McCaskill probes alleged mismanagement in POW/MIA program

StLouis Beacon July 9, 2013 (excerpt)

Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., sent a letter to JPAC’s commander, demanding information about that internal report and the military’s efforts to suppress it. McCaskill chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Financial & Contracting Oversight.

“This is a deeply personal issue for thousands of families across the country — many of whom have been actively engaged in these efforts for decades,” said McCaskill. “We’ve got a responsibility to make sure this program is being run in a responsible manner, and I will not rest until we have answers.”

In her letter to the JPAC’s commander, Air Force Major General Kelly K. McKeague, the Missouri senator asked for the internal report as well as any internal communications relating to the report’s findings and recommendations.

Shortly after McCaskill’s office released copies of the letter to the media, a Pentagon spokesman told reporters that the Defense Department had ordered a “second look” review of JPAC. That was ordered by Pentagon policy chief James Miller, who is in charge of oversight of the military’s POW/MIA effort.

News Release: 23-Year MIA & Relic Recovery Author Responds to Suppressed Report Criticizing Hawaii-Based JPAC POW/MIA Effort

read ... Probe

Related: Report: Joint POW/MIA Command on Oahu “corrupt, inept, mismanaged and wasteful”

SA: Improve MIA recovery efforts

The AP obtained a tape indicating that U.S. investigators believe "10s if not 100s" of American POWs were transferred to the former Soviet Union and in some cases moved to Russia through rail transports in China. Russians have denied receiving America POWs from Korea, but further investigation is needed.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has requested "a comprehensive briefing" from the U.S. Pacific Command and JPAC "to determine the appropriate steps moving forward." U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, a member of the Armed Services Committee, has said that "JPAC's current command should be given an opportunity to address their challenges."