Frances Fragos Townsed, the author of the hapless Hurricane Katrina Lessons Learned report, had a banner 2013. Western Union appointed Fran Townsend to their Board of Directors in August. Western Union is a leader in global payment services.
For Christmas Fran received a board seat with Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold. It's odd that incompetence in public service is rewarded with private sector governance positions.
Frances Townsend is also Chair of the Board of Directors for SAP National Security Services, Inc. and serves on the boards of SIGA Technologies and Scientific Games Corporation.
Five boards and one with a Chair seat, for the person who omitted the hospital with highest death toll post Hurricane Katrina in her woeful homeland security analysis. I take it this is her reward for loyalty to the club.
Townsend voiced strong views on the NSA issues, arguing that the government needs privacy in order to do its job, and that any objection to what the NSA has done is incomprehensible.Fran Townsend is a water carrier for the Government-Corporate Monstrosity (GCM), Eisenhower's Military-Industrial Complex on trillions in federal steroids.
The GCM, American branded but global in focus, handsomely rewards club members. Speaking of such, Davos is just around the corner with its sessions:
The Big Brother Problem
What are the consequences of growing public alarm over personal privacy, data security and the lack of transparency in the gathering of data by public and private organizations? Dimensions to be addressed:
- Regulating ubiquitous data collection
- Balancing security, transparency and privacy concerns
- Building trust in public and private institutions
BBC World Debate: The Future of US Power
Syria, shutdown, Snowden and surveillance: has America lost touch with the world? Dimensions to be addressed:
- Global impact of the inconsistent US political system
- Risks of declining US engagement in the Middle East
- Geopolitical implications of a multipolar world
Might Fran be presenting in either session? Stay tuned!
