According to an intelligence source, a shipment of artillery, intended for U.S.-backed forces in Iraq, was lost. As Armen Keteyian reports, those weapons have been found, in the hands of the enemy.

  • According to an intelligence source, the U.S. contractor in charge of the Glocks somehow lost track of an entire shipment. Photo

    According to an intelligence source, the U.S. contractor in charge of the Glocks somehow lost track of an entire shipment.  (CBS)

  • Blog Primary Source

    Armen Keteyian and his investigative team keep you informed daily on their blog.

  • Interactive Battle For Iraq

    The government, the insurgency, key players, background and photos.

(CBS)  Last month, a government report revealed the U.S. military could not account for 190,000 -- or 30 percent -- of all weapons issued to Iraqi Security Forces between June 2004 and December 2005.

Thursday, Pentagon officials said $88 billion in spending in Iraq and Afghanistan is now under audit by the Department of Defense for fraud.

Now, in his exclusive report CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian has learned some of those missing weapons have ended up in the worst possible hands.

CBS News has learned that the CIA has photographic evidence that Austrian-made Glocks intended for Iraqi security forces and paid for by U.S. taxpayers are now in the hands of Iraqi insurgents -- in numbers that the intelligence community believes are in the thousands.

According to an intelligence source, the U.S. contractor in charge of the Glocks somehow lost track of an entire shipment. That mysterious disappeance is now part of a massive military bribery investigation centered around a contracting office run out of a small trailer at a military base in Kuwait. Eighteen federal investigators are digging into the actions of dozens of high-ranking U.S officers and military contractors.

Thursday, at a House Armed Services Committee hearing, lawmakers took aim at what the chairman called "a culture of corruption" surrounding billions in Iraq war contracts, but stopped short of publicly saying where some of the weapons wound up.

"The number of folks who have enormous responsibilty to this country are involved has, I think, made this a real tragedy for our country,” says Duncan Hunter, the committee's ranking member.

After the hearing, Keteyian confronted Army Lt. General Ross Thompson, who admitted the Inspector General at the Defense of Department is looking at the CIA's evidence.

“We are going to report tonight that thousands of Glock pistols intended for Iraq security forces instead ended up in the hands of insurgents,” says Keteyian. “What is your reaction to that?"

“I don't know that for a fact,” Thompson says. “It is something that is being investigated by the DOD IG right now and that's something that is not within my responsibility or my area of expertise to comment on, but it is being actively investigated.”

As Congress prepares to send another $2 billion to the Iraq security forces, Dept. of Defense officials testified they are working to find better ways to maintain appropriate accountability and control over military material.

It’s small comfort to American soldiers in Iraq who may now be staring down the barrel of guns paid for by the U.S. government.

© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Video and Galleries from CBS News Investigates

Add a Comment See all 79 Comments
by tcoleman12 September 20, 2007 10:59 PM PDT
You suppose they are going to head to Louisiana to track down the Katrina money next?
Reply to this comment
by feelfree1 September 21, 2007 2:45 AM PDT

Re: "Investigation Shows Missing U.S. Weapons May Have Turned Up In The Hands Of Iraqi Insurgents"

This is not possible. There must be a legitimate government in place, in order for there to be "insurgents", and none exists in Iraq at this time.

The Iraqi resistance fighters probably got ahold of these weapons. Obviously, the the people of Iraq have every right to defend themselves against the brutal and illegal invaders of their country, against collaborators, and against the installed puppet officials, in any way that they may deem necessary.
Reply to this comment
by andrew_693 September 21, 2007 5:31 AM PDT
wow, I guess war ain''t like in the movies. The enemy turned out to be much smarter. Too bad that in hollywood they will be portrayed as mindless idiots instead of the truth.
Reply to this comment
by abbe91 September 21, 2007 5:41 AM PDT
"88 Billion in spending in Iraq and Afganistan under investigation, and our boys over there are getting shot with bullets that we paid for.
Posted by fedupwithit1 at 07:41 PM : Sep 20, 2007"

That''s what Bush calls "supporting the troops". That and
Walter Reed ...
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 September 21, 2007 6:18 AM PDT
Iraq is the Most extremist SHIA ISLAMIC COUNTRY with about 60% Shia Muslims and the two Holiest places of Shia Islam, namely; Najaf & Karbala. According to Shia Islam, their Final twelfth Imam "IMAM MEHDI" won''t return unless the entire Middle East would be free of NON-MUSLIMS. Only person who was an obstacle in the way of Islamic Radicals to kill all the NON-MUSLIMS in the Middle East was SECULAR "SADDAM HUSSAIN", who fought all his life against Islamic Radicals of his country and the Islamic regime in Iran. After the removal of Saddam, whoever is going to be the Prime Minister of Iraq will be a Governor appointed by Iranian Ayatollah.

The democratically elected Islamic government under the Governorship of an IRANIAN-BACKED ISLAMIC RADICAL "MALIKI", is taking US Tax dollars in the name of "REBUILDING IRAQ" and US WEAPONS in the name of "ARMING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES" to kill US troops deployed there and "PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIAN BUSH" has no clue.

How TRUST WORTHY is the BIBLE which prescribed occupation of IRAQ as a requirement for the 2nd coming of the "JESUS" but ended up making ISLAMIC RADICALISM so strong like it was never before.
Reply to this comment
by nwihoosier September 21, 2007 6:31 AM PDT
patridiot9
PROVE your words. No where in the Bible is the return of Jesus Christ linked to Iraq.

You are very, very misinformed, stupid or nuts. Which is it?
Reply to this comment
by tomtomasters September 21, 2007 6:45 AM PDT
What would I do if I was a Terrorist? Hi my name is Mohammad Abullaabullabulla. I live in Afghanistan and my brother Mohassammanmama lives in Iraq. We are terrorists. We are going to win the war on terror. And we want to get the bomb to protect ourselves. This is what my brother is doing. It is said that America has pounded our countries with tons of DU known as Depleted Uranium. We have it everywhere, and people are saying we are dying from it.But I think I can use it for our own bombs. I ordered a nice metal detector from the internet. It is being shipped soon to us%uFF0Calthough I don%u2019t need it, because shrapnel and metal is everywhere to include blown up tanks and shells and casings. And what we really like are the DU tips found from your expended munitions. The cruise missiles are especially cool. Although a little beat up, my brother said I can use them to grind up into powder and make our own DU bombs. I found some bags lying in the streets, you know the ones they put over the heads of our brothers; and I use them to collect my metal parts. I put a scarf over my mouth and I found an old pair of glasses blown off some guys face in a car bombing. I had to wipe away the dried blood, but they are pretty useful to protect my eyes when I do the grinding. It%u2019s a little blurry but they work ok.
Reply to this comment
by tomtomasters September 21, 2007 6:45 AM PDT
I know that I am becoming contaminated with DU; but I don%u2019t mind. I can stay alive long enough to make more good missiles. In fact we are planning to sell DU dust to Osama. They can put the dust in the rocket held shoulder missiles called stingers. Or maybe we can do some smelting and make a real good DU tip and fasten it to our stingers. You know these stingers are pretty good. They stopped the Russians. Now we are going to see about stopping you.We%u2019re especially happy that you will continue to use DU Depleted Uranium munitions against us, to keep us well supplied. We use all the metal parts to grind into dust and using other scientific methods can keep our production costs much lower I suspect than yours. We are very happy about these developments. Again thank you, and see you on the battle field! Yippee hi ho!
Reply to this comment
by crater7 September 21, 2007 6:46 AM PDT
IMAGINE THAT!

NO REALLY, IMAGINE THAT!

HOW CAN THIS BE?

STAY THE COURSE............
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 September 21, 2007 6:46 AM PDT
patridiot9
PROVE your words. No where in the Bible is the return of Jesus Christ linked to Iraq.

You are very, very misinformed, stupid or nuts. Which is it?

Posted by nwihoosier at 06:31 AM : Sep 21, 2007

Read Mathew and Joshua. The requirement for the 2nd coming of Christ is the occupation of the land between EUPHRATES in IRAQ and NILE in EGYPT by those who are CHOSEN by god because of the RACE or FAMILY they are born in is CHOSEN by the RACIST GOD, eventhough they don''t believe in god''s only begotten son as messiah and accuse JESUS'' MOTHER of FORNICATION.

This was the reason for bringing people from different EUROPEAN COUNTRIES into PALESTINE to occupy the PALESTINIAN LAND far away from the CONCENTRATION CAMPS in GERMANY, and the purpose of IRAQ INVASION was to expand the AREA OF OCCUPATION for the 2nd coming of the TERRORIST LEADER "JESUS" who said

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law---a man''''s enemies will be the members of his own household%u2019" (Matthew 10:34-36). "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it" (Matthew 11:12).
Reply to this comment
by trillion1 September 21, 2007 6:46 AM PDT
It seems that the "hero" general Petraeus was in charge when all those weapons disappered.Why do I doubt he''ll be held accountable.
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 September 21, 2007 6:47 AM PDT
Iraq is the Most extremist SHIA ISLAMIC COUNTRY with about 60% Shia Muslims and the two Holiest places of Shia Islam, namely; Najaf & Karbala. According to Shia Islam, their Final twelfth Imam "IMAM MEHDI" won''''t return unless the entire Middle East would be free of NON-MUSLIMS. Only person who was an obstacle in the way of Islamic Radicals to kill all the NON-MUSLIMS in the Middle East was SECULAR "SADDAM HUSSAIN", who fought all his life against Islamic Radicals of his country and the Islamic regime in Iran. After the removal of Saddam, whoever is going to be the Prime Minister of Iraq will be a Governor appointed by Iranian Ayatollah.

The democratically elected Islamic government under the Governorship of an IRANIAN-BACKED ISLAMIC RADICAL "MALIKI", is taking US Tax dollars in the name of "REBUILDING IRAQ" and US WEAPONS in the name of "ARMING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES" to kill US troops deployed there and "PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIAN BUSH" has no clue.

How TRUST WORTHY is the BIBLE which prescribed occupation of IRAQ as a requirement for the 2nd coming of the "JESUS" but ended up making ISLAMIC RADICALISM so strong like it was never before.

Reply to this comment
by pwrslm September 21, 2007 6:54 AM PDT
How TRUST WORTHY is the BIBLE which prescribed occupation of IRAQ as a requirement for the 2nd coming of the "JESUS" but ended up making ISLAMIC RADICALISM so strong like it was never before.

Posted by patriotic9

I think the only reply you need is that you should seek medical care. Really, you should.
Reply to this comment
by lastdance2 September 21, 2007 6:55 AM PDT
Blackwater is the firm mentioned as being suspected of
smuggling weapons into Iraq illegally.

Blackwater USA, which has US$800 million in US government contracts,

Prattap Chatterjee of CorpWatch told Inter Press Service :
If Blackwater were banned from operating in Iraq, most of its employees
Could Transfer - To similar Private Security Firms in Iraq

The Republican (Nazi) Party
Criminal Corporate (Nazi) America

Has supplied Weapons and War materals to every Country who has ever
been an Enemy of the United States. In order to Kill American Military
in every War - Since WWII

Sen. Prescott Bush and Friends Who shipped War Materials
and Weapons to : Nazi - Germany. To kill American Soldiers in Europe.

The same organization shipped War Materials and Weapons to
North Vietnam. To kill American Military in Vietnam

The same organization now Supplies War Materials and Weapons to :
Iran. To Kill American Military in Iraq

There was a time - Treason - was a criminal act

Lastdance
Reply to this comment
by flreason September 21, 2007 6:56 AM PDT
This was predictable in a country whose economy has been ruined by war. And how likely is it that the weapons are being financed with the billions of dollars that are "missing"? The incredible folly of the Bush administration''s installation of inexperienced political novices and subcontractors to "support" our troops has to go down in our history as one of the most cynical or idiotic efforts in our military history. Since the neocons were supposed to be so smart, one is forced to surmise that this is corruption that goes to the highest levels of our government. If there were still a Republican majority in the Congress, this would likely be swept under the rug in the name of party unity and patriotism. These traitorous subcontractor/mercenaries have American blood on their hands...and the responsibility falls on this administration. I would hope that their consciences would make it hard to look in the mirror--but vampires'' images aren''t reflected in mirrors, are they?
Reply to this comment
by pwrslm September 21, 2007 7:00 AM PDT
First, the morons complain because the Iraqi''s are not taking responsibility for thier own security. When you make the military hurry up and give the Iraqi''s weapons to protect themselves before they are functionally capable of accountability, then some of the weapons get stolen by insurgents, who were hired to be protectors of Iraq....

Not that it makes a difference, but its all due to political pressure from the liberal right.
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 September 21, 2007 7:10 AM PDT
I think the only reply you need is that you should seek medical care. Really, you should.

Posted by pwrslm at 06:54 AM : Sep 21, 2007

There is no problem making a statement but it should be supported by valid reasons and points.

I personally believe that MEDICAL CARE is needed by those who turned one of the MOST SECULAR COUNTRIES in the MIDDLE EAST, whose FOREIGN MINISTER "TARIQ AZIZ" was a CATHOLIC and had females in the government, into a STATE OF RADICAL IRAN and ALQAEDA''S best TRAINING CAMP.

Do you see solution to the current problem anywhere in the book of HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION "BIBLE", which accuses a woman of helping DEVIL in getting a man kicked out of HEAVEN?

SADDAM was fighting our war against the ISLAMIC RADICALS of his country and IRAN,whereas; PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIAN "BUSH" is fighting ISLAMIC JIHAD against United States by giving US Tax dollars in the name of REBUILDING IRAQ and US WEAPONS in the name of ARMING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES to an IRANIAN-BACKED ISLAMIC RADICAL "MALIKI" for the killing of our finest men and women deployed there.

CHRSITIANITY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS.

All the CHRISTIANS must seek MEDICAL CARE before they destroy this beautiful planet for the 2nd coming of JESUS.
Reply to this comment
by mcvet September 21, 2007 7:20 AM PDT
First, the morons complain because the Iraqi''''s are not taking responsibility for thier own security. When you make the military hurry up and give the Iraqi''''s weapons to protect themselves before they are functionally capable of accountability, then some of the weapons get stolen by insurgents, who were hired to be protectors of Iraq....

Not that it makes a difference, but its all due to political pressure from the liberal right.


Posted by pwrslm at 07:00 AM : Sep 21, 2007
+ report abuse
"Hurry up"? You poor Fascist, you have been sucking on that swastika so long you can''t keep track of time!! Don''t you think 4 years to do what WE the PEOPLE would take no more than 6 months is enough time to make SURE the right guys get the guns? ROFLMAO Maybe you clowns can turn to your "Base" for some help there? After all THEY to are Terrorist and have a LONG standing of being just that!! Sieg Heil Y''all
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 September 21, 2007 7:24 AM PDT
I think the only reply you need is that you should seek medical care. Really, you should.

Posted by pwrslm at 06:54 AM : Sep 21, 2007

There is no problem making a statement but it should be supported by valid reasons and points.

I personally believe that MEDICAL CARE is needed by those who turned one of the MOST SECULAR COUNTRIES in the MIDDLE EAST, whose FOREIGN MINISTER "TARIQ AZIZ" was a CATHOLIC and had females in the government, into a STATE OF RADICAL IRAN and ALQAEDA''''S best TRAINING CAMP.

Do you see solution to the current problem anywhere in the book of HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION "BIBLE", which accuses a woman of helping DEVIL in getting a man kicked out of HEAVEN?

SADDAM was fighting our war against the ISLAMIC RADICALS of his country and IRAN,whereas; PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIAN "BUSH" is fighting ISLAMIC JIHAD against United States by giving US Tax dollars in the name of REBUILDING IRAQ and US WEAPONS in the name of ARMING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES to an IRANIAN-BACKED ISLAMIC RADICAL "MALIKI" for the killing of our finest men and women deployed there.

CHRSITIANITY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS.

All the CHRISTIANS must seek MEDICAL CARE before they destroy this beautiful planet for the 2nd coming of JESUS.

Reply to this comment
by mcvet September 21, 2007 7:24 AM PDT
Maybe the Fascist in Congress can pass a Resolution that these Guns can''t be used against the "Great" General who allowed the Enemy to get them? People we are being lead by FASCIST IDIOTS that would make Joe McCarthy look like an Intelligent person. Sieg Heil Bush!!
Reply to this comment
by cassandragop September 21, 2007 8:10 AM PDT
Personal accountability.....another Republican catchphrase is exposed as a campaign tactic rather than a commitment.
Reply to this comment
by afmca September 21, 2007 8:14 AM PDT
Of course they are in enemy hands. Iy is another fine example of how little Bush, his Generals, and the neo-cons understand their enemy. Their loyalty is to their religious sect and not to Iraq. If their sect rules Iraq then, and only then, is their loyalty to the country. Bush, the Generals, and the neo-cons throw up a smoke screen telling all that Iran is the weapons supplier when all the two of us our colluding to keep the oppositioon armed. Greenspan said the Iraq war was about Oil - what he didn''t say was Big Oil won either way - access to Iraq oil or be not having access being able to manipulate oil prices to new levels .. Bush and Cheney take care of their friends.
Reply to this comment
by gkc99 September 21, 2007 8:19 AM PDT
"According to an intelligence source, the U.S. contractor in charge of the Glocks somehow lost track of an entire shipment. "


And why doesn''t CBS name the contractor? Covering up for one of Bushit''s war profiteers? Could it be Blackwater? Or one of the other Repug-linked 50,000 Hessians now in Iraq?

The arrogance of the Bushits is going to negatively impact the USA for a long time to come.

Thanks, Bushits!
Reply to this comment
by thinkharder- September 21, 2007 8:21 AM PDT
I have a funny feeling these weapons were not "lost" and found in the hands of Iraqi radicals attacking our troops, but rather freely given in as shady a way possible. Unfortunately for them...they got caught. This eye opening story will likely be swept under the rug with the rest of the devestating evidence pointing to not only the administrations incompitence with dealing with the problems in Iraq, but there outright willingness to fuel it. Bush wants to stay indefinetely...what better way to ensure that?
I am getting sick of this, and any American still supporting this administration in light of all that has occured are sheep. Wake up people...this country is handing over its democracy right before your eyes. If we don''t take it back by election in ''08, someone better organize a way to take it back by force. I really miss America.
Reply to this comment
by ioweign September 21, 2007 8:26 AM PDT
And who did the contractor report and work under ?

They had to have superiors !

General Phd by chance !!
Reply to this comment
by glossypan September 21, 2007 9:46 AM PDT
It takes a village.....to pay a contractor for one Blackwater guard. The cost of 190,000 high quality small arms? Your president took 3 large aircraft, Cadillac One and a 700 person (excluding media)entourage to Australia. Are you FISCAL CONSERVATIVES asleep or is that just political posturing? Is it okay if Bush mortgages our grandchildren''s future? Speak up.
Reply to this comment
by gkc99 September 21, 2007 10:17 AM PDT
Does this include the Stinger missiles that Ronnie Reagan sent the Iranians? Shouldn''t Ollie North be tried for treason? Oh wait, he was pardoned by the great patriot, Ronnie Reagan!
Reply to this comment
by CingularBabe September 21, 2007 10:28 AM PDT
Perhaps THIS is one of the reason the former AG Gonzo was in Iraq last month accompnaied by the head of the ATF. Hmmmm. Duh.
Reply to this comment
by tnichlsn September 21, 2007 10:33 AM PDT
And just who are the enemy? Who are the insurgents? Ask 15 different people and you''ll get 8 different answers, and over half of them will say the Americans...
Reply to this comment
by clestes-2009 September 21, 2007 10:47 AM PDT
Considering how well thought and planned the whole invasion and occupatiion was, this is such a surprised!

I mean, since there was NO THOUGHT given to the possibility of an insurgency or a civil war between Sunnis and Shiites, both of which was predicted by dic*head Cheney in 1991 after the Gulf War. Why should anyone be surprised that 1/3 of US weapons ended up in hands that will use them to kill US troops?????

Another legacy of the Iraq war! US weapons killing US troops!! Something we should all be proud of, since it shows how together and organized our current president and his staff have been concerning the ONGOING, NO END IN SIGHT FIASCO Iraq has become.

From an in and out operation, suppose to last no more than 3 months, it now has been projected to last 40 years at a cost of 4 TRILLION DOLLARS added to the 500 BILLION DOLLARS already spent.

Here is a happy thought! Since we are projected to be there 40 more years, how many more weapons are going to fall into insurgents hands to be used against US troops?
Reply to this comment
by tomar0317 September 21, 2007 10:56 AM PDT
More total failure by incompetants placed in positions of major responsibility by other incompetants hired by the incompetant Bush administration, and approved by the Repubs! I''m an Independant and realize the Dems really aren''t any better. We don''t need just Repubs and Dems running for office any more. We need folks sincerely interested in our heritage and our future. We''re out here but just not organized or angry enough to step up... but it''s coming.
Reply to this comment
by clestes-2009 September 21, 2007 10:58 AM PDT
Anone notice how there aren''t any Bush supporters mouthing their stupid platitudes in support of the Bush war policies.

I guess it is OK to support the defeat of a bill that would give the US troops a break at home for the same length of time they served overseas. They can crow about a victory in Congress that actual HURTS the troops but when faced with another of the bald facts of the war, they run for cover.

What a bunch of losers they are. Draining all money and mortgaging the future, continuing the death toll of US troops, lengthing the already too long tour duty of the alive soldiers until they break down either physically or mentally or both and turn their weapons on each other or on civilians.

Now all that they support whole heartedly! But face the truth about how fcked up the invasion and occupation is, they can''t do that.

Reply to this comment
by pastdue1 September 21, 2007 10:58 AM PDT
It%u2019s small comfort to American soldiers in Iraq who may now be staring down the barrel of guns paid for by the U.S. government.
Is this considered "friendly fire?"
Reported by the bush administration, the insurgents are being armed by Iran????? Senators, is this what you call supporting the troops? Rather than arm the insurgents, wouldn''t it be better to allow our troops a visit home to recoup??
Reply to this comment
by tnichlsn September 21, 2007 11:14 AM PDT
Most the other weapons currently in the "insurgents" hands are those taken from those ammo dumps that were not secured when we entered Bagdad, also paid for with US tax dollars, from the era when Saddam was a good guy for taking on those nasty Iranians.
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 September 21, 2007 11:14 AM PDT
SADDAM was fighting our war against the ISLAMIC RADICALS of his country and IRAN,whereas; PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIAN "BUSH" is fighting ISLAMIC JIHAD against United States by giving US Tax dollars in the name of REBUILDING IRAQ and US WEAPONS in the name of ARMING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES to an IRANIAN-BACKED ISLAMIC RADICAL "MALIKI" for the killing of our finest men and women deployed there.

CHRSITIANITY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS.

All the CHRISTIANS must seek MEDICAL CARE before they destroy this beautiful planet for the 2nd coming of JESUS.


Reply to this comment
by barbaraf4 September 21, 2007 11:49 AM PDT
"Are Lost U.S. Weapons In Enemy Hands?"

Of course they are. Probably most were sold to them.
Reply to this comment
by twylacrat September 21, 2007 11:54 AM PDT
What a clusterf**k! It''s just like everything else the little idiot has done. This people, is what happens when you put fool in the White House. And, anyone supporting him should hang their head in shame.
Reply to this comment
by drinuk September 21, 2007 12:16 PM PDT
It is quite beyond intelligent thought to understand why we continue to allow this bunch of morons in the White House to continue in OUR employment. To allow such incompetent business to proceed for yet another 15 months is almost like committing national suicide. Are we so screwed up and indoctrinated by these evil people that we no longer care for our people or are we simple minded ? The longer these people remain in office the larger the cost. I suspect an attack on Iran prior to their departure will be both ours and their Swansong.
Reply to this comment
by nolalou September 21, 2007 12:30 PM PDT
While this goes on, what do the Republicans in congress want to debate? A newspaper ad by Moveon.org ! They express more outrage at a newspaper ad, than thousands of missing weapons, paid for by American taxpayers, and used against our own troops by Iraqi insurgents!
Reply to this comment
by ioweign September 21, 2007 1:17 PM PDT
That guy in the mask... not an insurgent. Blackwater mercenary.

Don''''t want to be recognized since it will hurt his chances of becoming a cop back stateside in 2 years.

Increased police brutality coming soon to Anytown USA... care of Blackwater Baghdad.

Regards,

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 11:12 AM : Sep 21, 2007

Now Nancy, they are just Scouts getting their Merit Badges - Uncle Georgie said he would sign-off on them. Invasion 101, Interrogation methods and techniques and Accountability Side Steps.

These ARE our future leaders.

Reply to this comment
by obiquital September 21, 2007 1:23 PM PDT
All of you people have completely missed the mark on this with your need to blow everything out of proportion. A contractor (read: not the US government) is to blame for this corruption. A single contractor being corrupt and you blame the entire government.
Reply to this comment
by ioweign September 21, 2007 1:45 PM PDT


All of you people have completely missed the mark on this with your need to blow everything out of proportion. A contractor (read: not the US government) is to blame for this corruption. A single contractor being corrupt and you blame the entire government.

Posted by obiquital at 01:23 PM : Sep 21, 2007



And who did the contractor report and work under ?

They had to have superiors !

General Pet by chance !!
Reply to this comment
by obiquital September 21, 2007 1:47 PM PDT
I''m not republican, dumb***
Reply to this comment
by obiquital September 21, 2007 1:51 PM PDT
[sarcasm]
Yes, the government purposely losing weapons makes a lot more sense than some isolated cases of people being corrupt.
[/sarcasm]
Reply to this comment
by jjp735i September 21, 2007 2:07 PM PDT
Why are you asking "Are they"?
Reply to this comment
by jn122736 September 21, 2007 2:29 PM PDT
Re. Posts by clestes at 10:47 AM : Sep 21, 2007 And at 10:58 AM : Sep 21, 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Very true and well said.

Another, more serious, result of the past 7 years is, this administration has almost doubled the national debt.

At the current growth rate the INTEREST ALONE on this debt will total $5 TRILLIION dollars, or more, over the next 10 years.
Another way to look at it is, even if we are able to balance the federal budget in each of those next 10 years, we would STILL have to pay that much interest and not lower the debt on cent.

Using your projection of 40 years the ANNUAL interest on this debt will be greater than the annual revenues/taxes current collected. I believe that is called %u201CBankruptcy%u201D.
Reply to this comment
by feelfree1 September 21, 2007 2:40 PM PDT

The Iraqi people are not my enemy. We owe them a sincere apology, a tremendous debt, and justice served against those who destroyed their country.
Reply to this comment
by obiquital September 21, 2007 3:20 PM PDT
Sigh... no, the national debt has not actually doubled. Remember, the GDP also increases.

http://www.die.net/musings/national_debt/

I''ve seen this information in multiple areas and calculated some of it myself to verify it. This is just the first place I found it on short notice.
Reply to this comment
by erinye_fury September 21, 2007 3:34 PM PDT
From other sources I understand the Iraqi security and military forces are to be issued US M-16 rifles. This is a bad idea for several reasons: it complicates the supply of ammunition, and it allows the insurgents easier use of captured US munitions. If we must send M-16s, let every serial number be recorded and traced through every set of hands.
Reply to this comment
by skippy1956 September 21, 2007 3:35 PM PDT
It is too bad, but our government can not even account for property here at home; "How can you expect them to keep track of it in other countries?"
Reply to this comment
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