In a May 2006 report, Amnesty International raised serious questions about U.S. government efforts to ensure weapons transfers to Iraq reach the intended user. For example, Amnesty International discovered that the U.S. company Taos Inc. subcontracted the company Aerocom, which had previously been listed as violating the UN arms embargo on Liberia, to transport thousands of arms from Bosnia to Iraq between July 2004 and July 2005. In addition, U.S. military air traffic controllers in Iraq said no landing slots were requested by Aerocom to touch down in Iraq. Based on a letter Amnesty International USA sent to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in September 2006, the DoD is now investigating the case.

September 28, 2006

The Honorable Kenneth J. Krieg

Under Secretary of Defense

for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics

3200 Defense Pentagon, Room 3E673

Washington, DC  20301-3010

Dear Under Secretary Krieg:

On behalf of Amnesty International, I am writing to request information on what types of measures your office is undertaking to ensure that arms smugglers are excluded from involvement in U.S. government-approved contracts for arms transfers.  In the past few years, we have identified U.S. government-funded contractors and subcontractors who have used entities and individuals with a record in arms trafficking.

Most recently, Amnesty International discovered that Taos Inc., a U.S company with multiple U.S. Department of Defense contracts, subcontracted Aerocom to transport thousands of arms from Bosnia to Iraq between July 2004 and July 2005.  According to the U.N. Security Council, Aerocom, a Moldovan air cargo company, is listed as smuggling weapons to Liberia during the conflict in 2002.  Aerocom was also operating without a valid license in 2004.  In addition, U.S. military air traffic controllers in Iraq said no landing slots were requested by Aerocom to touch down in Iraq, raising a high risk that the respective weapons could have been diverted to grave human rights abusers.  (See attachment for more details).

Amnesty International also has information on a number of other entities and individuals who continue to transfer arms and military equipment on behalf of U.S government-funded contractors with a track record of arms smuggling.  In some cases, the United Nations and other organizations are investigating U.S. individuals and entities for supplying arms to abusive rebel groups with possible links to U.S. designated foreign terrorist organizations.

In order to ensure that the U.S. government does not fund individuals or entities previously involved in criminal activities, as stipulated in many U.S. government contracts, I would like to know what policies, systems, and checks your office performs for U.S government contractors to ensure that companies such as Taos Inc. no longer subcontract to entities such as Aerocom.  I look forward to your response.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Alexandra Arriaga

Director of Government Relations

CC:

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey B. Kohler, Director, U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Mr. Thomas F. Gimble, Acting Inspector General, Department of Defense

Actul in original : Amnesty International: Aerocom suspecta de trafic cu arment

US DoD letter to AIUSA re Iraq~7470738

sursa:  http://www.amnestyusa.org/arms-trade/page.do?id=1011003