At least five and as many as a dozen Iraqi officials have deserted U.S.-based military training, and are at large and unaccounted for, the Washington Times reports.
Now, a pair of Texas Republicans are demanding answers from White House officials — more than a year after first inquiring about the disappearances.
The desertions occurred between 2005 and 2007, and were reported to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Neither agency would provide details on any investigations on the disappearances, and ICE said asylum requests were confidential.
Meanwhile, Reps. Lamar Smith and John Cuthberson of Texas both raised concerns about any terrorist and national security threats the missing officers might represent.
According to the Times, an anonymous intelligence official said as many as a dozen Iraqis have deserted military training facilities in the United States.
Source:
“Lawmakers seek whereabouts of Iraqi deserters”
Washington Times, December 18, 2007