Foreign Servants: Fearing scandal, Air Force blocked generals’ foreign consulting deals
Introduction
During the height of the war in Afghanistan, U.S. Army leaders went to Azerbaijan, overlooking the Caspian Sea, to meet with President Ilham Aliyev, despite a report from the U.S. embassy comparing the young leader to mafia bosses in the film “The Godfather.”
American Generals and Consulting Deals in Azerbaijan
Pentagon officials pledged to strengthen diplomatic relations with Aliyev and funnel $369 million in defense contracts to Silk Way Airlines, an Azerbaijani cargo company that U.S. investigators claim has been controlled by the government.
Long Internal Battle
The issue triggered a long internal battle between retired generals and a U.S. Air Force attorney who feared that the consulting deals could spark a scandal.
Investigation and Denial
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations conducted a separate inquiry and submitted a confidential report indicating “national security concerns” regarding Silk Way, according to an unclassified memo summarizing the report.
Investigation Outcome
In November 2015, the Air Force Inspector General’s office concluded its investigation into McNabb and determined that he had violated the law by not requesting permission to work for a foreign government.
Conclusion
The U.S. Air Force faces challenges in monitoring the behavior of retired generals and preventing them from leveraging their foreign connections for personal gain.
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