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Arabia
Pentagon loses track of $500 million in weapons, equipment given to Yemen
2015-03-22
A few days old, but given the deteriorating situation in Yemen, it's worth noting that the resources were there.
The Pentagon is unable to account for more than $500 million in U.S. military aid given to Yemen, amid fears that the weaponry, aircraft and equipment is at risk of being seized by Iranian-backed rebels or al-Qaeda, according to U.S. officials.

With Yemen in turmoil and its government splintering, the Defense Department has lost its ability to monitor the whereabouts of small arms, ammunition, night-vision goggles, patrol boats, vehicles and other supplies donated by the United States. The situation has grown worse since the United States closed its embassy in Sanaa, the capital, last month and withdrew many of its military advisers.

In recent weeks, members of Congress have held closed-door meetings with U.S. military officials to press for an accounting of the arms and equipment. Pentagon officials have said that they have little information to go on and that there is little they can do at this point to prevent the weapons and gear from falling into the wrong hands.

“We have to assume it’s completely compromised and gone,” said a legislative aide on Capitol Hill who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Let us hope that most of it needs frequent and finicky maintenance, lest it turn into very impressive paperweights of various sizes.
U.S. military officials declined to comment for the record. A defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the Pentagon, said there was no hard evidence that U.S. arms or equipment had been looted or confiscated. But the official acknowledged that the Pentagon had lost track of the items.

“Even in the best-case scenario in an unstable country, we never have 100 percent accountability,” the defense official said.
Posted by:Steve White

#4  Has Yemen being given to Iran as a part of O's backdoor nuke deal?

Is bear a catholic?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2015-03-22 18:04  

#3  Well, if it's any consolation, $500,000,000 today is only about $31,449,640 in 1941-CPI bucks.
Posted by: Hupineger Glomomp52169    2015-03-22 18:01  

#2  Happened in the loss collapse of South Vietnam too. Smart Diplomacy(tm)
Posted by: Procopius2k   2015-03-22 09:40  

#1  How in the hell do you lose $500M worth of military aid and equipment?

Remaining 100 spec ops counter-terrorism forces have been evacuated. Our embassy has closed. We have no presence there. Thought just a few months ago, O said Yemen was a shining example of how to do it.

Iran has recently been removed from the U.S. annual terrorism list. Has Yemen being given to Iran as a part of O's backdoor nuke deal?
Posted by: JohnQC   2015-03-22 09:11  

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