'Ended in disaster' as planned. Lot of that going around lately. Sorry, no refunds available.
An investigation by Buzzfeed's Aram Roston reveals that Purple Shovel LLC -- founded in 2010 by former counterintelligence officer Benjamin Worrell -- was payed $50 million by the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in December to provide the US-trained New Syrian Force with foreign weapons and ammunition.
Counterintelligence (CI) Agent gone 'heavy lift' carrier eh? Sort of at the lower end of the intelligence food chain, compensation, benefits, advancement, etc. I'll bet the mortgage or lease on that first plane, crews, licensing, insurance, spares, etc. was a real bitch. Oh by the way, so where did the money really go ?
These weapons included 700 Russian-designed Konkurs missiles, which are only readily available in Belarus -- a country ruled by dictator Alexander Lukashenko with multiple human rights violations that is generally off limits to arms dealers.
"Belarus is on a special 'International Traffic in Arms Regulations' list published by the U.S. State Department, of countries with bans or special restrictions," Roston writes.
On the "banned list." Smart business decision, keeps the competition focused elsewhere. Purple Shovel, sounds lucrative? Statement of Past Performance? If I wanted to invest, whom do I call? Oh, email only, you don't take calls.