| Author | Message | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 504 Registered: 2-2003 |
Intelligence is next in line to Special Operations, which has its own Intel ops to fund as well. I was "fortunate" enough to have to spend a few mil on computer equipment and software, handling all the requirements before sent to Contracting, and never once were we turned down and got exactly what we ordered. Of course, I went with the lowest bidder for the same hardware/software out of 5 channels, 3 GSA, 2 other. If conventional forces say they're poor and want to know where the money goes, try USSOCOM. Sunny | ||
| Robin Overcash (Robin)
Junior Member Username: Robin Post Number: 90 Registered: 1-2003 |
Chris, The stuff you hear about $500 hammers really is true, but not necessarily the norm. I was working at the HQ for Army Materiel Command up until a few months ago... they're the logistics branch of the army that handles literally everything that a soldier uses (socks, tanks, chem/bio weapons...) While I was there, I dated one of the budget girls for a while. There's a reason the budget people have high level classifications  Yes, only $5 or so goes to the hammer, while the other $495 gets siphoned off to one of the black ops accounts. Nothing new, but totally legal and somewhat common in the defense world... On the other hand, the $800 Air Force toilet seat everyone talks about was a case of the media only telling half the story. According to an old C-130 pilot I used to work with, the $800 toilet seat was actually an elaborate commode for in-flight use, not just the seat. If you really want to see some out-of-control budgets, check out the intelligence community. They spend money like you wouldn't believe...yet massive intelligence failures are still the norm. Go figure.. -R | ||
| chris cummings (Entelechy)
Junior Member Username: Entelechy Post Number: 243 Registered: 5-2001 |
Unbelievable! I've heard it couched by some that they were actually spending $2 on a toilet seat and channeling the rest into top secret projects (not great, but at least that would make me feel a LITTLE bit better!) Very interesting to hear the views of someone who's been on the inside and seen it firsthand - thanks Robin. Life was certainly much easier until I discovered Noam Chomsky! | ||
| Horsefly (Arlie)
Intermediate Member Username: Arlie Post Number: 1153 Registered: 5-2002 |
That's exactly why we never need MORE taxes. Until the government stops wasting the money they already have, they don't need to be taking any more money from taxpayer's pockets. | ||
| Robin Overcash (Robin)
Junior Member Username: Robin Post Number: 88 Registered: 1-2003 |
Heh... Doesn't surprise me at all. I spent the last 5 years contracting for DOD. As a program manager on a services contract, I saw more fraud, waste, and abuse than I'd care to admit. Wouldn't even know where to begin... From employees who don't show up for 8 months (and still get paid) to acquisition officers who changed requirements and shared confidential bid information with their favorite contractor to increase their chances of winning (kickbacks anyone?). Saving money is actually frowned upon, large quantities of useless items are regularly bought without checking first to see if they'll work with current systems... it goes on and on. -R | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 581 Registered: 9-2002 |
Again, lifted from another forum: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/05/18/MN251738.DTL --Dan |