Huffington Post: The NSA’s Keith Alexander Goes Through Washington’s Revolving Door
On Friday, GAP Executive Director Bea Edwards penned this column about how former NSA Director Keith Alexander has successfully “headed through Washington, DC’s revolving door,” as his new consulting firm is retaining contracts worth up to $1 million monthly. While head of NSA, Alexander also led the U.S. Cyber Command, which defends military cyber systems and conducts cyberattacks on other countries. Edwards rightfully points out how this development leads to a dangerous “merger of corporate financial power and government overreach,” a key warning detailed in her new book, The Rise of the American Corporate Security State: Six Reasons to Be Afraid.
Key Quote: Looking at this arrangement objectively, it seems fishy. For a price, the General can tell you pretty accurately what a sophisticated cyber attacker can do to your database. He knows this because he managed these attacks. Consequently, for another pantload of payments, [Alexander’s firm] will tell you how to fend off these assaults. The revolving generals and bankers can appropriate the products of our publicly-funded cyber research and development and deploy it for the financial world for a steep (privately collected) price.
In the person of Keith Alexander, we’re seeing the de facto merger of corporate financial power and government overreach. Some subset of corporations is paid to develop the cyber attack and defense capability of the US government, and another subset pays the graduates of the contracting agencies (the NSA and USCYBERCOM) for an inside route to the technology.
All of this is conducted behind the veil of the War on Terror, an increasingly profitable funding vehicle for those well-placed to hop on board.
Voice of Russia: Snowden Receives German Award for Civic Courage
Last week, GAP client and NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden received a Fritz Baurer Award in Germany for showing outstanding civic courage by disclosing illegal surveillance practices.
In related news, GAP National Security & Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack and NSA whistleblower Thomas Drake appeared last week on a German panel discussion about Snowden’s revelations of surveillance.
Related Article: RT
Government Executive: High Court Rules Public Workers Can Testify
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled last week that the First Amendment protects public employee whistleblowers from employer retaliation while giving compelled testimony. The decision on Lane v. Franks has positive ramifications for future whistleblowers.
Key Quote: “All whistleblowers should be grateful that the Supreme Court recognized their indispensable role making a difference,” GAP Legal Director Tom Devine said.
Related Article: Talk Radio News Service
New York Post: Suit Says Banks Owe as Much as $500 million for False FHA Claims
Eight banks and mortgage service institutions were named in a False Claims Act lawsuit brought by a whistleblower, who alleges that the entities made false Federal Housing Administration insurance claims. The lawsuit could result in “as much as $500 million in penalties and damages — for New York State alone.”
Ogden Standard-Examiner: State Veterinarian Resigns over Whistleblower’s Letter
A two-month investigation based on whistleblower allegations has led to the resignation of Utah’s chief veterinarian, who has been accused of “padding his pockets with work on the side and other questionable practices while he headed the state agency.” The whistleblower stated that the veterinarian, who oversaw Utah meat inspection, had supplemented his government duties with a private contract providing services for a wild horse ranch. The practice of the state veterinarian hiring himself out for private veterinary work is now outlawed.
Dylan Blaylock is Communications Director for the Government Accountability Project, the nation’s leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.