Via TPMmuckraker and Pincus at the Post, this seems like one of those things that is going to make more sense down the road:
As the Washington Post’s Walter Pincus noted today, the director and deputy director of the Pentagon’s controversial domestic intelligence branch are stepping down simultaneously. In a very understated way, Pincus manages to raise an eyebrow at the fact both men decided to retire at exactly the same time, amid ongoing investigations that threaten to touch their operations.
The organization, known as “CIFA” — for Counterintelligence Field Activity — was first in hot water for keeping track of anti-war demonstrators and peace groups. Later, it became known that a company deeply involved in the Cunningham corruption scandal had played an important role in developing the center, and held numerous contracts to provide the center with staff, technology and support. It was created in 2003, largely through efforts by Burtt and James King, a senior executive at the scandal-linked company, MZM. …
… In late 2002, Cunningham, who received campaign contributions from Wade and other MZM officials, made contracts for Wade’s company one of “his top priorities,” according to prosecutors’ documents. One result, according to prosecutors’ documents, was $6 million spent for a data storage system, supposedly for CIFA, that included almost $5.4 million in profit for MZM and a subcontractor.
Following disclosures in Cunningham’s case, Undersecretary of Defense Stephen A. Cambone last March ordered an internal study of how funding earmarked in defense bills led to CIFA contracts for MZM. The Defense Information Systems Agency, which has been given responsibility for the inquiry, said in a statement yesterday that “the investigation is still ongoing.”
“Ongoing” into some very uncomfortable territory, I’d think. Tip of the hat to some old-school reporting. Keep watching for the backstory and reading between the lines.
Fish. Denmark. You do the math.
Via TPMmuckraker and Pincus at the Post, this seems like one of those things that is going to make more sense down the road:
Pincus offers these details:
“Ongoing” into some very uncomfortable territory, I’d think. Tip of the hat to some old-school reporting. Keep watching for the backstory and reading between the lines.
This entry was posted on August 11, 2006 at 1:31 am and is filed under Color Commentary, Phantom News. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.