Discover the best of the web!
Learn more about Digg by taking the tour.
House to probe shady Pentagon contract given to 22-year-old
rawstory.com — Times story reveals that the Pentagon gave an inexperienced 22-year-old a $300 million contract to provide ammo to Afghanistan. The shady deal resulted in decades old, substandard munitions being delivered to US and Afghan troops. AEY is apparently still in business, and it is hiring, according to this Craigslist ad.
Ronbry- 2011 diggs
- digg it
- carcarr, on 03/28/2008, -57/+26I am sure that he has ties to Republican party. "Nice job, Brownie."
- unreg, on 03/28/2008, -3/+34Actually I'm betting he has ties to whoever his local Senator or Representative is. This isn't a Republican or Democrat thing, it's an abuse of trust and power.
- Raian, on 03/28/2008, -1/+10I wonder how many higher ups you have to screw before they get scared and give you a $300m contract?
- vornan19, on 03/29/2008, -0/+2"I wonder how many higher ups you have to BLOW before they get scared and give you a $300m contract?"
Fixed.
- vornan19, on 03/29/2008, -0/+2"I wonder how many higher ups you have to BLOW before they get scared and give you a $300m contract?"
- DangerCollie, on 03/28/2008, -2/+8That's funny, he doesn't look like a Republican fund raiser.
- omgTHEPATRIOTS, on 03/28/2008, -2/+14Actually, his partner's father is a powerful Ashkenenazi rabbi.
Check out TPM, lots of info passing through here:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/ ... - NoStoppingUs, on 03/28/2008, -13/+1I don't care who he has ties to. He's one sexy beast.
- robthom, on 03/28/2008, -2/+2I'll bet he's jewish.
- PURPLEDRINK, on 03/29/2008, -3/+2Jews did 911
- SamMcPhy, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1Actually, more likely are ties to Democrats. Remember House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband are being investigated for Nancy steering defense contracts to her husbands company.
- pedo, on 03/28/2008, -6/+164headline should have read, "Pentagon gives $300 million contract to super nice guy!!!"
- fireburner23, on 03/28/2008, -2/+1Ain't that the truth
- KirbyMeister, on 03/28/2008, -4/+9i think bullets is a super nice guy, eh comes from china and doesn't afraid of anything
- plaing, on 03/28/2008, -0/+32"Pentagon gives $300 million contract to Andy Samberg"
- adventchild08, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2Exactly what I was thinking
- kidcodea, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1trudat trudat
- adventchild08, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2Exactly what I was thinking
- SpeakerCity, on 03/28/2008, -3/+3.
- BuckQJohnson, on 03/28/2008, -3/+147That looks like a mug shot. How in the hell did a 22 year old kid get a contract worth 300 million dollars, that is alot of money. And on top of that, he has no experienc in the arms trade. I'm surprised he didn't get fleeced or conned by them once they figured out he was a novice. He could have went to an above the board weapons supplier that produced 7.62 (AK rounds) and made a profit of 6 to 7 percent on the 300 million dollars, he would have made 21 million dollars profit and still be in good standing. But what he wanted to do was buy cut rate ammunition that was decades (vietnam era) old and buy them for pennies on the dollar and charge the govt. full price.
He should have stuck with the 6 to 7 percent profit and go it straight. This way he would have learned the ropes in arms dealing and could have found a good deal without having to break US law.- 13B1303, on 03/28/2008, -19/+27.62? The M16 and M4 fire 5.56X45 I think you are pulling those %s out of your ass.
- subliminalurge, on 03/28/2008, -0/+14He did say AK rounds, didn't he? While the article didn't specify they were looking for AK ammo, it is a weapon that would be easily obtainable by our troops over there. Since the article does say that he purchased most of the ammo from communist bloc countries, this leads me to believe that they probably were looking for AK ammo.
- tbranham, on 03/28/2008, -0/+7That's AK, as in AK-47, which the parent post indicated...
- cawpin, on 03/28/2008, -0/+6Yes, the M16 and all variants that the US military uses all fire 5.56x45. It is almost identical to .223 Remington, although it is considered unsafe to fire 5.56 in a .223 firearm. No US weapon has ever used 7.62x39. The M14 uses 7.62x51 (.308 Winchester) and the M1 Garand used .30-06, also a 7.62mm bullet.
Troops may use an AK or SKS when they're fighting but I don't believe the US military has ever provided 7.62x39 ammo for anything. You just use what you can find. In Iraq and Afghanistan that wouldn't be too hard.
All that said, if the military is giving out $300 million contracts to supply ammo, I'll load them myself. I'd have no problem doing it.- doktorrocket, on 03/28/2008, -0/+6Not to put to fine a point on it, but the contract was to supply ammunition to the Afghan forces, among others. They, like their Iraqi counterparts, prefer various AK variants to the M4 and M16 we originally tried to get them to adopt. So the US military is providing them with 7.62 ammo.
- GliTCH82, on 03/28/2008, -6/+4Really, they prefer AKs to M4s and M16s? Do you have a source that states that?
- GliTCH82, on 03/28/2008, -3/+2Why am I getting buried? All I wanted was proof that when we offered for the Afghanis and Iraqis to adopt our rifles, they declined and stuck with the AKs. I was under the impression that they only used AKs because that's all they really could afford.
- subliminalurge, on 03/28/2008, -1/+4The AK-47 is highly regarded as one of the most effective and reliable combat rifles in the world. I'm sure even many US soldiers would prefer to carry an AK if they could maintain a reliable source of ammo, even though they have already been issued one of our weapons.
- Bizarrkley, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1I saw a report on one of the news shows about how the troops were using AK47's and other rifles (I'm no expert) in favor of thier standard issue M16's. And if network television reports it, you know it has to be true!
- subliminalurge, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1@Bizzarkley
It has nothing to do with reports on TV. I made my post based on both a solid understanding of how guns work, and extensive conversations with veterans who have actually been in combat in various wars.
The AK-47 is a simpler design than the M-16. In this case, like many others, simpler == less likely to malfunction. It should be obvious to anyone that in a combat situation, you would prefer the weapon most likely to fire, regardless of where it was made. Not to mention that it's handy to be able to use captured ammo in situaions where supplies are hard to come by.
That said, American rifles have been refined and improved over the years, so the preference for the AK is stronger in older veterans than younger ones. Still, I have several friends who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past few years, and two of them would still strongly prefer to carry an AK given the option. - GawtMilk, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1American-made guns like the M16 are made to "disarm". They're a straight-shooting gun that pierces the target. Since it flies straight, they are very accurate at long range. This is due to the very high standard of manufacture, and the large number of parts that move during each shot.
The AK-47 are made to kill. They shoot crooked and "tumble" when they strike a target, splitting internal organs open. Due to its trajectory, they are VERY innacurate at long range. Being a Russian-made weapon, the time and money that they could put into a single gun was fewer, so it is not as good as the American made guns so they needed fewer working parts. This led to reliability in the field.
In urban warfare, the M16 makes sense. Reliable under regular circumstances, superb accuracy, doesn't "tumble". Just takes the target down.
In jungle or desert warfare, the AK-47 is more reliable and can be fired after being dropped in the mud. Since you're going to be surprising your enemy, rather than shooting over long distances on rooftops, the range of the M16 is not necessary.
- jerger23, on 03/28/2008, -0/+5Concur with doktorrocket. Iraqi police and military forces are using AK variants, essentially consisting of weapons recycled from the former Iraqi military forces, seized weapons from caches, and some newly purchased weapons.
- doktorrocket, on 03/28/2008, -0/+6Not to put to fine a point on it, but the contract was to supply ammunition to the Afghan forces, among others. They, like their Iraqi counterparts, prefer various AK variants to the M4 and M16 we originally tried to get them to adopt. So the US military is providing them with 7.62 ammo.
- doktorrocket, on 03/28/2008, -0/+6The 7.62 cartridges are specifically mentioned in the NYT article that rawstory links to. He's pulling the #s (not percentages) out of the article.
- swrostmore, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2It is a mugshot and he inherited the business from his late father.
- fireburner23, on 03/28/2008, -0/+10I think the message is pretty straight forward....don't be too greedy, but enough to take home the Mercedes?
- yojiffyskippy, on 03/28/2008, -11/+16That's how the biased media spins their web - they select their pictures very carefully to support their propaganda. You learn that trick in Propaganda 101 at any liberal college. If you want to make them look like a "nice guy" you use their senior prom pictures, if you want to make them look like the boogie-man then you use an unflattering picture of them.
- Hillsfar, on 03/28/2008, -2/+6Is that why pictures of Hiillary always show her with a scowl or grimace, and those of Obama make him look like a stern finger-pointing devil? Cos we know Fox News is liberal media, right? You right-wingers keep complaining about a "liberal" media when we all know conservatives own the networks and newspapers.
- sinurgy, on 03/29/2008, -0/+2You had me until the "liberal college" part. This slimy trick is not practiced by any one party. Stop being such a fool!
- Frnnkdlxx, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1I'm guessing you've conned the American people before? *****.
- montereymedia, on 03/28/2008, -2/+12It's a little more complicated than a kid just wanting to make more money on an arms deal. It is apparent that AEY had been dealing with our government since 2004. If you don't think the government knows where the company they deal with is getting their supplies, you are wrong. The purpose behind buying the old and obsolete ammunition was the intent of the pentagon as much as it was AEY's. If it costs more to dispose of the old ammunition than it is to supply new ammunition, you can hit two birds with one stone by buying the old ***** and passing it off as new. Now why wouldn't the Pentagon, in all its power and wisdom, contract directly with the ammunition supplier and save money? The answer is, if you are trying to get rid of your old ammunition by passing it off as new, it would not be good to link yourself directly with the arms deal. So what they do is, setup one more link in the chain. They can now say this link played a cruel trick on them. 22 year old takes the fall and the Pentagon will get out free of charge. They will also be free of the State Department and NATO responsibility to dispose of obsolete ammo while at the same time, supplying our troops. Everybody wins! Except AEY of course ....(maybe someones meaningless Pentagon job is lost and is pinned as the only corrupt part of the deal as far as the government is concerned. not likely though)
- RyanElston, on 03/28/2008, -1/+3I thought the obsolete ammo came from Albania, not the US. Why should the pentagon be concerned with their munitions?
- montereymedia, on 03/31/2008, -0/+1It was made in china and was bought from a number of places due to diffusion.
- BradHAWK, on 03/29/2008, -0/+0Conversation in the Pentagon:
"We need to dump this crap but we need to make it look legit."
"I know - we'll give a 300 million dollar contract to an 18 year old kid to send it to our allies!"
"Brilliant!"
- RyanElston, on 03/28/2008, -1/+3I thought the obsolete ammo came from Albania, not the US. Why should the pentagon be concerned with their munitions?
- Nillerus, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1"... he should have *gone*..."
All hail grammar nazism. No really. - behlib99, on 03/28/2008, -3/+2Because he has Jewish connections.
- robthom, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1Exactly.
- darkecho, on 03/29/2008, -1/+1"7.62 (AK rounds) "
The U.S. has weapons that shoot 7.62 rounds as well.. IE. 240 Bravo which is basically the big brother to the 249 SAW- RedAlaric, on 03/30/2008, -0/+0The saw shoots 7.62x51. The AK and variants shoot 7.62x39. Not the same round. However, winchester does make ak ammo. It's not steel casing though like 3rd world stuff is.
- RedAlaric, on 03/30/2008, -0/+0oops, I mean M240 shoots 7.62x51. The saw shoots 5.56x45.
- 13B1303, on 03/28/2008, -19/+27.62? The M16 and M4 fire 5.56X45 I think you are pulling those %s out of your ass.
- saltcity, on 03/28/2008, -1/+30when you care enough to send the very best...
- monospaced, on 03/28/2008, -0/+8He probably would have done it for a bag of weed; The Pentagon could have saved the money.
- Arramol, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4Hey, Ender was much younger than this guy when the government put him in charge of Earth's defense, I say we give him a chance!
- stateofmind, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2"We may be young, but we're not powerless. We play by their rules long enough and it becomes our game."
- Valentine ("Ender's Game" pg. 237)
- stateofmind, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2"We may be young, but we're not powerless. We play by their rules long enough and it becomes our game."
- induren, on 03/28/2008, -9/+226Wow is it just me or does he look like a total d-bag?
- darny, on 03/28/2008, -3/+19It is not you, he does look like a total DB.
- deviouskoopa, on 03/28/2008, -1/+13Well he is wearing stripes ;)
(close enough to make the joke)- ryleyleckie, on 04/10/2008, -0/+8i love how the flowchart has yet to die
- omgTHEPATRIOTS, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4He's like Dean from Code Monkeys, the dudebro got out of charges of beating his girlfriend by claiming National Security on the matter.
- Fullvinyl, on 03/28/2008, -1/+21I'm sure he trades in illegal polos with pre-popped collars as well.
- du4l1ty, on 03/28/2008, -1/+4His collar isn't popped so no, he doesn't look like a dbag.
- shaymein, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4i was thinkin' Caveman Lawyer...
- mcm020, on 03/28/2008, -1/+3Well, call him a D-bag all you want but he is 22 and he did get a 300 million dollar arms contract.
- lateralus, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1Had a $300M contract...
- GregofJersey, on 03/28/2008, -0/+0Looks like one of the douche bags from Jersey. Actually, it looks like someone I graduated with...
- mahdaeng, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1I don't know if it's just you. I've never seen you.
- robthom, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1Yeah he does "Look like" it, but thats immaterial at this point. The article has pretty much established it as a fact. Miami generally seems like a D-bag state on the whole from everything I heard or seen about it.
- induren, on 03/28/2008, -2/+77I can not get over the stupidity of this.
- Stupidumb, on 03/28/2008, -6/+3This can't be real
- oxilite, on 03/28/2008, -1/+0I blame today's media! He clearly saw the movie Lord of War, and as we all know, when a kid sees a movie, he is helpless to resist imitating what he saw!
/Sarcasm - Independentsam, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1I doubt there was any stupidity involved. Looks like the kid was a mere puppet for those who had the knowledge of where to get shoddy ammunition. I would assume he was not the only one to profit.
- Zera, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Are you really surprised? This is a typical government move. Our government really isn't good at ANYTHING, and this kid getting a huge contract is no exception. There are now WAY more "contractors" in Iraq on the government's dime than there are military personnel. This kind of BS contracts are happening all the time. We paid a contractor 4 billion to build an Iraqi police training center in Baghdad, and three years later nothing has been built, and we haven't asked for that money back.
This kind of move is standard operating procedure for our current government.
- InsideJob11Sep, on 03/28/2008, -5/+29This schmuck kid should be on Spring break in Florida or something, not getting $300 million contracts from the Pentagon!!!
- Kucher, on 03/28/2008, -1/+18I imagine he already had a few good spring breaks thanks to your tax paying ass.
- robthom, on 03/29/2008, -3/+1Spring break?
You jewish people sure do stick together, I got to admire that.
- Karna101, on 03/28/2008, -1/+8http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=b4MCOTQCm0g
- 2bsbc, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2?
- SickMonkey, on 03/28/2008, -0/+9"The company's president, Efraim E. Diveroli, was also secretly recorded in a conversation that suggested corruption in his company's purchase of more than 100 million aging rounds in Albania, according to audio files of the conversation."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/27/22yearold ...
- SickMonkey, on 03/28/2008, -0/+9"The company's president, Efraim E. Diveroli, was also secretly recorded in a conversation that suggested corruption in his company's purchase of more than 100 million aging rounds in Albania, according to audio files of the conversation."
- 2bsbc, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2?
- jlhoben, on 03/28/2008, -5/+51It's Tony Danza's son.
- fwertz, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Yes and Kevin Bacon is the Mother. Be careful when white water rafting in West/Virginia.
- davegnyc, on 03/28/2008, -11/+33Heh, thse people are members of the sephardic jewish community. A much more detailed background of this guy and his family can be found here:
http://isteve.blogspot.com/2008/03/amazing-adventu ...
Best detail? He got his start working for Botach Tactical.
Yoav Botach is the father of Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, author of the bestseller Kosher Sex and host of the Shalom in the Home reality TV show on TLC Network.- omnithought, on 03/28/2008, -1/+19That Rabbi Boteach got his ass handed to him by Christopher Hitchens. The guy is a real douche.
- BelatedHero, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnMYL8sF7bQ
- paperclipsNsoup, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1***** son, that scared me, I thought I was about to get Rick Rolled or something
- BelatedHero, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnMYL8sF7bQ
- Myonosken, on 03/28/2008, -4/+3I'm confused- are you making a valid point or just hating on Jewish people?
- Drazzim12, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2No, it's a valid point. I'm Jewish, and I hate Boteach. He gives Jews a bad name. That said, Hitchens did completely own his ass- that's a fact.
- WilliamDavis, on 03/28/2008, -1/+8Hey now... any talk of Jews or Israel is anti-semitic. Nevermind any facts. So, stop it you crazy racist.
- robthom, on 03/29/2008, -0/+2Not racist, Racial.
- Frnnkdlxx, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2Anyone else not surprised?
- JesusHatesYou, on 03/28/2008, -4/+6Wow, a Jew with connections and doing immoral, unethical things to make money. Who would've thought.
- robthom, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3I pretty much figured that was the case when I read the above article.
Miami, well connected government to private corruption, shady ripoffs in the middle east, elastic morals for profit, pornographic website.
It was intuitively apparent.
I think most jewish kids get similar gifts for their 18th birthday. In a way I admire them, they stick together. - oMeSSiaHo, on 03/29/2008, -2/+3He's also white and has brown hair. Whats your point?
- robthom, on 03/29/2008, -3/+2he's not white, hes jewish.
- omnithought, on 03/28/2008, -1/+19That Rabbi Boteach got his ass handed to him by Christopher Hitchens. The guy is a real douche.
- LiquidIse, on 03/28/2008, -4/+14"I'm surprised we haven't risen as one, and slain them."
- robthom, on 03/29/2008, -2/+2Are you talking about who I think your talking about?
If so then I agree.
- robthom, on 03/29/2008, -2/+2Are you talking about who I think your talking about?
- 1jaxstate1, on 03/28/2008, -16/+4"inexperienced.." we all inexperienced until someone takes a chance on us. I'm not sure a 300 million chance was deserved, but we all are inexperienced at one point in time.
- wolfenraider, on 03/28/2008, -2/+6that's retarded.
- joebaloney, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3I have a lot of experience in my field. Maybe I can get a 300 million dollar contract? I didn't think so.
- macneib, on 03/28/2008, -0/+21jaxstate1 WTF??? Did you even read the article? Use your ****ing head!
- sk11, on 03/28/2008, -0/+5Interviewer: I see you have no business experience, so how about we make you our CEO?
Teenager: yo, whatever dude. - Kalukan, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2I have a cartoon near my cube. Two men sitting across a table in an interview situation. One of them says "What the hell. We could use an idiot."
That's how this kid got his contract. - robthom, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1And if I work hard, one day I might move up to fry cook.
- FetchAustin, on 03/28/2008, -16/+21Wow, the government is doing such a good job regulating ammo, I can't wait to see what they will do with my health care.
- swrostmore, on 03/28/2008, -5/+32This is an example of privatization, btw. In this case the lowest bidder was a 22 year old buying ammunition illegally from China.
- unreg, on 03/28/2008, -11/+2So your advocating the the military should produce it's own ammunition? How about planes and tanks?
This is more indicative of inadequate safeguards and quality assurance measures. Where I worked, we were required to have customer buyoff prior to shipment. I mean somebody from the local National Guard could have driven over and QA'd the shipment.
Typical bloated bureaucracy.- Terr01, on 03/28/2008, -0/+6I like this allegory for the interaction between cost-cutting business and government regulations:
http://angrybear.blogspot.com/2006/12/government-p ...
____________
" Eventually, the Army has a spec that indicates even situations that a rational person would say – “This makes no sense. Everyone knows that.” But the rational person wouldn’t realize that when the Army specifies that no sawdust is to be used in making flour, or that no more than X parts of per million of rat droppings will be in the cookie, that the Army has a damn good reason for having that in there, namely that some upstanding leader of the community who waves a flag and is a member of the local Kiwanis actually tried to pass such things off on American military personnel. And of course, that upstanding leader of the community who waves a flag and is a member of the local Kiwanis is happy to lecture one and all about how much more efficient the private sector is than the public sector – exhibit A being the Army’s specs on making a chocolate chip cookie. "- unreg, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1My point is that our goverment wastes too much time on paperwork and not enough time with the good old Mark-One eyeballs. We (they) demand Mil Spec / ISO certification of the supplier, which is nothing but a big paperwork circus.
This particular problem could have been quickly and easily solved with a source inspection. If they're a long term supplier with a history of delivery per spec, then you can back off a bit.
- unreg, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1My point is that our goverment wastes too much time on paperwork and not enough time with the good old Mark-One eyeballs. We (they) demand Mil Spec / ISO certification of the supplier, which is nothing but a big paperwork circus.
- Terr01, on 03/28/2008, -0/+6I like this allegory for the interaction between cost-cutting business and government regulations:
- StopTheLie, on 03/28/2008, -2/+8Is it really "Privatization?"
-I've always had a problem with the idea that "government" (acting as a buyer, using money it forcibly extracted from taxpayers) represents "Privatization."
I mean, I own a "private sector" business but the difference is this: The people who buy from me actually have to EARN the money they use to purchase from me. As such, I “sink or float” based on my ability to deliver a quality product / service, for a reasonable price, to the customer. There is direct accountability and the customer has a “vested interest” to play close attention to every transaction.
Contrast that with what happens when “big shots” in Washington get to play with Trillions of dollars they never had to earn and will never suffer the consequences of “wasting” (and profiting from the “wasting” of) our tax dollars.- donutwant, on 03/28/2008, -1/+5Whoever is burying this is a retard.
- unreg, on 03/28/2008, -11/+2So your advocating the the military should produce it's own ammunition? How about planes and tanks?
- swrostmore, on 03/28/2008, -5/+32This is an example of privatization, btw. In this case the lowest bidder was a 22 year old buying ammunition illegally from China.
- VacaN, on 03/28/2008, -4/+19Probably a male prostitute.
- omgTHEPATRIOTS, on 03/28/2008, -0/+5Well, his buddy and AEY VP David Packouz is a licensed masseur....
- inajeep, on 03/28/2008, -5/+89It's a future SNL skit featuring Andy Samberg
- trogdorBURN, on 03/28/2008, -1/+4THATS WHO IT LOOKS LIKE!
Thank you. - Drazzim12, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1My god! By the transitive property, that must make Andy Samberg a criminal arms dealer! Jewish conspiracy anyone?
- johnroth, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1First *****' thing I thought of. "Andy Samberg? WE DIDN'T DO THE BU THIS MONTH WE DIDN'T DO THE BU!"
- Emnsta, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1Same.. Thanks... Ive been like who the ***** reminds me of him!? for a few minutes
- trogdorBURN, on 03/28/2008, -1/+4THATS WHO IT LOOKS LIKE!
- NaziHatinChimp, on 03/28/2008, -1/+93You can get anything on craigslist.
300 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT>>>>>SHIP WEAPONS TO US TROOPS..g6h8am9- hobbers, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1g4b2s?
- rpi22, on 03/28/2008, -8/+3sic!
- Lephtovermeet, on 03/28/2008, -2/+37Andy Samberg?
http://www.exposay.com/celebrity-photos/andy-sambe ...- inajeep, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2Hah, one minute earlier. You get dugg though for the link.
- XHashmeerX, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2Glad someone else saw it. I thought it was in fact Andy Samberg for a moment.
- johnroth, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1http://www.channel101.com/shows/view.php?media_id= ...
- blindhammer, on 03/28/2008, -0/+17Baa. I would have organized ammunition runs for a mere $150 million.
- rmxz, on 03/28/2008, -3/+2I doubt it. This is probably much more difficult to pull off without getting killed or otherwise taken advantage of than you think.
- WilliamDavis, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Right. You need to be extra scummy if you want to make it in the arms business. Look at who you have to deal with on both ends of the deal.
- tre101, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4I'll do it for $140m and will throw in 500 "This war made me rich" t-shirts.
I suspect though, that bidding on Digg for this contract may be a bit too professional and fair for whoever gives out these contratcs. Shame really. - fireburner23, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1and before you leave you would bring some heroin back with you for a nicer profit?
- blindhammer, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1I'll have to work that through my CIA channels :)
- rmxz, on 03/28/2008, -3/+2I doubt it. This is probably much more difficult to pull off without getting killed or otherwise taken advantage of than you think.
- martinherrera, on 03/28/2008, -0/+38he took that movie "Lord of War" way to seriously.
- seekskater21, on 03/28/2008, -7/+8Thank you, but I prefer it my way.
- Donnshin, on 03/29/2008, -0/+0Aw damn, beat me to it.
- munen123, on 03/28/2008, -9/+10Geez, talk about incompetence! way to go republicans, your bush administration has yet again shown what a sleazy underhanded pile of crap this current commander in chief is. I bet donald dumbsfield hired this "super nice guy"
- RationalXubrnce, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1 I'm sure when Clinton was in office that all of the bills submitted by Haliburton, KBR, Bechtel and pals to supply and rebuild Kosovo were fairly priced for a moderate profit.
- thecoolestguy, on 03/28/2008, -7/+36I'm sure his Israeli lobby buddies helped him secure the contract.
- thecoolestguy, on 03/28/2008, -2/+11The Israeli lobby loves American tax dollars ;)
- onetimer, on 03/28/2008, -19/+5Ah yes, blame israel despite there being absolutely NO evidence in their involvement of ANYTHING regarding this case.
Idiot.- bohemianowl, on 03/28/2008, -2/+10you are here denying it, thats solid evidence.
- omgTHEPATRIOTS, on 03/28/2008, -2/+10Well, the kids were set up by their parents, and Packouz's father is a Rabbi... soo...
but i understand your beef, it's an Israeli -- not Israel itself -- who partook in this! - aduric, on 03/28/2008, -2/+7actually the Israeli lobby's ties to the American military go waaaayy deeper than this guy...he's just a consequence of a general patterns: Note that some of the most prominent White House officials once worked for the Israeli government: Bremer, Wolfowitz, Perle, Feith anyone??
- sigg14, on 03/28/2008, -2/+6lol I knew you would pop up here. buried
- JesusHatesYou, on 03/28/2008, -1/+3LOL! The first thought that popped into my head was Israeli ties. It would be freaky if the stereotype held true. Jew connections through Abramson, the lobby guy?
- cronian, on 03/28/2008, -0/+34So, how do I get a $300 million contract. If I send a letter to the DOD promising some ammo, will they give me a $300 million contract? Was this open for bidding?
- ufia, on 03/28/2008, -0/+29Hi cronian, you've been awarded a $300 million contract. Please give me your bank account number and sort code for me to transfer the monies.
- bluesatin, on 03/28/2008, -0/+5George?
- dema, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2What about eight pounds and twenty-seven pence sir!
- tbranham, on 03/28/2008, -2/+8No, it's Mr. Moses Odiaka, from Nigeria -- he has some money that he would like you to help him get into an American bank...
...oops, wrong scam.
- bluesatin, on 03/28/2008, -0/+5George?
- ufia, on 03/28/2008, -0/+29Hi cronian, you've been awarded a $300 million contract. Please give me your bank account number and sort code for me to transfer the monies.
- TheZorch, on 03/28/2008, -1/+39War Profiteers. They were slime in WWII, and they are still slime today.
- MixMastaKooz, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2At least back then, profits were taxed to something like 90% (no *****). During Eisenhower's presidency, the top 1% paid 91% in income tax.
- stevetrojanman, on 03/28/2008, -10/+6Bush did it.
- JasonCox, on 03/28/2008, -0/+11I say we give this guy an AK and have him fire off every single one of those ***** rounds that he was trying to sell to our troops and our allies. By the time he's done, he'll be so full of shrapnel that we wont need to prosecute.
- donutwant, on 03/28/2008, -1/+5I don't know, I've fired off lots of old ass surplus in my SKS with no problems. In all likelihood the ammo was fine, the government is just ***** it came from China.
- woody168, on 03/28/2008, -1/+10who in the hell approved this in the first place? they certainly deserve to be fired. this is getting too ridiculous. counting down the days until this administration is out of here, and it can't come fast enough!
- fireburner23, on 03/28/2008, -2/+1Maybe he was the lowest bidder?
- rmxz, on 03/28/2008, -0/+8Also FTA: "In purchasing munitions, the contractor has also worked with middlemen and a shell company on a federal list of entities suspected of illegal arms trafficking. ... it shipped Chinese-made ammunition "in violation of its contract and US law.""
Wow - so illegal weapons dealers are arming which side in this conflict? Both?- WilliamDavis, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3Both? That would be crazy. You're making it sound like they're shady or something.
- RationalXubrnce, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1 Sounds like the Zionist M.O. Arm both sides, lie cheat and steal everything you can.
- willsani, on 03/28/2008, -5/+3The movie Lord of War immediately comes to mind.
- Bloodwine, on 03/28/2008, -6/+9It's stories like this that reaffirms my belief that the government should stay out of the private sector and just do the basics. The government is very corrupt and/or naive, and the more we socialize the more inefficient things become and the more money gets thrown away. Afterall, it's easy to spend other people's money.
This isn't to say that all businesses are smart, just that the government is prone to throwing obscene monies at failure and reward that failure with throwing more money at it.- sk11, on 03/28/2008, -0/+7You're advocating the privatisation of your military? Well, have fun being invaded by the Chinese then.
- bjornski, on 03/28/2008, -2/+4You realize this is a problem that came about BECAUSE of the privatization, and not socialization, of our military, right?
Stop getting your facts from Hannity and Limbaugh. They make you look like an idiot.
- SwedishNinja, on 03/28/2008, -4/+2i think arms dealer is a pretty cool guy. eh supplies afghans with corroding ammo and doesnt afraid of anything
- rmxz, on 03/28/2008, -2/+46"22-year-old"
There's too much focus on the age. An honest 22 year old could have been a good choice.
"substandard munitions being delivered to US and Afghan troops"
That's the offensive part.
Buying sub-standard goods is the real crime here; whether it comes from an experienced exec at Haliburton or a younger exec's small business..- bearsinthesea, on 03/28/2008, -0/+17It emphasizes how little due diligence the military must have done. How many kids that age own a legitimate business with $300M revenues? Did they even meet him in person?
- omgTHEPATRIOTS, on 03/28/2008, -2/+19Honest 22 year old? Where the hell does a 22 year old kid get this experience? It's very relevant to the case.
- WaltDismal, on 03/28/2008, -2/+3You would think they'd have chosen a more realistic-appearing shell executive. But I think what governed it here was need for known family ties, to be able to have someone trustworthy. That points to the father setting it up, with his rabbi buddy. Also, family ties are very important in in the middle east in having people you know won't rat on you in a pinch. This is no whitebread Iowa business.
Arms dealer, Florida, 22 year old, this'll make a fine movie. Let's throw in some car chases and explosions to fill in the time between shady meetings and hot babes and lines on a mirror.- mahdaeng, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1I was thinking it would make a great movie too. I can't wait until it comes out on DVD.
- WaltDismal, on 03/28/2008, -2/+3You would think they'd have chosen a more realistic-appearing shell executive. But I think what governed it here was need for known family ties, to be able to have someone trustworthy. That points to the father setting it up, with his rabbi buddy. Also, family ties are very important in in the middle east in having people you know won't rat on you in a pinch. This is no whitebread Iowa business.
- MacSuxWindozSux, on 03/28/2008, -3/+3The media loves to exaggerate conflict and scandal to the breaking point.
TV Ratings and magazine sales. - thecoolestguy, on 03/29/2008, -0/+3No one who's 22 years old has enough experience to be dealing $300 million contracts to supply the military. The age is simply proof of the lack of focus on spending tax payer dollars wisely and supplying the military with care.
- Simucal, on 03/28/2008, -12/+1This article emphasizes age way too much. So what if he was 22? That has nothing to do with the problems they have had with the contractor.
- bjornski, on 03/28/2008, -1/+4Spoken like a 22-year old.
- designer, on 03/28/2008, -13/+4"inexperienced 22-year-old" This is coming from the same people that will vote for an inexperienced senator for President.
- fwertz, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1At least he stands a chance. Sorry.
- CajunGuitarist, on 03/28/2008, -0/+7I think it's just cute that we are giving outdated/obsolete munitions to a country's police force. Would you want to be a cop in the middle of a showdown with some criminal and knowing that maybe 1 in 5 bullets aren't going to do *****. Actions speak so much louder than words and this story has shady written all over it.
- EricWoodford, on 03/28/2008, -0/+6There is something wrong when you are sending in people to fight with equipment bought from the lowest bidder.
"You get what you pay for..."- Independentsam, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1In this case, we got what Karl Rove paid for.
- tre101, on 03/28/2008, -2/+14How did a 22 year old even get the contacts to source and supply Chinese weapons for a Pentagon contract. Surely there is some type of vetting process when this much money is being given out?
Any idiot can, with $300m to spend, make a few calls to some developing country and get hold of some surplus and out of date arms.
There is clearly something going behind closed doors here. Either family connections? An excuse to throw more money in the direction of Israel? Or, could it just be more gross stupidity on the part of the idiots running this war?- WilliamDavis, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3There's a vetting process. It's called the buddy system. There's a lot of money to be made in war.
- RationalXubrnce, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1 Most likely he was set up in the business by the man or company who was supposed to destroy the munitions but defrauded the government with the intention of selling it.
- painperdu, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Yes, Lou Dobbs, we do indeed deserve better!!
- daxsymbiont, on 03/28/2008, -8/+1He isn't a member of the Aryan Race, he must be lying.
- Bromskloss, on 03/28/2008, -8/+2Neither being 22 years old nor being inexperienced mean you necessarily will do a bad job! In this case he apparently did, but focus on that, not on the other things. On the other hand, you might ponder about if he increased or decreased the number of dead humans by selling poor goods. Mabye he was doing good!
- fwertz, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1 It appears you're being buried for being optimistic.
//*Next time conform to groupthink.
- fwertz, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1 It appears you're being buried for being optimistic.
- headzoo, on 03/28/2008, -1/+65Well, this is how J.P. Morgan got his start. He bought old, decommissioned rifles from the Army for $3.50, and then sold them back to the Army for $22.
Apparently the U.S. military has a long history of being ass hats.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._P._Morgan#Early_ye ...- scorchiox, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2The wiki article says that Morgan's partner re-machined the rifles before reselling. Exactly what this involves, I don't know, but gives the impression that the product being sold to the army was repaired and functional. I don't think this guy was searching through the rotting boxes of 40-year-old ammunition making sure everything's ok.
- Jawoodyablowme, on 03/29/2008, -0/+0Morgan just financed the deal and the military knew exactly what it was getting - unlike this case. From your own link:
"Morgan's partner re-machined them and sold the rifles back to the army for $22 each. The military knew it was buying back its own guns, so the so-called 'scandal' turned out to be more about government inefficiency than any chicanery by Morgan (who never even saw the guns and acted only as a lender)."
- ihavefish, on 03/28/2008, -9/+0I feel bad for the guy- clearly he was in over his head and it sounded like he knew it too
- Independentsam, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2To me, that is the most shocking comment I have read so far.
- alrodrigu, on 03/28/2008, -0/+15Shady government contracts?!? I'm shocked.
- ken0624700, on 03/28/2008, -1/+8Makes me sick to read the details of how my tax dollars were stolen. Good job NY Times.
- WilliamDavis, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2You must not read very much, or you would have died from that sickness by now.
- 15charmaxwtf, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Stolen twice.
- RationalXubrnce, on 03/29/2008, -0/+1Yep, first theft was the company who didn't destroy it but got paid anyhow.
- jongos, on 03/28/2008, -1/+4I bet Hollywood is already working on the movie rights. Shia LaBeouf and Lindsay Lohan starring in "U.S. Arms Dealer by Day, GHB Pill Dealer by Night"
- JesusHatesYou, on 03/28/2008, -0/+0Shia LaBeouf is the worst actor in the past 2 decades, but he's a Jew, so he's going to get all the parts including the next Indiana Jones. And the dude is f%^^ ugly and can't speak clearly!!!
- Magus416, on 03/28/2008, -1/+8Also the VP of this company is a licensed masseur. Now sure anyone can hold a different degree or license in something else but I find this hilariously sad in the context of this story.
- craighoxton, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3He can sell you clips for your AK or give you an Indian head rub
- finalfantasyIII, on 03/28/2008, -1/+7I nearly had an Aneurysm reading the headline. What the ***** does that mean?
- dilbertmouse, on 03/29/2008, -1/+1"An aneurysm (or aneurism) is localized, blood-filled dilation (bulge) of a blood vessel caused by disease or weakening of the vessel wall." -- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aneurysm
- ariGme, on 03/28/2008, -3/+12Lets face it, we are all jealous of the $300 mil this little dirtbag managed to bank.
I'm gonna start applying for more of those positions with a nice little PowerPoint and see what happens....- MacSuxWindozSux, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Some of that cash went into operating costs.
The Military was buying the ammo anyway. He just managed to fill the order.
- MacSuxWindozSux, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Some of that cash went into operating costs.
- MattFromSeattle, on 03/28/2008, -5/+0I'd have gotten the ammo for half the price... of course, only half of it would have worked.
- o0joshua0o, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1America really is the land of opportunity. You don't have to be the least bit competent to get a multimillion dollar defense contract, or even to be President.
-
Show 51 - 100 of 111 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2008 —
Content posted by
