“Evidence obtained by SIGAR indicates that a contractor identified by the CENTCOM
Commander as supporting the insurgency in Afghanistan gained access to a Coalition-controlled
facility. This security lapse seems to have been caused by gaps in how contractor information is
shared by U.S. government agencies supporting the reconstruction effort. Unless immediate
action is taken to correct this matter, this contractor and other supporters of the insurgency could continue to gain access to U.S.- and Coalition-controlled facilities in Afghanistan”, according to a letter sent to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel from John Spokeo, dated November 8, 2013.
The following is a email communication I received from the Office of Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction alerting me about a breach of security at a Coalition controlled facility.
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Hello,
Today SIGAR (Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction) released an alert letter to the Secretary of Defense highlighting evidence that a contractor identified as supporting the insurgency in Afghanistan gained access to a Coalition-controlled facility.
The letter states that last November, employees of Zurmat Material Testing Laboratory were given access to the Parwan Justice Center complex. The previous April, the Department of Commerce added Zurmat to its Entity List because of its involvement in networks that provide components used to make improvised explosive devices used against U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan.
This incident highlights the potential consequences of the U.S. Army’s failure to act on SIGAR’s prior request to debar Zurmat and other alleged supporters of the insurgency. Until action is taken on all 43 cases SIGAR has referred to the Army for debarment, U.S. troops could still be at risk, and U.S. government funds could be diverted to supporters of the insurgency.
Alert Letter: http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/investigations/SIGAR-Alert-Contractor-Base-Access.pdf
Best,
Alex
Alex Bronstein-Moffly
Public Affairs Specialist
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sigarhq
Facebook: http://facebook.com/sigarhq
Website: http://www.sigar.mil/
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
See related article: Afghan companies with insurgent ties gets U.S. contracts despite safeguards http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/19040101_Afghan_companies_with_insurgent_ties_get_US_contracts_despite_safeguards.html?id=231692971
See Company profile and contact information: http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.ZURMAT_MATERIAL_TESTING_LABORATORIES.c81c92d3568dae9a.html