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Alleged Afghan protection racket probed
WASHINGTON, (UPI) -- A U.S. congressional report says millions of dollars are going to insurgents and others as protection money for safe passage of supply convoys in Afghanistan.
Among those benefitting from the payments are warlords and corrupt Afghan officials, The Washington Post reported. The money, coming from a $2.16 billion transport contract, violate laws on the use of private contractors and U.S. Defense Department regulations, the Post said.
Such practices also "dramatically undermine" the U.S. efforts to end corruption in Afghanistan, the report said.
The Post reported most of the companies are owned by Afghans but they only serve as brokers for subcontractors providing the trucks and convoy security. U.S. officers responsible for supervising the deliveries cannot check for compliance of regulations as they don't travel off bases.
"The findings of this report range from sobering to shocking," Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., said in his introduction to the 79-page report.
Tierney chairs a subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. His staff spent six months preparing the report, which comes at a time when public and Congressional support for the Afghan war is falling, the Post said.
"I think it's much too early to draw a negative conclusion," a senior administration official told the Post. "I think there's more positive than negative. We're heading toward a year-end assessment, which will be a big one for us."
The report's conclusions were to be presented at a congressional hearing with testimony from military and defense officials. Military officials told the Post they are conducting a wide investigation, including a review of every aspect of the contracting process.
WASHINGTON, (UPI) -- A U.S. congressional report says millions of dollars are going to insurgents and others as protection money for safe passage of supply convoys in Afghanistan.
Among those benefitting from the payments are warlords and corrupt Afghan officials, The Washington Post reported. The money, coming from a $2.16 billion transport contract, violate laws on the use of private contractors and U.S. Defense Department regulations, the Post said.
Such practices also "dramatically undermine" the U.S. efforts to end corruption in Afghanistan, the report said.
The Post reported most of the companies are owned by Afghans but they only serve as brokers for subcontractors providing the trucks and convoy security. U.S. officers responsible for supervising the deliveries cannot check for compliance of regulations as they don't travel off bases.
"The findings of this report range from sobering to shocking," Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., said in his introduction to the 79-page report.
Tierney chairs a subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. His staff spent six months preparing the report, which comes at a time when public and Congressional support for the Afghan war is falling, the Post said.
"I think it's much too early to draw a negative conclusion," a senior administration official told the Post. "I think there's more positive than negative. We're heading toward a year-end assessment, which will be a big one for us."
The report's conclusions were to be presented at a congressional hearing with testimony from military and defense officials. Military officials told the Post they are conducting a wide investigation, including a review of every aspect of the contracting process.
