Lawsuit Uncovers How Retired Military Officers are Making Millions Consulting for Foreign Governments
It should be no surprise that Saudi Arabia is the country paying the most for U.S. military personnel to work for them:
Foreign governments have long advanced their interests in Washington by paying Americans as lobbyists, lawyers, political consultants, think tank analysts and public relations advisers. But the hiring of retired U.S. military personnel for their expertise and political clout has accelerated over the past decade as oil-rich gulf monarchies have splurged on defense spending and strengthened their security partnerships with the Pentagon.
Congress permits retired troops as well as reservists to work for foreign governments if they first obtain approval from their branch of the armed forces and the State Department. But the U.S. government has fought to keep the hirings secret. For years, it withheld virtually all information about the practice, including which countries employ the most retired U.S. service members and how much money is at stake.
To shed light on the matter, The Post sued the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps and the State Department in federal court under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). After a two-year legal battle, The Post obtained more than 4,000 pages of documents, including case files for about 450 retired soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.
Washington Post
You can read more at the link, but the article did not mention any retired military officials working with South Korea or Japan. It appears to all be governments from the Middle East, Turkey, and Russia. The fact that Korea and Japan has USFK and USFJ probably means they don’t need to hire outside experts like these other countries are doing.
I know a lot of retired military folks. I don’t know any who would sell their services to a foreign nation. Even an ally.
This article must be about so-called officers like Blubber Vindman. What we used to call REMFs.
It’s a damned shame anyone could take an oath to the USA and sell their services anywhere else.
Retired Royal Air Force fighter pilots have been especially targeted by China.
Up to 30 former Royal Air Force pilots may have gone to China to train members of the People’s Liberation Army of China. The BBC reported some earned financial packages up to $270,000.
This has prompted Britain to consider changing its laws to criminalize former personnel taking up contracts to train members of certain foreign militaries.
“We have approached the people that are involved and been clear with them that it’s our expectation they would not continue to be part of that organization, and we are going to put into law, that once people have been given that warning, it will become an offense to then go forward and continue with that training,” Heappey added.
U.K. military warns ex-pilots not to train Chinese air force
Washington Post,
By Adela Suliman
October 18, 2022
Interesting about the RAF instructor pilots for the Chinese.
I know a lot of former USAF pilots who went to the middle east as contractors (instructors). It is a lot of money, and tax free.
China knows that the allies had air superiority for the Normandy and Incheon landings. China needs to land 1-2 million troops on the beaches of Taiwan.
So, China is trying to get as much information on Taiwan’s air defense systems as possible.
Interestingly, Russia has totally failed to obtain air superiority over Ukraine; a credit to the air defense systems of Ukraine.
Now Putin has started running out of missiles and is using Iranian drones, most of these Iranian drones have also been stopped by Ukraine’s air defense systems.
“Interestingly, Russia has totally failed to obtain air superiority over Ukraine; a credit to the air defense systems of Ukraine.
Now Putin has started running out of missiles and is using Iranian drones, most of these Iranian drones have also been stopped by Ukraine’s air defense systems.”
The complete failure to analyze while slopping up propaganda like a dog on a pack of hot dogs never fails to amaze me… global warming, blavk criminals matter, Trump and his passion hoockers, covid, Ukraine.
Let’s look at each statement and then contrast it with the reality we actually see.
“Interestingly, Russia has totally failed to obtain air superiority over Ukraine”
This is a very odd thing to say when Russia successfully destroyed all of Ukraine’s excess electricity production within hours of their very first attempt… by air.
This doesn’t sound like a total failure.
I keep hearing Russia is losing. I never see Russia losing.
“a credit to the air defense systems of Ukraine.”
Crediting an air defense system as your infrastructure gets picked off by air must require some serious mental gymnastics.
There are a lot of videos of Ukranians with AK47s shooting at the sky.
My personal experience showed this to be zero effective… though I am intrigued by how this works in an urban environment.
“Now Putin has started running out of missiles”
I have been hearing Putin will be out of ammo/men/tanks/missiles/artillary next month… since March. Getting skeptical. You should be too.
“and is using Iranian drones,”
Which is brilliant. They are cheap and effective and available in large numbers and cost a million dollars to shoot down… so decisions have to be made… do we shoot it down with our precious air defense and risk being out of missiles when the heavy bombers show up or do we get a bunch of cops with AKs to shoot at the sky and hope for the best?
Ukraine has taken the second option while begging NATO for more AA.
“most of these Iranian drones have also been stopped by Ukraine’s air defense systems.”
That is a true statement… depending on the wave. Ukraine claimed 60%… which is most.
Professional analysts see what’s up.
For every wave of cheap drones, quite a few make it through. And Ukraine expends another round of expensive anti-aircraft missiles. And then they go to NATO with their hands out for more.
Everyone involved knows this is unsustainable…
…except the Ukraine fanbois.
There is no need to pick a side in this conflict.
But lying to yourselves will only lead to disappointment.
The reality is Russia is going to accomplish their objectives. This can be easy or hard on the Ukranians and the rest of the world.
Western governments are marginally fighting Russia over the. But they are fully fighting the lifestyle of their citizens.
That is the real enemy.
Ukrainian forces are about 10 miles northwest of the city of Kherson.
https://liveuamap.com/
The Battle of Kherson will be amazing.
About the only things we can predict are:
– Ukraine is going to expend a lot of precious resources for gains which are all for show… assuming there are gains.
– Russian forces in Belarus are waiting for Ukraine’s military to be focused elsewhere.
– Apartments in Kherson will maintain their value on paper if half apartments are half price.
A big deal was made when Ukraine made advances into territory thinly held by police and reserve forces.
The world was quiet after the Battle of Mariupol when the Nazis got starved out of Azovsteel and finally got “freed”… which is western media speak for loaded into busses and take to a western prison.
(This was after trying to negotiate “Let us go and we keep our weapons, cool bro?”)
Stephen, as per your link:
“Russia destroyed 30% of Ukraine’s power stations in a week: Zelensky”
This sounds suspiciously like air superiority.
Keep in mind, despite media lies, the goal was not to destroy Ukraine’s ability to generate electricity.
That just makes Ukrainians miserable… and Russia is going to have to live next to them for a while. Plus the world goes on about human rights and stuff.
No. The goal was not to destroy Ukraine’s ability to generate electricity. The goal was to destroy Ukraine’s ability to generate SURPLUS electricity…
…which they have been selling…
…to Europe.
The deindustrialization of Europe is fascinating to watch.
Populations with high stress and low heat seem like they might be vulnerable to pandemic. America should combine the covid strains with high mortality and high infectivity and gift it to Europe for Christmas.