5 ms·

The former NSA boss was hired to close future deals between Amazon and the DOD for AWS. The DoD, and the NSA in particular, have had a close relationship with M

by mikece 6y ago

The former NSA boss was hired to close future deals between Amazon and the DOD for AWS. The DoD, and the NSA in particular, have had a close relationship with Microsoft going back to the 80s so the Pentagon selecting Microsoft for JEDI was always the default in my mind. Hiring Alexander is an attempt to make inroads with the active duty brass to spread the Good News about AWS. Even at a salary in the seven figures it’s a lot less expensive than advertising and litigation.

ed25519FUUU 6y ago
“Inroads”? They’ve been in bed together for awhile. https://aws.amazon.com/federal/us-intelligence-community/ https://aws.amazon.com/federal/us-intelligence-community/
- ganoushoreilly 6y ago
  Yeah Amazon was arguably the first real cloud style platform that worked within the IC (even with it being a private cloud in a private datacenter). Amazon is in no way an underdog in any way shape or form within the IC. It's simply bringing on people as any contractor does.
pydry 6y ago
This is probably related to Bezos's buying of the Washington Post, too and their "NSA/CIA friendly reporting" subsequent to its puchase: https://theintercept.com/2016/11/26/washington-post-disgracefully-promotes-a-mccarthyite-blacklist-from-a-new-hidden-and-very-shady-group/ https://theintercept.com/2016/11/26/washington-post-disgrace...
- lern_too_spel 6y ago
  What is CIA/NSA friendly about that article? Also, The Intercept made a mountain out of a molehill here by spending an entire article ranting about an organization the WaPo mentioned only in passing in it's article.
  - pydry 6y ago
    Are you asking what's CIA/NSA friendly about smearing news publications which are critical of thr CIA/NSA? Aside from the obvious it feeds their desire to foment fear and hatred of Russia which is good for the one thing they truly care about - budget increases to counter whatever seems like the most plausible threat.
    - lern_too_spel 6y ago
      > Are you asking what's CIA/NSA friendly about smearing news publications which are critical of thr CIA/NSA? No, I'm asking what is CIA/NSA friendly about the WaPo article mentioned. The only news publications smeared in that article are RT and Sputnik, and they weren't smeared because they were criticial of the CIA/NSA but because they were spreading fake news.
lawnchair_larry 6y ago
Seven figures does not seem typical for a board seat. Where are you getting your salary info, and how do you know his role is to close deals? That would also not be common for that role. It is usually advising and maybe introductions.
- MacsHeadroom 6y ago
  Amazon is a behemoth, not a typical company. I'd assume the "salary" is a stock award and public data considering AMZN is a public company.
  - lawnchair_larry 6y ago
    It’s not public information right now. It sounds like everybody is just making things up to be honest. But I was giving the benefit of the doubt, maybe a different article had it.

by mikece 6y ago

ed25519FUUU 6y ago

“Inroads”? They’ve been in bed together for awhile. https://aws.amazon.com/federal/us-intelligence-community/ https://aws.amazon.com/federal/us-intelligence-community/

ganoushoreilly 6y ago
Yeah Amazon was arguably the first real cloud style platform that worked within the IC (even with it being a private cloud in a private datacenter). Amazon is in no way an underdog in any way shape or form within the IC. It's simply bringing on people as any contractor does.

pydry 6y ago

This is probably related to Bezos's buying of the Washington Post, too and their "NSA/CIA friendly reporting" subsequent to its puchase: https://theintercept.com/2016/11/26/washington-post-disgracefully-promotes-a-mccarthyite-blacklist-from-a-new-hidden-and-very-shady-group/ https://theintercept.com/2016/11/26/washington-post-disgrace...

lern_too_spel 6y ago
What is CIA/NSA friendly about that article? Also, The Intercept made a mountain out of a molehill here by spending an entire article ranting about an organization the WaPo mentioned only in passing in it's article.
- pydry 6y ago
  Are you asking what's CIA/NSA friendly about smearing news publications which are critical of thr CIA/NSA? Aside from the obvious it feeds their desire to foment fear and hatred of Russia which is good for the one thing they truly care about - budget increases to counter whatever seems like the most plausible threat.
  - lern_too_spel 6y ago
    > Are you asking what's CIA/NSA friendly about smearing news publications which are critical of thr CIA/NSA? No, I'm asking what is CIA/NSA friendly about the WaPo article mentioned. The only news publications smeared in that article are RT and Sputnik, and they weren't smeared because they were criticial of the CIA/NSA but because they were spreading fake news.

lawnchair_larry 6y ago

Seven figures does not seem typical for a board seat. Where are you getting your salary info, and how do you know his role is to close deals? That would also not be common for that role. It is usually advising and maybe introductions.

MacsHeadroom 6y ago
Amazon is a behemoth, not a typical company. I'd assume the "salary" is a stock award and public data considering AMZN is a public company.
- lawnchair_larry 6y ago
  It’s not public information right now. It sounds like everybody is just making things up to be honest. But I was giving the benefit of the doubt, maybe a different article had it.