Is The U.S. Sending Too Much Military Equipment To The Afghan Forces?

Armoured vehicles outside of Kabul, Afghanistan. Reuters

Washington Post: Watchdog concerned the U.S. is sending too much equipment to Afghan forces

A government watchdog agency is concerned that the Pentagon is buying and sending an inordinate amount of weapons and equipment to Afghan Security forces, according a letter sent Thursday to Gen. John F. Campbell, the commanding general of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

The letter, sent by John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, takes issue with the number of Humvees purchased ($166 million worth for the Afghan National Army), as well as M16A4 rifles ($35 million for the Afghan police), Medium Tactical Vehicles ($381 million for the Afghan Army) and ammunition ($52 million for the Afghan Army).

“I am concerned that we may be buying equipment and vehicles in quantities that exceed the needs of the [Afghan National Defense Security Forces],” wrote Sopko.

WNU Editor: Throwing money on a situation does not guarantee a success. Yup .... you cannot have a modern and effective army by throwing weapons and money on them ... you need leadership and a culture that promotes the best of what we expect in a military. This case reminds me of the costly mistake that the U.S. did in Iraq that resulted in having sophisticated equipment falling into the hands of the Islamic State when Iraqi troops fled leaving their weapons behind. Money and weapons were provided .... but a culture of leadership and military professionalism was left out of the mix .... hence the Iraqi military collapse.