More spying outsourcing proposed: $1 billion contracts would set "mindblowing" record

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Defense Agency Proposes Outsourcing More Spying
Contracts Worth $1 Billion Would Set Record
By Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 19, 2007; Page A03


Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said the DIA proposal is "mind-blowing." She is co-sponsor of a measure that aims to force a review of defense intelligence contracts. (By Ricky Carioti -- The Washington Post)

The Defense Intelligence Agency is preparing to pay private contractors up to $1 billion to conduct core intelligence tasks of analysis and collection over the next five years, an amount that would set a record in the outsourcing of such functions by the Pentagon's top spying agency.

The proposed contracts, outlined in a recent early notice of the DIA's plans, reflect a continuing expansion of the Defense Department's intelligence-related work and fit a well-established pattern of Bush administration transfers of government work to private contractors.

Since 2000, the value of federal contracts signed by all agencies each year has more than doubled to reach $412 billion, with the largest growth at the Defense Department, according to a congressional tally in June. Outsourcing particularly accelerated among intelligence agencies after the 2001 terrorist attacks caught many of them unprepared to meet new demands with their existing workforce.

The DIA did not specify exactly what it wants the contractors to do but said it is seeking teams to fulfill "operational and mission requirements" that include intelligence "Gathering and Collection, Analysis, Utilization, and Strategy and Support." It holds out the possibility that five or more contractors may be hired and promised more details on Aug. 27....

"Mind-blowing," was the reaction of Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, when she learned of the DIA proposal. In a telephone interview, she described it as "definitely something to be concerned about."...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/18/AR2007081800992.html?nav=most_emailed

[acmavm]

1. Private fucking contractors have NO RIGHT to go sifting through

the private lives, phone calls, e-mails, of any American citizen. This damn government doesn't either but with the total lack of representation for the American people and the acquiescence of the worthless shits we elected last November, there's not much we can do about it. But to put this into the hands of private contractors is as goddamn disgusting and pandering to the cronies of elected reps as it gets.

Hell, the money thing is another issue. We have billions to spend to pay private corporations to spy on us but we don't have money for medical care for the aged and military personnel, food for the hungry, and shelter for the homeless? Bullshit.

[dipsydoodle]

2. What they gona call it

The Department of Records as in Brazil or just the good old fashioned Gestapo.