Lincoln Group

Here's an absolutely hilarious article in the NYTimes about the rise of the Lincoln group -- a "specialist in information operations." It was the point company for US information warfare in Iraq.

Totally incompetent.

Comments

[jon]

Best line in the whole article,
Although Lincoln Group's work in Iraq is now under scrutiny in two Pentagon investigations, the firm is hunting for more government work. Last month, Mr. Bailey attended a going-away reception at the Virginia condominium of a mid-level government employee on her way to a new job at the American Embassy in Baghdad. Her job: overseeing contracts.

So typical of how the government, especially, the military-industrial part of it works. I wonder when that woman will be offered a job with the Lincoln Group. Sounds like the Boeing scandal of a few years ago.

[dimbulb]

I have to give the guys credit for having the chutzpah to parlay their total lack of experience into multimillion dollar contracts - it sometimes makes me wish that I could get in on some of that action since experience and a track record are not necessary, just a good pitch. Who vets these companies?

Even so, one of the things I find interesting about the Lincoln Group's actions is how pointless it was - it seems to me to convince the Iraqi people that "all is well, you are happy, we are making progress" presupposes some level of order so that folks actually believe the hype (in paper and on TV) with the reality out the front door. Seems to me ANY organization would have a pretty tough row to hoetrying to accomplish that.

[phil jones]

"Who vets these companies?"

same guy who vets all neocon strategy, no?