Är Blackwater (som granskas i filmen Iraq For Sale nedan) ett säkerhetsföretag? Svenska Dagbladet: "Dödsskjutningarna den 16 september har rört upp starka känslor i Irak, där Blackwater av vissa ses som en privat armé som åtnjuter straffrihet."
Army of God? More Swedish .... Förutom att vara f.d. marinkårssoldat är Blackwaters grundare Eric Prince en missionerande kristen fundamentalist. - Link to Christian Freedom International, Board Members: Blackwater's founder Eric Prince.
Swedish media is referring to Blackwater as a Security Firm. To quote the quote above: "certain people in Iraq sees Blackwater as a private army...." A lot of people in the USA sees Blackwater as a war profiteering mercenary army, that is "en krigsprofiterande armé av legosoldater" in Swedish.
Just Another Blog (from L.A) seems to have the same view of Blackwater as this blog (but contains much more info on Blackwater's Mission Statement and so on):
Private Army of God
How long until these Christo-fascists decide that the so-called "War on Christmas" is a real, shooting, war & decide to take out a few Target stores w/ their "counter-insurgency aircraft" because Target employees are forced to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas?"
Though before that we'll probably see Blackwater overthrowing (for the sake of "security and peace," of course) governments where Christians are being "persecuted," as Christian Freedom International would have you believe. Eritrea seems like a good bet, as India, Egypt, & Pakistan might be too big for Blackwater to take on. Funny how the "majority rights" of the people in those countries aren't that important.
Robert Greenwald, Huffington Post:Erik Prince, Blackwater War Profiteer, Attacks Iraq for Sale
Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers (Google copy: move mouse pointer here to watch the full movie) tells the story of Erik Prince (video clip: The Tale of Prince - A War Profiteer) and Blackwater, and their consistent profiting from the war. As the film is seen across the United States, it is having a powerful effect on audiences. People are responding strongly to the emotional and gut wrenching story of Prince choosing profit over patriotism as he cuts corners at Blackwater in his relentless pursuit of money. The film tells the story of two young men who are killed as a result of Blackwater focusing on profits, and their grieving and enraged mothers. These mothers are taking the fight to Blackwater and when they see the film, audiences are also activated to take steps to stop Blackwater.
Sadly, rather than working to help and heal the mothers who have suffered this loss, Prince and his profiteering co-horts, have gone into attack mode. And in this case, ironically so with a company who sent out an email after the '04 election saying, "Bush Wins Four More Years!! Hooyah!" attacking Iraq for Sale for being "election year left wing politics."
New York Times: State Dept. Plans Tighter Control of Security Firm
In outlining the measures announced Friday, a State Department spokesman said they had been approved by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice based on the initial recommendations of Patrick F. Kennedy, the department’s director of management policy. Mr. Kennedy is the leader of a team Ms. Rice appointed to look at the way Blackwater and other private security contractors operate in Iraq.
Mr. Kennedy had originally selected Blackwater to provide security for top American civilian officials in Baghdad, when he served as chief of staff to L. Paul Bremer III, the administrator of the United States occupation authority in 2003 and 2004, Mr. Bremer said in an interview on Friday. That mission grew into a $1.2 billion multiyear security contract with the State Department for the company.
New York Times: Blackwater USA
Founded in 1998 by former Navy Seals, Blackwater USA says it has prepared tens of thousands of security personnel to work in hot spots around the world. At its complex in North Carolina, it has shooting ranges for high-powered weapons, buildings for simulating hostage rescue missions and a bunkhouse for trainees.
The Blackwater installation is so modern and well-equipped that Navy Seals stationed at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Norfolk, Va., routinely use it, military officials said. So do police units from around the country, who come to Blackwater for specialized training.
MOYOCK, N.C. - Today's after-lunch lesson: How to break a man's arm with your bare hands.
The students pay close attention. On a patch of grass under a powder-blue sky, they pair off to practice the moves - like the steps to some merciless dance: Hold here. Pivot there. Trap arm. Bend. And snap.
Slavko Ilic circles the grappling forms, darting in to shout encouragement or correct a technique. He's an extra-large martial arts expert. He sports a shaved head, chiseled arms and the look of a man who does not back down.
"Again!" Ilic barks. "Do it again!"
Getting it right in class now could be the difference between life and death later. Graduates are, most likely, headed to the messy battlefields of the war on terrorism - a fitful conflict with no front lines.
These men are not soldiers, at least not anymore. All have military experience, but in order to join a new breed of warriors - private security contractors - they must pass this eight-week, $20,000 course.
Opposition to Blackwater USA's Plans for New Private Military Base Near Potrero a Tiny Rural Town East of San Diego Heats Up...
SAN DIEGO, CA – - The controversial private security firm Blackwater USA is planning to build a new private military training base on an 824-acre ranch near Potrero, a tiny rural town east of San Diego near the US-Mexico border. The project, known as "Blackwater West," is coming under increasing fire by a growing coalition of local residents, environmentalists, peace activists, and recently joined by their Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA).
Raymond Lutz, President of the East County Democratic Club, will submit a resolution to the California Democratic Party State Convention to make private military bases, such as Blackwater West, illegal in California and more generally, to make any paramilitary, mercenary or similar boot camps illegal unless they are placed in safer, government-controlled locations.
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