Booz Allen on Military Waste
Jul 31, 2020103.5K Shares3.9M Views
Sure, when a GAO report shows that $295 billionwent wasted last year on delayed Pentagon weapons systems, government watchdogs are going to raise a stink. But what do consultants for Booz Allen Hamilton think?
The Washington Post has satiated our curiositywith an editorial by Dov S. Lakheim and Ronald T. Kadish, two consultants for the multibillion dollar IT company that does most of its work for the government. In short, they think there should be more money for second-tier defense contractors like Booz Allen Hamilton.
Lakheim and Kadish say that during the weapons-making salad days of the 80’s the Pentagon had about 20 prime government contractors building the U.S. military arsenal. But when the Clinton administration floated the totally irrational idea that Cold War weapons systems aren’t necessary when there’s no Cold War, the contractors panicked and consolidated.
Not that Clinton ever got rid of these weapons systems. But Lakheim and Kadish argue that the threat he would has led to only six prime weapons contractors. So while a company like Booz Allen is growing, they don’t get the automatic billions of the elite six, which include corporations like Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
The desire for breaking up Boeing and Lockheed’s monopoly on some weapons systems makes sense. But their call for reform stops at more contractors and more contracts for new weapons technology. They don’t want oversight; nor do they want to "force competition on the global marketplace." They want the number of A-list contractors to go from six to 20. It’s not explained how this arrangement benefits the Pentagon or taxpayers. But it doesn’t need to be explained how it benefits Booz Allen.
Dexter Cooke
Reviewer
Dexter Cooke is an economist, marketing strategist, and orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling narratives that resonate worldwide.
He holds a Journalism degree from Columbia University, an Economics background from Yale University, and a medical degree with a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dexter’s insights into media, economics, and marketing shine through his prolific contributions to respected publications and advisory roles for influential organizations.
As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive knee replacement surgery and laparoscopic procedures, Dexter prioritizes patient care above all.
Outside his professional pursuits, Dexter enjoys collecting vintage watches, studying ancient civilizations, learning about astronomy, and participating in charity runs.
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