Bigger and Badder Than Blackwater

[ensho]

http://borderlinesblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/bigger-and-badder-than-blackwater.html


Blackwater USA, the world’s largest private security firm (recently renamed Xe), is the subject of much public concern about the outsourcing of security to private companies because of the murders of 17 unarmed Iraqi civilians by its mercenaries.

But there is a bigger story that is not being covered in the media or attracted public concern – let alone a new policy approach by the Democrats in Congress or the White House. That is the outsourcing of U.S. intelligence, which now constitutes an estimated 70% of the classified (but always increasing) intelligence budget.

One of the companies that has benefited from this privatization of intelligence is CACI International, a major defense contractor, which is also a major homeland security and intelligence contractor. CACI recently was in the business press because of its latest revolving door success. It has brought former U.S. Navy Secretary and former DOD deputy defense secretary in the Bush administration into the folds of its board of directors. (See: Pentagon Official Returns)

Homeland Security is CACI’s Business

CACI, a major Pentagon contractor, now lists homeland security as a top focus. And it is being rewarded by a string of DHS contracts. CACI also lists intelligence as a core business activity.

-snip-

Intelligence for Sale

-snip-

An estimated 70% of the government’s new work by the “intelligence community” (including 16 civilian and military agencies) is now contracted to companies like CACI, according to a classified study by the Director of National Intelligence. In his new book, Spies for Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing, investigative journalist Tim Shorrock documents the surge in intelligence outsourcing during the Bush administration – and which continues into the Obama administration.

-snip-

Thus far in 2009 CACI has been awarded, or is designated prime contractor, federal contracts worth $3.5 billion with DOD, DHS, and the “intelligence community.”
-snip-
---------------------------


this is nuts. this is asking for trouble.

[arbusto_baboso]

1. It's seems to me like asking for deliberately-faked intel.

Having a corporate entity gather your intel is going to result in the intel being "massaged" by the gatherers to benefit their corporate bottom line. When banks, oil companies and insurance companies start buying controlling interests in the merc/intel companies, that'll be all she wrote. It will be the permanent death of truth and democracy.

[Shandris]

2. Unless I am greviously mistaken...

...it is also illegal for the United States Intelligence Services to spy on its own citizens (of course, we know much of that was thrown to the wind with Bu$h, but still there are at least 'supposed' to be legal guidelines still). However, I don't believe that this same rule applies to 'private companies' as they are technically within the 'private sector' which, as we know, is free to grab as much info as it wants.

[Mari333]

3. we dont have enough money for universal health care but we pay for this shit

hey obama, anything new under the sun?

[Solly Mack]

4. CACI wrote a book, "Our Good Name", on why they weren't guilty at Abu Ghraib

CACI was in the news early on in the "war on terror"...


http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/08/09/abu_ghraib/index1.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/jan/16/usa.iraq

I'd wager they were mighty pleased with Blackwater's media spotlight.

[ensho]

5. didn't know this - thanks for info

nt