Bribe Inquiry Looks at Sale of Field Gear to Military

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http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/28/business/28military.html

By LESLIE WAYNE
Published: October 28, 2005

In a widening scandal at the United States Special Operations Command, federal investigators are looking into a bribery scheme as well as accusations of improper influence involving millions of dollars in battlefield equipment used by Navy Seals and Army Green Berets and Rangers.

The investigations, unfolding on several fronts, are examining the hiring of a former Special Operations Command official by a military contractor as well as financial contributions by military contractors to a nonprofit organization that ran social events for the special forces.

A statement issued yesterday by the command, located at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., said that the Pentagon's inspector general was examining the accusations. Among those under investigation is Gen. Bryan D. Brown, known as Doug, who heads the command.

Yesterday's statement comes after a plea agreement involving a civilian procurement official at the command, who pleaded guilty in federal court this month to having accepted bribes. The official, William E. Burke, 50, admitted to accepting payments from an individual who represented military contractors seeking to equip these commandos.

The special forces command is also investigating all of the contracts handled by Mr. Burke since 1999 to see whether special forces troops received inferior equipment as a result of the kickbacks. At least one other indictment is expected. The other person who represented the contractors has not been publicly identified.

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1. A microcosm of why we are at war.

War profiteering at the expense of our unfortunate troops.

Profits delivered by the box full.