subject: New allegations in Iraq mobile network saga posted: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 12:53:54 +0100
[this story was censored by MSN Groups last year. I thought it was
because the CDMA fones are CALEA-compliant (wiretap-ready). Who
knows the truth. But something stinks here - Stu]
New allegations in Iraq mobile network saga
By Guy Kewney, Newswireless.net
Published Friday 30th April 2004 10:03 GMT
Excitable American reports are suggesting that the attempts made last
year by Congressman Darrel Issa to point "reconstruction" money in
the direction of Qualcomm were not a silly season joke by one person,
but an organised strategy, which may continue.
In a report in the LA Times (free reg needed) it is alleged that a
"senior Defense Department official is under investigation by the
Pentagon inspector general for allegations that he attempted to alter
a contract proposal in Iraq to benefit a mobile phone consortium that
includes friends and colleagues."
The original Issa story simply reported that the Congressman, who
represents a constituency full of Qualcomm employees, was anxious to
get Qualcomm-owned CDMA technology used in Iraq instead of "French"
GSM phone systems.
Now, Issa is being mentioned as a bit-part player in the new saga of
this official, who is being investigated.
The official is named: the LA Times says he is John A. Shaw, 64, the
deputy undersecretary for international technology security. The
allegation is simple: "He sought to transform a relatively minor
police and fire communications proposal into a contract allowing the
creation of an Iraq-wide commercial cellular network that could
generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue per year,"
according to the paper's sources.
And Shaw, says the report, has been contacted by Issa.
At this point, politics enters the picture, and ensures that sides
will be taken irrespective of evidence.
According to Eschaton, which is definitely NOT a pro-Bush site, "Shaw
said he was trying to help the group because it could quickly install
the police and fire communications system, and because the group was
using a US-based cellphone technology called CDMA that had lost out
in what he called a 'rigged' competition last year for commercial
licenses in Iraq. Three companies using European-based technology won
contracts."
The link to Issa at the moment looks like it's no more than
association. He wanted the contract to go to Qualcomm; Shaw wanted
the contract to go to Qualcomm, and they spoke to each other.
But the matter won't end there. The thing is, more American companies
make money out of GSM than out of CDMA; and they make more money,
too. And of course, in an election year, any hint of political
involvement, even if totally above board, is going to raise
accusations of corruption.
Eschaton is in no doubt: "Corruption is so endemic in this
administration that the people don't even understand that they are
corrupt. It's disgusting, and people are dying."
---
* Origin: [adminz] tech, security, support (192.168.0.2)
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