John C. Garrett

John C. Garrett is a member of the Pentagon military analyst program who, according to the New York Times, "is a retired Marine officer and unpaid analyst for Fox News TV and radio. He is also a lobbyist at Patton Boggs who helps firms win Pentagon contracts, including in Iraq. In promotional materials, he states that as a military analyst he 'is privy to weekly access and briefings with the secretary of defense, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other high level policy makers in the administration.' One client told investors that Mr. Garrett’s special access and decades of experience helped him 'to know in advance — and in detail — how best to meet the needs' of the Defense Department and other agencies."

The Pentagon's military analyst program

In April 2008 documents obtained by New York Times reporter David Barstow revealed that Garrett had been recruited as one of over 75 retired military officers involved in the Pentagon military analyst program. Participants appeared on television and radio news shows as military analysts, and/or penned newspaper op/ed columns. The program was launched in early 2002 by then-Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Victoria Clarke. The idea was to recruit "key influentials" to help sell a wary public on "a possible Iraq invasion."

Lobbying

The U.S. Senate Office of Public Records lists Garrett on the following lobbying contracts (note that dollar amounts given may be for contract that include other lobbyists):

• For Sybase, Inc:
  • $150,000 worth of lobbying in 2005, including lobbying the U.S. Senate, House and Departments of Commerce, Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, State and Intelligence Agencies on "government use of software" and "competitiveness of technology industry"; the Senate, House, U.S. Trade Representative, Commerce and State Departments on "international trade policy"; and the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA on "homeland security use of technology."
  • $100,000 worth of lobbying in 2006, including lobbying the Departments of Commerce, Defense, State, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, Intelligence Agencies and Securities and Exchange Commission on "government use of software" and "competitiveness of technology industry"; and the U.S. Trade Representative and Commerce Department on "international trade policy" and "market opening."
• As a staff lobbyist with Patton Boggs, Garrett is listed on contracts with:
  • Bechtel, on "NCCT funding" in 2002, presumably referring to the National Center for Combating Terrorism;
  • Bushmaster Firearms International, on the 2008 Defense Authorization Act and Defense Department "procurement of small arms; foreign military sales of small arms" in 2007;
  • Cerberus Capital Management, on a $280,000 contract on "investment and creditor issues," "creditors issues with regard to bankruptcy," and "government contracts" in 2003; and on a $140,000 contract covering "Navy Marine Corps Intranet and general procurement issues" in 2005;
  • Clark Construction Group, on "long-term budgeting and planning processes for airport security and need for government support" in 2005;
  • Condor-Pacific Industries, contacting the State and Defense Departments on "export licensing issues" in 2001 and 2002;
  • Datacard Group, contacting the U.S. House, State and Homeland Security Departments on "government smart card initiatives" in 2006 and 2007;
  • Diplomatic Security & Consulting, to "monitor and pursue federal procurement activities," with regards to the U.S. House, Departments of Defense, State and Energy and the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2003;
  • Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica, on a $120,000 contract in 2004 on the Defense Department Appropriations Act and the National Defense Authorization Act; and on "foreign military sales" in 2007;
  • Factiva, on "DHS open source intelligence and fusion center programs" in 2007;
  • GDI, Inc., on "security technology issues" in 2005, involving the U.S. Senate, House, Customs and Border Patrol, and Bureau of Prisons;
  • GigaTrust, on "government use of security software" and "federal marketing of data security software product" in 2007; and "government use of software security product" in 2008;
  • Gonzales Consulting Services, to "identify government contract opportunities," "manage contract administration and eligibility issues," "manage FOIA issues," and "general constituent outreach to Congressional offices" in 2005;
  • Government Liquidation, lobbying the Defense Department on "trade security controls" and "demil code classifications" in 2003;
  • Great American Lines, lobbying on "implementation of national defense features program and reauthorization of Maritime Security Program, in particular for operation of refrigerated car carriers equipped with national defense features in the U.S.-Japan and U.S.-Korea trade" in 2003, 2004 and 2005;
  • Heckler & Koch in 2006, on the "joint combat pistol";
  • Hesco Military Products Ltd, on the "marketing of HESCO goods and services" to the Defense Department in 2008;
  • Homeland Defense Inc, lobbying on "national ID / driver's license," "transportation worker ID card," "port, airport traveler ID," and "legacy data system integration" in 2002;
  • Intelligent Engineering Holdings Ltd (UK) lobbying the U.S. Senate and Defense Department on "security and construction applications" and "protection capability applications," in 2005; and the Senate and Navy on "federal marketing" in 2005 and 2006;
  • Interstate Batteries, lobbying the U.S. House and Senate on "battery consumption by federal governmental agencies" and the Defense Department on "federal battery purchases" in 2007;
  • Masktech USA, lobbying on the "standards for the manufacture of secure identification documents" in 2006;
  • Precise Biometrics, lobbying on the "development of biometric security standards and card-based security technology issues" in 2005 and the "technology of biometrics" in 2006;
  • Pricewaterhousecoopers, lobbying on in the Defense Department appropriations, audit initiatives, authorization act, and "0086 contract" in 2005;
  • Quova Inc, lobbying the CIA, Homeland Security and Defense Departments on "applications technology," the U.S. Senate and House on "compliance technology," and the Justice and Homeland Security Departments on "forensic applications" in 2005; and the "IOC / CIA" on "requirements for geo-location of IP addresses" in 2006;
  • Simdesk Technologies, on "procurement funding" from the Defense and Energy Departments, Veterans Affairs Administration and U.S. Agency for International Development in 2003; on "federal procurement and contracting issues" and "federal software procurement issues" from the U.S. House, Agriculture, Defense and Treasury Departments, Veterans Affairs, USAID and General Services Administration in 2004; and "federal contracting issues" from the U.S. House, Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Departments in 2005;
  • Smiths Detection from 1999 to 2007, including on "funding for aviation security," "funding for homeland security initiatives," and "funding for anti-terrorism and anti-narcotics initiatives." In the first quarter of 2008 alone, Garrett was on a $100,000 lobbying contract for the company, lobbying on "security and detection equipment," "border security, aviation security and mass transit security issues," and "advanced security and detection issues" in the Homeland Security appropriations bills;
  • Syntroleum Corporation in 2000, lobbying the EPA, Energy and Transportation Departments on the company's "application for alternative fuel status";
  • Team Results USA in 2006, on "open source intelligence services";
  • Terex Corporation in 2007, lobbying on "establishing rules to prohibit or regulate foreign government subsidization of M&A activity";
  • VLLC, lobbying the U.S. Senate and House on "fraud protection," Defense Department on "vetting and authorization capability" and "voice identification and detection technology applications," and Homeland Security and Justice Departments on "voice authentication and detection technology" in 2005 and 2006;
  • WAM!NET, lobbying on "Navy Marine Corp. Intranet Contract," "Homeland Security Issues" and "government contracts," in 2001 and 2002; and "soliciting services related to Homeland Security for possible Government use" in 2003; and
  • Weston Solutions, lobbying the U.S. Senate, House and Departments of Energy and State on "energy-related federal procurement" in 2003.

SourceWatch resources

• Covert propaganda
• Donald H. Rumsfeld
• Pentagon military analyst program
• Psyops
• U.S. Department of Defense
• Victoria Clarke

External links

Articles

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