Erik Prince's dream comes true?

Erik Prince has been pitching a lot of ideas about how this country needs more mercenaries.
One of those ideas was this one.

The founder of the controversial military contracting firm Blackwater, Erik Prince, and his allies lobbied contacts inside the administration to provide the CIA with a private network of intelligence contractors, according to a US official with knowledge of the proposal.
"This idea is going nowhere," the official said and stressed neither the agency nor the director of the CIA is or was ever considering the proposal.
National Security Council spokesman Michael Anton told CNN that "the White House does not and would not support such a proposal" and that, "I can find no evidence that this ever came to the attention of anyone at the NSC or (White House) at all."

Going nowhere! Would not support! No evidence!
Sounds like a rejection to me.

Of course, there a bit of wisdom from the distant past.

Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied.
- Otto von Bismarck

Which brings us to today's news.

The House spending bill released Wednesday would allow President Donald Trump, or people under him, to secretly shift money to fund intelligence programs, a break with 70 years of governing tradition.

Since 1947, section 504 of the National Security Act has mandated that the administration inform Congress if it intends to shift money from one intelligence project to another, if the new project has not been authorized by Congress. That notification can be — and almost always is — done in secret, but it is at least a minimal check on executive power.

The spending bill currently under consideration, known as a continuing resolution, or CR, breaks with that tradition, allowing funds to “be obligated and expended notwithstanding section 504(a)(1) of the National Security Act of 1947.”

Gee, I wonder what The Donald could do with a bunch of money for intelligence work that is accountable only to The Donald?
Oh look. Erik has an idea.

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Meteor Man's picture

Wow! I just posted a comment in The Evening Blues pointing out that The Intercept article was the only hit on a Bing search and wondering if the media or Dems would even mention it.

I hadn't even thought about shifting intelligence funds to private contractors. This is is all we are allowed to know about the intelligence budget:

The Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for intelligence was updated to include a request of $54.9 billion for the National Intelligence Program (NIP) and a request of $18.5 billion for the Military Intelligence Program (MIP).

https://fas.org/irp/budget/

Over $73 Billion that can be shifted wherever POTUS says? That's a whole lotta elbow room for chicanery.

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"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn

ggersh's picture

@Meteor Man Storm troopers in the homeland.

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

@ggersh
Pragmatic Dems.

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ggersh's picture

@gjohnsit went along....after that who cares, they
don't really count.

What's fuckin amazing is everything is passing with
"bipartisanship" which only means we the people are
BOHICA.

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

@ggersh People tell me I’m too cynical, especially about politics, but watching what they do, not what they say, I can’t find a logical reason for the Dems to not become “the party of no” working to make Trump a one term president. If his agenda was truly so against what they stand for and if the guy really is as bad as they want us to believe, why be seen supporting anything of his?

Do they still think some kind of “Grand Bargain” is possible and if they support now, they’ll get something later? I think Obama definitely proved that theory incorrect. Who do they think will have a problem with them not helping Trump, other than the donors and 1%?

Ahh shoot. I can’t even make it though this comment without being cynical.

But seriously. Assuming we take them at face value, where is the down side in doing as the Republicans did and just voting no?

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Idolizing a politician is like believing the stripper really likes you.

ggersh's picture

@Dr. John Carpenter

If his agenda was truly so against what they stand for and if the guy really is as bad as they want us to believe, why be seen supporting anything of his?

Actually between the dynamic duo of Chuck and Nancy, neither one
appears to have all their facilities anymore. I wonder if both are
on the clowngress pharmacy list for taking certain drugs?

One other theory might be that the consultants they have can't think
above that 5th grade threshold.

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

@Dr. John Carpenter

...Assuming we take them at face value, where is the down side in doing as the Republicans did and just voting no?

So, public face or private face?

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Wink's picture

With a $Billion or so
@ggersh
slated for Prince's personal account.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

@Wink

And don't forget the kickbacks for those movers and breakers who made it happen by voting for it!

Maybe they need some of this secret US public money to fund the importations, arming and training of moderate ISIS/whatever name now stands for AQ 'rebels' terrorists for America to create an excuse to enact lucrative slum clearance of non-billionaire-Americans for in-city estates for The Right People the unfortunate need to drone/invade/bomb American cities, citizens and all, even if most victims somehow turn out to be labeled as terrorists?

I started being snarky, but... shit, that wouldn't surprise me. Nothing they do could... and at least some of us are already waiting for the next major 9/11-level-or-worse False Flag, somewhere in North America... lots of money disappeared both before and, apparently, possibly during 9/11 and it takes money for this sort of thing to be done on the QT. Especially with pay-offs... Lots is still vanishing from the Pentagon and Cheney et al is still working away within government.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

orlbucfan's picture

you'd think. Only difference is now it's out in the open. Eric and sister Betsy are two people who are openly despised by many. The Department of Education has to spend a fortune protecting her worthless azz. That's a first. Rec'd!!

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Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.

Amanda Matthews's picture

I am still convinced that The Clinton Creature would have been worse because she’s more ‘competent’ than our hickey on a hernia prez.

But the whorehouse ‘madame’s’ grandson is trying to make up the difference.

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

Pricknick's picture

They don't need to use the money given to the intelligence agency to hire a prick like prince.
Trillions in defense budgets have disappeared and nobody knows where.
Are we really gullible enough to think that we have any idea where it really goes?
I, for one, am not.

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Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.

gulfgal98's picture

@Pricknick that some believe that a portion of those disappeared funds went to CIA black ops and have been used to purchase a whole black ops military complete with air and sea support. I have not seen any verification to support this theory, but it is possible.

After everything we have been seeing happening with the false flags (including Hawaii), nothing is out of the realm of possibility as far as I am concerned.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

snoopydawg's picture

Bush used private contractors in New Orleans after Katrina. Wasn't it Blackwater? Then Obama didn't have a problem with CrowdStrike running security operations during the DAPL protests. Private contractors took over the duties that the military used to do at 4 x the cost. Booz Allen and 799 other private intelligence companies are doing what the NSA and other agencies used to do. Private prisons at more than double the cost, etc...

How many other industries have been outsourced the same way? Or services been sold out to the highest bidder? Our money seems to only flow one way and it's not flowing to us.

Remember what Orrin said with a straight face.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Meteor Man's picture

@snoopydawg
I just Binged Dakota Access & Tiger Swan:

TigerSwan, however, claims on its website that the contract is worth $25 million, and said in a press release that the State Department contract called for the company to “monitor, assess, and advise current and future nation building and stability initiatives in Afghanistan.” Since 2008, TigerSwan has won about $57.7 million worth of U.S. government contracts and subcontracts for security services.

https://www.desmogblog.com/2016/10/28/private-security-firm-dakota-acces...

So yeah, militarized domestic security companies are getting contracts authorized by who? And what is the source for their funding? I had not thought this through completely, but it seems like a rational conclusion that private contractors are probably getting paid for black ops operations on American soil.

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"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn

snoopydawg's picture

@Meteor Man

You're right, it's TigerSwan, not CrowdStrike. Too many companies involved with our government outsourcing security to remember. TS got to rummage through people's social media sites and I'm betting that they did it without getting warrants. Why bother working within the constraints of the constitution when one can just find a way to work around it? If anyone thinks that we their 2nd amendment rights is going to protect them during any protests, they better think again. Not only is the police forces fully militarized, the government can hire contractors to help them out. And still people slumber on singing the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." Gawd Bless America!

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

snoopydawg's picture

@Meteor Man

TigerSwan? They have an extensive investigation into them.
There was another private security firm at the protest. This firm brought the dogs that they let bite the protesters. Using dogs for peaceful protests breaks my heart. The dogs were just doing what their handlers let them do and they didn't know what they were doing was wrong. The link to that article is in the one you provided.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Meteor Man's picture

@snoopydawg
I remember these being covered here at c99p, but didn't know about that. Very good series to review.

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"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn

@snoopydawg What is particularly sickening about privatization is that "they" are always selling it in the name of Efficiency and cost-effectiveness, while is the exact opposite, and a breeding pond for graft. "they" simultaneously browbeat the cost and ineffectiveness of government doing those jobs.

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snoopydawg's picture

@BORG_US_BORG

I'm waiting for the rest of us to wake up. It's amazing that people can't see what is happening.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Wink's picture

"Private Sector" and
@BORG_US_BORG
insider trading on those privatized
companies. While "They" make hundreds of thousands, the 99% get browbeat for having their hands out while "They" maintain, "the government broke, can't afford 'handouts.'"
"How you hippie sonsabitches going to pay for it??"
The same way you do, futhermucker, off the books.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

Wink's picture

to be poor, grew up poor.
@snoopydawg
Then got his self elected Senator.
That cured that.
But the rest of us can eat cake.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

Song of the lark's picture

looks like. Various and sundry "elites" hoovering up the trillions of dollars of global central bank creation. The independents have even got in on the act with crypto currencies. Russia, China, US and the City of LUNDUN elites, massaging the grift. Frenemies in power and force. Can't get anything done in the normal course of business so a few off the books people "bladerunner" are going to be handy as we go to the tumult of next few years. Armor up! Complete global climate change meltdown less than 9 years away.

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