U.S. Is Still Using Private Spy Ring, Despite Doubts

[IScreamSundays]

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON — Top military officials have continued to rely on a secret network of private spies who have produced hundreds of reports from deep inside Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to American officials and businessmen, despite concerns among some in the military about the legality of the operation.


Earlier this year, government officials admitted that the military had sent a group of former Central Intelligence Agency officers and retired Special Operations troops into the region to collect information — some of which was used to track and kill people suspected of being militants. Many portrayed it as a rogue operation that had been hastily shut down once an investigation began.

But interviews with more than a dozen current and former government officials and businessmen, and an examination of government documents, tell a different a story. Not only are the networks still operating, their detailed reports on subjects like the workings of the Taliban leadership in Pakistan and the movements of enemy fighters in southern Afghanistan are also submitted almost daily to top commanders and have become an important source of intelligence.

The American military is largely prohibited from operating inside Pakistan. And under Pentagon rules, the army is not allowed to hire contractors for spying.

snip>

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/world/16contractors.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[elias49]

1. This is unbelievable! Old men and (pardoned) criminals (Dewey)

funded by Lockheed Martin? This is how we fight our 'wars'? And STILL DOD has a half-trillion dollar 2010 budget PLUS monthly supplemental appropriations.
Anyone else see something very wrong with this picture?

[Robb]

2. The answer to this probably lies in the question I had:

"Why on earth is Lockheed Martin involved?"

Thinking about the answer rather changes the picture, IMO.

[gimama]

3. quick! Somebody tell Pres.Obama!

HE will stop all this..O, never mind.
:banghead:

[boppers]

4. Since the Church Committee.

This is how it's been running for 35+ years now. Nothing new.

[IDemo]

5. U.S. still using private spies, despite doubts

Source: New York Times

By Mark Mazzetti
updated 1 hour, 25 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Top military officials have continued to rely on a secret network of private spies who have produced hundreds of reports from deep inside Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to American officials and businessmen, despite concerns among some in the military about the legality of the operation.

Earlier this year, government officials admitted that the military had sent a group of former Central Intelligence Agency officers and retired Special Operations troops into the region to collect information — some of which was used to track and kill people suspected of being militants. Many portrayed it as a rogue operation that had been hastily shut down once an investigation began.

But interviews with more than a dozen current and former government officials and businessmen, and an examination of government documents, tell a different a story. Not only are the networks still operating, their detailed reports on subjects like the workings of the Taliban leadership in Pakistan and the movements of enemy fighters in southern Afghanistan are also submitted almost daily to top commanders and have become an important source of intelligence.

The American military is largely prohibited from operating inside Pakistan. And under Pentagon rules, the army is not allowed to hire contractors for spying.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/world/16contractors.html?hp

[underpants]

6. The Reaganites effectively privatize CIA/NSA operations by cutting out of Afghanistan

and after the Cold War was over.

There have been several books and articles about how keeping people on the payroll (gubment jobs you know) was less "cost effective" than letting them operate as contractors. The upside is less cost but the downside is MORE costs per operation, loss of oversight (surely no accident), and (the big one) loss of control- private enterprise is only loyal to the next dollar.

[Robb]

7. +1.

It's the natural reaction of a clandestine agency being told to cool its jets. About as unpredictable as sunrise.