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GAO: Most IEDs built from looted Iraqi ammo

Unattended Iraqi ammunition depots provide the majority of explosives used by insurgents to attack U.S. and coalition troops with improvised explosive devices, according to a Government Accountability Office report released April 27.

“There’s an unknown number of sites that remain unsecured today,” GAO Director Davi D’Agostino said.

Drawing from after-action reports and input from military leaders, the report blames inadequate Operation Iraqi Freedom planning for the unsecured munitions.

“According to lessons-learned reports and senior level DoD officials, the widespread looting occurred because DoD had insufficient troop levels to secure conventional munitions,” the report states.

IED attacks, using conventional explosives, are four times higher than when the war began in 2003, said Christine Devries, spokeswoman for the Pentagon’s Joint IED Defeat Office.

“Looted munitions are being used to make improvised explosive devices that have killed or maimed many people and will likely continue to support terrorist attacks in the region,” according to the report.

The report recommends that the secretary of defense direct the Joint Chiefs of Staff to

* Conduct a theaterwide survey and risk assessment of unsecured conventional munitions in Iraq.

* Report risk mitigation strategies and results to Congress, and

* Consider conventional munitions storage security when planning policy, guidance and doctrine.