Warnings about Blackwater type private security companies went unheeded
Remember this video and story I helped break called “The Trophy video,” which was posted back in ‘05? Paul Bremer and the US Gov’t have created a juggernaut of—civilian–mercenary squads with ties to the Christian Right. (Blackwater was founded by an extreme right-wing fundamentalist Christian mega-millionaire ex- Navy Seal named Erik Prince) Remind you of any other groups in Iraq?
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A “trophy” video appearing to show security guards in Baghdad randomly shooting Iraqi civilians has sparked two investigations after it was posted on the Internet, the Sunday Telegraph can reveal. The video, which first appeared on a website that has been linked unofficially to Aegis Defence Services, contained four separate clips, in which security guards open fire with automatic rifles at civilian cars. All of the shooting incidents apparently took place on “route Irish”, a road that links the airport to Baghdad.
I post this video again as a reminder to us as a major reason why the Iraqi people want us out of Iraq. Here's a new article that provides a good overview of the entire " Blackwater" culture and the US response to the problems they've caused in Iraq. "Warnings about contractors went unheeded"
The U.S. government disregarded numerous warnings over the past two years about the risks of using Blackwater Worldwide and other private security firms in Iraq, expanding their presence even after a series of shooting incidents showed that the firms were operating with little regulation or oversight, according to government officials, private security firms and documents.
This has Cheney's main man---David Addington's fingerprints all over it. You know---how to get around existing laws...
In previous wars, the Pentagon had prohibited contractors from participating in combat. But in Iraq, military planners rewrote the policy to match the reality on the ground. On Sept. 20, 2005, the military issued an order authorizing contractors to use deadly force to protect people and assets. In June 2006, the order was codified as an "interim rule" in the Federal Register. It took effect immediately without public debate.
Critics, including the American Bar Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, warned that the Pentagon had used an obscure defense acquisition rule to push through a fundamental shift in American war-fighting without fully considering the potential legal and strategic ramifications.
If I was a soldier in Iraq and a mercenary was making triple the salary--I'd be pissed.
Here’s another sordid story I broke called: Another Civilian Contractor was under investigation for Homicide in ‘04. Read the pdf here…
And if you don’t think the lawlessness these contractor’s have been granted are unknown to the Iraqi people, guess again. Paul Bremer is responsible for many of the problems in Iraq after Bush gave him the power to run things there and Order 17 stands out today after the Iraqis gave the boot to Blackwater today.
The Bush administration has decided to take the unusual step of bestowing on its own troops and personnel immunity from prosecution by Iraqi courts for killing Iraqis or destroying local property after the occupation ends and political power is transferred to an interim Iraqi government, U.S. officials said.
Order 17 gives all foreign personnel in the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority immunity from “local criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction and from any form of arrest or detention other than by persons acting on behalf of their parent states.”
U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer is expected to extend Order 17 as one of his last acts before shutting down the occupation n
frist, and what a loser being on the web on (fill in your own holiday name here) eve
I know that we have our head wrapped around this war but please don't forget the elderly this Christmas. While they may not be war heroes or soilders, they are our parents and the people to pave the way for us.
I feel I have given enough to this war and that America has abandoned the elderly.
I see it everyday of my life.
Jack Jett
www.yabbadabbahubbado.com
For the Christmas season, we should adopt the Cheney holiday spirit,
and declare Washington a Free-Fire zone.
Here we ago again with naivete excuses. Nothing went unheeded. This was the master plan. Had the Government paid attention to the warnings and dangers of hiring mercernaries, Erik Prince and "his partners" had never gotten to drawn 2.7 billion dollars contract from the Bush government. You think he would've left that opporntunity just evaporate? They would never had that chance to make that kind of money. This money simply went to Bush cronies. American tax payers are enriching mercenaries hired by Mr. Bush. They knew what would happen in Iraq, and who really would give a fuck?
I refuse to believe that the American public at large is that stupid!
Not only more money and no oversight but chimpy's private army:
>>gets better food
>>better living quarters
>>better armor
>>better medical care
>>amnesty
I know I'm missing some.
>>can quit without regret
>>can get away with being unpatriotic
Amato-
If I was a soldier in Iraq and a mercenary was making triple the salary–I’d be pissed.
Just wanted to point out that a lot- if not most- of these mercs got all of their trainin' as members of the armed forces of the US of A. Ironically, ya don't see those ads anymore where ex-military people are shown doin' civilian jobs(like workin' as helicopter mechanics), usin' the experience they picked up while in uniform.
Maybe it's time to put a moratorium on soldiers becomin' Blackwater ops, huh?
Paul Bremer and the US Gov’t have created a juggernaut of—civilian–mercenary squads with ties to the Christian Right. (Blackwater was founded by an extreme right-wing fundamentalist Christian mega-millionaire ex- Navy Seal named Erik Prince)...
Two points here. First, Prince isn't what ya'd typically call an evangelical. He was raised in a Calvinist church (Reformed, Christian Reformed or Dutch Reformed, can't recall which, but I think it's the middle choice), but converted to Roman Catholicism when he married his now deceased wife. He's a pretty hardcore Opus Dei type now, even if he doesn't belong to that organization. Lot's of Calvinists here in Prince's (and my own) western Michigan.
Second, Prince still has strong ties to the Right and the administration. His sister, Betsy, is the wife of Dick DeVos, Amway heir, who ran an unsuccessful campaign against our Governor here in the Great Lakes state, Jennifer Granholm. Dick and Betsy can count on a single hand Republicans who donate more money to their party, candidates and causes. They're huge Bush supporters who are backin' Romney in '08.
Has anyone questioned Romney about his choice of Blackwater vice-chairman Cofer Black to lead his counter-terrorism policy advisory group?
Immediately after Bush Sr's Gulf War then Sect Def Cheney commissioned Halliburton to determine whether the US could save money (yeah right!) by eliminating many full time military positions in time of peace and contracting them out during times of war. For a paltry $5.4 million Halliburton concluded the answer was (surprise! surprise!) - YES !!
Recall this is the same Sec Def Cheney who, at the end of that Gulf War, clearly stated why toppling Saddam would have led to a quagmire of warring factions.
So .. Cheney & his buddies at Halliburton prepared for a protracted conflict using many mercenaries & contractors. Even acquired the Bush family's subsidiary Kellogg and merged it with Halliburton's subsidiary Brown & Root - the guys who put LBJ in the White House and pulled massive contracts during the VietNam War.
Years of careful planning went into this Iraq boondoggle.
MountainMan23-
Why am I reminded of the East India Company?
And for a rundown on the disturbing link between Romney and Blackwater, read this
Per Jeremy Scahill, author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army:
And this:
Read or see the hwole interview here:
http://www.democracynow.org/2007/12/10/what_is_blackwaters_role_in_the
They aren't called mercenaries for nothing.
Mr. Amato, thanks for a wrap up and reminder of the pure fuckin evil we have to fight if we want ANY semblance of a real thriving middle class for future generations. You got my attention, and well, we must persevere to endure, and thrive. Change for the good of the masses will NOT come without commitment and action.
Bless us all, and happy holidays, but let's not forget our disenfranchised in our country, and how badly they all need our help.
And let's not forget how difficult it's gonna be to free ourselves of the 'yoke of tyranny' the beltway elite and the 1%er's who OWN us lock stock and barrell have imposed on us all . . . let's not forget how difficult it is going to be to get our republic back from them.
If you can't kill a brown person for profit then who can you kill?
Merry Christmas.
You guys hate blackwater, yet see nothing wrong with giving the federal government more power.
Who was gonna 'Heed' the warnings?
Someone probably told Hitler that the SS wasn't 'Being Gentle' with the Jews, but did he give sh*t?
When Stalin was warned the Gulags were filling up, did he put down his Stolichnaya?
If the warnings went to the bastards who hired the murderous mercenaries, did Bush and Co. just laugh their asses off?
Or get serious, and award some bonuses to Blackwater?
what? @ 14:
If ya don't see the difference between a military- smaller preferably- comprised of those who swear to uphold and protect the Constitution and one that's only allegiance is to the highest bidder....
And more power to the federal government would be bad if it was about universal healthcare? A more powerful EPA would be bad...why? A federal government with the power to enforce civil rights law is evil?
what? @ 14:
One big difference is accountability and to whom.
Myself, I never understood the clamor to reduce popular government while multi-national corporations are viewed as nothing to be concerned about.
No checks, no balances. You just pay.
kudos to Jeremy Scahill for all his work on the Prince junta
How many people were murdered in the above short clip? What would anyone expect when there is a guerrilla war we started in Iraq, there is NO WAY we could have ignored the chaos that would result in an invasion and occupation of Iraq.
These murderous types are put under extreme pressure and given a target rich environment, they are hopped up on steroids, drunk, stoned on painkillers maybe, and they dont give a fuck about anything but staying alive long enough to get another paycheck.
The conditons created for these mercs. as well as our troops, is one that will always lead to much greater violence. Why this clusterfuck has not been ripped to shreds by any mainstream new organization shows complete complicity in this country, even in most respects to the Democratic Party, with a small band who will discuss this, chief amongst them Kucinich.
Throw in blanket immunity and what do you get? One hell of a death toll
Along with everything else that went unheeded. I mean really, what is the use in debating anything about this administration. We needed these criminal assholes ripped out of office yesterday.
what? @ 14:
I have to say that this is the most ignorant thing I have heard in the year 2007. You came right in under the bell dude. I doubt anyone could come up with anything more ignorant in the next 6 days. So I guess you get the award. Will you please just read what you wrote and think about it until you get a clue.
US Troops kill 5 times the ammount of Iraqi civillians compared to contractors, but that never gets reported does it? I spend
most of my time patching them up
The problem isn't with BW but with the Bush admin that has put all of us in an impossible situation in this country. Anyone who
posts here being critical of the actions of contractors or troops and has never set foot in Iraq or Afghanistan should pick up a
rifle and go check it out for themselves. You have no idea how complicated this environment is. I can't stand you monday
morning quarterbacks.
Iraq on xmas @ 22:
So, unless I've been over there with a rifle I have no right to complain about any conduct by our soldiers or the contractors?
Congress needs to write laws forbiding the presence of mercenaries in US controlled war zonrs and prohibit the government from doing any kind of business with them.
Before it's over either the government, or the people (because the government no longer represents the People), are going to end up fighting these guys.
Erik Prince...
.
Evangellical founder and leader of mercenary army Blackwater...
.
operating in the middle east...
.
JEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZ-LOUISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
Is this reality or a "Left Behind" novel??
Iraq on xmas @ 22:
Everybody here in Europe knew what a cluster-fuck Iraq would become before the minute the US invaded (with the exeption of the Spanish, Danish and British prime ministers and their lackeys) , so there are no monday morning quarterbacks here.
Warnings about electing an AWOL coke-snorting fratboy drunk went unheeded also.
Bush the Liar @ 27:
He was worse than AWOL; he was a deserter. And he wasn't elected.
Merry Christmas
Lots of people got uppity when four "contractor bodyguards" were hanged and burned.
For any who feel any sympathy for them, they were armed mercenaries just like the Bilgewater employees. I wouldn't be surprised if the four candles weren't also.
They went where they weren't welcome, committed violence against the locals, and then their actions caught up with them. I felt no empathy for them then, and feel none now. If any more Bilgewater people were caught now by the resistance, I'd laugh.
The Player:
Omar Bush;
bin Laden Prince.
Both Omar (Afghanistan) and Bush (USA) lead their respective nations. Both allow religous zealots (bin Laden and Prince) to setup training camps for mercenaries within their respective nations.
bin Laden attacks the USA in multiple locations and is also allowed to act as security in areas of Afganistan;
Prince attacks innocents in Iraq and is also allowed to act as security in New Orleans.
The only difference is which God and religion they claim to be fighting for.
Michael B @ 31:
Very true. Both a terrorist organizations, be they al Qaeda or Blackwater
No truth to the rumor that Addington is about to be disbarred, is there?
I would like to forward a link to this video to my friends in the military, but I know what they will say when they see it -- how can you be sure it was not shot by a militant group bent on discrediting U.S. soldiers? When you think about it, the Elvis Presley touch seems contrived and not inconsistent with a propagandistic ploy. Other than the music, is there is any indication that the people doing the shooting are actually U.S. soldiers?
I post this video again as a reminder to us as a major reason why the Iraqi people want us out of Iraq.
Because americon is a collection of murderous thieving bastards who deserve the chair, I think ...... hmmm, yes that's it.
the Pentagon had used an obscure defense acquisition rule to push through a fundamental shift in American war-fighting without fully considering the potential legal and strategic ramifications
Wow, it's like the Bush Administration works by Mad Libs:
The [Bush Administration member/cabal] had used an obscure [bureau or agency of federal government] rule to push through a fundamental shift in American [element of national policy] without fully considering the potential legal and strategic ramifications.
Try it yourself -- it's fun! And heartbreaking!
Merry Christmas, y'all!
Does anyone have a time line of when the mercenary troops entered into the Iraq war? Might be interesting.
This was put up on a site linked to the Aegis Defence Service.
The only question is were they firing under/over or at the cars?
My guess is they were firing right into the cars and drivers.
If I am correct the only question might be HOW MANY IRAQI CIVILIANS
WERE KILLED in the time it took to play the Train song?
DEATH TOLL - probably up to 10.
Iraq on xmas @ 22:
Jesus Christ on a cracker, you say that like it's a good thing! Absolutley jaw-dropping... Still let me just highlight one portion of your quote: "Iraqi civilians"
Civilians, they're killing Iraqi CIVILIANS. Is there any part of that you're capable of understanding?
Indeed, and it would seem to me the gawddamned easiest solution to the impossible situation is to leave. Now. Problem solved. Yeah, we broke it but it's clear we don't have the skills to fix it. When it turns out the mechanic you took your broken car to is really an insurance salesman you do a little more checking and take it to a real mechanic. I don't know who the "real" mechanic for Iraq is (some sort of Arab League thingie methinks) but it sure as heck ain't us. We need to leave as we're not helping any more.
It's made complicated by our presence. If we leave it becomes an order of magnitude less complicated. Not perfect but waaay better than while we are there.
John, this video should be clipped together with shots of our congressional reps and senators making those recent public comments during the Blackwater hearings about what a great job Blackwater is doing, with the names and states/districts for each pro-Blackwater commenter, and with the dollar amounts given to that rep/senator by the lobbying firms representing these "global stabilization professionals" companies.
BTW, whatever came out of those hearings?
didnt i See them on Cris Hansen;s DATE LINE
to catch a contractor..........
Steve Humphreys @ 34:
Theses guys doing the shooting are Blackwater mercs I think...I doubt US Soldiers if they would do such a thing, would be stupid enough to film it...it's actions like this by mercenary thugs, that are causing so much trouble for our troops. These guys aren't bound by any laws evidently, and are acting with impunity.
See the pattern: "Information about ____ went unheeded"
A. Blackwater
B. Water boarding
C. Fake WMD
D. Iran peaceful efforts
E. Impeachable offenses
F. Over speculation in housing mortgages
G. FISA violations
H. NSA domestic surveillance without warrants
I. Inspector General loyalty to Bush, not Rule of law
J. Member of Congress complicity/refusal to investigate open information with war crimes
And the US wants to export its "model" to the world?
We live in a republic. Leaders are supposed to lead. Commentary is not conditioned upon personally visiting. Others can gather evidence, and the public can discuss media reports. This is non-sense:
Using this "reasoning",
- People are not allowed to comment on God or the Sun, because nobody has visited -- personally -- either the Sun or God.
- People are not permitted to discuss investigations, because they haven't "visited" the conclusions.
- People cannot comment on government activity because they are not part of the "complex system" of contacting and government.
No, We the People oversee the US government. We do not require personal experience to see this leadership has bungled this, and should be replaced. Nobody needs to personally visit Afhganistan before making voting decisions about whether the US leadership is or is not reckless.
This is an excellent reason to support a Cheney impeachment investigation, C&L sates above: "This has Cheney’s main man—David Addington’s fingerprints all over it. You know—how to get around existing laws..."
This President, VP, and legal counsel have used the American legal system as a cookbook of "things we want to violate and not get caught." Explains the RNC email destruction, and US Atty firings quite well. As with FISA, prisoner abuse, and warrantless interrogations of US citizens.
How many of these illegal things was Congress told about, but did nothing?
Now that the DNC controls Congress, their reason for still providing funding -- and not impeaching or investigating -- is what again?
Yes, the President did some nasty things with Blackwater. And this GOP-DNC Congress remains complicit. It's still writing the checks. How about some investigations and get some of that money returned to the US treasury?
This does not advocate violence, merely discusses what Geneva permits other nations to do if the rule of law is not asserted against the US government officials and Blackwater. If the US leadership will not enforce GEneva, then other nations may declare Blackwater contractors "unlawful combatants" and do to them what was done at GTMO and Abu Ghraib: "Enhanced interrogation parties." Geneva permits retaliation and reciprocal violations. Blackwater employees, even though living in tne NC area, could be subject to military reprisals by foreign nations under the laws of war. It would be nicer if this was handled through the legal process.
Linda @ 40:
Linda,
I appreciate your idea. But I'm tired of Congress getting away with saying, "We'll have a hearing into that" while Congress has been funding the very illegal activity it is "concerned" about (see also FISA violations, prisoner abuse, rendition). When Congress starts shutting off the money -- as is allowed by the Speaker, by her refusing to start an appropriation -- the GOP cannot force her to start funding something she chooses to not fund. Members of Congress may exclaim, "I'[m shocked," but when they still fund that "shocking" activity, and refuse to enforce contempt citations, the Members of Congress arent fully asserting all their lawful options to enforce the law.
They need to shut off th emoney first. Then hold hearings. Not have hearing to "decide" what to do; and then blame the President for not cooperating. Enough! SHut off the money. How many FISA violations have revealed how many sleeper cells in the US; and how many nuclear weapons in Iran? Zip.
Putting aside the contacting-funding-issue: If the US relies on mercenaries, and they violate the laws of war, but the US does nothing about it . . . .then other nations -- under the laws of war -- can retalate against similarly situated US persons. Congress cannot delegate war making to a contractor, but not expect other nations to enforce Geneva against the US Congress. US agents, are subject to GEneva; whether the US does or doesn't have a law or an interest is irrelevant: It is a legal requirement.
Congress is playing a dangerous game of pretending "the laws about Blackwater are vague." No, the Geneva conventions, when ignored, attach liabilities to the leadership who refuse to enforce the laws of war. If Blackwater, as Congress would have us believe, is "not {"under US control, then they are illegally waging warfare: They are "not" subject to command and control of US leadership. This violates the Geneva requirements behind a "lawful" combatant.
Blackwater can't have it both ways: Arguing that it is above the law, and outside oversight; but then expect the world to do nothing as it breaches Geneva. The US government didn't face a legal or military crisis requiring fast action; but the opposite: It methodically held hearings, awarded contracts, and made specific decisions to hire Blackwater. There was no urgency; and this many years after the original invasion, there is no excuse not to fully comply with Geneva; nor in holding Blackwater accountable to the Geneva obligations.
This does not advocate violance, only discusses the legal-military problem Blackwater creates for itself under Geneva, and when it refuses to comply with the Geneva conventions. If Blackwater argues that it "may" engage in Geneva violations in Iraq, then other nations -- under the Geneva-protected/recognized principle of retalation -- can legally engage in like violations of Genvea against the Blackwater HQ in NC. The JAGs well warned the DOD, DOJ, WH, and other legal counsel that the ICC could prosecute firms like Blackwater if they engaged in war crimes, prisoner abuses, or other violations of Geneva. This has been well known and documented within OVP since 2001.
Going through these comments it appears no one seems to have heard of the Carlyle Group. All of Bush's Cabinet are part of this group and they just happen to own all the defense companies in the USA. Also Erik Prince is part of this group, and several other merceneries. Most the Bush families have before we invaded Iraq had already got into position for profiteering off this war.
If you bother to check out the Carlyle Group you will understand why the Bush cabinet had lied us into war and who are making all the money we can't afford.
All the companies mentioned in these various articles belong to the Carlyle Group.
The only reason we are in Iraq, is oil, the benchmark they haven't agreed to that our Government is yaking about is the one which gives us 75% if their oil rights.
I was astonded to read in a older book of course about Iraq and how they were doing well before Kuwait.
Free medical, free school all the way through college. They were still as fornuate as we are but they were on their way to becoming a great country.
Suddan, Chaney and Rumsfeld and of course Haliburton and the Carlyle group were working a pipe line from Iraq to Jordan. But when Suddan refused to build it, that is when they decided he had to go.
Cia using the Kurds and other tribes had it all figured out and three times I read about vailed to assasinate Suddan.
Well it is on the net if you have time, I'm retired so so check on alot of stuff. Too much time on my hands.
I only hope we go to Hydrogen, stop Nasa from going through the Ozone and creating these holes.
Perhaps if the oil cartel never made a cheaper engine in the late 1800's so as to run on gasoline we wouldn't have any of these problems today. But then Greed is killing the world for all the rich want that is left is power. Which of course only costs lives, not theirs though.
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