On March 7, 2009, a military assessment team was deployed to Afghanistan. The objectives of this assessment were to: Review the status of corrective actions initiated in response to previous reports on munitions accountability; Assess the current system for accountability and control to determine if it is adequate; and Determine whether the current security assistance program is effective in supporting munitions accountability and control. The team assessed the munitions supply chain from port of entry, through transportation, storage, distribution and formal turnover to ANSF, to issuance to Afghan military and police personnel. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find publication.

In Oct. '07, a Munitions Assessment Team (MAT) was assembled to evaluate the control and accountability of Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan. The results of that assessment were published in a classified report. The MAT team reassembled in April and May 2008 to determine the status of corrective actions that were to be implemented in response to that report. This report is divided into five parts: (1) Follow-up Assessment on the Accountability of Arms and Ammunition Provided to the Security Forces of Iraq; (2) Additional Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives Issues; (3) Foreign Military Sales; (4) Logistics Sustainability; and (5) Medical Sustainability. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.

The DoD with the Dept. of State (State), directs international efforts to train and equip Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). As part of these efforts, the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command and the Navy spent about $120 million to procure small arms and light weapons for ANSF. International donors also provided weapons. This report analyzed whether DoD can account for these weapons and ensure ANSF can safeguard and account for them. The author reviewed Defense and State documents on accountability procedures, reviewed contractor reports on ANSF training, met with U.S. and Afghan officials, observed accountability practices, analyzed inventory records, and attempted to locate a random sample of weapons.

The U.S. has provided $38.6 billion in reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan and has over 35,000 troops in the country as of Feb. 2009. Some progress has occurred in areas such as econ. growth, infrastructure dev¿t., and training of the Afghan Nat. Security Forces, but the overall security situation has not improved after more than 7 years of U.S. and internat. efforts. Key issues for consideration for Congress in determining the way forward in Afghanistan include: (1) U.S. and internat. commitments;(2) Security environ.; (3) U.S. forces and equip.; (4) Afghan nat. security forces; (5) Counternarcotics efforts; (6) Economic dev¿t.; (7) Gov¿t. capacity; (8) Accountability for U.S. provided weapons; and (9) Oversight of contractor performance.