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U.S. Relies More on Contractors To Fight Drug Trade - WSJ

U.S. Relies More on Contractors To Fight Drug Trade
By AUGUST COLE
July 5, 2008; Page A5

During the more than five years that three Northrop Grumman Corp. employees were held hostage in Colombia, captured while on a Defense Department job, the U.S. steadily increased its use of contractors to help fight the drug trade in dangerous parts of the world.

Although the biggest defense contractors have shown no interest in providing teams of armed security guards similar to those in Iraq from Blackwater Worldwide or DynCorp International, they are increasingly willing to operate close to danger.

The U.S. spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year hiring pilots, mechanics, and military and police trainers to combat the drug trade in South American countries, as well as Afghanistan and other Central Asian states. Lockheed Martin Corp. also supports peacekeeping forces in Darfur.

Last year, the Defense Department tapped Northrop as one of five to lead a five-year contract focused on fighting terrorism and the drug trade. The contract could be worth as much as $15 billion if fully funded, but the work, under the Counter Narcoterrorism Technology Program Office, will be assigned through small contracts depending on the government's needs. Others given a shot at competing for the work include Blackwater, Raytheon Co., Lockheed and Arinc Inc.

"The military is not enamored of these other missions," said Brian Jenkins, a senior adviser at Rand Corp. and former Army Special Forces officer.

The Pentagon has awarded Northrop seven smaller contracts as part of the larger counterdrug contract, but details are classified. Northrop spokesman Randy Belote said the company is making greater inroads into that line of business as such efforts become more high-tech. "It's moving more into the electronic surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance realm, so it's perfectly aligned with our business," he said.

Aiming to stay ahead of tapering budgets and shifting Pentagon priorities, mainstream defense contractors seek to strike a balance between pursuing contracts that may be worth only a few million dollars while exposing them and their employees to political and physical risks.

The Northrop subsidiary, California Microwave, that employed the hostages -- Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell -- ceased work on its Defense Department antidrug contract after their plane crashed in 2003. A fourth Northrop contractor, Thomas Janis, was shot to death after the crash.

All three of the hostages were kept on Northrop's payroll during their ordeal, and the company said it "has been engaged with the three families" since the hostage crisis began.

DynCorp, one of the most prominent players in counterdrug missions, has been working on counterdrug efforts in Colombia since 1991 and holds a large State Department contract to help with drug-eradication efforts in Afghanistan.

DynCorp spokesman Greg Lagana acknowledged that such work carries a certain amount of risk, but such contracts also "use a lot of the strengths that we have as a company."

By tejasmarcos on Jul 5, 2008, 05:17 in Politics & the war.

tejasmarcos says on Jul 5, 2008, 05:18:

i like this statement. a move to technology based assistance is a much better approach than spraying crops with toxic chemicals,

"Northrop spokesman Randy Belote said the company is making greater inroads into that line of business as such efforts become more high-tech. "It's moving more into the electronic surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance realm, so it's perfectly aligned with our business,"

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

harvardexec says on Jul 5, 2008, 10:47:

Are there any Civil Libertarians in Colombia? Instead of Northrop spraying you, they will be watching your wife sun bath naked by the pool in the backyard from their "Electronic Surveillance" satellite. Big Brother is watching you now Colombia.

"I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."-John McCain

0 funny, 0 helpful.

aztec says on Jul 6, 2008, 09:18:

Never met a Harvard graduate who did not let you know within two paragraphs he was a graduate of Harvard. Frequently it is within two sentences!

Most overrated place on the planet.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jul 6, 2008, 16:24:

You don't have to go to the second paragraph,
or even the first sentence, because, like Frazier Crane,
the coat of arms (I guess) is right out there,
for all to admire.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jul 6, 2008, 16:33:

They offer foreclosure marketing 101 at Harvard?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

harvardexec says on Aug 18, 2008, 15:59:

Aztec...."Never met a Harvard graduate who did not let you know within two paragraphs he was a graduate of Harvard."

What paragraphs are you referring to?

Aztec and Poopskipper...So which companies are you affiliated with - Northrop or DynCorp. Are you two of those government contractors that go around "just making a living" spraying and killing innocent people?

"I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."-John McCain

0 funny, 0 helpful.

harvardexec says on Aug 18, 2008, 16:36:

Aztec...I found the transcript of your conversation with the Harvard grad:

AZTEC: Northrop Grumman sure is doing a lot in this world to save lives. And, did you buy your gold this year (2007)? Gold is going to reach $4,000 an ounce in 2007!
HARVARD GRAD: Really? I did not know Northrop was in the business of saving lives. And, $4,000 an ounce for Gold? Where do you hear this?
AZTEC: I have a GED from one of the best schools in North Dakota. I also took a psychology class at Murray State. I know my stuff.
When I was at a gas station last week, I ran into a friend of my Uncle's. He used to work close to the airport where there was a guy from Northrop Grumman. The guy from Northrop told my Uncle's friend that they are in Colombia right now, spraying crops, so they can save those poor Colombian's.
Then I heard on CNN there is a sub prime mortgage crisis, and they are going to stop producing the dollar. If you don't have gold by the end of 2007, you will need to use your dollars for kindling for a fire.
HARVARD GRAD. This is news to me. You know I attended Harvard with the CEO of Northrop, but their mission is in tactical munitions, not in saving lives. And, the sub prime mortgage melt down is not going to render the dollar worthless.
AZTEC: Well I know things from the ground up. You wait and see what happens with the price of Gold in 2007!

"I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."-John McCain

0 funny, 0 helpful.