# Bush Administration gives 22 year old guy a $300M arms contract **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 27, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934 "2008-03-27T17:01:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/21 "2008-03-28T05:10:59Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Scrappy Hero Pup] “and he fucks it up, of course?” Because of his age? [/QUOTE] Of course not. Because it’s the Bush Administration. ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/22 "2008-03-28T11:24:21Z")
Why do they even need a dealer? Can’t they US government just call up the Albanian government (or whatever party owned the ammo) directly? ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/23 "2008-03-28T11:43:11Z")
[QUOTE=Swallowed My Cellphone] Exactly, regardless of his age, you don’t just sign over a $300 M contract to someone who doesn’t have exceptional credentials and experience. If he was the Doogie Howser of the arms trade with 10 years experience and several successful contracts already completed, that would be a different story. That said, the 22-year-old took over his _dad’s_ company at the age of 19. So is it possible that he got awarded the contract based on his father’s crendentials and reputation? I can’t imagine how he’d get past basic oversight procedures otherwise. [/QUOTE] This could have been a set-aside, which would explain why the company got the contract and didn’t have to provide first article testing. A majority of contract specialists, their bosses the contracting officers and then the item manager for whatever is the item are willing to waive FAT if it means getting the item faster from a known, reliable source. What I don’t get is that the engineer and item manager were supposed to approve the contractor/supplier. This often means contacting the contractor to be aware of any changes, especially in management. The KO/KS are there to weed out the undesirable bidders. Often, it also means the bid that’s just way too low (like a part that’s known to be $4,000, but they’re offering for $1,500). I would love to know what went on when the AAA came in to audit the transaction for litigation! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/24 "2008-03-28T12:10:04Z")
People, if you won’t judge him by his age then please at least judge him by the fact that he [looks like a doofus.](http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/03/27/incompetence-alert-pentagon-gives-inexperienced-22-year-old-300-million-contract/) ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/25 "2008-03-28T12:56:49Z")
[QUOTE=T\_SQUARE] Why do they even need a dealer? Can’t they US government just call up the Albanian government (or whatever party owned the ammo) directly? [/QUOTE] Because Government is incompetent and wasteful, of course. See, this is a perfect example! -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/26 "2008-03-28T12:59:26Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Google. [Here’s one.](http://www.scaadvisors.com/captainlasnaud.htm) . [/QUOTE] Mercenaries with mission statements. You learn something new every day. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/27 "2008-03-28T13:10:19Z")
I sat through several days of lectures by very serious gentlemen from the Defense Acquisition University. The more they told us that this sort of thing couldn’t happen, the more I looked around the room at the dodgy-looking attendees and doubted them. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/28 "2008-03-28T13:19:25Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny Angel] People, if you won’t judge him by his age then please at least judge him by the fact that he [looks like a doofus.](http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/03/27/incompetence-alert-pentagon-gives-inexperienced-22-year-old-300-million-contract/) [/QUOTE] Damn, they gave the Geico Caveman $300m? ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/29 "2008-03-28T14:04:36Z")
[QUOTE=Swallowed My Cellphone] That said, the 22-year-old took over his _dad’s_ company at the age of 19. So is it possible that he got awarded the contract based on his father’s crendentials and reputation? I can’t imagine how he’d get past basic oversight procedures otherwise. [/QUOTE] Dad’s company started out as a small _printing_ company according to [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/27/military.ammunition/index.html), so Dad’s rep might not have been so hot in the international arms trade either. Though that would explain how he screwed this pooch so badly. I understanding diversifying a business, but this seems a little extreme. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/30 "2008-03-28T14:09:08Z")
Was it Fidel or Che who reflected that ammunition is like wine, with good and poor vintages. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/31 "2008-03-28T15:08:26Z")
Somebody in the Army Purchasing dept. had better have a VERY GOOD story, as to how this happened. my quess-the 22 YO was made “president” of a sham “company”-so that dad could avoid prosecution. 40-year old ammunition? This sounds like corruption city! ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/32 "2008-03-28T19:04:19Z")
How the _hell_ does one get one of these contracts? I could really use some extra cash, and I’d actually be able to deliver a quailty product. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/33 "2008-03-28T19:14:27Z")
[QUOTE=Omegaman] Well where do I sign up? [/QUOTE] Just send the cash direct to Dr. Opus Spock, Bloom County… ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/34 "2008-03-28T19:21:58Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny Angel] People, if you won’t judge him by his age then please at least judge him by the fact that he [looks like a doofus.](http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/03/27/incompetence-alert-pentagon-gives-inexperienced-22-year-old-300-million-contract/) [/QUOTE] Check out [yurl=“[http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/03/27/world/27ammo03\_190.jpg](http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/03/27/world/27ammo03_190.jpg)”]his VP. In looking at his eyes, I’ve got a pretty good idea where the profits went. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/35 "2008-03-28T19:25:36Z")
[QUOTE=Shecky] This could have been a set-aside, which would explain why the company got the contract and didn’t have to provide first article testing. [/QUOTE] I bet you didn’t know that under the Bush Administration incompetents are a protected class. Given how many they have hired and given money to, there must be a quota system in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/36 "2008-03-28T20:24:59Z")
I kinda get the feeling, though, that this kid’s been dealing with this kind of stuff from a very young age. Nothing in the story I can point to, though. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/37 "2008-03-28T23:21:00Z")
His father’s [spoken out now](http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/28/arms.dealer/index.html): > [@](#): > > Michael Diveroli, Efraim’s father, told CNN affiliate WFOR-TV that he wished his son had turned his intellect elsewhere… > > “I would prefer he became a nice Jewish doctor or lawyer rather than an arms dealer,” WFOR quoted Michael Diveroli as saying. Priceless. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/38 "2008-06-21T03:16:34Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] 40-year old ammunition? This sounds like corruption city! [/QUOTE] I wanted to mention that just because the ammo is 40 years old doesn’t mean it’s crap. I shoot 40 year old 7.62mm NATO ammo out of one of my rifles and it works just as well as anything made today. I know guys who shoot WWII vintage ammo without any problems, FWIW. 40 year old Chinese ammo is going to be crap, granted, but British/American/Australian/Western European ammo of that age should be fine, for the most part (as long as it was stored properly, which most of it has been IME.) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/39 "2008-06-21T03:41:32Z")
It took you three months to think that up? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934/40 "2008-06-21T03:58:18Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Scrappy Hero Pup] It took you three months to think that up? 😃 [/QUOTE] This thread was linked in another one elsewhere in the boards about some movement in the case, and I figured enough people would come in here and read this one that the point was worth commenting on… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-administration-gives-22-year-old-guy-a-300m-arms-contract/442934.md?page=3)