Democracy Now - don't miss it - Blackwater. Jeremy Skahill.

[peacetalksforall]

Skahill has written a book and it's moving off the shelves.

I learned plenty and there is more tomorrow.

I learned that Blackwater is acting with military authority in military situations including one that is considered a massacre. They are calling the shots - as a military serviceman or woman would.

I learned about Eric Prince.

[babylonsister]

1. I watched and it made me almost physically ill.

At one point Blackwater was issuing orders to soldiers in the heat of battle? :wtf:

[zulchzulu]

2. Remember Blackwater when Chimpy declares martial law

The story was on Fresh air yesterday:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8992128

Scary stuff...

[peacetalksforall]

3. Blackwater has its main contract with the STATE DEPT, not DOD?

[Solo_in_MD]

4. BW has a massive amount of smaller contracts, not one large omnibus

that is an artifact of how their business grew. Over time I would expect to see fewer and larger contracts.

[louis-t]

5. I have been looking for proof of this.

I have a family member (ex-military, bushbot) who claimed that NATO commanders were ordering our troops around in the Balkans during the Clinton Admin. She was outraged and claimed it was illegal. I wonder what she'll say to this?

[peacetalksforall]

6. Was NATO headed by Wes Clark at that time? nt

[louis-t]

7. Don't know.

[Moochy]

8. Links to the video and audio

http://play.rbn.com/?url=demnow/demnow/demand/2007/march/video/dnB20070320a.rm&proto=rtsp

http://www.archive.org/download/dn2007-0320/dn2007-0320-1_64kb.mp3

If you like it, please try and contribute, or even better, join your local Pacifica affiliate!

[peacetalksforall]

9. k for your education - know thy enemy - "privateers"

[Moochy]

10. I heard the NPR interview yesterday

It was also very good. This was good too, but the Fresh Air interview will probably reach more people. Terri Gross was very good. Can't wait for tomorrow's interview gonna buy the book too.

[supernova]

11. I'm really torn about Blackwater

that they have their home base here in my beloved NC galls me no end. OTOH, if we work to make them leave (long-shot I know), where would they go? And would we know even less about their "work" than we do now?

The whole issue sickens me. :-(

[LSK]

12. I think Skahill will be on with Thom Hartmann tomorrow