"War for Profit: Army Contracting Vs. Supporting the Troops" by Charles M. Smith
"War for Profit: Army Contracting Vs. Supporting the Troops" by Charles M. Smith
Algora Publishing | 2012 | ISBN: 0875869270 9780875869278 9780875869285 | 299 pages | PDF | 11 MB
Algora Publishing | 2012 | ISBN: 0875869270 9780875869278 9780875869285 | 299 pages | PDF | 11 MB
This is a first-person account of the LOGCAP contract in Iraq and Afghanistan, written by the civilian who was in charge from 2002 to 2004. The book reveals Defense procurement issues in contracting and logistics that undermined US servicemen and women while needlessly throwing away public funds. It provides facts and analysis to inform the public and to bolster the many loyal and hard-working government officials and employees who seek to do the job right. By providing a first-person narrative of the author’s actions and experiences, the book is also aimed at a more general audience of those who wish to understand our participation in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This book by that very Army official provides an eye-opening firsthand account of how the US Government hands over your tax dollars to support contractors like KBR and Halliburton, rather than supporting the troops. This authoritative and well-documented record of the LOGCAP contract in Iraq and Afghanistan is at the same time a study of US participation in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the workings of government agencies and Congress.
The first chapter sets the scene, briefly narrating the author s work on behalf of US military efforts, especially in Iraq. Subsequent chapters illustrate specific issues in contractor relations that resulted in unsafe conditions for the troops and blew millions of taxpayer dollars. Loyal and hard-working government officials and employees who tried to keep things on track were turned away and those who sought to rein in the free-for-all were sacked.
Brief Contents
Preface
1. Overrun by the Taliban, then by KBR
2. “Tooth to Tail"
3. LOGCAP III
4. Army Contracts and Reversed Incentives
5. Negotiation, Settlement and Fee
6. Dining Facilities, Fraud and Bribes
7. Water Problems
8. Electrical Work
9. Transportation
10. The Struggle for Congressional Oversight
11. The Use of Contractors for Combat Service Support
12. Use of Contractors to Oversee Other Contractors
13. Lessons Learned
Acronym Definitions
Bibliography
Index
with TOC BookMarkLinks
About the Author
Charles M. Smith worked for the Army for 31 years as a contracting officer and manager. He has also worked in private industry and now runs his own consulting company. In 2004 the Department of Defense awarded him the Defense Distinguished Civilian Service medal for his work on the LOGCAP program. This is the highest award any DoD employee can receive. A certified Professional Contracts Manager, Mr. Smith has a degree in Philosophy and Economics from Washington & Lee University and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.