The Stupidity Update

U.S. still selling banner F-14 parts sought by Iran

GERTZ : WASHINGTON — The Defense Department sold 1,400 F-14 spare parts in 2007 despite a ban on such transactions, according to a GAO report.

The Pentagon sold the parts in February in wake of its announcement of a suspension of any transfer of F-14 components.

"One country with operational F-14s, Iran, is known to be seeking these parts," Greg Kutz, managing director of special investigations for the Government Accountability Office, said. "If such parts were publicly available, it could jeopardize national security."

On Aug. 1, GAO released a report that disclosed continuing Pentagon sales of F-14 components. The Pentagon decision in January 2007 to block F-14 spare parts sales took place amid intelligence information that Iran was seeking to overhaul its F-14 fleet. The Iranian fleet was procured from the United States more than 30 years ago.

The report cited the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, the Pentagon's surplus sales division, as responsible for the sale of F-14 spare parts. DRMS was said to have failed to update an automated control list and remove F-14 aircraft parts listed on the agency's Internet sales site.

The disclosure of the F-14 spare parts sale has alarmed members of Congress. Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, has won House approval for legislation that would suspend sales of all F-14 parts. The bill has been pending in the Senate.

I only hope we charged as much as THESE GUYS