The Shocking Statistics Behind The Pentagon's Revolving Door 'Policy'

[Scuba]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-12-03/shocking-statistics-behind-pentagons-revolving-door-policy

High ranking generals and admirals earn their stars. They earn their stripes. Then, they earn their cash. New research by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) found 70% of the 108 three-and-four star generals and admirals who retired between 2009 and 2011 took jobs with defense contractor or consultants. In at least a few cases, the retirees have continued to advise the Department of Defense while on the payroll of defense contractors, suggesting the Pentagon may not always be receiving unbiased counsel.

A Boston Globe investigation revealed the number of retired three-and-four star generals and admirals moving into lucrative defense industry jobs rose from less than 50% between 1994 and 1998 to a stratospheric 80% between 2004 and 2008.

...

One of the prime examples of the dangers of this activity outlined in the report revolves around Lt. Gen. Robert Dail. He retired from the Army in January 2009 and by March 2009 had become the president of Supreme Group USA. Supreme Foodservice had been paid at least $6.8 billion to provide food to U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan, but then the Pentagon accused it of overcharging by hundreds of millions of dollars. Despite this, the contact was renewed during Lt. Gen. Dail’s time there and in June 2012, the company was actually awarded an additional $1.5 billion contract to ease the transition to a new vendor.

...

Retired generals can make more than their yearly military pay by serving on corporate boards
Contractors have increased spending on lobbying for 40 percent in the last five years
The U.S. government paid the top five defense contractors $113 billion in 2011
As of early 2012, 68 percent of lobbyists for the top five defense contractors had prior public sector experience
Pentagon rules prohibiting the revolving door are riddled with loopholes

[octoberlib]

1. This is sickening. nt

[reteachinwi]

2. It may be more than the money.

Privatized officers can influence policy as well, to the benefit of their benefactors.

An American strategic "readjustment" that will see massive military forces parked off China's coast, and increasing tensions between the world's second and third largest economies, threaten to derail Obama's vision of a peaceful second term.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/OA30Ad01.html

[think]

3. Kick & Rec for some congresscritters to do the right thing and end this

fucking crap....