Army Failure to Screen Afghans Found to Risk U.S. Troops

The U.S. Army failed to ensure that Afghan translators were properly screened at the start of the Obama administration’s troop surge in Afghanistan, endangering soldiers they worked with, according to the Pentagon’s inspector general.

Only 656, or 15 percent, of 4,310 Afghan nationals hired by Columbus, Ohio-based Mission Essential Personnel LLC under a $1.46 billion contract received full counter-intelligence screening in 2009 and 2010, according to a Dec. 7 audit labeled “For Official Use Only.”