Pentagon poured billions into botched Afghanistan security contracts

Afghan government agencies may have wasted billions of dollars in direct U.S. aid because U.S. officials turned a blind eye toward profound problems with that country’s money-management abilities — all to preserve the illusion of success in the NATO coalition’s war against the Taliban.

Officials with the Combined Security Transition Command told the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General that they felt “pressure to maintain hard-fought gains” in the development of Afghan security forces and as a result, were willing to “overlook” troubled contracts made possible by U.S. and coalition funds.