U.S. border surveillance system became fiasco

[maddezmom]

By Alan Elsner
44 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A $250 million program to put remote video surveillance cameras along parts of the United States' northern and southern borders was grossly and possibly criminally mismanaged, a House subcommittee heard on Thursday.


Joel Gallay, deputy inspector general of the U.S. General Services Administration, told a subcommittee of the House of Representatives committee on homeland security that the contract was never subject to open competition as required by federal regulations, was badly run, inadequately supervised and shoddily implemented.

He said his office had opened a criminal investigation with the cooperation of the FBI, but declined to give further details in public session.

The initial $2 million contract, which eventually ballooned to $257 million, was awarded in 1999 to a company called International Microwave Corp. which was later acquired by L-3 Communications Government Services Inc.

`snip~
more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050616/pl_nm/security_border_dc;_

[UpInArms]

1. Tell me "No!" it isn't so!

:sarcasm:

A government boondoggle being mismanaged in a possibly criminal fashion???

:sarcasm:

The criminals are running the government - so what would I expect?

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Whose brother-in-law owned the company? n/t

I liked the company president's insistence that the government 'got value' from it. Yes, but was it 257M value?

[htuttle]

3. Just another Bush mob boondoggle

Just like EVERY OTHER CONTRACT they've set up since they assumed power.

They've ALL been rip-offs, or in the words of the article, "grossly and possibly criminally mismanaged." That's a Bush mob trademark.

It always looks like incompetence, but it's theft, plain and simple. It's happened too many times since 2001.

[SouthernDem2004]

4. Um, contract awarded in 1999...

[UpInArms]

5. and overseen by this mal-administration

since January 2001

[SouthernDem2004]

8. Ah but the contract and plans were from 1999. This is just an example

of the chronic waste by the government. Not a Dem or Repub issue.

[maddezmom]

9. however, HLS doesn't seem interested in getting to the bottom

of the fiasco. They wouldn't even send a representative to attend the hearing. :shrug:

[htuttle]

6. Ah, but they're sneakier than that!

Sure, International Microwave Corporation was awarded the contract in 1999.

Then in 2002, International Microwave Corporation were acquired a company named 'L-3 Communications', and the contract was transferred along with the chairs, tables and desks.

Probably not coincidentally, L-3 Communications acquired MPRI, a mercenary organization, in 2000. MPRI is currently working in Iraq. L-3 Communications also owns SY Coleman Inc, currently headed by Gen. Jay Garner, former Proconsul of Baghdad.

So they are connected to US border control system contracts, mercenaries in Iraq, and the former US proconsul of Iraq. I guess one might surmise that L-3 Communications has a connection or two to the Bush mob...

Just gotta look a little below the surface sometimes.

[radar]

7. Not to worry....

We're fighting 'em over there so we don't have to fight them here; or even do anything here.
'Cause the badguys aren't as smart as us - they wouldn't possibly consider thinking to enter the country thru an unprotected portion.

(sarcasm alert)