It's Not Waste, It's Economic Growth

This past summer, the Army began investigating why the military spent nearly $36 million to construct a well-appointed 64,000-square-foot headquarters in southwestern Afghanistan that commanders in the area did not want and has never been used. The two-star Army general in Kabul who conducted the inquiry has determined that the decision to commission the building was appropriate — and recommended that U.S. troops move in, after more work is done on the facility.

The finding has left some other senior military officers aghast.

“The Army built us an enormous white elephant, and now, to save face, we’re being told to waste more money and time to move into it,” said a senior Marine officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment on the investigation. “We don’t need it. We’re packing up there.”

[...]

The windowless building, which is larger than a football field, has been described by a two-star Marine general as “better appointed than any Marine headquarters anywhere in the world.” A two-star Army general said the operations center is as large as those at the U.S. Central Command or the supreme allied headquarters in Europe.

[...]

An earlier investigation, also conducted this year, found that the building “was neither wanted or needed,” according to John F. Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction. That inquiry concluded that the edifice — which the military has deemed too large and complex to be given to the Afghan government — be converted into a gymnasium or a movie theater “so that it would not be a total loss.”

  WaPo

Too large and complex to be given to the Afghan government?  And we wonder why they don't cooperate.

We all know that every institution that's granted taxpayer funds has to spend those funds so they can get more funds. With that in mind, this should not surprise anyone. On the other hand, if I had to place a bet, I wouldn't place it on "we're packing up there."

Oh, and...

[Maj. Gen. Peter M. Vangjel, who approved the building, in spite of all the negative input] has since been promoted to a three-star general. He is now the Army’s top inspector general, responsible for identifying waste, fraud and abuse in the service.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.