No wonder Musk was so hot to burn down USAID

[ping72]

Gee… more self-serving corruption by MAGA. Who woulda thunk it?

Elon Musk's Enemy, USAID, Was Investigating Starlink's Contracts in Ukraine

The agency was in the midst of a probe into the billionaire's equipment at the time of Musk's assault.

gizmodo.com

 

[BelemNole]

Gee… more self-serving corruption by MAGA. Who woulda thunk it?

Elon Musk's Enemy, USAID, Was Investigating Starlink's Contracts in Ukraine

The agency was in the midst of a probe into the billionaire's equipment at the time of Musk's assault.

gizmodo.com

Grudges are what he and Cheeto have in common.

 

[seminole97]

May 14, 2024
The USAID Office of Inspector General, Inspections and Evaluations Division, is initiating an inspection of USAID’s oversight of Starlink satellite terminals provided to the Government of Ukraine.
Our objectives are to determine how (1) the Government of Ukraine used the USAID-provided Starlink terminals, and (2) USAID monitored the Government of Ukraine’s use of USAID-provided Starlink terminals.


It’s an inspection of USAID (that’s why it was their IG), about how Ukraine used the Starlink systems, and how USAID tracked that they were using the equipment.

I swear 40% of what the government does is try to keep track of what the government does.

 

[Aardvark86]

Gee… more self-serving corruption by MAGA. Who woulda thunk it?

Elon Musk's Enemy, USAID, Was Investigating Starlink's Contracts in Ukraine

The agency was in the midst of a probe into the billionaire's equipment at the time of Musk's assault.

gizmodo.com

I'm pretty sure the reality is not quite consistent with the inference you (or the author of the piece) would like to draw. In the world of OIGs, including the USAIDOIG, there is an 'inspection and evaluations' group and an 'investigations' group. This particular project was handled by the former, not the latter. That matters because the former tends to look at the agency itself and how it manages projects, whereas the latter tends to look at external entities through a compliance and enforcement lens. Usually, what is produced is something akin to a "management report" that will comment on things like processes, controls, and the like. (Clients get letters from OEI, and they get subpoenas from OI.)

And indeed here, the aims of this particular project were "to determine how (1) the Government of Ukraine used the USAID-provided Starlink terminals, and (2) USAID monitored the Government of Ukraine’s use of USAID-provided Starlink terminals." Now as to that particular description, while to be clear I don't have any inside baseball knowledge as to terms of use or financing, it sounds to me that what they may have been looking at is whether UKR may have actually misused the systems (e.g., say for offense v defense) and whether USAID had systems and processes to detect and monitor that.

 

[Aardvark86]

May 14, 2024
The USAID Office of Inspector General, Inspections and Evaluations Division, is initiating an inspection of USAID’s oversight of Starlink satellite terminals provided to the Government of Ukraine.
Our objectives are to determine how (1) the Government of Ukraine used the USAID-provided Starlink terminals, and (2) USAID monitored the Government of Ukraine’s use of USAID-provided Starlink terminals.


It’s an inspection of USAID (that’s why it was their IG), about how Ukraine used the Starlink systems, and how USAID tracked that they were using the equipment.

I swear 40% of what the government does it try to keep track of what the government does.

just posted the same.

and well, that is sort of the job of the oig, even if the agencies often just ignore their recommendations

 

[seminole97]

just posted the same.

and well, that is sort of the job of the oig, even if the agencies often just ignore their recommendations

Is there any better clickbait in 2025 than “Elon Musk”?

 

[darylhawk]

I pretty sure the reality is not quite consistent with the inference you (or the author of the piece) would like to draw. In the world of OIGs, including the USAIDOIG, there is an 'inspection and evaluations' group and an 'investigations' group. This particular project was handled by the former, not the latter. That matters because the former tends to look at the agency itself and how it manages projects, whereas the latter tends to look at external entities through a compliance and enforcement lens. Usually, what is produced is something akin to a "management report" that will comment on things like processes, controls, and the like.

And indeed here, the aims of this particular project were "to determine how (1) the Government of Ukraine used the USAID-provided Starlink terminals, and (2) USAID monitored the Government of Ukraine’s use of USAID-provided Starlink terminals." Now as to that particular description, while to be clear I don't have any inside baseball knowledge as to terms of use or financing, it sounds to me that what they may have been looking at is whether UKR may have actually misused the systems (e.g., say for offense v defense) and whether USAID had systems and processes to detect and monitor that.

While what you say might be completely correct, anyone who thinks Elon Musk isn't getting involved in government only to enrich himself is an idiot.

 

[Aardvark86]

Is there any better clickbait in 2025 than “Elon Musk”?

He's certainly off to a strong start. That said, in the course of one afternoon, with just a tiny bit of looking around, it hasn't been that difficult to debunk two social-posts relating to DOGE activities (one on each side) as just complete and utter horse shit.

So note to all: consider your information sources, and triangulate, unless you really just WANT to be a part of the problem.

 

[Aardvark86]

While what you say might be completely correct, anyone who thinks Elon Musk isn't getting involved in government only to enrich himself is an idiot.

entirely plausible, which would make him completely non-unique.

 

[Torg]

entirely plausible, which would make him completely non-unique.

Especially in the MAGA party

 

[yrunvs]

Lucas Ropek is a staff writer at Gizmodo

Gizmodo​

Gizmodo is a design, technology, science, and science fiction website. It was originally launched as part of the Gawker Media network run by Nick Denton. Gizmodo also includes the sub-blogs io9 and Earther, which focus on pop-culture and environmentalism, respectively.

 

[Aardvark86]

Especially in the MAGA party

LOL. I'll leave it to others to cite changes to net wealth among democratic party politicians, though I have a vague recollection that may already exist somewhere within the ether of HBOT.

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

eloon musk made himself a billionaire from taxpayer dollars and he doesn't want that pipeline to end, so for him to be involved in government efficiency seems rather peculiar. And while the magats want to poopoo the article, it only adds to the mystery of why this is the first area investigated. Why, why, why?

 

[Torg]

LOL. I'll leave it to others to cite changes to net wealth among democratic party politicians, though I have a vague recollection that may already exist somewhere within the ether of HBOT.

Plenty of rich Democrats but at least they are willing to tax themselves and other wealthy people

 

[Aardvark86]

eloon musk made himself a billionaire from taxpayer dollars and he doesn't want that pipeline to end, so for him to be involved in government efficiency seems rather peculiar. And while the magats want to poopoo the article, it only adds to the mystery of why this is the first area investigated. Why, why, why?

Frankly, I think the more plausible theory arises out of its conduit nature (which is both used for good and for ill), and because identifying the relationships between the downstream NGO recipients and other political figures in both parties creates a treasure trove of leverage opportunities.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Grudges are what he and Cheeto have in common.

Acordding to Elon's pop, the only reason Musk even aligned with Trump was because he got his wittle feewings hurt by the Biden Administration.

 

[BelemNole]

Acordding to Elon's pop, the only reason Musk even aligned with Trump was because he got his wittle feewings hurt by the Biden Administration.

Perhaps a bit. I think he's more simple than that. He LOVES the love he's getting from all the MAGA bots on Twitler and that led him to supporting trump.
He got no love at home (although his step-sister sure did!) and is looking for it online from the angry incels.

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

eloon musk made himself a billionaire from taxpayer dollars

Demonstrably false.

If you believe this you’ll fall for anything.

 

[DogBoyRy]

Gee… more self-serving corruption by MAGA. Who woulda thunk it?

Elon Musk's Enemy, USAID, Was Investigating Starlink's Contracts in Ukraine

The agency was in the midst of a probe into the billionaire's equipment at the time of Musk's assault.

gizmodo.com

Keep trying..
You’re adorable.