LOL Blackwater loses U of I contract

[wndycty]

Report: U of I severs police institute, Blackwater partnership
AP

August 22, 2007 (CHICAGO) - The University of Illinois has canceled a partnership between its police-training institute and a military contractor best known for providing security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan because of a potential conflict of interest, according to a published report.

The university, which inked the five-year deal in May, scrapped the partnership with Blackwater USA because the institute's director, Tom Dempsey, hadn't informed the school he was negotiating personal contracting work with Blackwater while helping coordinate the partnership, the Chicago Tribune reported in Wednesday editions.

In a recent letter sent to Blackwater and obtained by the newspaper, Chancellor Richard Herman said the deal was entered into "in a manner which was inconsistent with university policy."

The report did not specify when the letter was sent or exactly when the agreement was severed. Messages seeking comment were left with the university and Blackwater early Wednesday.
-snip-

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=5592821

[seemslikeadream]

1. YES

[Sequoia]

2. Clap, clap, clap, whistle, cheer!

[cascadiance]

3. Damn, for a minute I thought my alma mater "U of I" (Iowa) gave a finger to Blackwater...

Oh well... That's what I get for thinking U of I is not a "shared" definition! :)

But good for Illinois to do this!

Now if we can only get the Big Ten Network to flip their finger at Murdoch, Fox and Newscorp with that contract so perhaps we can watch some games on Saturday this year!

[shadowknows69]

4. this phrase struck me as odd

In a recent letter sent to Blackwater and obtained by the newspaper, Chancellor Richard Herman said the deal was entered into "in a manner which was inconsistent with university policy."

Is Blackwater literally trying to muscle its way into these contracts. Maybe I watched too many Sopranos eps but it smells like extortion.

[soothsayer]

6. nah, prolly some 'good ol' boy' buddy buddy thing

[soothsayer]

5. bwa ha ha!