State Department Fun and Games

[BlueStreak]

So, they're a little slow on the draw. The private sector does a much better job of these things. That's why privatized government functions "appear" to work so well, but end up being so expensive regardless.

Dave

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by whell

What, Bob? Is it all about Hillary with you?

No but it is what your masters of the universe in the Republican't party are all about, Mike. They simply can't help themselves.
I'm sure that some wingnut will be along shortly with an opinion that this is all Hillary's fault or indicative of her tenure as Secretary of State...

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by whell

"CBS News has uncovered documents that show the State Department may have covered up allegations of illegal and inappropriate behavior within their ranks."

"CBS News' John Miller reports that according to an internal State Department Inspector General's memo, several recent investigations were influenced, manipulated, or simply called off. The memo obtained by CBS News cited eight specific examples. Among them: allegations that a State Department security official in Beirut "engaged in sexual assaults" on foreign nationals hired as embassy guards and the charge and that members of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's security detail "engaged prostitutes while on official trips in foreign countries" -- a problem the report says was "endemic.""

"Aurelia Fedenisn, a former investigator with the State Department's internal watchdog agency, the Inspector General, told Miller, "We also uncovered several allegations of criminal wrongdoing in cases, some of which never became cases.""

In such cases, DSS agents told the Inspector General's investigators that senior State Department officials told them to back off, a charge that Fedenisn says is "very" upsetting.

Fedenisn says "hostile intelligence services" allow such behavior to continue. "I would be very surprised if some of those entities were not aware of the activities," she said. "So yes, it presents a serious risk to the United States government."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_1...investigations

Here ya go, Mike. see bolded and engorged.

[finnbow]

As endemic as this behavior is at State and the Secret Service, I can easily enough believe that Hillary (or one of her sycophants at State) chose to sweep this under the rug to ensure she stays clean enough for 2016. I've had some experience with State Department types and I wouldn't put anything past them, regardless of party or administration. Think about it - many ambassadorships, particularly to plum locations, are patronage positions to pay back big campaign contributors/supporters. What makes you think that folks high up in the dirty work of campaign funding don't enjoy hookers and blow?

[BlueStreak]

It'll be interesting to see what happens when the shoe is on the other foot.

[Rajoo]

"What difference does it make?"

[finnbow]

Whether or not the allegations are true (and I have no reason to believe they are not), what's the likelihood of a State Department run by a Clinton inside an Obama administration investigating a guy with the following attributes?

Gutman has long been active in Democratic politics, working on policy issues, speech writing, constituency work, legal representation, and media. He also has helped raise money for Democratic presidential, gubernatorial, and congressional candidates, including Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 2000. Gutman served on the legal team representing Gore in the Supreme Court case Bush v. Gore.

According to OpenSecrets.org, in 2008, Gutman was part of the Obama National Finance Committee and later a trustee on the Presidential Inauguration Committee. Gutman and his wife, Michelle Loewinger, have contributed at least $86,150 to Democratic candidates, parties and committees since 1989. Gutman contributed the legal maximum of $2300 to Bill Clinton’s presidential bid. Both he and his wife contributed the legal maximum of $4600 a piece to Obama’s presidential run. Gutman bundled at least half a million for Obama’s campaign committee and another $275,000 for his inauguration

[bobabode]

Let change the optics here a bit. With regard to prostitution, who really gives a crap what two consenting adults engage in and how they pay each other for it?
I see it as more of the ugly puritanical bent that Americans love to engage in. It's no one's business but the parties involved.

Must be all of that Heinlein that I read as a young man.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by bobabode

Let change the optics here a bit. With regard to prostitution, who really gives a crap what two consenting adults engage in and how they pay each other for it?
I see it as more of the ugly puritanical bent that Americans love to engage in. It's no one's business but the parties involved.

Must be all of that Heinlein that I read as a young man.

I don't disagree. I've run into plenty of Americans overseas at all levels of government jobs who did what the Ambassador is accused of doing. Routinely.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I don't disagree. I've run into plenty of Americans overseas at all levels of government jobs who did what the Ambassador is accused of doing. Routinely.

More power to him. As long as he pays the piper.