Passport Scandal leads to Virginia Contractor

[phrigndumass]

NBC link:

http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/21/794799.aspx

[phrigndumass]

1. Donations to republicans and Clinton campaign

"According to federal campaign records, Stanley's CEO, Philip Nolan, has made political contributions to prominent Republican candidates and also gave $1,000 to Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign on Feb. 20, 2008."

[phrigndumass]

2. Date of contribution to Clinton: Feb 20. Date of peek: Feb 21.

???

[scheming daemons]

Uh oh....

....

[DerekJ]

Interesting .. Veeerryyyy Interesting

:think:

[slinkerwink]

15. interesting......

[Greyskye]

23. Playing Devils Advocate here...

The CEO of Stanley's Inc (the contracting company), Philip Nolan, made the donation to the Clinton campaign. It's certainly within the realms of probability that the contract employee who did the unauthorized snooping into Obama's files has never met or even communicated with the CEO of the company. According to the linked article, Stanley has approximately 3,500 employees.

I work in an industry that hires (or at least, used to hire) a lot of temporary contract employees. Even the technical, highly compensated contractors (I'm talking in the $100K/year ballpark) rarely (if ever) have met or spoken with the CEO of the company that they are contracting through.

Let's not get too carried away with the coincidence of these dates yet, eh?

:hi:

[phrigndumass]

30. Thanks Greyskye ... I'm wondering about the Maura Harty/Stanley Assoc link

If there is no link between the two parties, then it's all moot.

See downthread ...

:hi:

[Greyskye]

32. A Maura Harty/Stanley Assoc link...

...would certainly be interesting, if only a starting point for further investigation.

I just don't want folks getting ahead of the story. That never ends well. :rofl:

[phrigndumass]

34. Yes, we'll have to wait to see what else is revealed

There's no clear connection at this time.

/end obsess

B-)

[mainer]

3. Contractor is a donor to both GOP AND Hillary?

very interesting.

I also find it interesting that the third person who peeked at the passport records only looked at Obama's and McCain's. And not Hillary's.

[KittyWampus]

4. many bigshots give lots to the GOP and a token amount to Dems

[Celebration]

27. Exactly

What a coincidence!!

:sarcasm:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Clinton appointee at contractor ribbon-cutting ceremony.

http://investor.stanleyassociates.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=198762&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1015493&highlight=

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

12. From your link

Maura Harty, the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs and the Governor of Arkansas, Mike Beebe, will be in attendance at the ribbon cutting, as well as the Mayor of Hot Springs, Mike Bush, and other government officials.

~Maura Harty turns up again.

[phrigndumass]

25. That's a HUGE catch!

:thumbsup:

[phrigndumass]

26. Maybe there was something to David Schuster's info after all?

?

[phrigndumass]

28. I wonder if there are other links between Maura Harty and Stanley, Inc.

Besides attendance at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Off to google it!

[slinkerwink]

16. what a catch!

[phrigndumass]

24. Ribbon-cutting ceremony in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Should I start connecting some dots?

[phrigndumass]

6. Unfired worker peeked at Obama and McCain's files

Snip:

"The government officials tell NBC News that Stanley Inc. fired the two workers. A worker at a second contracting company, not related to Stanley, Inc., also allegedly took a look at the Obama files and those belonging to Sen. John McCain. That person has been disciplined but not yet been fired, State Department officials say."

I'm not seeing anything here about a peek into Senator Clinton's passport records ...

[mainer]

7. Why a peek at only Obama's and McCain's file?

That's what the third breach involved, according to news reports. No peek at Clinton's. Who was this third peeking person, and why weren't they interested in Clinton's file?

[Hepburn]

8. Looks like the GOP contractor wants Hillary to be the nominee because....

...McCain can beat her whereas it is doubtful that he can beat Obama. I can see why he gave to the GOP and to Hillary.

BTW: Real interesting that the donation was the day before Obama's file was breached.

[anigbrowl]

9. Also: Lieberman

You'll have to go to the FEC website - choose 'advanced search', then enter Nolan, Philip, Virginia, 22101 in the appropriate fields.

[phrigndumass]

10. Not sure why, but no mention of peek into Clinton files

The first two times, according to the article, were peeks into Obama's files, and those Stanley employees were fired. The third time was a peek into Obama's and McCain's files, and that "non-Stanley" employee was reprimanded but not fired.

[mainer]

11. And why NOT fired?

what made this third peeker immune? Maybe too highly connected?

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

18. Nor even identified.

Must really be up there in the stratosphere.

[phrigndumass]

13. I'm thinking the MSM included Clinton's files as also peeked-into because of 2007 peek?

But not from the peeks this year where the Stanley company were involved?

Anyone, feel free to jump in and shed some light on this.

[phrigndumass]

20. I just confirmed this ... Clinton peek was some time in 2007 ...

... because CNN and MSNBC articles lump all three candidates together and say all their files were peeked into "in the last year." So, during this primary season, ONLY Obama's and McCain's passport files were accessed. ONLY Obama's files in January and February, and BOTH Obama's and McCain's files in March.

MSM sucking up to Clinton on this to make it look like a non-issue for her campaign?

[Life Long Dem]

14. Obama looked really concerned today about this.

Watching the endorsement of Gov. Richardson today, something is on Obama's mind. I think it was the the passport security breach.

[mainer]

17. Here's why I doubt GOP involved in peeks

Because they OWN the darn White House and their lackeys are in charge of the State Department. They'd know there were alarm systems in place if they went snooping. Wouldn't they be clever and powerful enough to check Obama's passport info without needing to go through low-level contract employees???

[Life Long Dem]

19. Peeks? This is a security breach and not a little peek.

[DerekJ]

21. Exactly…

Why would they snoop like this, when they can access it from some high level terminal directly? Only people with no access but have connections would want to snoop like this.

[phrigndumass]

22. LINKS HERE to other articles ...

mentioning "over the last year" for all three candidates. The MSNBC article referred to in the OP only lists Obama and McCain.

Time/CNN:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1724759,00.html?cnn=yes

MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23736254/

[phrigndumass]

29. Daily-Kos LINK here

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/21/163736/301/342/481718

They've connected the dots as well ...

[phrigndumass]

31. READ THIS ... Maura Harty/Stanley Associates link

From The Field website ...

http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/

Snip:

"Stanley, a publicly traded company, provides contracting services for dozens of government agencies through more than 100 locations nationwide. Among its clients is the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs — for which Stanley provides passport processing and support services.

The company secured a major 10-year contract in late 2006 to help the State Department deal with the expected increase in passport applications due to more stringent passport rules adopted as part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The following year, Stanley unveiled a massive passport processing center in Hot Springs, Ark.

The ribbon cutting for the Arkansas facility last summer attracted a host of public officials, including the governor of the state, Mike Beebe; Mike Bush, the mayor of Hot Springs (where President Bill Clinton lived and attended school as a boy); and the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Maura Harty, who was a Clinton appointee and the former ambassador to Paraguay."

(emphasis mine)

[phrigndumass]

33. More here from The Field ...

Maura Harty retired from the State Department before the third incident. The first two incidents involved Obama only.

More from the same link ...

Snip:

"Harty oversaw the division where the security breaches occurred with respect to Obama’s passport information. She retired late last month (her retirement was announced in late 2007, and there is no information so far that links her exit to the passport case violations), prior to the third passport spying incident targeting Obama."

[Peace Patriot]

35. I thought it was DynCorp (also headquartered in Virginia), and a major

beneficiary of Bill Clinton's "Plan Colombia." Could this contractor (Stanley) be a spinoff? I had a hot little theory going, about Maura Harty, South America--and DynCorp and Harty both turning up again, spying on Obama's passports (and giving Hillary Clinton details). DynCorp would want the "Plan Colombia" boondoggle to continue. I spin it out here (Comment #48)...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3237554

It's speculation, but I thought the BIG MONEY connection was interesting, and Deep Throat's advice is always relevant, "Follow the money."

[Peace Patriot]

37. Boy, DynCorp shows up everywhere...

They're not only big contractors at the U.S. military base in Manta, Ecuador, and in Colombia, and big contractors in the State Dept., they got a big fat contract to "re-establish police, justice and prison functions in postconflict Iraq"--$22 million which they could leverage into $500 million, according to an anonymous congressional aide, back in April 2003 (mid-invasion).

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0304/S00158.htm

I went googling for DynCorp and Stanley, but haven't found a connection yet. Anybody know about the roles of these two corps in the Obama passport scandal?

[phrigndumass]

38. CONNECTION FOUND HERE!

http://investor.stanleyassociates.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=198762&p=irol-govBio&ID=156597

Found this from the Stanley Associates website:

Charles S. Ream
Outside Director

"Charles Ream joined our board of directors in 2006. Mr. Ream was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Anteon International Corporation from April 2003 to June 2006. From October 2000 to December 2001, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Newport News Shipbuilding, Inc. From January 1998 to September 2000, Mr. Ream served as Senior Vice President, Finance of Raytheon Systems Company. From January 1994 to December 1997, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Hughes Aircraft Company. Prior to joining Hughes, Mr. Ream was a Partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mr. Ream is also a member of the board of directors of DynCorp International, Inc. and Stewart and Stevenson, Inc. Mr. Ream received a B.S. in accounting and a M.Ac. from the University of Arizona and is a Certified Public Accountant."

(emphasis mine)

[phrigndumass]

39. Connecting the dots?

Bill Clinton ... DynCorp war profiteering ... DynCorp common board member with Stanley Associates ... Stanley Associates connected to Obama's passport information incidents at State Department ... State Department section run by Maura Harty ... Maura Harty former Ambassador appointed by Bill Clinton.

[Peace Patriot]

40. Haven't found any connection between DynCorp and Stanley Assoc.'s -except

for the general observation that, for both of them, militarism, war, terrorism and "homeland security" are their milk train...

Stanley Associates - history


Stanley was founded as a small consulting firm in 1966 by Rear Admiral Emory D. Stanley. For the next 20 years, the company continued as a two-man consulting business focused on maritime studies. The company’s success, which has been built on a culture that emphasizes a commitment to strong, long-term partnerships, integrity in everything we do, and results for our customers, is exemplified by its proven track record. All major contracts have been recompeted and retained at least once, and new customers and services have been added each year.

In 1996, Stanley's management introduced an Employee Stock Ownership Plan as an exit strategy for the departing founders and to further enhance its employee-focused culture. Stanley has approximately 3,500 employees at locations across the United States and around the world. In 2005, Stanley was named the mid-sized Government Contractor of the Year by the Northern Virginia Government Contractors Council, the Professional Services Council, and Washington Technology. In 2007 and 2008, Stanley was recognized by FORTUNE® magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.”

Stanley has made five acquisitions within the past eight years and implemented a formalized acquisition program, which has been instrumental in making these companies feel welcome within our organization. In February 2006, Stanley acquired Morgan Research Corporation, expanding our offerings to the U.S. Army and our presence in Huntsville, AL, and adding NASA as a new customer. Most recently, in April 2007, Stanley acquired Lawton, Oklahoma based Techrizon, LLC, a premier provider of software, training, simulation and information security solutions. This acquisition reinforces Stanley's strategy to expand its presence in key markets positively impacted by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.

http://www.stanleyassociates.com/company/history.asp

-----------

I'm gonna hafta trace my steps back to DynCorp through the Maura Harty trail...can't find the original connection.

[phrigndumass]

41. Charles Ream on board of directors for both?

Both DynCorp and Stanley Associates. Seems like a link.

[phrigndumass]

42. This is what I'm seeing, I know it's a stretch ...

Maura Harty, former Ambassador under President Clinton

Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs until the end of last month

Consular Affairs is division in Secretary of State that handles passport info

Consular Affairs awards contract to Stanley Associates re: passport info

Two Stanley Associates employees fired in March for incidents involving Obama's passport info in January in February

Charles Beam is on the board of directors for Stanley Associates

Charles Beam is also on the board of directors for DynCorp

DynCorp has heavy connections to Bill Clinton

[Peace Patriot]

43. Great work, phrigndumass! I missed the Charles Beam connection.

I should have paid more attention to the Boards of Directors.

So, next question, what was Maura Harty doing in Paraguay, as Plan Colombia was put in place (with DynCorp as the major beneficiary)?

Note: DynCorp has gotten billions of gravy from the Bush junta, so it isn't just a Clinton thing--but it might well explain what DynCorp's motive would be, if they influenced Stanley Associates in helping H. Clinton's campaign. Clinton a sure thing, for their military/police state gravy train. Obama iffy, more independent, might look askance.

[phrigndumass]

36. One more link, and then I'll let it die

From a poster where I found the article in The Field ...

http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=929#comment-10556

It does make sense, even though it's reaching.