File This Under: So What Else Is New? - Pentagon Waste, Fraud, And Abuse...

[WillyT]

Army general’s report defends decision to build $36 million headquarters in Afghanistan
By Rajiv Chandrasekaran - WaPo
Published: December 3, 2013


Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) - The exterior of the Regional Command-Southwest (RC-SW) Command and Control Facility, which was meant to serve as a command headquarters at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand, Afghanistan.

<snip>

This past summer, the Army began investigating why the military spent nearly $36 million to construct a well-appointed 64,000-square-foot headquarters in southwestern Afghanistan that commanders in the area did not want and has never been used.

The two-star Army general in Kabul who conducted the inquiry has determined that the decision to commission the building was appropriate — and recommended that U.S. troops move in, after more work is done on the facility. The finding has left some other senior military officers aghast.

“The Army built us an enormous white elephant, and now, to save face, we’re being told to waste more money and time to move into it,” said a senior Marine officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment on the investigation. “We don’t need it. We’re packing up there.” The Marine general in charge of the southwest said earlier this year that he wanted to stay out of the giant facility to “end the money drain.”

Although the building — which contains spacious offices, a briefing theater and an operations center with tiered seating — can accommodate 1,500 people, only about 400 headquarters-level staff members are on the base today.

Still...

<snip>

His request to cancel the large building and construct a smaller one was supported by his superiors in Kabul. But when it was forwarded to the Army’s Central Command headquarters, the deputy commander at the time, then-Maj. Gen. Peter M. Vangjel, denied the request, according to the investigation report.

Vangjel, the report stated, “relied upon the CENTCOM strategic vision of Camp Leatherneck and its criticality as an enduring strategic base.”

Vangjel has since been promoted to a three-star general. He is now the Army’s top inspector general, responsible for identifying waste, fraud and abuse in the service.

<snip>

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/army-generals-report-defends-decision-to-build-36-million-headquarters-in-afghanistan/2013/12/03/5ed883e4-5c51-11e3-bc56-c6ca94801fac_story.html

[winter is coming]

1. I wonder how much the contractor who pocketed the $36 million actually spent on construction. n/t

[WillyT]

2. I Don't Know That... But I Do Know This...

It is highly doubtful that the good general will be taking a teaching position when he retires.

[RobertEarl]

3. Doctor: My eyes!

I could have sworn I just read that the general who approved this waste is now in charge of approving even more waste in spending. That can't be true, so it must mean my eyes are going bad.

[WillyT]

4. Oh... It's True,True Alright...

[RobertEarl]

5. How could Obama be so blind?

Surely, he has heard about this.... how could he not see how preposterous it is?