Blackwater Mercenaries Invade Tribute to U.S. Veterans

[marmar]

from HuffPost:




RJ Eskow
Blackwater Mercenaries Invade Tribute to U.S. Veterans
Posted December 6, 2007 | 08:43 PM (EST)



If there is one issue that unites Left and Right in the United States today, it's respect for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Blackwater's mercenaries, on the other hand, pull down six-figure incomes and serve only their self-interest.

Our soldiers perform their duty with courage and discipline. But Blackwater's employees act like the Wild Bunch did when William Holden wasn't around. They endanger American troops with behavior that inflames local hostility toward the occupying forces. They claim exemption from military and civilian law, shoot Iraqi civilians, and run cars off the road without provocation.

Most importantly, Blackwater mercenaries aren't American soldiers. So what are they doing participating in Fleet Week Celebrations intended "to honor the men and women serving in the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps"?

Lucas O'Connor reports on San Diego State's Fleet Week Football Classic in Calitics:

For at least the second year in a row (probably all three), the halftime show included an American flag being parachuted onto the field by members of a nation parachutist team...who happen to work for Blackwater and use parachutes emblazoned with the Blackwater logo.

Our citizen-based military is an essential part of who we are as a republic and a people. But this Administration uses mercenaries in unprecedented ways: to skirt military and civilian law, and to help its supporters and donors to get rich at public (and soldiers') expense. And while this Administration has skimped on needed medical care for wounded heroes, forced soldiers' families to pay for their body armor, and tried to hold down soldiers' pay raises, it has no problem letting Blackwater and other companies pocket fat profit margins from the same military budget. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/blackwater-mercenaries-in_b_75724.html

[ManiacJoe]

1. A rather misleading title that you copied.

Blackwater was there because they were specifically hired to participate by the organizers.

[marmar]

2. Umm, if I'm going to post a piece, I'm going to use the title that's on it....

Lo siento.

[Alameda]

5. The content

is what's important, and I agree this is a slap in the face...


Patriotism isn't like professional sports or pop music. It shouldn't have a "corporate sponsor" - especially one that profits from the same conflicts that take the lives of our citizen-soldiers. So what, exactly, is the Fleet Week organizing group trying to accomplish? Should football fans salute the Blackwater logo along with the American flag? If not, why is it there?

(And which logo was used this year - the aggressive black one, or the more tranquil white one it adopted shortly after Blackwater used a Burson Marsteller subsidiary to soften its image?)

Blackwater's participation in a patriotic event like this one reflects badly on the event's organizers. They should send the mercenaries home from Fleet Week. Guns-for-hire have no part in a celebration of American heroism.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/blackwater-mercenaries-in_b_75724.html

[peacetalksforall]

3. All the missing money has been stolen.

Secret private sub-governments with private armies must be funded.
They took your money to pay for their own private profit and control agenda.

They stole from all os us before and after they lied to us.

When is the theft going to stop.

Where in our nations' documents does it say that the Dept of State can operate a private army?

[bobthedrummer]

4. A couple of Blackwater related links for this evening, marmar

"What questions would you like to put to Blackwater's founder, Erik Prince, next week?" (started 9-29-2007)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1942542

"Why isn't J. Coffer Black a household name? He should have recognition with we that know our BFEE" (started 10-3-2007)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1967405

[marmar]

6. Thx for the linx, bob!

:hi:

[bobthedrummer]

7. Anytime my friend. n/t

:hi:

[rockybelt]

8. Since these people are mercenaries

what happens when they are hired by a foreign government?
What if that foreign government wants them to attack the U.S.? After all they are mercenaries and mercenaries will fight for the highest bidder.
Right now the highest bidder is bushco, but what if?

What if a foreign country hired Blackwater, or another mercenary corporation, to fight against American troops?

What if they were hired to overthrow a friendly government for the benefit of corporations?

What if they were hired either by our "government" or a foreign government to act as an enhanced police department?

Ask yourself "What if?" and then inundate your representatives to stop this.

After all, as you can read from the original thread it is already happening.

[hootinholler]

9. The dark prince would never allow that.

:sarcasm:

[Golden Raisin]

11. Every Democratic (and Republican) Leader

and every candidate for the Presidency should be screaming publicly about Blackwater at the top of their lungs. The disgraceful silence from both parties is deafening. And where are the Joint Chiefs? Or are they happy that BushCo has installed a private army of mercenaries, in competition with the official armed forces of the USA, paid for by citizen tax dollars, that basically amount to a bunch of paid stormtroopers? And out of control ones at that! Methinks the Founding Fathers are spinning in their graves.

[bagrman]

19. They don't want a visit in the middle of the night or their dog to come up missing.

[stillcool]

13. Not if...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2138878,00.html
Wednesday August 1, 2007
The Guardian
A very private war
A decade ago, Blackwater barely existed; and yet its "diplomatic security" contracts since mid-2004, with the State Department alone, total more than $750m (£370m). It protects the US ambassador andother senior officials in Iraq as well as visiting Congressional delegations; it trains Afghan security forces, and was deployed in the oil-rich Caspian Sea region, setting up a "command and control" centre just miles from the Iranian border. The company was also hired to protect emergency operations and facilities in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, where it raked in $240,000 (£120,000) a day from the American taxpayer, billing $950 (£470) a day per Blackwater contractor.
---------------------
At present, Blackwater has forces deployed in nine countries and boasts a database of 21,000 additional troops at the ready, a fleet of more than 20 aircraft, including helicopter gun-ships, and the world's largest private military facility - a 7,000-acre compound in North Carolina. It recently opened a new facility in Illinois (Blackwater North) and is fighting local opposition to a third planned domestic facility near San Diego (Blackwater West) by the Mexican border. It is also manufacturing an armoured vehicle (nicknamed the Grizzly) and surveillance blimps.
------------------------------------------------------------------
In early 2005, Blackwater held an extravagant, invitation-only Greystone "inauguration" at the swanky Ritz-Carlton hotel in Washington, DC. The guest list for the seven-hour event included weapons manufacturers, oil companies and diplomats from the likes of Uzbekistan, Yemen, the Philippines, Romania, Indonesia, Tunisia, Algeria, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Kenya, Angola and Jordan. Several of those countries' defence or military attaches attended. "It is more difficult than ever for your country to successfully protect its interests against diverse and complicated threats in today's grey world," Greystone's promotional pamphlet told attendees. "Greystone is an international security services company that offers your country or organisation a complete solution to your most pressing security needs."
***An extract from Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army (published by Serpent's Tail, price £12.99). © 2007 Jeremy Scahill. To order a copy for £11.99 with free UK p&p go to guardian.co.uk/bookshop or call 0870 836 0875.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/5/prweb64820.htm
Melbourne, Florida based Aviation Worldwide Services owns and operates STI Aviation, Inc. Air Quest, Inc. and Presidential Airways, Inc. which specialize in military training operations and aviation transport.

Moyock, North Carolina (PRWEB) April 28, 2003 – Blackwater USA (“Blackwater”) announced today that its parent company has successfully completed the acquisition of Aviation Worldwide Services and its affiliated companies (“AWS”).

AWS is an aviation services company founded by Richard Pere and Tim Childrey focused on military training operations and aviation transport for the U.S. Government. AWS supports U.S. and other government agencies worldwide. AWS conducts business under three operating subsidiaries: STI Aviation, Inc. Air Quest, Inc. and Presidential Airways, Inc. Presidential Airways is an FAA Part 135 operation and STI Aviation is an FAA/JAA 145 repair station.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/5/prweb64820.htm

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Greystone%2C... .
Greystone, Ltd. is a division of Blackwater USA formed to market Blackwater's services to governments and other entitities outside the United States. Its website describes it as "...an international supplier of turn-key security solutions. Greystone focuses on providing stability to locations experiencing turmoil whether caused by armed conflict, epidemics, or natural or man-made disasters. Greystone has the ability to quickly and efficiently deploy anywhere in the world to create a more secure environment for our customers. We take pride in our agility, speed, and ability to execute – taking into account the surrounding culture."<1>
Greystone is a member of the International Peace Operations Association and the Private Security Company Association of Iraq.
---------------

Guest list at Greystone's 2005 inaugural event........
http://www.greystone-ltd.com/docs/Greystone%20guest%20list.pdf
Due to an apparent oversight, the full guest list for the 2005 'inauguration' has been left as a PDF file on Greystone's webserver. It is not linked in from any pages on the site, but is nevertheless readily accessible to the public. The document does not state it is for the inaugural event, but both the date and the list of diplomats agree with information given in Jeremy Scahill's August 2007 Guardian article.<6>
-------------------------
Satelles Solutions, Inc.
Satelles Solutions, Inc. is a Philippines-based subsidiary of Greystone, Ltd.,<1> which itself is a subsidiary of private military corporation Blackwater USA.<2>

Presidential Airways, Inc. is a sister company to Aviation Worldwide Services, LLC (AWS), both of which are owned by Blackwater USA, Melbourne, FL.

Aviation Worldwide Services, LLC
Aviation Worldwide Services LLC (AWS) is a sister company to Presidential Airways, Inc., both of which are owned by Blackwater USA, Melbourne, FL. AWS owns the planes, and Presidential Airways operates them.<1>

The company appears to provide air services to the CIA - flight records show that its N964BW has made at least two trips to the agency's Camp Peary training facility,<2> and N962BW went there in May 2006.<3> Another plane it owns, N968BW, flew from Washington Dulles International Airport to Camp Peary on March 13, 2007. <4>

*FROM THE WEBSITE

Blackwater USA consists of five separate business units: Blackwater Training Center (the largest private firearms and tactical training center in the U. S.), Blackwater Target Systems, Blackwater Security Consulting, Blackwater Canine, and Raven Development Group. We also have relationships with our strategic partners, Aviation Worldwide Services and Greystone Ltd.

We are not simply a "private security company." We are a professional military, law enforcement, security, peacekeeping, and stability operations firm who provides turnkey solutions. We assist with the development of national and global security policies and military transformation plans. We can train, equip and deploy public safety and military professionals, build live-fire indoor/outdoor ranges, MOUT facilities and shoot houses, create ground and aviation operations and logistics support packages, develop and execute canine solutions for patrol and explosive detection, and can design and build facilities both domestically and in austere environments abroad

International Training
Past or Current Projects
Greece – In 2003, Blackwater USA trained special security teams that were preparing to the 2004 Olympic Games held in Greece

Azerbaijan – In 2005 Blackwater USA was contracted to enhance Azerbaijan Naval Sea Commando’s maritime interdiction capability. The contract included the facility up-grades, supply of basic maritime equipment, development of recruiting material, and maritime interdiction training.

Afghanistan – Currently, Blackwater USA is training various groups of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior in weapons and tactical operations. This training is in direct support of US Drug Enforcement Agency’s efforts to build a robust and capable narcotics interdiction capability.
For more information on International Training please email us at: [e-mail]
---------------------
Blackwater Global Stability Solutions

Blackwater USA, has a proven track record of superior advisory support to government agencies and private organizations. We are in position across the globe ready to provide rapid planning consultation, rapid mobility/logistics, and security assistance support in areas devastated by war or natural disasters.
When failure is not an option and hope is not enough
--------------------
Blackwater Training Headquarters - Moyock, NC
On over 6000 acres of private land and we have trained and hosted over 50,000 Law Enforcement, Military and civilian personnel.

Airships

Blackwater Airships LLC was established in January 2006 as the newest Blackwater venture -- with a mission to build a remotely piloted airship vehicle (RPAV). Although seemingly different from the traditional Blackwater mission, this new venture to provide a persistent surveillance capability is fully consistent with the Blackwater goal of offering solutions which help to protect our forces wherever they are deployed and support our homeland security.
---------------------------------------
The prototype Polar 400 is completing propulsion ground tests and when fully assembled will undergo test flights and then move into production by mid-year 2007. Following successful demonstration flights, Blackwater Airships will begin selling or leasing airships to Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and other government customers. The Polar 400 is designed to operate for 48 to 60 hours at altitudes from 5,000 to 15,000 feet. The unique design of the RPAV propulsion system will give it the capability to loiter over a desired location with excellent low-speed maneuverability, along with an ability to fly at up to 50 knots to move quickly to and from a target area

Grizzly APC

The leader in the high-threat security industry, Blackwater incorporates real-world lessons learned on the streets of Iraq and Afghanistan into all of our operations. Now, we’ve gone one step further.
Blackwater presents the GRIZZLY™ – the world’s only Armored Personnel Carrier intended to counter the most lethal threats in the modern urban combat environment.
The GRIZZLY™ incorporates the Blackwater High Threat Armor Protection System TM (patent pending). This state-of-the-art technology is an exceptional armor system unmatched in the urban APC market. The Blackwater High Threat Armor Protection System is engineered to defeat projectiles up to .50 caliber and to provide an IED-survivable envelope.
We are committed to manufacturing excellence. We are dedicated to your safety in the field.

Greystone is an international supplier of turn-key security solutions. Greystone focuses on providing stability to locations experiencing turmoil whether caused by armed conflict, epidemics, or natural or man-made disasters.
Greystone has the ability to quickly and efficiently deploy anywhere in the world to create a more secure environment for our customers. We take pride in our agility, speed, and ability to execute – taking into account the surrounding culture.
http://www.greystone-ltd.com/

Saturday, June 17, 2006
Senator to look into mercenary list-up, exercises in Subic
SENATOR Rodolfo Biazon will file a resolution seeking to investigate the lease of properties, including a protected area in Subic, Zambales, for the recruitment and training ground for American soldiers for their war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Biazon, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said on Friday that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) had approved the lease contract with Satelles Solutions, Inc., an affiliate of American security agency Greystone Limited involved in recruitment and training of prospective American soldiers.
-----------------------------------------
The senator wondered which countries the recruits will come from. Blackwater USA, also an American security agency involved in recruitment and training of prospective American soldiers that has set up similar establishments in Guatemala, has been recruiting trainees from Chile, Guatemala, Colombia, El Salvador, and Honduras.

Blackwater was actually the one applying for a lease contract with the SBMA but it was granted to Greystone.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2006/06/17/news/senator.to.look.into.mercenary.list.up.exercises.in.subic.html

[rockybelt]

14. HOLY FUCK!!!!

This is what I mean when I say that I am getting one hell of an education on DU.

From this litany of corporations it becomes evident to me that everything for rule number 10 is in place when you want to establish a dictatorship. You must supply your own personal army.

This goes way beyond a personal army. This goes to a world wide private army ready to do the work of the highest bidder.

HOLY FUCK!

OK, how do we stop it now?

[stillcool]

22. The battle of the Titans?

I really don't have a clue. I think of Venezuela and their actions to get out from under these global corporations, but we are ruled by the United States of Corporations. I see the Pentagon as a multi-national corporation selling war. They build the weapons and war will come..and I think there is a pseudo-security (maybe not so pseudo) that comes as a result of being the home-base for all this power.

[Initech]

21. Holy crap! Time to dissolve these motherfuckers!

:yoiks:

[bagrman]

18. Might happen sooner then you think when all those US dollars

loose half their value.

[tbyg52]

10. Lately I seem to be wearing out my f*** you finger. reflex...

This certainly triggered it. A Blackwater logo on a tribute to our *real* troops. In San Diego, my adopted home town that I wish desperately I could afford to move back to. Disgusting.

[SixString]

12. "Our citizen-based military is an essential part of who we are as a republic and a people."

Yeah, just like the minutemen, huh?

[rockybelt]

15. The original minutemen were real patriots

The term "minutemen" came from the fact that they were ready to pick up arms at a minutes notice and fight and die for their cause. The minutemen were originally a group of Massachusetts militia that would be ready to fight on literally a minutes notice. They were true patriots.

Later groups took on the term of minutemen to disguise what they were really up to. Mostly racist groups adopted the name.

The term minutemen has passed its literal meaning only to be bastardized to fit an agenda.

[kineneb]

16. f***ing mercs- hated down through the centuries

(sorry for bleeped curse)

And now for a early 16th century view which sums up why using mercenaries is a bad idea:

From The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, ~1515

Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous. If a prince bases the defense of his state on mercenaries he will never achieve stability or security. For mercenaries are disunited, thirsty for power, undisciplined, and disloyal; they are brave among their friends and cowards before the enemy; they have no fear of God, they do not keep faith with their fellow men; they avoid defeat just so long as they avoid battle; in peacetime you are despoiled by them, and in wartime by the enemy. The reason for all this is that there is no loyalty or inducement to keep them on the field apart from the little they are paid; and this is not enough to make them want to die for you. They are only too ready to serve in your army when you are not at war; but when war comes they either desert or disperse.

---

Mercenary commanders are either skilled in warfare or they are not: if they are, you cannot trust them, because they are anxious to advance their own greatness, either by coercing you, their employer, or by coercing others against your own wishes. If, however the commender is lacking in prowess,in the normal way he brings about your ruin. If anyone argues that this is true of any other armed force, mercenary or not, I reply that armed forces must be under the control of either a prince or a republic: a prince should assume personal command and captain his troops himself; a republic must appoint its own citizens, and when a commander so appointed turns out incompetent, should change him, and if he is competent, it should limit his authority by statute. Experience has shown that only princes and armed republics achieve solid success, and that mercenaries bring nothing but loss; and a republic which has its own citizen army is far less likely to be subjugated by one of its own citizens than a republic whose forces are not its own.

---

Mercenary armies bring only slow, belated, and feeble conquests, but sudden, startling defeat.

[Bright Eyes]

17. Bush's Praetorian Guard NT

[bobthedrummer]

20. Alvin "Buzzy" Krongard kick