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The Washington Post

Oct 18 • 9 tweets • 4 min read

More than 500 retired U.S. military personnel have taken lucrative jobs since 2015 working for foreign governments, mostly in countries known for human rights abuses and political repression, according to a Washington Post investigation. wapo.st/3VAjtbB

Since 2016, 15 retired U.S. generals and admirals have worked as paid consultants for the Saudi Defense Ministry, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who U.S. intelligence agencies say approved the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi. wapo.st/3VAjtbB

Retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones owns two consulting firms that have held contracts to advise the Saudi Defense Ministry.

Four lower-ranking retired officers working for Jones earned salaries ranging from $200,000 to $300,000. wapo.st/3VAjtbB

Jones expanded his consulting business with the Saudi Defense Ministry following Khashoggi’s assassination.

His firm now employs eight retired U.S. generals and admirals in Riyadh, plus 32 lower-ranking U.S. military retirees. wapo.st/3VAjtbB

Charles Wald, a four-star Air Force general hired by Jones, said he and other Jones Group consultants debated whether to stop working with the Saudis after Khashoggi’s assassination.

In the end, they decided to stay. wapo.st/3VAjtbB

Retired Army Gen. Keith Alexander, former director of the NSA, received approval to work for the Saudis two months after Khashoggi’s assassination.

He was hired to help develop a new institution: the Prince Mohammed bin Salman College of Cyber Security. wapo.st/3VAjtbB

Congress permits retired troops and as well as reservists to take foreign jobs if they first obtain approval from their branch of the armed forces and the State Department.

But the U.S. government has fought to keep the hirings secret. wapo.st/3VAjtbB

To shed light on the matter, The Post sued the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corps and the State Department in federal court under the Freedom of Information Act.

The legal battle lasted two years. wapo.st/3VAjtbB

Here are the key takeaways on The Post's series on veterans' lucrative foreign jobs: washingtonpost.com/investigations…

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