Contractor Who Vetted Snowden Also Cleared Navy Yard Shooter (Or, Greenwald Goes Ballistic)

Anyone who goes against the Greenwald narrative is evil
US News • Views: 27,877

Yikes. Today we learn that the same government contractor who handled the background checks for Edward Snowden also vetted Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis.

USIS, the Falls Church government contractor that handled the background check for National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, said Thursday that it also vetted Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis for his ­secret-level clearance in 2007.

The company, which is under criminal investigation over whether it misled the government about the thoroughness of its background checks, said earlier this week that it had not handled Alexis’s case.

USIS spokesman Ray Howell said the company got new information Thursday.

“Today we were informed that in 2007, USIS conducted a background check of Aaron Alexis” for the Office of Personnel Management, Howell said in a statement. “We are contractually prohibited from retaining case information gathered as part of the background checks we conduct for OPM and therefore are unable to comment further on the nature or scope of this or any other background check.”

This news caused activist Glenn Greenwald to fly into a rage, lashing out at journalists who reported this story and accusing them of equating Snowden to a mass murderer. Apparently if you notice that the same contractor vetted both of these criminals, it’s you who’s the bad person.

In the strange mind of Glenn Greenwald, the vetting of Edward Snowden was not a “clearance failure” at all; in fact, hiring Snowden for the NSA was one of the only good things Booz Allen ever did.

Wow, what an amazingly twisted concept of national security this guy has.

Also see
Leak Ended Informant’s Rare Opportunity, U.S. Officials Say - Los Angeles Times Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (Contractors) Triple-Ply Wow

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45 comments
1 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:32:42pm

He’s a pretty obvious clearance failure.

2 Kragar  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:34:35pm

I often view people who reveal classified information as no better than murderers.

Leak ended informant’s rare opportunity, U.S. officials say

3 Charles Johnson  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:34:59pm

re: #1 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

You shall not contradict the Mighty Greenwald! Worship his acolyte, the slightly less mighty Snowden, or face his wrath.

4 Kragar  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:35:30pm

Congratulations, you got a head line and will get people killed. Well done.

5 klys  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:39:50pm

Don’t you know that we’re all just outrageously outraged on this topic? For reals.

6 Eclectic Cyborg  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:40:23pm

Greenwald again desperately trying to stay in the spotlight, attaching himself to whatever story is floating around the headlines.

7 wheat-dogghazi  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:43:19pm
@TimRussoCLE Hiring Snowden was one of the few good, constructive things Booz has done [because it has enabled me to grab the spotlight].

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) September 21, 2013

Edited for accuracy.

8 Charles Johnson  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:44:46pm

All week Greenwald’s been under attack from the even crazier wing of the anarchist left, demanding that he just release everything right away. Notice that one of his tweets is a reply to someone who wants to just blow everything up.

9 darthstar  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:47:06pm

Poor Glenn…he thought he had this narrative under control, and now he’s basically getting into random internet fights with anyone who dares ask him a simple question.

10 goddamnedfrank  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:47:15pm

re: #1 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

He’s a pretty obvious clearance failure.

Yeah, even Der Spiegel said some of the stolen data given to Poitras would endanger lives if published.

11 Norbrook  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:51:14pm

One of the more “ignored” scandals, at least to my mind, has been that the government has been outsourcing security clearances, and their contractors are, by current evidence, not doing their jobs.

You have someone who has serially lied about his education and skills (Snowden), and someone who has a record of being mentally ill with discipline problems (Alexis) being given security clearances after “background checks” by a contractor. It’s rather noteworthy that those issues were found within hours by … journalists.

12 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:55:13pm

Little is known about the psychological impact on men and boys of being made to watch sexual violence against a loved one in the context of conflict. What limited information that exists suggests a mixture
of helplessness, anger or blame toward the victim or themselves, alcohol use, depression and withdrawal. Research on men’s witnessing physical violence against their mothers indicates that this is a traumatic life experience for boys. Across cultural settings, men who report witnessing such violence are more likely to report suicidal ideation, alcohol abuse and delinquency; in turn, as noted above, they are far more likely to use violence against their female partners than men who do not witness this violence (Barker et al., 2011). Research on those who witness torture against a loved one also shows that they suffer a similar degree of psychological trauma as those who experience the torture. Although one should not equate the impact of witnessing with being a direct victim of violence, the effects are severe because witnessing is an experience of violence.

The crime that causes other crime.

The lying, the justification and rationalization and mental gymnastics those who do not get treatment must use to function … . .and we wonder why Whackos exist.

13 compound_Idaho  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 5:56:31pm

re: #11 Norbrook

Back when the FBI conducted interviews for clearances, I was questioned regarding my brother-in-law for his clearance. Near the end of the interview the agent asked if I knew his wife. They thought we just played softball and drank beer together.

14 Charles Johnson  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:01:06pm

Wow…

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (Contractors)

15 Kragar  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:04:56pm

re: #14 Charles Johnson

Wow…

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (Contractors)

Oh, there is more to that story…

Triple-Ply Wow

The day after the horrific DC Navy Yard massacre I told you about Thomas Hoshko, CEO of the defense contractor ‘The Experts’ who hired assailant Aaron Alexis, and the gargantuan yacht he uses to wine and dine defense officials. Now we learn that just over 24 hours after the attack, Hoshko emailed Navy Secretary Ray Mabus offering his firm’s services to help get a handle on the Navy’s security problems.

16 Norbrook  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:11:31pm

re: #15 Kragar

Well, he’s right. His company does have a lot of experience. In hiring people who cause those security problems.

17 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:14:17pm

This story has so many holes in it. Basically, it’s a repeat of the narrative GG has been hawking all this time.

haaretz.com

Snowjob’s contacts with Poitras and Greenwald started far earlier than May of this year.

This “interview” by Skype, with today’s date on it, says:

“Greenwald is currently at home in Brazil, where he continues to work on stories deriving from the Snowden material. My interview with him was conducted via Skype. Greenwald confirmed to me that he is in constant contact with Snowden, via encrypted chat services. ” (my emphasis)

If anyone believes Greenwald is still talking to Snowjob, I have a river in Russia to sell you.

18 AlexRogan  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:16:24pm

re: #15 Kragar

Oh, there is more to that story…

Triple-Ply Wow

Talk about tone-deafness and chutzpah.

19 Norbrook  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:16:35pm

re: #13 compound_Idaho

Back when the FBI conducted interviews for clearances, I was questioned regarding my brother-in-law for his clearance. Near the end of the interview the agent asked if I knew his wife. They thought we just played softball and drank beer together.

Funny! My parents got a lot of phone calls from people wondering what I’d done to get in such trouble, since the FBI was so obviously investigating me. That was an experience in “intrusive government surveillance,” what Greenwald is screaming about isn’t even close.

20 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:21:41pm

re: #19 Norbrook

Funny! My parents got a lot of phone calls from people wondering what I’d done to get in such trouble, since the FBI was so obviously investigating me. That was an experience in “intrusive government surveillance,” what Greenwald is screaming about isn’t even close.

Hell’s bell, when I first got auto insurance back in 1968, in addition to paper work on me, like credit check and driving record, State Farm Insurance actually sent an investigator out to interview my neighbors to find out “what kind of person” I was. That’s what they used to do.

Probably more than these contractors like “The Experts” do these days.

21 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:26:55pm

I just noticed that even though I was able to access that piece from Haaretz from GG’s twitter acct, it is now behind a paywall.

Perhaps you only get one crack at it.

22 Bubblehead II  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:30:13pm

Floating up from the previous thread

re: #95 Stanley Sea

You still here? All ok?

Yep. All of us are still breathing.

Just brewing over the dark side of life.

Night Lizards.

Dark thoughts require dark music.

Youtube Video

23 b.d.  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:30:19pm

Glenn has lost his mind.

Neither Snowden nor Alexis committed any crimes whileor before their background checks were being done but I am pretty sure that only one of them was plotting a crime during or prior to his background check.

So yes, the comparison is not fair.

24 Stanley Sea  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:30:50pm

POTUS speaking somewhere - anyone know?

25 b.d.  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:31:35pm
Hiring Snowden was one of the few good, constructive things Booz has done

That’s rubber room kinda talk.

26 Stanley Sea  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:31:56pm

re: #22 Bubblehead II

Floating up from the previous thread

Yep. All of us are still breathing.

Just brewing over the dark side of life.

Night Lizards.

Dark thoughts require dark music.

[Embedded content]

Wish you felt better. Have a good night.

27 b.d.  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:32:06pm

re: #24 Stanley Sea

POTUS speaking somewhere - anyone know?

Congressional Black Caucus Dinner I think?

28 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:39:58pm

This NSA paranoia is really gone too far, IMHO.

My kid needs a new phone, he asked me if he should get the new iPhone or an Android. I told him I didn’t want to hear the complaints if he got an Android (like the last time). He said, “Yeah, but I don’t know if I want the NSA to have my fingerprint.”

I told him if they wanted it, they’d already have it.

29 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:40:42pm

re: #28 FemNaziBitch

This NSA paranoia is really gone too far, IMHO.

My kid needs a new phone, he asked me if he should get the new iPhone or an Android. I told him I didn’t want to hear the complaints if he got an Android (like the last time). He said, “Yeah, but I don’t know if I want the NSA to have my fingerprint.”

I told him if they wanted it, they’d already have it.

I’d be more concerned with a multi-national corporation having than the NSA, but that’s just me.

30 b.d.  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:44:08pm

re: #8 Charles Johnson

All week Greenwald’s been under attack from the even crazier wing of the anarchist left, demanding that he just release everything right away. Notice that one of his tweets is a reply to someone who wants to just blow everything up.

hahaha, so Glenn has had to take the position that keeping some things secret is for the greater good?

hahahaha

31 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:45:51pm

re: #30 b.d.

hahaha, so Glenn has had to take the position that keeping some things secret is for the greater good?

hahahaha

Actually, I think GG takes the position that only he is able to make judgments about what is to be released, and what isn’t.

His hubris is just overpowering.

32 A Mom Anon  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:47:04pm

re: #30 b.d.

Tee to the fucking hee. That man’s ego has it’s own area code. Brat.

33 b.d.  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 6:52:35pm

re: #31 Justanotherhuman

Actually, I think GG takes the position that only he is able to make judgments about what is to be released, and what isn’t.

His hubris is just overpowering.

So forget the FISA courts, the judges, Congressional review, the rule book 3 feet thick, Glenn should be the sole arbiter of what should be available to the masses?

Yep, that sounds like Glenn.

34 AlexRogan  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 7:02:28pm

re: #30 b.d.

hahaha, so Glenn has had to take the position that keeping some things secret is for the greater good?

hahahaha

Funny, that.

35 Vicious Babushka  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 7:02:34pm

Speaking of assholes:

No Bryan, this is NOT a Christian nation.

36 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 7:03:54pm

re: #8 Charles Johnson

All week Greenwald’s been under attack from the even crazier wing of the anarchist left, demanding that he just release everything right away. Notice that one of his tweets is a reply to someone who wants to just blow everything up.

At the far fringes of the left and the right you’ll find those sorts of Jokers, the men* who just to watch the world burn.

*: Such people are overwhelmingly male, and so I did not use gender=neutral language.

37 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 7:05:22pm

re: #35 Vicious Babushka

Speaking of assholes:

[Embedded content]

No Bryan, this is NOT a Christian nation.

That the column is on Weird Nut Daily says everything you need to know about it.

38 Vicious Babushka  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 7:08:17pm

re: #37 Dark_Falcon

That the column is on Weird Nut Daily says everything you need to know about it.

Bryan links to all kinds of shit. At least he doesn’t claim it’s “neutral linking”

39 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 7:14:21pm

re: #38 Vicious Babushka

Bryan links to all kinds of shit. At least he doesn’t claim it’s “neutral linking”

And the “story” also features shrieks from our least favorite harpy, Pam Geller.

40 Laertes  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 9:38:22pm

Well, Greenwald is at least a little bit right. It isn’t fair to Snowden to mention him alongside a mass-murderer. Even his harshest critics should concede that he’s not nearly that bad. To say otherwise is to make apologies for a mass-murderer, and that’s just creepy and sick.

Greenwald seems to be on shakier ground, though, when he says that Snowden wasn’t a clearance failure. I guess I don’t know how background checks work, but can you really say that everything went to plan when the guy you cleared had already made up his mind to betray his new employer? You’re sure there was no way you could have caught that?

41 Quicklund  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 10:32:01pm

We are witnessing the David Horowitzing of Glenn Greenwald as it plays out in real time.

I hope.

42 piratedan  Sat, Sep 21, 2013 10:37:10pm

and what this all comes back to proving is that the R theory that private companies do EVERYTHING better than government/public employees is still completely full of crap….

Has anyone brought up Booz or USIS short yet?

If so, how?

I would like to think that somehow, someway, there’s a refund check in the mail…. somewhere.

43 Norbrook  Sun, Sep 22, 2013 4:08:53am

re: #40 Laertes

Greenwald seems to be on shakier ground, though, when he says that Snowden wasn’t a clearance failure. I guess I don’t know how background checks work, but can you really say that everything went to plan when the guy you cleared had already made up his mind to betray his new employer? You’re sure there was no way you could have caught that?

They absolutely should have caught it. I pointed that out a while back. I’ve gone through more intensive investigations during job applications than he apparently received getting a security clearance.

44 Charles Johnson  Sun, Sep 22, 2013 7:34:28am

re: #40 Laertes

Well, Greenwald is at least a little bit right. It isn’t fair to Snowden to mention him alongside a mass-murderer. Even his harshest critics should concede that he’s not nearly that bad. To say otherwise is to make apologies for a mass-murderer, and that’s just creepy and sick.

That’s absurd. There’s nothing “creepy and sick” about pointing out that the same contractor cleared both people. It’s very obviously relevant to the question of how well they did their job.

45 darthstar  Sun, Sep 22, 2013 7:39:51am

re: #40 Laertes

Well, Greenwald is at least a little bit right. It isn’t fair to Snowden to mention him alongside a mass-murderer. Even his harshest critics should concede that he’s not nearly that bad. To say otherwise is to make apologies for a mass-murderer, and that’s just creepy and sick.

Nobody’s comparing Snowden to Alexis as far as their respective crimes go. It’s just the contractor who cleared them being exposed for shoddy work. They’re not even the subject of the article. They’re just examples.


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