DoD Investigating Nine Cases of "Terrorism-Related Acts" by US Military and Contractors?

Jeremy Scahill

Buried within the new Department of Defense Inspector General's report, "Contingency Contracting: A Framework for Reform [1]," is the eye-opening revelation that the Defense Criminal Investigative Service has nine open investigations into alleged "Terrorism-Related Acts" by "U.S. contractor personnel, U.S. Military, Government personnel." No other details are provided. DCIS is the criminal investigative agency working for the DoD's Inspector General.

I called the IG's office and asked them for information on these nine "terrorism-related" cases. "When it comes to individual cases or ongoing investigations, they're not going to comment on that," a spokesperson told me.

The "terrorism-related" investigations are part of more than 220 open investigations in DCIS's "Global War on Terror Investigations." Many of these relate to bribery, false claims, theft and export violations. DCIS agents have federal law enforcement authority and have authority to make arrests.

I have asked the Inspector General's office in writing to provide any details on the terrorism investigations and will update this post if I receive a response.

Meanwhile, in a not shocking revelation, the IG report also documents how private contractors working for US Special Forces have been allowed to "perform inherently governmental functions:"

"Specifically, management and contracting personnel allowed contractors to administer task orders, determine what supplies or services the Government required, and approve contractual documents. The contractors performing inherently governmental functions did not identify themselves as contractors. For example, in 3 of 46 task orders, valued at approximately $18 million, contractors working for the Special Operations Forces Support Activity signed contractual documents as a Special Operations Forces Support Activity representative. In addition, contracting personnel took direction and implemented contract changes from contractors working for their customers. These conditions occurred because the Special Operations Forces Support Activity lacked internal controls and standard operating procedures on the performance of inherently governmental functions. As a result, Special Operations Forces Support Activity may not have correctly administered and protected the best interests of the Government for approximately $82 million in task orders issued under the Special Operations Forces Support Activity contracts."