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After Blackwater Controversy, State Dep't Gave Bonuses to Contracting Officials
According to internal State Department cables obtained by TPMmuckraker, the State Department has slated two Diplomatic Security officials who oversee private-security contractors guarding U.S. diplomats in Iraq and Afghanistan for salary bonuses. The optional bonuses, called Senior Foreign Service Performance Pay Awards, come months after administrative investigations have raised questions about the propriety of State's relationship with security contractors like Blackwater.
In late October, Richard Griffin, head of the department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, resigned after an internal State Department review of contractor relationships implicitly rebuked the office for insufficient oversight. That lack of oversight contributed to the September shooting deaths of over a dozen Iraqi civilians by Blackwater security guards at Nisour Square, and has inflamed Iraqis, who view State Department guards Blackwater, Triple Canopy and DynCorp as having a license to kill without legal consequence. Yet shortly after Griffin's resignation, ABC News reported that two key deputies who worked closely with the security contractors, Kevin Barry and Justine Sincavage, received quiet promotions. One outraged State official told ABC, "What does it say when State promotes the two people into DS' most senior positions, when if they had properly managed the programs under the responsibility, we wouldn't be in this mess?"
That question could also be asked of their recent pay bonuses.
On November 20, an internal cable, listed as State 158575, went out to State employees announcing the recipients of bonuses ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 for "outstanding performance." Among them: Kevin Barry and Justine Sincavage. You can read the cable here. Barry's name is listed on page 2, and Sincavage's is on page 5. Both Barry and Sincavage already earn approximately $150,000 annually. Their bonuses are scheduled to take effect on December 20, in time for the holidays.
According to the cable, a merit board issued recommendations this summer to award the bonuses, but approval from higher up in the State Department came relatively recently. It's unclear who approved awarding Barry and Sincavage their bonuses, or even how big they are. A State Department spokeswoman, Nancy Beck, told TPMmuckraker that she was "not going to be able to help" or "comment in any way" on "internal communications." The cables are stamped "unclassified."
TPMmuckraker has also obtained the October cable nominating Sincavage and Barry for promotion that formed the basis for ABC's story. You can read it here.
Comments (19)
will o dwisp wrote on December 4, 2007 11:33 AM:It's a brave new world -do a bad job, get promoted -I should try it at work
phred wrote on December 4, 2007 12:08 PM:I guess Medals of Freedom don't cut it any more ;)
TheraP wrote on December 4, 2007 12:08 PM:"mistakes were made"
Medals of Honor for all involved!
johnnydoughey wrote on December 4, 2007 12:30 PM:Please...PLEASE... do NOT call this "OUR GOVERNMENT" anymore...
demolitionGOP wrote on December 4, 2007 1:16 PM:With all that's happened, Congress' performance is inexcusable!
What a bunch of cowards!
Impeach Bush and Cheney and bring a halt to this madness!
Jamey wrote on December 4, 2007 1:29 PM:Why bonuses? Were there no extra Medals of Freedom?
Bogus government wrote on December 4, 2007 1:38 PM:Let's go christmas shopping and take a vacation honey,...I just got a bonus.
thomas wrote on December 4, 2007 1:41 PM:you can't spend a medal of freedom. nor can you give part of it to the NRC as a compaign contribution.
thomas wrote on December 4, 2007 1:54 PM:when will you people learn, it's all about the Benjamins.
oops, that's RNC
CJ_n_PA wrote on December 4, 2007 2:01 PM:will someone please get me an editor!!
When you screw up and know nothing you get fired.
When you screw up and know some dirt (like details about Blackwater contracts) you get a promotion and a bonus.
Austin Cooper wrote on December 4, 2007 3:07 PM:"Medals Of Freedom" awarded by the Cheney / Bush 'administration' are only worth their face value in piot metal and gilding.
Cash is always better -- though the actual value of these bonuses against the Euro will probably drop before they're paid.
Freedom Lover wrote on December 4, 2007 3:11 PM:We need someone to clean up this mess. VOTE RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008!!
prediction predilection wrote on December 4, 2007 4:24 PM:They call them bonuses but they are payoffs to stonewall, obfuscate, and lie when asked about details and issues regarding blackwater and just what is really happening in Iraq in general.
And why not? It's the taxpayers money and the last thing the Bush administration wants to do is anything for those lowly nincompoops he pretended to want to work for. The first thing the Bush administration does understand is that no one can do a damn thing about it. All these criminals feel they are untouchable. Until they are thrown in a "real" prison all of them intend to continue their criminal enterprise. It's called America's ass is open, who wants to hit it.
woody, tokin librul wrote on December 4, 2007 4:56 PM:the look of sneering contempt on Eric Prince's face says it all: "You don't know it, but I can kill you and walk! And I'd do it in a skinny fucking minute, peasants!"
john wrote on December 4, 2007 5:46 PM:
Winston Smith wrote on December 4, 2007 7:27 PM:These bonuses were an innovation of the Reagan era and quickly became a pay off for civil servants who played ball or even a payoff for political appointees. Another introduction of those excellent corporate management techniques to the government which makes eveyrone a toady to the boss.
They managed to avoid any investigations or indictments; therefore, they deserve the Cheney administration's higest honors.
SeeDee wrote on December 6, 2007 1:26 AM:I gotta quit readin' TPM Muckraker...I think this State Department/Blackwater crap has just tipped me one degree past level.
Why can't God just strike the entire crowd of GOP crooks in D.C. with some biblical type plague, starting with their spiritual spokesman 'prophet' Pat Robertson?
Well, we can hope 'n' pray, I guess.
Nin wrote on December 6, 2007 8:13 AM:This is how they do it.
Let's not forget the big VA bonuses given to the "best" performers; you know, the ones who had the best track record at denying claims to soldiers.
This is just pathetic.
We have sunk so low.
Mark wrote on December 6, 2007 11:15 AM:What has this administration and its' cronies done to America? Private contractor get bonuses while the soldiers are told to return their signing bonuses?
Who's the real enemy ..... The RICH and the so call US GOVT!