Incredible story. Especially coming at a time when the Pentagon budget waste is up for examination. Is Fat Leonard a unique exception or is his story more of an example of how things often go in military procurement?
This should never have happened…the average sales representative can’t accept a coffee cup without it being reported. The Navy brass is a disgrace…not one junior officer blew the whistle?
Interesting focus. Napoleon said, "An army marches on its stomach". The greatest generals throughout history were masters of logistics. It is one of the remarkable complexities of the US Military that it has to outsource logistics. If I heard the author correctly, Leonard Francis was not even a US citizen! Am I understanding the story correctly that the US Navy contracted logistic support to a civilian who was not even a US citizen? Whose idea was that?
When any ship (commercial, military) pulls into a foreign port they rely on and contract with the local ship services companies for food, fuel, water, etc. Local citizens (not US citizens) own and run these local companies. So yes Fat Leonard a Malaysian citizen owned the company that provided these logistic services to visiting ships in Singapore and other SW Asian ports.
This is an interesting, and eye-opening, interview. I'm glad this was in my feed because I've never heard of "fat leonard". Whitlock does good "homework" as evidenced in his "the Afghanistan papers". I'm definitely snagging a copy of "fat leonard"!
This episode should dispel any idea of military competence or honor. How many naval officers were involved in this case over decades of corruption? You want people to place their lives under the control of these losers? Draftee officers would have blown the whistle on this sorry spectacle- careerism is the root issue.
Does anyone think anything has changed from then to now? A civilian COR in the government would get burned for getting their lunch paid at the airport during TDY.
I snagged a copy of "Fat Leonard" from the library today. I'm just about 60 pages in; this is a VERY good book! It's "fun", too(!)...not a boring page, so far. I figured it'd be a "winner" as Whitlock's "the afghanistan papers" was pretty good. (And, that guy seemed more "life of the party Leonard" than "fat Leonard")
Thanks for the forecast! Just a quick off-topic question: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). What's the best way to send them to Binance?
They were hacking into my phone and selling my information to Taylor Swift to write songs about me and claiming songs about me are about other people, but they quote something from my life word for word and change other things around just a little bit... What even is that?
As a Navy Vet myself, I can't blame Fat Leonard, he was a hustler. I blame an over bloated, corrupt USN.
Really appreciate content like this. I'll be honest. I see Jack do something, I know I'm going to hit that like button.
Fantastic discussion. Thank you gentlemen.
A noticeable lack of senior officers were never subject to any kind of discipline
Hooo Cow. Can't wait to read..
thank you
Thanks for the chapter breaks, especially for a longer interview. Trying to find a specific part of the interview is so much easier.
Finally, a guest who isn’t Peter Zeihan or Big Mike from Utah
Great interview. Thanks Jack!
Really enjoy the new intro!
Incredible story. Especially coming at a time when the Pentagon budget waste is up for examination. Is Fat Leonard a unique exception or is his story more of an example of how things often go in military procurement?
Navy Veteran, I heard stories on my first SWA deployment about Leonard. Not positive ones. I dont know how he got away with it for so long.
This should never have happened…the average sales representative can’t accept a coffee cup without it being reported. The Navy brass is a disgrace…not one junior officer blew the whistle?
Interesting focus. Napoleon said, "An army marches on its stomach". The greatest generals throughout history were masters of logistics. It is one of the remarkable complexities of the US Military that it has to outsource logistics. If I heard the author correctly, Leonard Francis was not even a US citizen! Am I understanding the story correctly that the US Navy contracted logistic support to a civilian who was not even a US citizen? Whose idea was that?
When any ship (commercial, military) pulls into a foreign port they rely on and contract with the local ship services companies for food, fuel, water, etc. Local citizens (not US citizens) own and run these local companies. So yes Fat Leonard a Malaysian citizen owned the company that provided these logistic services to visiting ships in Singapore and other SW Asian ports.
This is an interesting, and eye-opening, interview. I'm glad this was in my feed because I've never heard of "fat leonard". Whitlock does good "homework" as evidenced in his "the Afghanistan papers". I'm definitely snagging a copy of "fat leonard"!
This episode should dispel any idea of military competence or honor. How many naval officers were involved in this case over decades of corruption? You want people to place their lives under the control of these losers? Draftee officers would have blown the whistle on this sorry spectacle- careerism is the root issue.
Does anyone think anything has changed from then to now? A civilian COR in the government would get burned for getting their lunch paid at the airport during TDY.
A ships agent is open to, too much corruption. Anyone whose worked the Maritime industry can attest. And military included!
At least 12 minutes of not talkingabout the book. Moving on.
I snagged a copy of "Fat Leonard" from the library today. I'm just about 60 pages in; this is a VERY good book! It's "fun", too(!)...not a boring page, so far. I figured it'd be a "winner" as Whitlock's "the afghanistan papers" was pretty good. (And, that guy seemed more "life of the party Leonard" than "fat Leonard")
Thanks for the forecast! Just a quick off-topic question: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). What's the best way to send them to Binance?
My former CO was caught in this scandal. He's currently serving time in federal prison.
Same
Back in my salad days, the Navy's biggest black eye was the crypto "security" procedures that enabled John Walker to do what he did for so long.
What about the victims?
“CANCER”. He has “cancer”
They were hacking into my phone and selling my information to Taylor Swift to write songs about me and claiming songs about me are about other people, but they quote something from my life word for word and change other things around just a little bit... What even is that?
? You too
Hey Jack will you ever do 2 hours on the surviving members of the USS Liberty
Boring af.
@saar2411 yeah nothing like Jews killing Americans. We know what side your on