Abstract

Beltway Bandits

The article presents an eye-opener on the various wrong acts that have ensued in some of the U.S. governmental organizations. An analysis by the Defense Budget Project indicates that about $24 billion in weapons procurement and research and development funds are classified, up from an estimated $18.9 billion. This continues the steady escalation of "black" military funding, safe from the prying eyes of taxpayers. The government is in danger of losing its memory as data held on computers is frequently altered or updated. All this hinders the National Archives and Records Administration in preserving the documents generated by each presidency. Former Delta Airlines pilot turned smuggler Michael Palmer was a potential witness in two ongoing congressional probes of the contra-drug connection, in which he earned $96,961 from the State Department's Nicaraguan Humanitarian Assistance Office for flying supplies to the contras. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence joined by members of the Judicial Committee, hauled top Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials before it to explain the Bureau's investigation of the Committee in Solidarity with the people of El Salvador. Senators freely excoriated the FBI for its campaign against CISPES, but in the process revealed their own share of culpability.