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Blackwater: New State-Pentagon Contractor Deal is A-OK!
Yesterday the State and Defense Departments announced the contours of a new "understanding" for oversight of State's security contractors in Iraq. The gist: State will have to inform military commanders of the doings of contractor-guarded convoys, and if there's obvious wrongdoing, the U.S. embassy and the military command will seek prosecution. (Of course, it's not clear what law would apply, but anyway.)
All this arose because of Blackwater's September shootings of Iraqi civilians in Nisour Square. Not surprisingly, the company -- which is being sued by the victims' families, and might even (but probably won't) face criminal charges stemming from an ongoing FBI probe -- is embracing the State-Defense pact:
Blackwater fully supports the memorandum of agreement signed today by the Department of State and the Department of Defense regarding private security companies operating in Iraq on behalf of the US Government. Blackwater has always supported the identification of contractor standards and clear rules of accountability. Increased coordination and constant review of procedures will provide even better value to the Government. Blackwater looks forward to complying with new rules as we continue to serve the United States Government.
Josh
Zachary
Of course they are stoked. Now they can charge even more for the "Increased coordination and constant review of procedures..." , and write change orders for the existing contracts due to the burden of "complying with new rules as we continue to serve the US Government."
Of course, State Department oversight will prevent any over-charges...
December 6, 2007 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Understanding. Whats that the new code word for fuck you? All the sudden we have understandings with the murderous GOP militia, the uber-corrupt Maliki government, all flying in the face of logic and/or the public sentiment.
I hope the Dems are serious about reigning in this rogue outfit. This contractor concept in general is bullshit. Its Friedman economics as the US worst nightmare.
December 6, 2007 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why doesn't the media call these "security contractors" what they are? They are mercenaries. Just call them that. They are paid mercenaries recruited from around the world. Our country has stooped to the level of hiring mercenaries to fight our wars and we pay them 4 times as much as our brave fighting men and women. Let's stop giving the king and his henchmen a free ride.
December 6, 2007 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
A problem here is that it legitimizes the use of mercenaries for performing military duties.
Reign in? No! Try the alleged perps, assign military personnel as required to guard the State Department, et al and end the contracts. If it means recruiting more soldiers, so be it.
Code word: get real
December 6, 2007 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
moondancer...
Understanding: when one Godfather embraces another Godfather at a sit-down.
December 6, 2007 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
The idea of having someone else clean the tents,wash the vehicles and guard the diplomats is way overdue and a welcome expansion.Soldiers need to concentrate on killing Al Quaeda and protecting themselves from IED's. Also they are doing a great job in the neighborhoods building bridges and bringing better inter-religious relations then their have ever been. The ones that need to be fired are those pussy State Dept. that won't do their job in Iraq,and don't support the Congress and President.
December 6, 2007 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
We can wonder that Blackwater and other similiar agencies were called in behind closed doors to write these new proceedures - similiar to Chenney's calling in the energy people for their "candid" points of view (and plans to attack Iraq).
Yes, no doubt, Blackwater type folks are shaking in their boots, laughing.
You watch. In time to come these same folks will be hired by our government to keep American citizens in line.
You don't have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
December 6, 2007 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is Reaganism "government is the problem" run amok. The rush to "privatize" everything - from social security to scientific research to,now, the military - has eroded the fabric of our country.
Where's Hillary on this? Obama?
We need a real policy debate.
December 6, 2007 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
If KP Duty was good enough for Elvis it ought to be good enough for today's soldiers.
Privatization of the military is just the tip of the iceberg. Read Naomi Klein's book, "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism" to find out more about how government is being hollowed out by profit-making corporations which greatly add to the cost and ineffectiveness of government services.
December 10, 2007 5:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Blackwater has already been used to keep US citizens in line. Look at their FEMA contracts during Katrina....they have their hands in everyone's pocket....
December 12, 2007 7:51 AM | Reply | Permalink