They also include allegations that State Department officials engaged in an underground drug ring in Baghdad, Iraq.
OMG...
Hell I interviewed an ex-CIA CO years ago who told me he had observed vast quantities of drugs stored in an aircraft hangar. He wouldn’t talk about it on the phone. He knew they were involved in the distribution process. I think our governments been involved since the 70’s maybe earlier (probably).
“...State Department officials engaged in an underground drug ring in Baghdad, Iraq.”
Seriously, I always wondered why the IT contractors at a FOB in the IZ I supported appeared stoned whenever I visited for work. I could smell the stuff but couldn’t figure where they’d gotten the weed from. I suppose now I know.
I think this is just a case of dirty laundry and sloppy management rather than some big plot. Sounds like State just has some lack of training and discipline issues much like any organization encounters from time to time. What affects them is their hubris which they will have to confront before they can repair.