Secretive facility under fire: Counterterrorism institute faces probe answ

[NVMojo]

No wonder Las Vegas' Homeland Security funds were cut!! EEEEUUUUUUUWWWWW!!!

June 20, 2006

Expressing sentiments ranging from concern to embarrassment, university system officials said Monday that they want a full accounting of how a secretive UNLV counterterrorism institute has spent millions of taxpayer dollars.

The calls for scrutiny follow a Sun story on Sunday detailing how the UNLV Institute for Security Studies has little to show for the $8.9 million, mostly in federal money, that it has received over the past three years.

Jim Rogers, chancellor of the university system, said he intends to ask incoming UNLV President David Ashley to "look into this and any other related matters" after he takes office on July 1.

"It has caused me concern," Rogers said. "We're not going to whitewash anything or cover up anything."

snip...

"I'm embarrassed and ashamed that taxpayer money got put to this use," Sisolak said. "People have to know what has been produced for all of this money other than a bunch of people getting high salaries."

snip ...

Several of the institute's 14 employees, who records show receive annual salaries ranging from $79,000 to $160,000, formerly worked for Bechtel Nevada, the private firm that helps the government manage the Test Site.



more...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2006/jun/20/566617669.html

[NVMojo]

1. self kick, I find this interesting as Bechtel is involved. Halliburton pal

[NVMojo]

2. maybe I should have added GOP connection??

[NVMojo]

3. Ever heard of the Homeland Security International College?

http://www.homeland-security-college.org/faculty.asp

A Bechtel is on staff there ...

[Eugene]

4. Unfortunate. Some of these programs sounded worthwhile.

From Sunday's article:

Now, three of the seven objectives in the institute's mandate have been dropped,
including: studying the psychological and social ramifications of terrorism;
studying the relationship between terrorism and the Internet; and developing
a microbial defense lab to study organisms that could be used as weapons of
mass destruction.

The other objectives have also come up short, according to the paper.

The institute planned to create an academic program for a master's degree and
eventually a bachelor's and doctorate, but three years later, no such program exists,
the paper said.

The nine million dollars went instead to a hiring and contracting program for cronies.
Another day in Bushworld, but this caper is especially brazen.

Kick and recommend.

[annabanana]

5. anything with Bechtel's name on it

deserves a good amount of scrutiny with a jaundiced eye...

[Zodiak]

6. but they are not gonna get it

because the Republican Senate decided that Helliburton would not be investigated or overseen for their contracts.

That was two days ago.

There is no end to the corruption, and we blogger-types are the only ones paying attention.