The Daily MuckA former aide to Reps. Jane Harman (D-CA) and Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) was sentenced to six months in jail for embezzling money from her employers’ accounts to help fund political campaigns. Investigators are looking into other congressional staff members and their involvement into similar campaign-support activity at the request of their bosses. (Wash Post)
The role of defense contractors in Iraq will increase soon, as the military officials are openly calling for such privatized troops to live with (for the first time) Iraqi military groups while they help train the fledgling army. Defense contracting has come under scrutiny from Congress of late, yet one Pentagon official says the step of using non-U.S. military is a “natural step” in the training of the Iraqis as American forces draw down. (The Hill and Washington Post)
A major defense contractor used by the U.S. in Iraq, MPRI out of Virginia, was found to have used a shell company in Bermuda to subcontract the defense work. The offshore companies set up to avoid taxation were started just months after signing a $400 million contract to provide military support in Iraq. (Boston Globe)
All al Qaeda members accused of sinking the USS Cole eight years ago, which killed 17 sailors, have either escaped from prison or have set free by Yemen. The U.S. government’s growing frustration with Yemeni officials have resulted in a demand of jail inspections. (Washington Post)
Despite frequent calls for the improvement of contractor-installed faulty electric wiring at American bases, electrocution of troops is still common. At least a dozen people have been electrocuted according to officials, including two deaths. Electricians for KBR warned their superiors a number of times about such problems, to no effect. (New York Times)
