A new report from an inspector general, and delivered to Congress, finds massive mismanagement in the Pentagon's oversight of American interests in Afghanistan.
A new report released by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction tells the frightening tale of mismanagement and an entitled mindset that exists at the highest levels of the Pentagon. The report, which was presented to Congress on Thursday, revealed that taxpayer money to the tune of $150 million was spend on private luxury villas in Afghanistan for high ranking Pentagon officials and guests.
The Inspector General said that the Pentagon simply ignored the availability of public military housing which would have saved the American taxpayers tons of money, reports USA Today. Congress is furious at and soon to be fully investigating a Pentagon operation called The Task Force Business Stability Operations.
Last month Congress found that this “task force” built a gas station in Afghanistan that had been figured out to cost around $500,000 to build. This “task force” ended up building the gas station for $43 million.
When it came to the luxury villas, the inspector general couldn’t understand the mindset that would not accept government housing and also felt the need for huge wide screen televisions, private food services that were ranked at least three stars and private personal bodyguards. The inspector general also demanded to know who had stayed in these villas and needed proof of the expenditures that were made over time.
The Pentagon stated through a Lt. General spokesman, that it would provide what the inspector general was asking for. With regard to the housing at $150 million, the inspector general said he could house 5 to 10 people at the American embassy for only $1.8 million a year. It would be far less if the personnel were moved to a military installation with military housing.
Everything at these luxury villas was provided for. They were multi storied modern complexes that had 24 hour room service and housekeeping as well as transportation, business equipment, grounds keeping and translators. The Pentagon was responsible for the oversight of this particular “task force” while it was in operation in Afghanistan.
