War Profiteering

Direct link to this page: https://copswiki.org/Common/WarProfiteering

Sub-projects

Topic	Description	Status	Parents
Private Mercenaries	Considers the rise of private mercenary firms and warfare training camps.	Active	War Profiteering

Latest News

Background

This project explores the problem with war-for-profit, including the scourge of Private Mercenaries that have recently become common, as well as a vast number of paramilitary training camps, such as Blackwater Otay, Wind Zero, Procinctu Group, etc.

The independent Commission on Wartime Contracting was founded by Senator James Webb (VA) in 2008. It promises to investigate ridiculous contracting practices, waste, fraud and abuse. The eight‐member Commission is a bipartisan, independent entity charged with evaluating and reporting on America’s wartime contracting for logistics, reconstruction, and security.

Circular A-76 provides the definition of "Inherently Governmental functions" and defines how to handle competition for contracts and public-private interaction. It says:

An inherently governmental activity is an activity that is so intimately related to the public interest as to mandate performance by government personnel. These activities require the exercise of substantial discretion in applying government authority and/or in making decisions for the government. Inherently governmental activities normally fall into two categories: the exercise of sovereign government authority or the establishment of procedures and processes related to the oversight of monetary transactions or entitlements. An inherently governmental activity involves:

1. Binding the United States to take or not to take some action by contract, policy, regulation, authorization, order, or otherwise;
2. Determining, protecting, and advancing economic, political, territorial, property, or other interests by military or diplomatic action, civil or criminal judicial proceedings, contract management, or otherwise;
3. Significantly affecting the life, liberty, or property of private persons; or
4. Exerting ultimate control over the acquisition, use, or disposition of United States property (real or personal, tangible or intangible), including establishing policies or procedures for the collection, control, or disbursement of appropriated and other federal funds.

Images

%IMAGEGALLERY{titles="off" columns="6" warn="off"}% (Just attach your images to this topic and they will automatically be added to the gallery above!)

Recent Articles and Media: (Add | All Media)

This is the most recently published 20 articles, most recent first.

• (M1380) 2013-09-04 Open Letter to Rep. Susan Davis: Vote No on Syrian War! -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight, War In Syria
• (M1356) 2013-05-02 Jeremy Scahill on 'Dirty Wars' in San Diego -- Jeremy Scahill, Citizens Oversight, Video by Ryan Anderson and Ray Lutz
• (M1260) 2012-05-08 Imperial County Board of Supervisors Rescind Approval of Wind Zero (AKA Coyote Wells) Project -- Ray Lutz, Citizens Oversight, Conclusion of Wind Zero project is feather in the hat of People Against Wind Zero (PAWZ) and Citizens Oversight
• (M1237) 2012-02-02 Judge rules training center eviction was legal -- J Harry Jones, Union Tribune,
• (M1175) 2011-09-10 Eagle Rock Training Center Should be Shut Down -- Raymond Lutz, Citizens Oversight, References Michael Aguirre
• (M1173) 2011-05-26 News 8 takes rare tour inside Eagle Rock Training Center - San Diego, California News Station - KFMB -- , News 8,
• (M1167) 2011-05-15 Secret Desert Force Set Up by Blackwater’s Founder -- Mark Mazzetti, New York Times,
• (M1166) 2011-05-14 Afghanistan: The Internet is Mightier than the Bullet -- Raymond Lutz, Citizens Oversight, Afghanistan War
• (M1162) 2011-05-02 Bin Laden Dead -- Raymond Lutz, Citizens Oversight,
• (M1158) 2011-04-23 Marines, SEALs confirm training on Indian reservation -- J Harry Jones, Union Tribune, Blackwater Los Coyotes, Includes promotional video
• (M1159) 2011-04-23 Ex-Blackwater Guards Face Renewed Charges -- James Risen, New York Times, Case was in arbitration but recently abandoned due to lack of funds. BW mers were given immunity by govt (state dept) akin to episode on '24' before they could testify.
• (M1152) 2011-04-14 Military training facility on Indian reservation is revealed -- J Harry Jones, Union Tribune, Blackwater Los Coyotes
• (M1148) 2011-02-24 At what risk? Correcting over-reliance on contractors in contingency operations -- , Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan,
• (M1129) 2011-02-07 Virtual Warfare Escalates on US-Mexico Border -- Kanya D Almeida, Truth Out,
• (M1160) 2011-01-26 Blackwater deaths suit tossed after six years -- Mike Baker, Washington Post, An unfortunate likely consequence when you pick a fight with a corporation with deep pockets and who was likely just following black-ops contract provisions designed to sacrifice the BW contractors in an orchestrated ambush so that the Bush admin had an excuse for the siege of Fallujah. You need money to use our court system if you want to be treated with any measure of fairness. No money, and you will not be able to withstand the tactics of a deep-pocket adversary. Very sad. --Ray
• (M1122) 2010-12-13 Hearing on Wind Zero on 2010-12-13 by Imperial County BOS -- Raymond Lutz, Citizens Oversight, Video has 9 parts
• (M1124) 2010-08-11 Imperial County Planning Commission Meeting on Wind Zero (Transcript) -- , PAWZ,
• (M979) 2010-04-04 America’s shrinking defense base -- Duncan Hunter Jr, Union Tribune,
• (M968) 2010-03-23 AP Exclusive: Charges eyed for ex-Blackwater chief -- DEVLIN BARRETT and MIKE BAKER, Associated Press,
• (M967) 2010-03-21 Protesters march at site of proposed training facility near Ocotillo -- SILVIO J. PANTA, IVPress Online,

Discussion List

See List Serve for all email discussion lists and to add more.

Comments