Bush Outsourcing Intelligence to Private Contractors

[DLR'sCock]

Outsourcing Intelligence: How Bush Gets His National Intelligence From Private Companies
By R.J. Hillhouse
The Nation

Tuesday 31 July 2007

The unprecedented involvement of private corporations in the Iraq War has been well documented. Private soldiers working for Blackwater USA, Triple Canopy and others provide security services against military-level threats, and they regularly engage in combat.

But what is not generally known is that the secret side of the Iraq War and the larger "war on terror" is also conducted by private corporations, fielding private spies. The reach of these corporations has extended into the Oval Office. Corporations are heavily involved in creating the analytical products that underlie the nation's most important and most sensitive national security document, the President's Daily Brief (PDB).

Over the past six years, a quiet revolution has occurred in the intelligence community toward wide-scale outsourcing to corporations and away from the long-established practice of keeping operations in US government hands, with only select outsourcing of certain jobs to independently contracted experts. Key functions of intelligence agencies are now run by private corporations. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) revealed in May that 70 percent of the intelligence budget goes to contractors.

For all practical purposes, effective control of the NSA is with private corporations, which run its support and management functions. As the Washington Post's Walter Pincus reported last year, more than 70 percent of the staff of the Pentagon's newest intelligence unit, CIFA (Counterintelligence Field Activity), is made up of corporate contractors.

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) lawyers revealed at a conference in May that contractors make up 51 percent of the staff in DIA offices. At the CIA, the situation is similar. Between 50 and 60 percent of the workforce of the CIA's most important directorate, the National Clandestine Service (NCS), responsible for the gathering of human intelligence, is composed of employees of for-profit corporations.

Employees of private corporations - "green badgers," in CIA parlance - provide sensitive services ranging from covert CIA operations in Iraq to recruiting and running spies. They also gather human intelligence on behalf of the CIA and analyze it, creating intelligence products used by the intelligence community and also shared with other branches of government.

Corporate intelligence professionals from companies such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC and others are thoroughly integrated into analytical divisions throughout the intelligence community, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It is the ODNI that produces the final document of the President's Daily Brief.

The President's Daily Brief is an aggregate of the most critical analyses from the sixteen agencies that make up the intelligence community. Staff at the ODNI sift through reports to complete the PDB, which is presented to the President every day as the US government's most accurate and most current assessment of priority national security issues. It was the PDB that warned on August 6, 2001, "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US."

It's true that the government pays for and signs off on the assessment, but much of the analysis and even some of the underlying intelligence-gathering is corporate. Knowledgeable members of the intelligence community tell me that corporations have so penetrated the intelligence community that it's impossible to distinguish their work from the government's.

Although the President's Daily Brief has the seal of the ODNI, it is misleading. To be accurate, the PDB would look more like NASCAR with corporate logos plastered all over it.

Concerned members of the intelligence community have told me that if a corporation wanted to insert items favorable to itself or its clients into the PDB to influence the US national security agenda, at this time it would be virtually undetectable. These companies have analysts and often intelligence collectors spread throughout the system and have the access to introduce intelligence into the system.

To take an extreme example, a company frustrated with a government that's hampering its business or the business of one of its clients could introduce or spin intelligence on that government's suspected collaboration with terrorists in order to get the White House's attention and potentially shape national policy.

Or, more subtly, a private firm could introduce concerns about a particular government to put heat on that government to shape its energy policy in a favorable direction.

To get us into the Iraq War, intelligence regarding alleged weapons of mass destruction had to be very artfully manipulated to short-circuit a formidable bureaucracy designed to prevent just such warping of intelligence. Due to the shift toward wide-scale industrial outsourcing in the intelligence community, even that fallible safeguard has been eroded.

Sources like "Curveball," the Iraqi informant who wrongly asserted the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and upon whom the CIA relied, are no longer needed. This is particularly frightening when one considers that the "war on terror" is fought by a $100 billion-plus industry that has a vested interest in its continuation.

The tools needed to close this vulnerability are available, and they can be found in the private sector. Existing techniques could be applied to monitor the intelligence community for any suspicious activity to insure that no corporation could manipulate US government policy in this way.

Closing the gaps is simply a matter of the Director of National Intelligence acknowledging the problem, then finding the political will and leadership to implement a solution. Unfortunately, it will probably take a public outcry to make this happen.

-------

[Angel]

Blackwater are UNBELIEVABLE! That's who my son is hoping to get on with once he finishes his stint in our military.

[Nickdfresh]

I suspect that there is some hyperbole in the article. But this is nonetheless disturbing trend wise. Which is why the Bushleague Admin cannot be replaced fast enough...

[Blackflag]

Originally posted by Angel
Blackwater are UNBELIEVABLE! That's who my son is hoping to get on with once he finishes his stint in our military.

Dare to dream. :rolleyes: There's one born every minute.

[Angel]

Dreams are simply goals that haven't been reached yet.

So far, the boy has attained every goal he's ever set for himself... no reason why he shouldn't reach these ones either...

[BITEYOASS]

Originally posted by Angel
Dreams are simply goals that haven't been reached yet.

So far, the boy has attained every goal he's ever set for himself... no reason why he shouldn't reach these ones either...

Well he better change his mind cause this current goal of his may turn into the biggest mistake of his life.

[BITEYOASS]

That and the head of Blackwater is the Brother-in-law of Dick DeVos, the head of Scamway, if that gives you any indication.

[ODShowtime]

This is a great way for the corporations to integrate fascism into the government.

[Blackflag]

Originally posted by Angel
Dreams are simply goals that haven't been reached yet.

Being a government-paid mercenary isn't a dream, it's a capitulation.

It's actually against federal law for the U.S. government to hire mercenaries. Too bad Congress isn't upholding the law these days.

[BITEYOASS]

Originally posted by ODShowtime
This is a great way for the corporations to integrate fascism into the government.

Let's just have an entire week where everyone in america doesn't show up for work and doesn't spend a dime. We'll see what happens then

[ODShowtime]

Originally posted by BITEYOASS
Let's just have an entire week where everyone in america doesn't show up for work and doesn't spend a dime. We'll see what happens then

I'm down. just give me a heads up to stockpile beer, cigs, and some steaks and I'm good to go.

[Angel]

Originally posted by Blackflag
Being a government-paid mercenary isn't a dream, it's a capitulation.

It's actually against federal law for the U.S. government to hire mercenaries. Too bad Congress isn't upholding the law these days.

He's an andrenal junkie. He doesn't give a shit who he works for once he's completed his military stint. He just wants to go after bad guys, doesn't matter to him who's paying the bill. As a Canuck, he really doesn't give a shit regarding the federal laws regarding the government hiring.

[Nickdfresh]

There's a book out on all of the Blackwater shit. I heard the author on NPR. He has some real interesting stuff to say about how these guys, along with the religious right pandering admin. skirt the laws using semantics...

[Nitro Express]

Actually the private contractors get paid a lot better than govt. troops and usually have access to better equipment too.

The way the world is going, security is going to be big big business in the future and there's a lot more to it than just being the muscle on the ground. It's having knowlege of the strategy and technology involved. I don't see working in security after a stint in the military wierd at all.

[Blackflag]

I hear that being a man-whore or meth dealer pays better than being in the military, too. But don't ask me for the basic shred of respect, and don't try to defend your decision - it's all about the money.

There's a reason the U.S. illegalized mercenaries 200 years ago - it's fundamentally un-american. The government is paying more just to keep the headcount/deaths off the books and out of the media.

To the sheep earlier...yeah, a lot of us are adrenaline junkies. But that doesn't mean we want to fly across the world and shoot somebody.

A U.S. soldier does it for love of country. Your kid would do it for money and the thrill of seeing blood. What a dick. Tell him to grow up and get a job that contributes to society. :fucku:

[BITEYOASS]

Originally posted by Angel
He's an andrenal junkie. He doesn't give a shit who he works for once he's completed his military stint. He just wants to go after bad guys, doesn't matter to him who's paying the bill. As a Canuck, he really doesn't give a shit regarding the federal laws regarding the government hiring.

I didn't think there were Canadians heading to americal and taking part in this shitty war. Usually it's US Veterans heading for Canada to avoid Iraq.

[Angel]

Originally posted by Blackflag
I hear that being a man-whore or meth dealer pays better than being in the military, too. But don't ask me for the basic shred of respect, and don't try to defend your decision - it's all about the money.

There's a reason the U.S. illegalized mercenaries 200 years ago - it's fundamentally un-american. The government is paying more just to keep the headcount/deaths off the books and out of the media.

To the sheep earlier...yeah, a lot of us are adrenaline junkies. But that doesn't mean we want to fly across the world and shoot somebody.

A U.S. soldier does it for love of country. Your kid would do it for money and the thrill of seeing blood. What a dick. Tell him to grow up and get a job that contributes to society. :fucku:

The kid has been a private investigator since the age of 18, and has known for some time now that he wants to get into international security/intelligence. He has good reasons for wanting to go after "al-qaida (sp?)" type organizations and individuals.

Believe me, he's seen his share of blood and guts and that's not his purpose. Will he end up going the mercenary route? Possibly. More than likely he'll end up either working for CSIS, or the Intelligence Branch of the Canadian Military.

He doesn't give a fuck who's signing his pay cheque, he just knows exactly what he wants to do with his life...

Nothing wrong with that. Hell, I'm 45 and considering going back to school because I've finally figured out what I "want to be when I grow up".

So, he wants to fly across the world and kill Bin Laden... what's wrong with that?

[Angel]

Originally posted by BITEYOASS
I didn't think there were Canadians heading to americal and taking part in this shitty war. Usually it's US Veterans heading for Canada to avoid Iraq.

No, there aren't Canadians heading to the US to go fight in Iraq. Canadian soldiers are busy fighting in Afghanistan. For us, Osama hasn't "bin forgotten" like he seems to in the US.

[FORD]

Originally posted by BITEYOASS
That and the head of Blackwater is the Brother-in-law of Dick DeVos, the head of Scamway, if that gives you any indication.

Dominionist fascists. Funny how the whore media makes a big deal about the dangers of Islamic fundamentalism, but never says anything about these insane fuckwads who are every bit as bad.

Someone want to tell me the difference between Al Qaeda and Blackwater??

Both are mercenary armies held together by some fucked up concept of "God"

[hideyoursheep]

Originally posted by Angel
So, he wants to fly across the world and kill Bin Laden... what's wrong with that?

I would ask Pat Tillman that, but I can't.

Seriously, who doesn't wanna kill Bin-Hidden?

You think in that capacity he's actually gonna get a chance for that one, you're wrong. He wants to cash in on what he's getting paid dick for right now, nothing more.

[hideyoursheep]

Originally posted by Angel
No, there aren't Canadians heading to the US to go fight in Iraq. Canadian soldiers are busy fighting in Afghanistan. For us, Osama hasn't "bin forgotten" like he seems to in the US.

That said, has the Canadian Govt. "forgotten" to send additional troops as promised for the Afghan theater a few months ago?

[Angel]

Originally posted by hideyoursheep
You think in that capacity he's actually gonna get a chance for that one, you're wrong. He wants to cash in on what he's getting paid dick for right now, nothing more.

You know fuck all about the young man...

If he wants to be a fucking spy or whatever, he can go for it! When he was 16, he was involved in gang activity in the city we lived in at the time. What people was he involved with? You got it... Muslims... selling coke to fund their terrorist activities.

He got out in early 2001... he was devastated when September came around and those planes flew into the towers, knowing that he had deposited at least 1/4 million dollars into mid-east bank accounts.

He's not doing this for money, he's repaying his debt to society, and yeah, he wants to go after the motherfuckers that robbed him of his youth. Christ, he would PAY for the priviledge of going after the bastards.

[Angel]

Originally posted by hideyoursheep
That said, has the Canadian Govt. "forgotten" to send additional troops as promised for the Afghan theater a few months ago?

Nope. We keep sending them. Another 200 were just deployed from Quebec last month.

[BITEYOASS]

Originally posted by Angel
No, there aren't Canadians heading to the US to go fight in Iraq. Canadian soldiers are busy fighting in Afghanistan. For us, Osama hasn't "bin forgotten" like he seems to in the US.

Well I didn't mean Canadian military units. I meant those Canadians heading over to the USA in order to join our military or join a private mercenary group. Only difference is that those Canadians joining our military do it for American citizenship rather than the private forces, which is just for cash. He better not be expecting any VA compensation if he's wounded, Canadians who were wounded in nam never received any.

[BITEYOASS]

Originally posted by Angel
You know fuck all about the young man...

If he wants to be a fucking spy or whatever, he can go for it! When he was 16, he was involved in gang activity in the city we lived in at the time. What people was he involved with? You got it... Muslims... selling coke to fund their terrorist activities.

He got out in early 2001... he was devastated when September came around and those planes flew into the towers, knowing that he had deposited at least 1/4 million dollars into mid-east bank accounts.

He's not doing this for money, he's repaying his debt to society, and yeah, he wants to go after the motherfuckers that robbed him of his youth. Christ, he would PAY for the priviledge of going after the bastards.

Hell, about 10% of all races in the USMC were involved in gang activity. I've even know someone from Winnepeg who was in my AO shop in Yuma. And they don't fuck ya with 15 month deployments like the Army does. He better have a strong liver though.

[Angel]

Originally posted by BITEYOASS
Well I didn't mean Canadian military units. I meant those Canadians heading over to the USA in order to join our military or join a private mercenary group. Only difference is that those Canadians joining our military do it for American citizenship rather than the private forces, which is just for cash. He better not be expecting any VA compensation if he's wounded, Canadians who were wounded in nam never received any.

He would never in a million years join the US military, or give up his Canadian citizenship. I don't think too many Canadians are joining US military these days.

His plan is to do a years stint in Armoured division, then move to intelligence branch. Once he completes his CANADIAN military obligations, he wants to do private international security/intelligence.

[BITEYOASS]

A lot of them got out there gang activity after a friend or relative gets killed and usually go ballistic over other marines who try to start a gang on base.

[BITEYOASS]

I still think he's gonna get fucked working in the private sector of a war zone, especially with all of the fraud and waste by these no-bid contractors.

[Angel]

Originally posted by BITEYOASS
A lot of them got out there gang activity after a friend or relative gets killed and usually go ballistic over other marines who try to start a gang on base.

I don't know what made him get out of it, nor do I want to know.

All I know is that we were doing the tough love thing while he was involved, and one day he phoned and said "I got to get out of this..."
We didn't ask many questions, just sent him far away.

A few months later, I got a call from a member of the local police gang unit, a member whom I had talked to previously, and who had assured me that no way was my boy that heavily involved. He was calling to say that I had been right, and that "John" had been heavily involved and had stepped on a lot of toes on his way up the ladder.

The cop said he wanted to talk to him. Of course, by that time I had learned from my son that the cop was in the gang's pockets. I didn't give him a shred of info.

But, back to the topic of this thread. I seriously doubt he'll end up with Blackwater. I see him doing more spying than mercenary type killing.

[BITEYOASS]

Originally posted by Angel
I don't know what made him get out of it, nor do I want to know.

All I know is that we were doing the tough love thing while he was involved, and one day he phoned and said "I got to get out of this..."
We didn't ask many questions, just sent him far away.

A few months later, I got a call from a member of the local police gang unit, a member whom I had talked to previously, and who had assured me that no way was my boy that heavily involved. He was calling to say that I had been right, and that "John" had been heavily involved and had stepped on a lot of toes on his way up the ladder.

The cop said he wanted to talk to him. Of course, by that time I had learned from my son that the cop was in the gang's pockets. I didn't give him a shred of info.

But, back to the topic of this thread. I seriously doubt he'll end up with Blackwater. I see him doing more spying than mercenary type killing.


Well then he ought to work with a partnership other veterans involved with spying or start his own group.

[jhale667]

Originally posted by Angel
Y

He got out in early 2001... he was devastated when September came around and those planes flew into the towers, knowing that he had deposited at least 1/4 million dollars into mid-east bank accounts.



Wow...talk about a karmic debt...

[Blackflag]

Originally posted by Angel
If he wants to be a fucking spy or whatever, he can go for it!

Sounds like he needs to grow up. Maybe somebody should have done a better job raising him.

If one of us could fly out and shoot Bin Laden - we would all volunteer for that. No pay required. So he's not going for some bullshit sense of justice.

And he knows he won't get to shoot Bin Laden. This isn't a 007 movie. Back here in the real world, it's just two low-iq douchebags shooting at each other in the desert. Not Bush, and not Bin Laden.

And the fuckwits keep signing up on both sides. :dork:

[Blackflag]

Originally posted by FORD
Someone want to tell me the difference between Al Qaeda and Blackwater??

Al Qaeda haven't whored themselves to the highest bidder.

[Angel]

Originally posted by Blackflag
Sounds like he needs to grow up. Maybe somebody should have done a better job raising him.

If one of us could fly out and shoot Bin Laden - we would all volunteer for that. No pay required. So he's not going for some bullshit sense of justice.

And he knows he won't get to shoot Bin Laden. This isn't a 007 movie. Back here in the real world, it's just two low-iq douchebags shooting at each other in the desert. Not Bush, and not Bin Laden.

And the fuckwits keep signing up on both sides. :dork:

Get a grip, of course he doesn't think he can just fly over and get Osama... but if he he wants to pursue a career in international intelligence and security, like I said, there is nothing wrong with that.

As for the better job raising him? You could be right there, his father was an alcoholic... that's why the gangs were able to get ahold of him when he was a teenager... However, if he hadn't been raised with the proper moral values, he never would have seen how wrong what he was doing was, and he would probably be dead or in jail by now.

He knows exactly what he wants to do with his life. Saying "maybe I'll get Osama" is no different than buying a lottery ticket and planning how you're going to spend your millions. The important thing is that he KNOWS the Osama thing is just a pipe dream.

He DOES however know how to blend with other cultures, and he knows enough about the culture to be able to gain their confidence and trust.

At least when he's middle-aged he won't be sitting on some fan site of a band he loved in his youth wasting his time....

Have a great day! It's beautiful out, and it's Friday.

[Blackflag]

Originally posted by Angel
At least when he's middle-aged he won't be sitting on some fan site of a band he loved in his youth wasting his time....

I would hope not. The bands of his youth were Nsync and the Backside Boys. :fucku2:

[Angel]

Originally posted by Blackflag
I would hope not. The bands of his youth were Nsync and the Backside Boys. :fucku2:

Aaaarrrrgghhhh.... :D Thankfully, he never made me listen to that shit. But I did destroy a couple of rap discs. I warned him not to bring that shit into my house!

Why do you keep telling me to fuck myself? :fucku2:

Back to topic - we were checking out some of the Blackwater shit last night... some pretty incredible helicopter pilots! But he then heard about the Christian shit... that definitely won't be the route he takes.

[BITEYOASS]

Originally posted by Blackflag
I would hope not. The bands of his youth were Nsync and the Backside Boys. :fucku2:

Nah, I have my bets that he listened to "Snow" who had that song "Informer". I hate that fuckin song!

[BITEYOASS]

Or Crash Test Dummies! I know so much about Canadian popular culture that it scares Angel. :D

[Angel]

Actually, when he was 11, he came home with 3 discs one day.

Some hip hop thing
The Doors
Bach

[Angel]

Originally posted by BITEYOASS
Or Crash Test Dummies! I know so much about Canadian popular culture that it scares Angel. :D

Well geez, look where you live!!! I'm in awe of your knowledge. ;)