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POPSBlackwater:Ain't Misbehaving, Saving My Contracts for You
Of course the US government was blind to this - they didn't want to know, they turned a blind eye to what Blackwater was doing because it would have been too hard to arrange for another contractor to do all the security missions that it had ongoing. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, there are as many private contractors as there are uniformed military personnel. Most of them are not security guards as Blackwater's most visible function was. The lack of oversight is abhorrent but not surprising; the State Dept's failure to can this company is inexcusable. My only observation on this article is to suggest how the US government got into this predicament, and it's pretty easy to see. The Bush administration wanted to hold onto the fiction of a few conservative principles, one of those being the concept of a small federal government. Since it already blew that "principle" with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, I'm betting there was White House guidance that directed "no mo
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POPSU.S. Mercenaries Exempt from all laws
#1. These mercenaries employed by the U.S. are not subject to the laws of the host country; in this case, Iraq. #2. They are not subject to military laws #3. Now we also see, in this case, they put 'fine print,' in their contracts with employees that they falsely use to avoid accountability to U.S. laws. Over and over again the excuses and the manipulations, the seeking of exemptions and/or special privilages never ends. It's a full time job to keep up with such people and group and those that are suppose to do so often fail or are lax in their jobs (like we learned in the financial scams that keep happening). This clip talks about fixing this "loophole," next year. That's a joke. These people should be arrested and put on trail now. You can pretend to excuse murder, rape, stealing, etc. because you got the victim to sign a contract! Yet many people will do what they want and try to get away with anything. (Like also we see with USA health insurance companies getting esd
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POPSExposed: American Police Force (APF) Is A Blackwater Front Group If you only read one thing today make it this. APF is Blackwater!! Xe Services LLC is the new name of Blackwater USA. In addition, the U.S. Training Center contact page carries the exact same address. PO Box 1029 Moyock, NC 27958 The U.S. Training Center is run by Blackwater. Indeed, The U.S. Training Center website, can be accessed via Blackwater’s forwarding URL at http://www.blackwaterusa.com/. According to a February 2009 NY Times article, the U.S. Training Center is a Blackwater “subsidiary that conducts much of the company’s overseas operations and domestic training.” Blackwater changed the name of the facility from its old title, Blackwater Lodge and Training Center, earlier this this when they also changed their own name to “Xe”.
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POPSBlackwater in the Phillipines: Murder for Hire In February 2009, Blackwater changed its name to "Xe," (pronounced like the letter "Z"), as part of a "re-branding" effort aimed at helping the company distance itself from negative incidents such as a September 2007 shooting in Nisoor Square in Baghdad, Iraq that killed at least a dozen civilians. The company says its latest name change is meant to reflect a new focus. Blackwater / Xe spokesperson Anne Tyrrell said, "We've taken the company to a place where it is no longer accurately described as Blackwater." Its subsidiaries also have new names: Blackwater Airships is now Guardian Flight Systems, Blackwater Target Systems is GSD Manufacturing, and Blackwater Lodge and Training Center is the U.S. Training Center. "
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POPSInter-Risk Company, US-Contracted Security Firm, Raided By Pakistani Police The U.S. says there is no truth in the reports, but they have resonated with the many Pakistanis familiar with allegations that Blackwater employees were involved in unprovoked killings of Iraqi civilians. Police official Rana Akram said that two Inter-Risk employees were arrested and being questioned. He said authorities were also seeking the company's owner, a retired Pakistani army captain. Reporters were shown the weapons – 61 assault rifles and nine pistols – that were seized by dozens of police from the sites in pre-dawn raids in the capital, Islamabad.
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POPSEurope’s complicity in evil "Nothing is any different under Obama. Obama has escalated war in Afghanistan; started a new war in Pakistan; tolerated or supported a military coup that overthrew the elected president of Honduras; is constructing seven new US military bases in Colombia, South America; is going forward with various military projects designed to secure US global military hegemony, such as the Prompt Global Strike initiative that intends to provide the US with the capability to strike anywhere on earth within 60 minutes; is working to destabilize the government in Iran, with military attack still on the table as an option; supports America’s new military African Command; intends to encircle Russia with US bases in former constituent parts of the Soviet Union; has suborned NATO troops as mercenaries in US wars of aggression." How should Europe react?"
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POPSU.S. Mercenary's Lewd & Wild Corrupt Behavior Stealing tons of military stuff, wild nude drinking parties where they fondle each other (there's video and photos). Prostitution rings. Drug deals. Hazing (beating up subordinates). Eating potato chips and drinking vodka off of each other's ass, pissing on people, failing to show up for duty, going out on unauthorized missions to "hunt heads," and awarding themselves commendation for doing so. Ah....the glories of war. Hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. contracts. Republicans refuse to investigate -- they first have to make sure Obama gets the blame. (It's his war. His Vietnam). I hope this makes into into the War Movies. Scenes of the wild parties interspersed with oil rigs churning away, poppy fields in flames, false elections, the embassy under attack, politicians talking about freedom and democracy, car bombs and bodies, hookers and drugs...brawls over a bag of ice. Hillary fleeing in a helicopter. Cheney at home The impact of our armed insanity is mighty dread i
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POPSParty of Hope, Change and Beatdowns • Obama discussing ACORN support: "I don't want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry! I'm angry!" • Obama to his paid ACORN mercenaries (on the taxpayer dime, no less): "Hit Back Twice As Hard" Consider: this is happening now, a little more than a year before the midterm elections and three years from the Presidential election. And the precedent for tolerating voter intimidation at the polls has been set. Folks, I'll be frank. I don't have a good feeling about this.
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POPSShoddy/Profiteering - Former Bush Cronies Cash In Shoddy was a term that entered the language to describe uniforms sold to Union troops during the civil war. The uniforms literally disolved when they got wet. Profiteering is a better understood term that came out of the same era. Now it is part of the revolving door syndrome in Washington DC. Retire or resign from your politically appointed job or high military post and go to work for a government contractor to be sure you get contracts for work you may or may not do or do well but get because of old "relationships" Stinks doesn't it - no matter what party does it. It has been reason so many companies now have offices and divisions near Washington. Make me mad as hell.
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POPSCIA used mercenaries for assassination program It's practically a full-time job keeping up with the war lies, war crimes and war ugliness, more revealed everyday. Assassination, btw, is officially against current USA law --- but the CIA, with the encouragement of Bush and Cheney, just decided to ignore this law --- and others laws as well: from torture to protection of civil rights: they felt, apparently, the law did not apply to them. That's always very dangerous, a dark road to fascism. Just 'restoring adherence to the law," by President Obama, has already made things better....better if you believe in human decency. Bounty hunting is not new, btw. The British, the Spanish, the Mexicans and the Americans all gave bounty for Indian scalps. Fascist also can 'hire,' folks from prison for a cartoon of cigarettes and TV privileges to ax murder people, - and, like murder for scalps, it's done. So we can't let warmongering Republicans, neo-cons, racist and right-wing nut jobs back in power. Defeat them remains hig
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POPS Deadly contractor incident sours Afghans Four men with the U.S. firm once known as Blackwater are said to be under investigation in the deaths of two Afghans. A U.S. report found serious fault with private security firms in Afghanistan.
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POPSHired Killers Investigated From the get go I was against a huge, Praetorian Guard operating without oversight in the war of choice known as Iraq. It seems that the underlying nature of this band of mercenaries is now being exposed to the light of day.
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POPSU.N. Asks for Investigation of U.S. Mercenaries The use of so-called "private security contractors," -- i.e. mercenaries by the USA for extraordinary rendition (and torture) is now a U.N. issue. Such private armies, btw, are a real and very dnagerous sign of growing fascism. The founder of Blackwater, one of the largest, has just been implicated in court of murder, murder of some folks who were going to expose some of Blackwater's war crimes. Blackwater, btw, was forbidden to be in Iraq anymore...so they changed their name and now do their thing in Afghanistan. It's all sick and ugly. If you count the mercenaries the USA actually has about TWICE as many forces in Iraq, 300,000 or more. Plus, since they are not "official army," it's easier for them to get away with murder...being beyond direct military or Iraqi control.
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POPSBlackwater Founder Implicated in Murder(s) The former employee, identified in the court documents as "John Doe #2," is a former member of Blackwater's management team, according to a source close to the case. Doe #2 alleges in a sworn declaration that, based on information provided to him by former colleagues, "it appears that Mr. Prince and his employees murdered, or had murdered, one or more persons who have provided information, or who were planning to provide information, to the federal authorities about the ongoing criminal conduct." John Doe #2 says he worked at Blackwater for four years; his identity is concealed in the sworn declaration because he "fear violence against me in retaliation for submitting this Declaration." He also alleges, "On several occasions after my departure from Mr. Prince's employ, Mr. Prince's management has personally threatened me with death and violence."
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POPSThe Policy of Endless War I'm pleased to have discovered this article, a rather extensive and "brainy," look at the trend of endless war that we're now experiencing. The "military-industrial complex," that former WW 2 leading general and former President Eisenhower warned about appears to have hit it's groove. Endless war. Half the troops mercenaries. "Acceptable" official casuality levels. The military negotiates it's own treaties with other nations - no Congressional approval or debate requred.(we now have SOFA's - military negotiated Status of Forces Agreements - in 151 countries) So...500 soldiers get killed a year (which could just have been one bad day in WW2). No draft. Weapons makers get to sell their product and get money for research. General get to do their thing, have some experience. What's not to like?
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POPSFriendly Helicpoter Shot Down This clip actually comes from an article about the recently captured U.S. soldier in Afghanistan. A soldier described by our military as "walking off the base," as if he went AWOL. (& TV reports describe the military implying he left his weapon and body armor behind...maybe mentally unstable) -- ugh...! The propaganda about the recently shot down helicopter though, is striking. Because our captive soldier mentioned this event from last week we get to hear the Taliban version of events. The Taliban outrageously declare the helicopter was carrying troops. We (and I actually heard this version on TV news)...we claim the helicopter was carrying "civilians on a reported humanitarian mission." Gads! It's a cliche that the first casualty of war is the truth, now we get to see it. (We've been forced fed it the last 8 years). The helicopter was probably carrying mercenaries (CNN calls them "civilian contractors,") on an assassination mission in Pakistan...that's closer to t
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POPSUK relaxes regulation of mercenaries What is this - US and UK populations won`t tolerate a rising military death toll in Afghanistan, so they are privatising the war. By what right do we send private armies to wreak havoc in Afghanistan ?
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POPSAncient Fortress City Unearthed in Egypt First excavated in 1886 by the English Egyptologist Flinders Petrie, who recognized it as Psammetichus I's camp for Greek mercenaries, the desert site has since been flattened by wind erosion, which left the archaeological remains originally unearthed by Petrie barely visible. "The new fieldwork at the site by Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities is most valuable at this time, particularly in that it is rescuing one of the sites of the Delta endangered by development and environmental factors, " Jeffrey Spencer, Deputy Keeper at the British Museum's department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan, told Discovery News ~~~~~ More at the site
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POPSThank You America – And Damn You, You Bastards This religion aims to destroy Iraq and return it to the days of minority rule. America canceled all of our debts and urged the rest of the world to do so, while the Arabs refused to do so and they even demanded payment for every Iraqi citizen living in their countries. America allowed Shias to ... DougM has it - says Go read it. Seriously. http://www.sondrak.com/index.php/weblog/dayum1/ After six years of liberation, we now know who our friend is and who our foe is. We should not give a chance to those idiots who claim that Iraq is part of the Arab Nation. These idiots should understand that Iraq is part the federal, free and democratic world. What ..? Wet stuff in eyes? Iraqi Columnist: Thank You, America http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/07/iraqi_columnist_thank_you_amer_1.asp
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POPSDebate over "Socialized Police" heats up Many progressives claim that quite apart from arguments over costs there is a moral argument for providing universal police protection. "Police protection should be a right of all citizens, not a commodity that is bought and sold," insists Hugh Topian, of the nonprofit Center for Democracy and Stuff in Washington, D.C. Topian points out that America's system of tax breaks for companies that buy health insurance for their employees is heavily skewed toward the rich and powerful. A corporate executive with a "gold-plated" personal security plan might be given 24-hour police protection by a dozen mercenaries, while workers whose employers do not provide crime insurance are frequently mugged or killed while for-profit police officers are standing nearby.
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POPS Insurrection; Day Two Defrauded opposition candidate Mir Hussein Mousavi belongs to the establishment. The regime is coming apart and turning on itself. Even clerics are turning against the “Supreme Guide” Ali Khamenei. Grand Ayatollah Sanei in Iran has declared Ahmadinejad's presidency illegitimate and cooperating with his government against Islam. There are strong rumors that his house and office are surrounded by the police and his website is filtered. He had previously issued a fatwa, against rigging of the elections in any form or shape, calling it a mortal sin. Kevin Sullivan at RealClearWorld: What's emerging here could be interesting. Iran hawks prefer to label the Iranian police state as simply "The Mullahs," but the legitimate clerics in this dispute are the ones standing with Mir-Hossein Mousavi against ONE Mullah and his secular police apparatus. . . .
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POPSBlackwater Sued For War Crimes, Again The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, alleges that on Feb. 7, 2007, heavily armed Xe-Blackwater employees shot the three men, who worked as security guards for the Iraqi Media Network. Sabah Salman Hassoon, Azhar Abdullah Ali, and Nibrass Mohammed Dawood were killed in front of approximately 20 other Xe-Blackwater employees and although company supervisors were alerted, the shootings were not reported, according to the complaint. Not only did the company fail to report the shootings, claim the plaintiffs, but also actively covered up the incident by "refusing to identify the shooters to Iraqi authorities and destroying documents and other evidence relating to this and other Xe-Blackwater shootings." This is the latest in a string of lawsuits filed against the company since the start of the Iraq War, including suits by both Iraqi and U.S. families accusing the company of fraud and negligence, among other charges. The plaintiffs in the recent case claim that Xe-Blackwater cont
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