This is crap. How is it that all of these politicians, to include key politicians currently on the wartime commission, knew exactly what happened in Kabul with this contract, and are now showing shock and dismay about it–two years later! This little tidbit of info, made the hearings that were on CSPAN the other day seem like a joke now.
That is great you guys are trying to get down to the bottom of it now, but where was your outrage when this was first going on? Are you saying that it took pictures of a frat-style party, to awaken your inner responsibilities as leaders? And what committee is going to put these politicians on a stand, and ask them why they didn’t do anything about this in 2007? Especially Shays. (I am still shaking my head on that one, as I remember watching Shays go off on Samuel during the hearing)
Here at FJ, we have put blame on AGNA and State, but when Congress knew about this as well and did nothing about it at the time, then they are just as bad in my book. The buck stops in DC, and this is certainly a prime example of poor leadership.
Also check out the story below this interview. Samuel Brinkley, VP of Wackenhut and in charge of this contract, could be in some trouble. He swore up and down during the hearings that he just found out about this stuff in August of this year, and according to Gorman, he knew about it in July of 2008. Interesting.
Semper Fi John and Marie Anne, and good job! –Matt
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Interview with ArmorGroup Whistleblower John Gorman
John Gorman — Marine, Patriot, Whistleblower
By Marie Anne St. Jean
John Gorman, retired U.S. Marine, was hired by ArmorGroup (AGNA) in 2007 to support security at the American Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Numerous reports of AGNA activities are available elsewhere in the media, as well as my own articles here and here. John has previously provided a written press release as well as televised interviews with major networks, as seen here. With this interview, I’m allowing John Gorman to tell his story, what he believes needs to be said.
John, you and I go back several years. I remember how excited you were when hired by ArmorGroup to be the Camp Commandant in Kabul, to have this opportunity to once again serve your country. We never really hang up our uniforms, do we?
When you first reported AGNA’s shortfalls in 2007, what was your expected outcome? What do you think should have happened that didn’t?