November 21, 2008 – The Department of Defense Inspector General released the “FY 2009 Update to the Comprehensive Audit Plan for Southwest Asia.”  The plan was facilitated by the DoD IG Southwest Asia Joint Planning Group and includes the individual audit plans of the Inspectors General of the Department of Defense, Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development; and the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. 

The plan also includes the planned audit work of the U.S. Army Audit Agency, Naval Audit Service, Air Force Audit Agency, and Defense Contract Audit Agency because of the major contributions they make to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of support to the military.  The recently appointed Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction was briefed on the update effort and that office will provide its planned and ongoing oversight efforts in the next update to the plan.  (more)

October 20, 2008 – Lt. Gen. Anwar Hamad Amen Ahmed, the Iraqi Army Joint Headquarters Inspector General, met with Acting Inspector General Gordon S. Heddell today and was briefed on the mission of the DoD IG.

Also present for the briefing were Lt Gen. Ronald F. Sams, U.S. Air Force Inspector General, and Mr. R. David Holmgren, U.S. Marine Corps Acting Inspector General, along with other representatives from the DoD inspectors general community. 

Lt. Gen. Anwar is in the United States to meet with senior DoD officials to discuss issues such as Iraqi force structure, adequacy of facilities, transportation and logistics support. 

September 26, 2008 – Representatives from the International Contract Corruption Task Force (ICCTF), including Special Agent Robert Koons, the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office’s Southwest Asia Theater Operations Manager, met with Robert S. Mueller, III, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), at the New Embassy Complex, Baghdad, Iraq. 

Members of the task force discussed numerous issues with Director Mueller, to include the importance of continuing to work cooperatively to counter fraud, waste, and abuse impacting DoD operations in Southwest Asia, and recent efforts relating to development of leads and sources in Iraq.  The meeting was held on September 23, 2008.

Agencies represented at the meeting include DCIS; the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction; the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Major Procurement Fraud Unit; and the FBI.  ICCTF consists of a group of Federal agencies that have agreed to formalize efforts to collectively investigate and prosecute cases of contract fraud and public corruption related to U.S. government spending involving Iraq military operations and reconstruction.