Re: fine should have been much larger to hammer home the stupidity of the people in control.
"IMHO, the `fine` should be PERMANENT blacklisting of the affected companies from EVER getting any government contracts; and any existing ones revoked."
1 word.
Consolidation. There are not enough separate govt con-tractors *left* to ditch one and go with another. USG has created a situation where there many defense item are (involuntarily for them) *sole* source.
"If those ID10Ts in Washington DC had any brains (and I seriously doubt that many do), if any company is found violating ITAR regulations, that should be automatic grounds for revoking the contract - no notice required."
One of the key features of doing business with USG is they can cancel *any* contract unilaterally *without* compensation. Most other governments do not.
The billions govt con-tractors (I'd call any business that gets >50% of its revenue as a con-tractor) on "managing" their relationship with USG (or more likely the various Senators and Congresspeople on the relevant committees) is a key distinguishing feature of this sort of business.
"Now, wait a minute, I wonder if any of these incidents occurred AFTER the invasion of Iraq/Afghanistan? Because, that would mean that since we are 'at war'; and treason during wartime is a capital offense; those involved could be executed?"
Don't be silly.
Execution is for the little people.