Posted on 08/18/2018 6:31:38 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Love the man. My oldest is currently serving in the Marine Corps and said the Marines he serves with said that they would go through the gates of hell for General Mattis
That was not “all” of SEAL team 6, or even anything close to it. The exact number is classified, but you’re way off.
Can’t help wondering why Trump’s advisers did not prepare for this controversy with a good set of talking points and a press offensive explaining the withdrawals. Things like: “no more need to know”; “Brennan did x, y, and z”; “Obama improperly revoked clearances for persons a, b, and, c”; etc. The key is preparation, not to wait for explanations to dribble out later.
Not only should everyone leaving the environment that requires a security clearance lose it as they depart, they should not be allowed to renew their clearance either. From what I am hearing, many “advisors” retain their clearances by just filling out some paperwork. This is security breach of inordinate magnitude. If you are not working directly on the program as an active government employee with no side hustles (conferencing with lobbyists or journalists for instance), you have no need for security clearance. John Brennan is the most egregious example of a system gone amuck. Thousands of clearances exist for non essential personnel and needs immediate remediation.
I worked at Texas Instruments in Dallas for 40 years. Back then they were doing lots of Government contracts. My first job needed a confidential clearance. I went from that to Secret, Top Secret, and then to NATO Secret. As soon as TI stopped doing doing government contracts, those no longer needing them were taken away. I was told that the company had to pay for each clearance. If that’s still the case (Having to pay), I’d like to know how much the government is paying. ?????
Mine costs $20,000 every 5 years.
Why does a clearance actually cost anything?
The full scope investigation takes a lot of hours. For a TS, the initial background scope is ten years—all locations; family, finances, character references. It’s not undertaken lightly as the cost can exceed $50k. Contract companies pay for them directly, but obviously prefer to hire people with the proper clearance. Military and civil service clearances cost a bit less than commercial, but the gaining agency still pays for it.
Originally, the investigations were performed by DoD or FBI, but they have been contracted out for decades. Pulling them back to DoD is one step to regain some control and accountability. The relaxation of personnel standards spearheaded by Clinton and Obama reduced the overall scope and limited denials for drug use, financial hazard, foreign influence, and sexual misconduct (or proclivity) to a large degree. The old standards would have rightly excluded half of Clinton’s and most of Obama’s administrations.
Try to get one and you'll see what's involved. The investigators who go out into the field and knock on the doors of the references you put down on your SF 86 to interview them and ask about you don't work for free. Neither do the pencil pushers who do the credit checks against your accounts (oh yes, you give them permission to do so), or the security investigators who look into any criminal history to help them make the final determination.
A friend of mine's clearance was held up for *many* months because his brother - HIS BROTHER - in the 80s joined some Skinhead group dedicated to overthrowing the government. He swore he did it as a joke, and never paid any dues.
That’s right.The Army taught us (50 years ago) that a “need to know” was a central factor in accessing a particular piece of classified material.
Huma may have turned states evidence on Hillary.
Wonder how often they chat these days ?
lol
I hope this whole issue results in Trump issuing an executive order stating that ALL who leave Federal service immediately lose their clearance, at least to levels above “confidential”.
My TS/SBI was pulled as soon as I cleared out my desk. I was shocked to discover how many people maintain theirs well after leaving. There is no, i mean NO, good reason for that to be true.
Timing of such an executive order would, in my opinion, ideally, be immediately after Trump is re-elected.
I believe that once such an order is issued, no president will ever withdraw it.
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