US pays $4B to Afghan forces; Who is watching?

[left-of-center2012]

The U.S. and NATO have promised to pay $4 billion a year until 2024 to finance Afghanistan’s military and security forces, which are struggling to contain an advancing Taliban. Already, the U.S. has spent nearly $89 billion over the past 20 years to build, equip and train Afghan forces. Yet America’s own government watchdog says oversight of the money has been poor, hundreds of millions of dollars have been misspent and corruption is rife in the security apparatus.

Monitoring where the future funding goes will become virtually impossible after Aug. 31, when the last coalition troops leave.

John Sopko, the Special Inspector General on Afghanistan Reconstruction, has issued dozens of reports identifying waste, mismanagement and outright corruption. In one instance,
the U.S. spent $547 million to buy and refurbish twenty G222 military transport aircraft for the Afghan Air Force. Sixteen of them were
later sold as junk to Afghan scrap dealers for $40,257 because the American refurbishers delivered flawed and unsafe aircraft. The Justice Department informed the watchdog agency in May 2020 that it would not prosecute any criminal or civil cases connected to the G222 program.

Of $7.8 billion provided since 2008 to Afghan civilian authorities for buildings and vehicles,
only $1.2 billion went to buildings and vehicles that were used as intended. Only $343.2 million worth of what was acquired was maintained in good condition, Sopko said earlier this year.

As Taliban swept through districts in recent weeks, regular army and police have in many instances either negotiated their surrender to Taliban or simply walked off their bases.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/07/27/explainer-us-pays-4b-to-afghan-forces-who-is-watching/

[rockfordfile]

1. Corruption

[Irish_Dem]

2. So who is getting very wealthy at taxpayer expense?

[paleotn]

3. Reminds me of a similar situation in the early 70's.

somewhere in southeast Asia I think. We never learn, do we.

[StClone]

4. Taliban will see it in their hands likely.

[crickets]

5. I don't begrudge giving them some money, but

we throw $4B their way, but can't get an infrastructure bill passed because it's supposed to be too expensive? Come on.