Oracle helps Ashcroft board the terror gravy train
Print storyCover up those nudes, Larry
Posted in Financial News, 11th January 2006 18:54 GMT
Tune into our application security webcast, click here
Former US Attorney General John Ashcroft has hit the ground running in his new lobbying business - mostly thanks to Larry Ellison.
Ellison's Oracle provided $220,000 of the $269,000 banked by The Ashcroft Group, the company reported in a financial statement. Ashcroft started the lobby business last summer with his former chief of staff, David Ayres.
Ellison's interest is pragmatic. The explosion in surveillance and data mining under the PATRIOT act is a potential bonanza for database vendors.
The Oracle founder wasn't deterred by the firm's declared mission.
"The Ashcroft Group will represent big companies with big problems", said a prominent staffer when the lobby firm launched.
But Ashcroft's decision to profit from his inside knowledge has raised a few eyebrows. The company says it's touting for business from foreign governments, raising secrecy issues.
In fact, the godfather of the PATRIOT Act, appears to have a flexible sense of his own patriotic obligations.
Boeing, a major employer in the US, is bidding for a South Korean defense contract, but The Ashcroft Group chose to consult for an Israeli rival. ®
Related link
See what The Register's experts have to say on application security
Can Outsiders Enhance Exchange?
The future of SaaS and IT infrastructure management
Solving on-premise email challenges with on-demand services
The business case for application security
Reducing messaging and web security costs with managed services
Win a Samsung C6625!
Is your cameraphone an oxymoron?
Reg Mobile and Wireless newsletter is go! go! go!
Sign up, sign up for The Register IT security newsletter