Alleged Materiel Disposal

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed allegations that serviceable equipment and supplies provided for use in Operation Desert Shield were improperly disposed of in Saudi Arabia. GAO noted that: (1) seven soldiers reported seeing serviceable equipment and supplies burned and buried in Saudi Arabia, but other personnel were not aware of any instances; (2) Army documents showed no evidence that units in the Persian Gulf had authority to dispose of serviceable materiel or that units had improperly done so; (3) materiel that was no longer serviceable was properly burned and buried; (4) the Army lost accountability and visibility of equipment sent to the Persian Gulf which left materiel vulnerable to loss and theft; and (5) due to the serious nature of the allegations, it would refer the matter to the Department of Defense Inspector General's office.