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Blackwater: Back in Business
Since State Department officials' ability to travel in Iraq had been severely limited by Blackwater's temporary shutdown, it was just a matter of time:
American convoys under the protection of Blackwater USA resumed on Friday, four days after the U.S. Embassy suspended all land travel by its diplomats and other civilian officials in response to the alleged killing of civilians by the security firm....U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said the decision to resume land travel outside the heavily fortified Green Zone was made after consultations with the Iraqi governments. She said the convoys will be limited to essential missions.
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Josh
Zachary
HAHAHAHAHA!BANG, BANG, BANG,ha,ha aggg.
September 21, 2007 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Does make one wonder if "friends" of the Iraq Interior Ministry who are in the, shall we say, "domestic" security business won't take it upon themselves to 'fix' the Blackwater problem, if you know what I mean.
I'm not usually blood thirsty, but I'd buy tickets to see that.
September 21, 2007 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Allow me to add, Blackwater - the entity, its ownership, management and even employees - disgusts me. May they reap what they have sown.
September 21, 2007 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maliki trying to show to the rest of the world that he isn't a puppet? God, this is digusting as hell.
September 21, 2007 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it true that the phrase "Condoleeza Rice" is diplomatic-speak for "Alberto Gonzales"? Seriously, she's as big a sycophant as Gonzo, and apparently just as corrupt and incompetent. They were the two Bush appointees I asked the Senate to stop even if it took a filibuster.
September 21, 2007 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hear the Hessians are for hire, and cheaper than Blackwater!
Why does the State Department hate the US military so?
Seriously, this month's Harper's magazine happens to have some timely articles on this very issue. Go, read.
September 21, 2007 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, so the cargo container of hundred dollar bills DID arrive! Good, good... let us proceed now with the selective assassinations of all those Iraqi's who cheered the announcement of the ban on Blackwater. Snipers: Front and center!
September 21, 2007 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's see:
We have a corporation based in the US that can call up any number of mercenaries at the drop of a hat.
We have the commander of US forces in Iraq taking political positions dictated by the President/Republican Party.
We have the Senate defending said politicized general and the President harping it as a political issue.
And you're trying to tell me that we are going to have fair elections in this Country and that I'm wearing a tinfoil hat?
Holy shit.
September 21, 2007 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
So I guess this means that the Iraqi government failed the Autonomy Test.
Blackwater<--- appropriate name for assassins.
September 21, 2007 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Nation magazine's Jeremy Scahill has also written about Blackwater and other private contractors. See: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071008/scahill0921
September 21, 2007 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
"the decision to resume land travel outside the heavily fortified Green Zone was made after consultations with the Iraqi governments."
Governments? Plural? How many are there and who's side are we on?
Also, note, consultation doesn't mean agreement. In other words we told them Blackwater is going to start operating again and they should shut their mouths about it. Don't forget, Allawi is still in the wings.
U
September 21, 2007 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
How long before we see warm and fuzzy commercials for Blackwater? You know...similar to the ones by Halliburton during their time of somewhat negative press?
September 21, 2007 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Blackwater:
Who cares about a bunch of hajis. Shoot 'em all and let Allah sort 'em out.
And the State Dept. is OK with this.
UK's Aegis is another "security" contractor that has a bigger contract than Blackwater. We never hear about them.
From NPR Morning Edition today-
"Aegis has been granted a two-year $475 million contract, the largest-single security contract in Iraq. The deal is raising concern among some members of Congress — in part, because of the reputation of the company's CEO, Lt. Col. Tim Spicer."
for more:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14586525
September 21, 2007 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maliki got the message. No State Dept employees flying around in Blackwater choppers carrying suitcases full of cash equals a tiny retirement fund.
September 21, 2007 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Part of Blackwater's deal with Bush was to play vigilante in Iraq without restraint and to have the moral imperative to kill those muslims---women, children, surviving Mandelas, you-name-it---that got in the way.
Blackwater mogul Eric Prince has been continuing a family tradition for years of giving the Republican party hundreds of thousands of dollars for favors and players to be named later.
It's America the beautiful.
But it will ultimately get its due.
So be patient.
It may not be the death penalty, but history will take great pleasure in getting even with Bush and his fringe of profiteers---every one of those crooked, self-serving bastards.
September 21, 2007 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Read "Disaster Capitalism" by Naomi Klein in this month's Harper's Magazine if you really want to be frightened for the future of this country.
Private "security" corporations are built with public-taxpayer funds, but are strictly private, highly secretive and unaccountable. They're also highly partisan and make large contributions to Republicans only.
September 21, 2007 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did Petreaus ever face a single question about contractors?
September 21, 2007 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aegis: "In November 2005, there was an Internet video that surfaced that showed an Aegis contractor firing wildly at civilian cars on an Iraqi highway to the tune of Mystery Train by Elvis Presley," she said.
September 21, 2007 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looking at the CNN's coverage of this is interesting. The article mentions the ban by Iraq. It quotes the State Department in saying convoys are resuming. But nowhere does it say that the Iraqi government has changed its mind.
No, Iraq, you can't run your country. Not yours.
September 21, 2007 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
And who said Maliki was a puppet?
September 21, 2007 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
mullah cimoc say aemriki need watch this video for the two point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAehMPVFFE0
1. Cursor very end to discuss round table, then to watch one woman "jenine garafalo" and look with your eye her tattoo arms ... so sick to stomach. this proving that amerika right now be destroy to very foundation. in waziristan this woman to be the treat different. not allow to act whore and luring and trap the good and pure young woman by bad example. also --if him tv man to put this show to quetta, pakistan NWFP tv, him to be assassinate in just few day -- by him own family. this the so disgrace and ashame.
2. This bill mayer him not the comedian. him the agent for masters in tel aviv? him the so political correct. him example usa media not free just so control by him master in tel aviv.
who want make the bad influence to ameriki you girl? This the so evil and the wicked.
September 22, 2007 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Say what you will about Blackwater but they do fulfill a need and don't mess around. As the guy who writes Danger Room for Wired pointed out: They only focus on what they have been contracted to do. That kind of professionalism is a usefull tool when your not fighting a PR battle.
Your not going to find mercs who do public relations work. These people are mostly ex-military who left as a result of the huge amount of politics thats seeped into western militaries in the last five or so years. They'll do what they've been paid to do and nothing else and to be fair I can not find fault with them for it.
October 2, 2007 6:41 AM | Reply | Permalink