Wasteful spending in the war against roadside bombs.

• Author: Erwin, Sandra I.
• Position: Defense Insider

There are currently 1,340 separate counter-improvised explosive device programs being funded across the Defense Department and the four services, but no one seems to he keeping track of them, a Government Accountability Office report says.

The Defense Department assigned the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIFDDO) to lead the fight against roadside bombs in 2006. From 2006 through 2011, JIEDDO received more than $18 billion in funding. Meanwhile, the Defense Department also funded separate efforts, such as the rapid multi-billion dollar acquisition of mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, the report says.

There is much duplication and overlap. For example, the report found 19 organizations with 107 initiatives under development to combat cell phone-triggered IEDs alone.

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