Sensitive Military Items Bought on eBay, Craigslist

Night-vision goggles, armor vests, F-14 fighter components that could only be used by Iran -- these and other sensitive military items, some stolen from the U.S. military, have been purchased by undercover government officials . . . on Craigslist and eBay, according to the Government Accountability Office (.pdf).

We found numerous defense-related items for sale to the highest bidder on eBay and Craigslist from January 2007 through March 2008. A review of eBay and Craigslist policies and procedures determined that, although these Web sites have taken steps to regulate their user communities and define items that are prohibited from sale, there are few safeguards to prevent sensitive and stolen defense-related items from being sold to either domestic or foreign users of these sites. During the period of our investigation, undercover investigators purchased a dozen sensitive items to demonstrate how easy it was to obtain them. The items were shipped to us “no questions asked.” Many of these items were stolen from the U.S. military. According to DOD, it considers the sensitive items we purchased to be on the U.S. Munitions List, meaning that there are restrictions on their overseas sales. However, if investigators had been members of the general public, there is a risk that they could have illegally resold these items to an international broker or transferred them overseas. Many of the sensitive items we purchased could have been used directly against our troops and allies, or reverse-engineered to develop countermeasures or equivalent technology.

Of all the sobering revelations in the report, this one stands out:

*Two F-14 components from separate buyers on eBay. F-14 components are in demand by Iran. Given that the United States has retired its fleet of F-14s, these components could only be used by the Iranian military. By making these components available to the general public, the eBay sellers provided an opportunity for these components to be purchased by an individual who could then transfer them to Iran. The continued ability of Iran to use its F-14s could put U.S. troops and allies at risk.
*

Oh yes, and the seller of one key F-14 component, GAO tells us, obtained his antenna "from an individual located in the Denver, Colorado, area, whose name and address he could not remember." GAO investigators were "unable to determine how this part became available to the general public."

Of all the sobering revelations in the report, this one stands out:

*Two F-14 components from separate buyers on eBay. F-14 components are in demand by Iran. Given that the United States has retired its fleet of F-14s, these components could only be used by the Iranian military. By making these components available to the general public, the eBay sellers provided an opportunity for these components to be purchased by an individual who could then transfer them to Iran. The continued ability of Iran to use its F-14s could put U.S. troops and allies at risk.
*

Oh yes, and the seller of one key F-14 component, GAO tells us, obtained his antenna "from an individual located in the Denver, Colorado, area, whose name and address he could not remember." GAO investigators were "unable to determine how this part became available to the general public."

(Photo: U.S. Air Force)