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2007-07-01 Home Front: Politix

Private Firms Gather Intelligence in Iraq

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Posted by Bobby 2007-07-01 14:52|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 Of course, it would be an essential part of such private organization's activities to recruit and train local people for HUMINT both inside and outside of Iraq.

The Pentagon got a bad surprise with its initial shortage of Arabic and other Muslim language speakers at the start of the WoT. They are strong believers that such problems need solutions.

By now, I imagine the CIA and other intelligence organizations, both government and private, have developed elaborate networks of such individuals.

With a premium for individuals who speak Farsi without an accent.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-07-01 17:04|| 2007-07-01 17:04|| Front Page Top

#2 Collecting, collating and disseminating open-source information and interviews from contracted personnel seems pretty above board to me. It sounds as if they provide a valuable product that would be inefficient for the military to provide for itself. In direct opposition to Mr Singer's views, I am certainly not adverse to seeing more intelligence gathering outsourced. Singer's argument that there is little Congressional oversight of this type of program seems more like a feature than a bug to me. I believe that "Congressional Oversight" is every bit as important as "UN Involvement."

Posted by Super Hose 2007-07-01 17:07|| 2007-07-01 17:07|| Front Page Top

#3 We discussed this yesterday at our unit reunion. It seems that the problem is we're collecting so much data, it's overwhelming the interpretation and analysis of the data. The problem's being addressed, but it's going to take at least four or five years of constant growth and training to overcome. Using private firms to do the less intense and more more highly classified data is just another way to overcome the problems that exist in the short term. Private firms can (and often do) hire former military personnel with the appropriate training and experience - something the military can't do because of hiring restrictions, age and health restrictions, and other obstacles to using these people.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2007-07-01 18:00|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2007-07-01 18:00|| Front Page Top

#4 We discussed this yesterday at our unit reunion. It seems that the problem is we're collecting so much data, it's overwhelming the interpretation and analysis of the data. The problem's being addressed, but it's going to take at least four or five years of constant growth and training to overcome. Using private firms to do the less intense and more more highly classified data is just another way to overcome the problems that exist in the short term. Private firms can (and often do) hire former military personnel with the appropriate training and experience - something the military can't do because of hiring restrictions, age and health restrictions, and other obstacles to using these people.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2007-07-01 18:00|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2007-07-01 18:00|| Front Page Top

#5 Capitalism rocks!

Posted by gromgoru 2007-07-01 22:37|| 2007-07-01 22:37|| Front Page Top

#6 Yea, it's twice as tasty! ;-)

Posted by twobyfour 2007-07-01 22:40|| 2007-07-01 22:40|| Front Page Top

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