Tell Boxer and Feinstein: "No Blackwater West"
(video is earlier coverage of Blackwater West from KABC)
Despite the well deserved outrage over Blackwater's repeated atrocities in Iraq, the company is moving forwards with their plans to open up a new base in San Diego. From Courage Campaign:
Blackwater, the same private firm of paid thugs whose incompetence cost the lives of American troops in Fallujah in 2004, now wants to build a base on California's border to train mercenaries.
The consequences are ominous: Imagine Blackwater "defending" our border with Mexico in a vigilante action. Or providing emergency "security" to urban areas in California after a natural disaster.
The security of California and our citizens is at stake and where are California's Senators? Silent. That is simply unacceptable.
Thanks to activists within the California Democratic Party, the party is now on record officially opposing Blackwater West. It's time for Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer join their party in stopping Blackwater from opening a base in San Diego.
Courage already delivered over 8,500 petitions opposing Blackwater West to Boxer and Feinstein. Still they are silent. Take Action: sign the new letter to Senator Boxer and Feinstein and give them a call if you can.
I'm gonna get right on that....
Hell, no Blackwater at all!!
Am I missing something?
Feinstein will laugh... Or tell me to f ck off.
fiver @ 3:
Uh, the post? Probably not complete yet. but hey, that doesnt' stop us from commenting, does it? Are the rest of you trying to avoid your chores like I am?
Blackwater is just another great privitization/WASTE of our precious tax $$$. Government spending at its absolute finest.
blackwater is the militia bush/cheney will use when they declare martial law
later to stop the 2008 elections.
Feinstein shows how wrong the Republican party has been for the last decade. As horrible as Feinstein is, the Repugs still can find someone to run against her that makes her the lesser of two evils. If the Repug party would just put forth someone conservative yet sane and not a zombie, they'd win against her. As it is now, she is unlikely to run again in 2012 (as she is 74 now) so Feinstein has very little incentive to do the right thing (other than her conscience).
It's coming...WP cut out the post...
.
I thought that guarding the State was the job of the National Guard in cases where order and security was involved. Or at least, Constitutionally it is set up that way.
Congressional members are silent because they too, have been corrupted by corporatist interests and gain$.
Corporatism IS Fascism.
.
.
Cancel what I just said.
The National Guard is meant to be sent off to fight in wars of aggression against civilians that live in countries that pose no threat to the U.S.A. and to overturn and prop up puppet democracies.
I stand corrected.
.
The Praetorian Guard coming to a town near you. Cesar, we salute you all for the glory of Rome!
#6
Your reference to "Jewry", in the context you use it, clearly shows an opinion founded in ignorance and hate. If you have something intelligent to say give it a shot. Israeli politics, international finance and Mid East issues are all valid areas of debate. However your vocabulary gives you away.
What really bothers me about these security companies is that they don't seem to be burdened by the same laws as I do. They can buy weapons that I can't. Why should they be more privileged than I am; they aren't police or military nor have they been granted any special status by our government (at least as far as I know). A security company shouldn't need fully automatic weapons if their job is just security. They shouldn't need anything more than what the average policeman has.
wij: I'd imagine she'd say she met with the CEOs of Blackwater, and their views of security "aren't outside the mainstream", as she's been doing by justifying her voting for fundy judges.
Boxer and Feinstein will do NOTHING. They are among the worst enablers. I sure hope someone runs against them cause I'll sure vote for em.
Boxer will come around... like she did with Gore Vote five years too late.
We can give up on Feinstein...
That said... I NEED A JOB!!!
Don't expect much from Feinstein. Boxer is better but I still remember her showing up in Connecticut last year during the Lamont vs Lieberman primary race urging folks to vote for Lieberman. Unforgivable!
Max-1 @ 10:
Smack_dab @ 13:
you need to keep up with the fascist bush. order 17 from bush gives them complete immunity from the law. just like bush/cheney hold themselves above the law.
I always thought that mercenaries were illegal. Whatever happened with that?
Snowball @ 21:
"Illegal" is such a quaint notion these days. Especially when we're talking about what the Government does. By definition, the Government cannot do anything "Illegal." So pfft! away with your "rules" of "law!"
Thanks Mr. Amato, signed and sent!
Christine Craft has been ALL over this, as has Randi Rhodes.
We need to keep the pressure on, and support the ranchers civilians down there in San Diego who are NEXT to this development . . . they are VERY fired up, against it, and being vocal.
If I recall correctly, they recalled an entire Board Of County Supes, recently.
They are good citizens, fighting this for all it's worth.
I wonder how else others could support THEIR efforts, onsite, as it were?
Every community in this country has a local police force. We have federal and state police forces, a standing military and a national guard. No good motive can be behind allowing a private mercenary force to be based or to operate on American soil.
I have a problem with any organization that uses a paw print w/claws as it's logo
Very scary. There's a nightmare brewing.
"Courage already delivered over 8,500 petitions opposing Blackwater West to Boxer and Feinstein. Still they are silent."
Well, that's just not true. Senator Boxer has already, months ago, suggested that the designation of the area could be changed, by extending the adjoining natural wilderness area (I forget what kind) to encompass the target site. As Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, she is in a position to do just that -- the main sticking point is, no surprise, the governator, who greenlighted this whole circumstance, two years ago.
Condemning Boxer for being silent is a slander. Ask Rep. Filner -- Senator Boxer is not silent on this issue.
The makings of Brown Shirts.
Snowball @ 21:
The definition of mercenary is fixed in law. BW is busily hiring as many U.S. private soldiers as possible, and deploying them in Iraq, as a way of backdoor NOT being a mercenary.
Waxman pointed this out last week, again. If the BW fighter is a US ciitzen, then they are part of the U.S. forces, not mercenaries, and should therefore be under the UCMJ restrictions on action, under all our international treaty law, and operating with strict oversight. But they cannot be considered mercenaries under law.
Now, BW has said they want to train foreign soldiers for friendly powers in San Diego. Those soldiers might not also be mercenaries depending on whether they work within their own countries. It's a legal/technical description, and the US has NOT signed the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, so the binding legal restrictions are those in the Geneva conventions, and, certainly, in the UN charter itself -- both of which Bushco has violated top-to-bottom.
I've been writing Boxer and my representative Jane Harman about Blackwater for 2 years. Wrote them both again asking for their opposition against any Blackwater presence in CA over a month ago, when I first heard of this.
Use of Blackwater in IRaq is bad enough but, in place of National Guard in New Orleans and elsehwere is reprehensible and should NEVER, NEVER happen again. It should not even be considered in any array of options. The National Guard worked until Bush dismantled it and ensured recruiting problems for years to come.
Please everyone, blister their ears on this topic. Not only insist that their CA presence be prevented, make it clear that you will oppose reelection of any member of Congress who does not take a leadership role in ridding our government of this pestilence.
Blister their ears with the strength of your opposition. Leave no room for doubt that mercenaries have no place on our government's payroll and that legislators to whom this is ok have no place in Congress.
I hope you in California know that there is a very nasty part two to this story. They are lobbying heavily for a security contract with state of Calif. and six other states right now. Not just west base but special deputys, augment emergency security. They did that in NOLA after Katrina quietly and were bouncers in aide offices to intimidate pissed off 9th ward folks. For all practical purposes, this is a gooper militia. I want them banned.
Blackwater claims that they dispatched a helicopter to help assist citizens from flooded areas.
Exactly how many did rescue? I never heard of any.
I did see photos of heavily armed persons driving through downtown NOLA and guarding at least one federal building. How can I tell the difference between a mercenary and any other criminal? How will I tell the difference between somebody wanting to help me in a disaster and one focused on keeping me in-line.
The only answers seems to be that I need to arm myself and treat any "law enforcement" personnel as a threat in any disaster. It also means I'll need to oppose any and all gun control measures so I can protect myself.
Pat Pattillo@30
Sorry Pat, didnt see your post, parroted it I guess.
Scytherius @ 15:
You are a LIAR.
Senator Feinstein, who just won last year's election by a margin of something like 25%, is an enabler on several counts. She's in until 2012, at which point she will probably retire. As such, she is a Lame Duck, so she needs massive pressure to do anything against her established interests (which rarely conforms with ours).
Senator Boxer, by contrast, is not an enabler, and is part of our 25 good Dem Senators who vote against this coup with regularity. She also won her election, in 2004, by the largest margin of any US Senator in history -- and that's for a reason.
Quit slandering our best, out of your own anger. When you do a tenth of Boxer has done for the State of California, or the world, then you can apologize to her for your slanders.
Thing Fish @ 32:
All rich folk, I guarantee.
Thing Fish @ 32:
NPR had a journalist who was writing some fluff about BW. I called in and asked what these mercenaries were doing in NOLA. He claimed that they were hired by a group of wealthy landowners to do private security, then hooked up a deal to do security for some unknown govt agency. They were deputized on the QT, paid 5 times what NOLA cops got and worked side by side with them.You would recognize them as being in khaki, with navy flak jackets and caps, all wearing shooters shades, all carrying pump shotguns.
Aside from the state dept bullshit, these guys are not liked by our military. They consider them pests and menaces.
Tequila @ 14:
There's no doubt she would say they are not outside the mainstream, which to me is just another way of laughing off her constituency. Frankly, I'm sick and tired of telling these assholes who work for us what is and what isn't the right thing to do. Doing the right thing should be instinctive, which tells us there is something entirely different at play. It just makes me sick.
What a bunch of horseshit:
Rice issues new rules for Blackwater
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071006/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/blackwater_rice
NOTICE: email does not work with Feinstein. Phone her and fax a note to her to one of the local offices. The fax in Washington has been disconnected. Feinstein is deaf to dissent, so you really have to call her twice if you have to.
I've been faxing letters to her, and as the vote approaches, I will call her everyday if I have the time. The phone assistance only cares to know if you support or don't support a policy and the zip code of the caller.
Boxer's pretty good. I think with the right goading, she'll come around on this well. Feinstein? Fuggedaboutit. She's an essential DINO. Her votes are good on a number of social issues, but not all, and on anything dealing with the ecnomy or miltary, she's awful.
PPNB
I've read comments here that are not true. Feinstein is deaf to dissent, but if enough people call, she'll get the vibration and correct her vote. If nobody calls, she'll certainly vote with the Republicans because it's second nature to her.
Perhaps the best way to put an end to this nonsense is by placing pressure on Congress and let them know that we have a Nation Guard who could more than adequately handle defensive operations within Americas own boarders. That is if they could be pulled back from an insane war that we were lied into.
There should be a law that states that the protection of US citizens in their own country should be accomplished not through privatization and profit, but by those who serve with honor in our volunteer armed services. All this administration has accomplished is to have privatized everything making their friends rich and causing more problems around the world.
I dont think blackwater is the problem. They are killers for hire, but the problem lays behind them - those that use them are the problem.
This link ( http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dplu/docs/PR/4-27-07/0620001.html ) will take you to the San Diego County Department of Planning and Land Use (DPLU) website with disclosure documents mandated by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). You should note that the proposed location is proximally due north of the Tecate Port of Entry (POE).
Back in '96, the environmental consulting firm that I was with had a task order contract with the federal General Services Administration that involved work mainly on tasks related to new U.S. Postal Service office buildings and expansion of existing POEs. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation for the proposed expansion of the Tecate POE was one the projects to which I was assigned.
The expansion would have resulted in an increase in the amount of trucks entering the country with Mexican plates of origin, but was unlikely to result in an overall increase in the amount of truck traffic. We demonstrated this through modeling as well as interviewing the most likely sources of the truck traffic in Mexico and existing truckers on State Route 94. This, however, was not acceptable to the residents of the area. We held a public scoping meeting, as well as a public comment meeting, as part of the public involvement mandated by NEPA. The number of people who showed up to comment at the meetings were significantly out of proportion to the population of the area and the size and scope of the proposed project. The type and tenor of the comments may be charitably described as xenophobic; as a result, the planned EA/FONSI turned into an EIS.
Looking back now, the reaction at the meeting was not all that surprising as Jamul/Dulzura/Potrero/Boulevard area of southeastern San Diego County is the ultimate birthplace and support base of the "minuteman movement". I discussed the xenophobia at the public comment meetings with my supervisor to find out that she, at the time, was a die-hard supporter of Duncan Hunter. According to her, Duncan Hunter, she, and many of Hunter's "God fearing" constituents were convinced that Mexico was going to invade California to take back the land they lost in the 1800s. She also attended the Republican National Convention in San Diego in 1996 as Hunter's guest, so she was personally involved with Hunter's political constituency and local operatives.
Now, go back and look at the link to the DPLU website and review the size, scope, and location of the proposed Blackwater facility and convince me that they won't be patrolling the U.S./Mexican border as part of their "training". Hunter's son is running for his dad's seat. Hunter's son also happens to benefit from defense-related funding to companies in which he holds significant stock or controlling interest in the field of lasers and communications, which is technology used to actively and passively monitor activity along the U.S./Mexico border fence. There appears be a synergy there between Blackwater and Hunter. Throw in my Congress-critter Darrell Issa and his "car alarm" background and there is a nexis for Issa to get something out of the deal as well.
Also, lest we forget, Issa was the one that got the ball rolling on the Gray Davis recall effort during the so-called "power crisis" in California back in 2000-2001. Also, throw in what we now know about Duke Cunningham, and (lest we forget) Brian Bilbray who replaced Cunningham and was a paid lobbyist for the energy industry during the "power crisis" and you don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to wonder if "the fix is in".
As I said a couple of weeks back, Bush and Cheney and the NeoCon/PNAAC group wont leave quietly. Don't be surprised if you find American Mercenaries being used against American citizens.
These people are incorrigible and capable of ANYthing.
Ranger31 @ 45:
That "power crisis" was a move by ENRON to take over the power market. I was working as an Engineer for PG&E at the time and saw from the inside what was going on.
Says Scahill, Blackwater took legal action to keep the families...
What happened to journalism? Scahill has to do, but is introduced as an author, like the guy who wrote Andromeda Strain.
#47
I joined Sempra, as in-house environmental staff, in 2001. I was canned in 2002 because I wasn't ethically challenged enough for their comfort.
Hold on a minute, here. Are we or are we not a capitalist society?
Blackwater has a right to exist. And they have a sound business plan. After all, Iraq can't last forever. And in ten or twenty years, as the need for Blackwater thugs in Baghdad lessens, what do you expect them to do, go out of business?
Well, their long-range plan starts with their San Diego facility. Following the current US plan of outsourcing, privatizing, and selling taxpayer-owned infrastructure (like roads and highways), Blackwater is going to become a Chinese corporation, and start bidding on municipal police departments and county sheriff's departments throughout the US. They'll pay cash, in brand-new, shrink-wrapped bundles of US $100 bills, part of their 'take' from Iraq.
They'll make their profit on fines and property they can confiscate from citizens. So prepare for the future. Should you happen to travel 36 MPH in a 35MPH zone, you will be surrounded by blacked-out SUV's, backed up by hovering choppers, ordered out of your vehicle by AK-47 armed, silvered-sunglassed, body-armored squads firing warning shots over your head, incarcerated under a $1M bond, your vehicle and home confiscated, and your family placed in 'Protective Custody' in a Blackwater facility at a cost of $1K/day.
And it's all gonna start in San Diego. (Actually, it all started in D.C. in January, 2001).
Statement from the California Office of Emergency Services:
California has a robust emergency management system that allows it to deploy significant local, state, and federal government response assets from throughout the state and across the nation following a major emergency. It is highly unlikely that State officials would find it necessary to contract for private sector first responders following a major emergency.
How about changing that ambiguous "highly unlikely to find necessary" to "will not"?
We DON'T NEED brown shirt Nazis in this country. Ruthless and without conscience, these killing mongers are all we need next time we have a disaster (or civil disobedience) in this country to "protect us".
These slime balls need to be stopped NOW!!
Wow. It IS possible to have something worse than the School of the Americas or a CIAcome to your state. Amazing.
HulksHeroes @ 51:
These slime balls were the very ones that FEMA sent into New Orleans after Katrina. Where was the National Guard? Iraq.
BS! This administration putting Blackwater on the border is just another Rovian trick to bring Marshall Law to this country! Who do they think they are kidding. Can you imagine them in every state. I don't think so!
Well, the California Democratic Party has issued a statement. Case closed. Move along to next week's news.
Ranger31@45
I think thats a big story you've got there. Is that getting any press in the area?
I'll take "Whitewater" over "Blackwater" any time.
These clowns need to be shut down and run out of town. Period.
...
Ranger 31 @ 45: "Hunter's son is running for his dad's seat."
The area in question is no longer in Hunter's district. It's in Filner's district (a Democrat). Filner is up to speed on the issue, and working hard for a reversal of the governator's plans.
"Also, throw in what we now know about Duke Cunningham, and (lest we forget) Brian Bilbray who replaced Cunningham"
Through vote-fraud. San Diego's elections are still not secure, though with SecState Bowen breathing down their necks, it's going to be a lot better than in (the special election in) 2006.
Bilbray was rushed to DC to be sworn in, before the election challenge court cases could be heard. That was a real scandal, very poorly covered by the alternative press.
The next Rep in that district will be a Democrat, not Bilbray. He's on his way out; Hunter is on his way out; Hunter is going to be under indictment sooner or later -- hopefully that will tar his son's run.
Well, I can tell you right now from my past emails to Feinstein...she won't
do shit! Feinstein is a rethuglican to the core and she and her husband have
probably been bought off by Blackwater already. I think Blackwater is going
to be waiting for the big one (earthquake) to hit Cali so they can patrol the
streets brazenly as they did in N.O. after Katrina. It's kind of eerie how they
want to set up their 'training centers' on all corners of the U.S. Are they trying
to keep people out or keep us in?
U of I police institute director resigns after probe
The director of the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois has resigned amid scrutiny for his simultaneous work with a military contractor best known for providing security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tom Dempsey, 58, worked for Blackwater USA in July and August, two months after he signed an agreement allowing the institute and the contractor to conduct research together, share facilities and exchange students and staff.
Only the first attempt to spread by Blackwater. And already it has had a corrupting influence.
Perhaps Blackwater would be better setting up shop in the Panamint. Were they can breath in the spirit of Charlie M.
What a joke.
Don't waste your time asking Boxer and Feinstein to look out for USA's interests.
They're just laughing at you while they harvest your personal information.
Madame Defarge @ 62:
I've never understood the philosophy that doing nothing is better than tilting at windmills. It just makes the job easier for those who view democracy as a joke when you accept the belief that you are impotent.
Nice to know Paul in LA. I was disturbed by Rangers post, and being an east coaster wasnt sure if this was slipping under the radar.
I think Prince has/had plans to be the Praetorian Guard for the goopers. Hopefully this time in the light will burn this "mold" and keep it from spreading.
marie @ 18:
AIPAC rules - SIEG HEIL !!
More on this
NBC4 on Blackwater in CA and Courage Campaign Activism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzZ5B2w5M0A&NR=1
#59
Thanks for the clarification, I haven't been tracking the district boundary changes in that part of the County very well. As far as Bilbray losing the seat to a democrat...who? I'm in Issa's district, but right on the boundary with Bilbray's, and I haven't heard a peep out of any potential challenger for that seat since Busby lost in '06. The problem in that particular district is that the majority of sure-fire voters in the next election are part of the 29% (and falling) that think war is peace, freedom is slavery, and GWB is a genious. What is real depressing is that my district is even MORE RED than Bilbray's. I will say, though, that the progressive-leaning activists in this area are very dedicated.
Feinstein is the problem, not Boxer. Feinstein husband has made money off defense contracts. She is a very wealthy women and not in touch with democrats and independents. She is a closet Republican with deep pockets to lobbyists
Ranger 31: As far as Bilbray losing the seat to a democrat...who?"
He lost to Busby. But the election fraud wasn't allowed to be confronted in court. The RoV has since resigned, and his deputy is in place (SFAIK). It remains a hotspot of Rapepublican vote-fraud.
"I'm in Issa's district, but right on the boundary with Bilbray's, and I haven't heard a peep out of any potential challenger for that seat since Busby lost in '06."
Busby didn't lose, at least not a legal election. But she is now backing the run of Michael Wray (D) for CA-50 next year.
Feinstein is useless.
Her husband is probably getting a cut of the action supplying Blackwater with equipment and facilities:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/0...
"...not mercenary at all", says Brian Bonfiglio/Blackwater West. (Because Blackwater as "a company doesn't engage in offensive operations and hasn't worked for any other state besides the USA").
Brian, you do not get to redefine what "mercenary" means!!!!!
"mer·ce·nar·y /ˈmɜrsəˌnɛri/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mur-suh-ner-ee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation adjective, noun, plural -nar·ies.
–adjective
1. working or acting merely for money or other reward; venal.
2. hired to serve in a foreign army, guerrilla organization, etc.
–noun
3. a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.
4. any hireling.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME mercenarie < L mercénnārius working for pay, hired worker, mercenary, perh., repr. earlier *mercéd(i)nārius, equiv. to *mercédin-, s. of *mercédō, a by-form of mercés, s. mercéd- payment, wage (akin to merx goods; cf. merchant) + -ārius -ary]"
BLACKWATER IS A MERCENARY COMPANY
Lusmu, while you are correct that BW is a despicable company, for the most part they are NOT mercenaries (as I try to explain in 29).
In many, many cases, these are US SOLDIERS, who have ditched or otherwise left their outfits, and joined up for four times the pay, and less saluting.
The Geneva Conventions consider such persons COMBATANTS, not mercenaries.
However, Bushco HAS deployed mercenaries to Iraq: from Argentina, Guatemala, South Africa, Indonesia, former USSR, and elsewhere, wherever mercenaries can be found in the former or active rightwing death squads.
The South African contingent, that we learned about when racist murderer Strydom was blown up while working for a British private outfit, is a good example of a true mercenary deployment war crime.
In the case, for instance, of the Fallujah Four, none were mercenaries, and one was the youngest US Navy Seal in history, a star, who took a six week assignment to guard Bremer because he needed the money to help pay for his newborn. He ended up in Fallujah because he made the mistake of complaining to BW about a BW middle manager -- and they then somehow suddenly decided he was needed to pick up used kitchen gear in Fallujah without a map, GPS, third gunners, or armored cars. He never killed anyone in Iraq, and was YET ANOTHER VICTIM of Blackwater and of the Iraq invasion itself.
Paul,
I hate to disagree with you but the whatever the legal weasel words are, the hirelings working for Blackwater are not part of the US military and they still fight alongside them ("provide security") for money. That makes them mercenaries.
Go ask your neighbours for a definition of "a Mercenary" and report your findings.
Like I said before: The Bush SS.
These freaks are NOT mercenaries, they are traitors who threaten our country and terrorists; please stop referring to them as anything but what they really are.
Even if can't stop Blackwater West from opening, please ensure the planned use of contractors to implement martial law/continuity in government plans glean the lessons of Iraq.
Here @ 77:
Corrected link, sorry.
Lusmu @ 74:
I'd forgo the label and ask how are they any different from privateers and, more recently, Pinkertons.
Just repeating the same bad mistakes...
if boxer has any objections, the media won't cover it!
paint a hitler mustache on feinstein. it fits.
NotaWingnut @ 69:
BINGO!
no blackwater in my backyard, no way.
besides, they may pay their people a lot but they also treat them as expendable; more so than our soldiers. They are gathering soldiers from third world regimes that will work for even less, and who are trained by questionable armies.
the "civilian contractors hanging from the bridge in Iraq who were hung as trophies after they were dragged through the streets were Blackwater people.
they don't take care of their own.
gigi san diego
What is in San Diego?
That is the real question you need to ask.
Its the Navy Seal training facility. If I had to bet money, I would say they are inserting themselves in that process.
pj @ 83:
Oh, Pshaw, dear man. The USMC base at Pendleton, and so much more. San Diego is a major hub of the military-industrial coporation, where they hold their weapons sales conventions. Fun in the Sun. There's a reason why Cunningham was in San Diego.
Mainly, though, it's the border. They longterm plan to privatize the border, which is a big part of why they installed their Austrian thug, and why Tancredo and the other conspirators played out all that border hysteria over the last few years. They have transformed INS into ICE, and built a host of new prisons. And they do intend to eventually subvert democracy in the cites and states -- they are traitors, no doubt about it.
The Federalist Society, the thinktanks, the MIC, they are working away at destroying us, like weevils in a silo. But BW has committed a great number of crimes, and is going to be put out of business, and Bushco is on its way to defunct, and Schwartztika has been gelded, and is being forced to play friendly because the weather has changed.
Lusmu @ 74: "Paul, I hate to disagree with you but the whatever the legal weasel words are,"
If you want to fictionalize it, or relabel it for emphasis, then you are prepared to make a moral fight against an evil on specious grounds. I'm not willing to yield the legal definition, which is the status quo of ANY criminal investigation.
BW's strategy is to pretend that it is not mercenary by hiring US soldiers. Too bad for them, they have hired a number of mercenaries, the various security companies, so they are exposed in that regard.
The other reason why Blackwater exists has nothing to do with being mercenaries (or, AS THEY WILL EVENTUALLY BE FOUND IN COURT TO BE, U.S. combatants). It has to do with draining away and privatizing our most trained military specialists.
"the hirelings working for Blackwater are not part of the US military and they still fight alongside them ("provide security") for money. That makes them mercenaries."
No, you are wrong, and will be proven wrong. They have hired mercenaries, to that degree you are right. But the companies like Blackwater, being composed mainly of combatants from the attacking country, are COMBATANTS, not mercenaries. They are bound by the Geneva conventions, by the Hague conventions, AND BY THE UCMJ.
Had you listened to the Waxman hearing, you would have understood this distinction. Now the House has already passed a bill to insert what is being called 'contingent forces' into the UCMJ. Some of those combatants are going to be shocked to find themselves under court martial in some military courts established after this whole Bushco adventure is in the dirt.
You are asking us to contact two people who have done nothing to stop the war to ask them to turn down jobs and tax dollars in their state. Let me think... How would that help...
Is anyone still dumb enough to believe we live in a representative democracy? If so, I have a lovely bridge in San Francisco to sell you.
Paul in LA @ 85:
Fine, although legal definitions are as much open to criticism as any other definition, as you no doubt are aware. The only difference I saw with the dictionary definition was the emphasis on "foreign soldiers", but if you conducted the little survey I proposed, you most likely found that "foreign" is not a necessary modifier to labeling someone a mercenary in normal usage. I just happen to believe that the language and perceptions of a nation should also be reflected by the legal system.
Still, my original comment referred to the reasons the Blackwater representative gave for the company employees not being mercenaries.
Agreed.
[snip]
I didn't see the Waxman hearing, but I do understand the distinction now that you have explained it. I'm just not sure if I agree with the legal sophistry.
I feel that I understand the strategy behind this thinking, but wouldn't there be ways to make them responsible even if they were mercenaries? Or is this the easier route?
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