The article discusses the employment of three former Norwegian defense leaders, including Morten Tiller, who previously oversaw procurement for the Ministry of Defense, now serving as advisors to the company Watchbird. This development follows a controversial decision by the government to halt a significant mask purchase deal with Watchbird, valued at 100 million kroner, which was intended to supply 33,000 masks to the government. The article highlights that Tiller denies any influence over the mask agreement, despite his prior role in procurement.

Further scrutiny arises as VG, the news outlet reporting this story, has questioned whether these former leaders had any role in the decision-making process that led to the mask purchase contract with the government. While two of the individuals deny having any impact, the third has refrained from commenting. This inquiry sheds light on potential conflicts of interest and the ethics surrounding defense procurement and the revolving door between military leadership and private industry.

Moreover, the situation underscores the government's caution regarding procurement processes, especially after previously being recommended to invest heavily in masks from Watchbird. The halting of the deal indicates a significant shift in decision-making, prompting concerns about transparency and accountability within government contracts, particularly in the context of public health and safety during a time of crisis.