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THE Blackwater Thread (merged)
Re: Blackwater security banned from Iraq
by dorlomin » Wed 19 Sep 2007, 05:10:21
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jboogy', 'I') could be wrong but I think Blackwater numbers around 30,000 heavily armed , highly trained former specialforces types with bad attitudes.
There are estimated to be about 130 000 independent security contractors working in Iraq, however Blackwater is believed to number around 1000. They tend to work on very very high end of the spectrum acting as body guards to the most elite including General Patraeus and as effectively a branch of special forces.
The choice to crack down on Blackwater specificaly is far more likely due to there very high profile association with the Bush administration making this an easy way to look like the Maliki government is getting tough on the occupation forces without seriously destablising core operaterations. I would love to see whom amoung the Iraqi government has Blackwater protection.... and which millitia's they have been targetting recently.
Other security companies have massively larger numbers on the ground, but many of them are pretty much low paid Iraqi's and 3 nation individuals (i.e. Philipino's).
I would hazard a guess that this action is more for domestic Iraqi consumption where Muqtada al Sadr has been growing in popularity over the more traditional Shia parties (al Dawa and the former SCIRI) due to his fiercely anti occupation rhetoric as opposed to the latters close association with the occupation. Especialy given that he has pulled many of his MP's from the governing coalition this week.
British troops are allegedly being redeployed along the Iranian border as well, this is being taken as part of the preperation for a war with Iran in some quarters. I would speculate that it is a possible sign from al Dawa and the former SCIRI parties that they will not tollerate attacks against Iran, making a clear move against a group close to the Bush administration to lay down a marker that there are lines they refuse to cross. But that is very much my speculation.
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Re: Blackwater security banned from Iraq
by Laughs_Last » Wed 19 Sep 2007, 09:24:37
There is a simple (stupid?) solution to Bushco's Blackwater dilemma. The CEO of Blackwater could fire all his employees, quit in disgrace, then form a new company called Greywater, and hire back all former Blackwater employees. Rinse and repeat as needed.
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Re: Blackwater security banned from Iraq
by Denny » Wed 19 Sep 2007, 13:18:57
Condoleezza Rice is apologizing to Iraq on behalf of the American in an effort to have the decision set aside.
See The Guardian
One key excerpt from the article:
" Jawad al-Bolani, the interior minister, said: "This is such a big crime that we can't stay silent. Anyone who wants to have good relations with Iraq has to respect Iraqis."
He told al-Arabiya television that foreign contractors "must respect Iraqi laws and the right of Iraqis to independence on their land."
It seems that the Americans and the British have never really respected the Iraqi people. Though they claim to be bringing democracy to the people, in reality its still very much a puppet government. While Iraqis are suffering with shortages of electricity, water and medical care, the "green zone" is an oasis in Baghdad reserved just for the occupying power.
It must seem a lot like Roman Empire times to the Iraqis.
See The Guardian
One key excerpt from the article:
" Jawad al-Bolani, the interior minister, said: "This is such a big crime that we can't stay silent. Anyone who wants to have good relations with Iraq has to respect Iraqis."
He told al-Arabiya television that foreign contractors "must respect Iraqi laws and the right of Iraqis to independence on their land."
It seems that the Americans and the British have never really respected the Iraqi people. Though they claim to be bringing democracy to the people, in reality its still very much a puppet government. While Iraqis are suffering with shortages of electricity, water and medical care, the "green zone" is an oasis in Baghdad reserved just for the occupying power.
It must seem a lot like Roman Empire times to the Iraqis.
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Re: Blackwater security banned from Iraq
by Twilight » Wed 19 Sep 2007, 14:32:34
So that's the measure of progress, is it? One PMC with <1% of local market share has its activities frozen, and the US government can't go for a drive? How many benchmarks did they meet again?
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Re: Blackwater security banned from Iraq
by jboogy » Thu 20 Sep 2007, 18:46:10
Jeremy Scahill absolutely shreds this shill , I can't believe the stinkin' smirk on this guys face , it's like he's admitting he's full of shit and daring anyone to do somethin' about it.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/09/2 ... lackwater/
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/09/2 ... lackwater/
Perhaps the population would be less swayed to socialism if we had fewer examples of socialism from our "Free Market Capitalists". -----fiddler dave
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Re: Blackwater security banned from Iraq
by jboogy » Fri 21 Sep 2007, 22:53:39
Perhaps the population would be less swayed to socialism if we had fewer examples of socialism from our "Free Market Capitalists". -----fiddler dave
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Re: Blackwater security banned from Iraq
by Lore » Fri 21 Sep 2007, 23:04:03
What did you expect?
Who runs Barter Town?
Who runs Barter Town?
The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life.
... Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Blackwater security banned from Iraq
by jboogy » Fri 21 Sep 2007, 23:16:30
Exactly what happened , I'm surprised they didn't "retire" Maliki for daring to suggest Blackwater leave.
Perhaps the population would be less swayed to socialism if we had fewer examples of socialism from our "Free Market Capitalists". -----fiddler dave
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Re: Blackwater security banned from Iraq
by Zardoz » Sat 22 Sep 2007, 03:40:24
What a bunch of low-lifes:
Feds probe Blackwater links to arms smuggling - Reports: Weapons linked to employees may have gone to terrorist groups
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'F')ederal prosecutors are investigating whether employees of the private security firm Blackwater USA illegally smuggled into Iraq weapons that may have been sold on the black market and ended up in the hands of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, officials said Friday.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Raleigh, N.C., is handling the investigation with help from Pentagon and State Department auditors, who have concluded there is enough evidence to file charges, the officials told The Associated Press. Blackwater is based in Moyock, N.C.
Feds probe Blackwater links to arms smuggling - Reports: Weapons linked to employees may have gone to terrorist groups
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'F')ederal prosecutors are investigating whether employees of the private security firm Blackwater USA illegally smuggled into Iraq weapons that may have been sold on the black market and ended up in the hands of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, officials said Friday.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Raleigh, N.C., is handling the investigation with help from Pentagon and State Department auditors, who have concluded there is enough evidence to file charges, the officials told The Associated Press. Blackwater is based in Moyock, N.C.
Iraq Probe of U.S. Security Firm Grows - Blackwater, Accused of Killing 11 on Sunday, Cited in Earlier Deaths
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')raq's probe into a deadly shooting by Blackwater USA in Baghdad last weekend has expanded to include allegations about the security firm's involvement in six other violent episodes this year that left at least 10 Iraqis dead.
The incidents include the killing of three guards at a state-run media complex and the shooting death of an Iraqi journalist outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Brig. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf, chief spokesman for the Interior Ministry.
The U.S. Embassy and the group protect each other, says a diplomat, as Iraqis doubt an inquiry will yield any results.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'H')abib Sadr was sitting at his desk when the shots rang out. A sniper had just shot three security guards outside his office at the government-run Iraqi Media Network.
With the fatally wounded guards lying by their checkpoint, a security convoy rolled into the neighboring Justice Ministry compound. Sadr believed the sniper was with them. The incident, he said, was a brutal introduction into the world of private security contractors.
An internal investigation by Sadr's department found that Blackwater USA was responsible. But seven months after the Feb. 7 shootings no one has been charged.
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