New Laws Take Aim at Human Trafficking in Government Contracting

New Laws Take Aim at Human Trafficking in Government Contracting

Although federal government contractors have long been prohibited from engaging in human trafficking, in recent years, allegations of labor trafficking and sex trafficking in federal contracting have surfaced.[1]   In Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. government, particularly Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of State (DoS), have need of a large labor pool for support services for our military and embassy.  Continue reading

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Arms Sell-Off Risks Pentagon Backlash

London Sunday Times
May 19, 2013

Arms Sell-Off Risks Pentagon Backlash

Green light for controversial defence agency privatisation despite American anger

By Karl West

Britain risks angering the Pentagon by pressing ahead with plans to privatise the agency responsible for buying jets, warships and tanks.

Bernard Gray, chief of defence materiel at the Ministry of Defence, told staff he will issue a contract notice for a private partner to run Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the body in charge of buying military equipment. An “invitation to negotiate” will be issued to bidders in the summer. Continue reading

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Judge weighs motions that could result in dismissal of Abu Ghraib claims against CACI

Judge weighs motions that could result in dismissal of Abu Ghraib claims against CACI

Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images – Empty cells are shown here April 17, 2003 inside the Abu Ghraib Prison, near Baghdad, Iraq.

By Marjorie Censer, Published: May 19 E-mail the writer

After five years, Arlington-based defense contractor CACI International and four plaintiffs who allege abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq are awaiting a judge’s decision that could dismiss the case. Continue reading

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Who Runs This Town?

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Ambivalence on the Front Lines

Ambivalence on the Front Lines

Perceptions of Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan

  1. Ryan Kelty1
  2. Alex Bierman2
  1. 1Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Washington College, Chestertown, MD, USA
  2. 2Department of Sociology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
  1. Ryan Kelty, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, 221 Goldstein Hall, Washington College, Chestertown, MD 21620, USA Email: Rkelty2@washcoll.edu

Abstract Continue reading

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A look down the slippery slope: domestic operations, outsourcing, and the erosion of military culture

A look down the slippery slope: domestic operations, outsourcing, and the erosion of military culture

Bryan D. Watson

Source: Air & Space Power Journal. 22.1 (Spring 2008): p93.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

This article takes the form of a fictional speech given by a senior Air Force officer to the Air Command and Staff College’s (ACSC) class of 2017. In his presentation, the officer (himself a graduate of the class of 2007) conveys several warnings and historical perspectives, including personal opinions formed in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a work of fiction, this article discusses the potential impact of certain trends within the American military establishment; it is not intended as a predictor of future events. Continue reading

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Former D.C. security consultant Halligen pleads guilty in $2.1 million fraud case

Former D.C. security consultant Halligen pleads guilty in $2.1 million fraud case

By Kevin Sullivan, Published: May 17

Kevin Richard Halligen, who convinced lawyers, lobbyists and others in Washington’s elite intelligence community that he was a former British spy and allegedly conned them out of millions, pleaded guilty Friday in D.C. federal court to defrauding former business associates out of $2.1 million.

“Was it your intent to defraud?” U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly asked Halligen.

(Post photo) – Kevin Richard Halligen Continue reading

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Alan Gross Settles Suit on ‘Risky’ Work in Cuba

Alan Gross Settles Suit on ‘Risky’ Work in Cuba

Jewish State Department Contractor Still Jailed on ‘Spy’ Charge

Gross Family

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Michael R. Bradford, veteran from Fort Thomas, killed in suicide bombing in Kabul Thursday

Michael R. Bradford, veteran from Fort Thomas, killed in suicide bombing in Kabul Thursday

Posted: 05/17/2013

  • By: WCPO Digital Staff

FORT THOMAS, Ky. — A veteran from Fort Thomas was one of at least 15 people killed in a suicide car bombing in the Afghan capital of Kabul Thursday.

Michael A. Bradford, a graduate of Highlands High School, was one of four DynCorp International personnel working on the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan program tragically killed by the explosion, according to a DynCorp spokesperson. Continue reading

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Grovetown man killed in Afghanistan suicide bombing

Friday, May 17, 2013 8:10 PM

Last updated Saturday, May 18, 2013 1:03 PM

A Grovetown man was killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan on Thursday, according to the company he was employed with as a civilian contractor.

Michael Robert Bradford, killed by a suicide bomber Thursday, is pictured with his wife, Sasha.  SPECIAL

SPECIAL
Michael Robert Bradford, killed by a suicide bomber Thursday, is pictured with his wife, Sasha. Continue reading
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