Pentagon investigators head to Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

Pentagon investigators head to Afghanistan
By Anne Flaherty - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Feb 12, 2009 17:27:10 EST

A team of Pentagon investigators will travel to Afghanistan next month to determine whether the U.S. is doing enough to train and equip local security forces.

The Defense Department Inspector General's office also plans by April to expand its staff permanently stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar, said Thomas Gimble, the IG's principal deputy, in congressional testimony on Thursday.

The increased oversight comes as U.S. officials question the Kabul government's ability to defend the nation against Taliban fighters. On Wednesday, eight militants stormed government buildings in the heavily fortified capital, killing 20 people and wounding dozens.

The March trip to Afghanistan had long been in the works and was not in response to the attack, according to an IG spokesman. The team will be following up on an October assessment that determined the military was struggling to keep track of weapons given to Afghan forces.

Likewise, plans to increase IG staff members permanently stationed in the region was approved in January.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_afghanistan_investigators_021209/%2e