Resident Scholars of the A.P.I.
STOP BLACKWATER #1 - Know Your Enemy
Blackwater. The term brings to mind dark, dangerous liquid, empoisoned foul, spoiled for drinking.
Blackwater. Strangled stagnant with rotting things; it does not flow fresh and clear.
Blackwater. Its warning stench advances through free air, commandeering the nostrils.
A pungent prelude of power perverting; Blackwater is not life sustaining. - kww
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This is the first of several Dishpan blogs that will focus exclusively on Blackwater USA, an aggressive militaristic corporation that poses the greatest threat to American democracy the citizens of this nation have ever faced.
Although Blackwater USA masquerades as a patriotic extension of the American Armed Forces, nothing could be further form the truth. Blackwater, run by war profiteers, is a Shadow Army...
The young man who appeared in the above video arrived locally last Wednesday evening (May 2nd.) in La Mesa, CA to lecture and sign his recently published book. The event was attended by several hundred concerned citizens. Journalist Jeremy Scahill, author of "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army" proved to be as skilled and passionate a speaker as he is a writer. It was refreshing and restorative both to listen to and meet him. An investigative journalist whose signature includes the words, "In Truth and Justice", Jeremy Scahill, is a courageous champion of American democracy, the Constitution, and human rights.
Privatization of the American military has been a long-term pet project of Nixon White House survivors Donald Rumsfeld, and Dick Cheney. Dedicated American fascists, the disgraced former Secretary of State and the current Vice President, conspired to divert tax payer funds from the legitimate US military to private armies of mercenaries, like Blackwater, whose loyalties for a price, would be to their corporate employers - not to the American people.
Remember those quaint, useless treaties disdained and discredited by George W. Bush and his Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales? The Geneva Conventions specifically ban the use of mercenary soldiers. Perhaps that is why the 180 private security companies in Iraq disguise the employment of highly paid, MERCENARY hired guns by referring to such employees as CONTRACTORS.
Blackwater USA, founded and run by multimillionaire Christian fundamentalist, Erik Prince, has risen by stealth and opportunism to become the world's largest private army since Hitler's Schutzstaffel or SS. Blackwater's ascension to power accelerated after 9/11 assisted by the "Commander Guy" and his evil Vice, Cheney. Think of all those lovely no-bid, open ended contracts!
The largest military contractor in the world with a 7,000 acre compound in North Carolina and a smaller installation in Illinois, Blackwater, is actively seeking to expand its bases in the United States and its influence within our governmental agencies. The corporation has recently trained its sites on Potrero, a small California town very near the Mexican border, by purchasing an 824 acre chicken ranch where it proposes to build a new military base. This location is not surprising considering that Blackwater is stalking the Border Patrol with privatization in mind.
This predatory corporation no doubt also chose the location in San Diego County with the goal of exploiting the Naval and Marine forces who are based nearby. Can you say Privatize? Its North Carolina base is strategically located near American military bases and the nation's capitol.
Eric Prince with a small air force, his own navy, and a surveillance blimp has also opened a private intelligence company. Will Blackwater's new operation, "Total Intelligence", deliver to Vice President Dick Cheney the Niger Yellow Cake kind of information that he prefers over truthful observation?
The rise of PMC (private military contractor) corporations is symptomatic of the Bush Administration's complete disregard and disdain for the Constitution and the freedoms it guarantees the citizens of this country.
Responsible citizenship and patriotism involve more than slapping a flag sticker on a vehicle or applauding a president's lies. We, here in California, have plunged ourselves into a crash course on Blackwater USA and military contractors in general, for this knowledge will be the weapon we wield to STOP BLACKWATER WEST. It is important to Know Your Enemy.
I call upon all who read this, especially my fellow bloggers, to study up and inform everyone. It will not be easy to end the privatization march toward fascism but we must. Blackwater and other companies like it need to be stopped locally and nationally.
Some ideas.... Suspend all private contractor operations - freeze all payments pending investigation - investigate - prosecute - legislate to prohibit privatization and the formation of private mercenary companies - dissolve the existing companies - find and refund the billions of dollars that went missing in the private contractors' private fog of war.
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~ ENLIGHTENING LINKS ~
Blackwater: The World's Largest Most Powerful Mercenary Army by Jeremy Scahill available here.
- This link will take you to Jeremy Scahill's Blackwater web page. Please purchase this book if you have not already or check your library and friends for borrowing options. It is a well written and very detailed, informative book. It is difficult to read only in that the subject matter is so disturbing. Read it a little at a time or group read aloud and have a discussion. Pass it on when you are done.
Stop Blackwater.net
This link documents the fight to keep Blackwater out of Potrero, California. Click on "Learn More..." to find a wealth of information and links to other sites. A very useful website.
Check out SourceWatch for some additional info on Blackwater USA
Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers - available here.
- this film by Robert Greenwald exposes the privatizated culture of corruption and greed that is sapping financial support from American troops every day in Iraq. It is also available for rent at Blockbuster.
Please visit Capitol Hill Blue for some up-to-date information on Blackwater, similar militaristic contractor firms, and discussion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Blackwater contractor spoke of his mercenary work as Peace Enforcement. Peace does not exist at the end of a gun - oppression does.
..................Kitchen Window Woman.......................
..................American Patriot Institute....................
Blackwater. Strangled stagnant with rotting things; it does not flow fresh and clear.
Blackwater. Its warning stench advances through free air, commandeering the nostrils.
A pungent prelude of power perverting; Blackwater is not life sustaining. - kww
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the first of several Dishpan blogs that will focus exclusively on Blackwater USA, an aggressive militaristic corporation that poses the greatest threat to American democracy the citizens of this nation have ever faced.
Although Blackwater USA masquerades as a patriotic extension of the American Armed Forces, nothing could be further form the truth. Blackwater, run by war profiteers, is a Shadow Army...
The young man who appeared in the above video arrived locally last Wednesday evening (May 2nd.) in La Mesa, CA to lecture and sign his recently published book. The event was attended by several hundred concerned citizens. Journalist Jeremy Scahill, author of "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army" proved to be as skilled and passionate a speaker as he is a writer. It was refreshing and restorative both to listen to and meet him. An investigative journalist whose signature includes the words, "In Truth and Justice", Jeremy Scahill, is a courageous champion of American democracy, the Constitution, and human rights.
Privatization of the American military has been a long-term pet project of Nixon White House survivors Donald Rumsfeld, and Dick Cheney. Dedicated American fascists, the disgraced former Secretary of State and the current Vice President, conspired to divert tax payer funds from the legitimate US military to private armies of mercenaries, like Blackwater, whose loyalties for a price, would be to their corporate employers - not to the American people.
Remember those quaint, useless treaties disdained and discredited by George W. Bush and his Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales? The Geneva Conventions specifically ban the use of mercenary soldiers. Perhaps that is why the 180 private security companies in Iraq disguise the employment of highly paid, MERCENARY hired guns by referring to such employees as CONTRACTORS.
Blackwater USA, founded and run by multimillionaire Christian fundamentalist, Erik Prince, has risen by stealth and opportunism to become the world's largest private army since Hitler's Schutzstaffel or SS. Blackwater's ascension to power accelerated after 9/11 assisted by the "Commander Guy" and his evil Vice, Cheney. Think of all those lovely no-bid, open ended contracts!
The largest military contractor in the world with a 7,000 acre compound in North Carolina and a smaller installation in Illinois, Blackwater, is actively seeking to expand its bases in the United States and its influence within our governmental agencies. The corporation has recently trained its sites on Potrero, a small California town very near the Mexican border, by purchasing an 824 acre chicken ranch where it proposes to build a new military base. This location is not surprising considering that Blackwater is stalking the Border Patrol with privatization in mind.
This predatory corporation no doubt also chose the location in San Diego County with the goal of exploiting the Naval and Marine forces who are based nearby. Can you say Privatize? Its North Carolina base is strategically located near American military bases and the nation's capitol.
Eric Prince with a small air force, his own navy, and a surveillance blimp has also opened a private intelligence company. Will Blackwater's new operation, "Total Intelligence", deliver to Vice President Dick Cheney the Niger Yellow Cake kind of information that he prefers over truthful observation?
The rise of PMC (private military contractor) corporations is symptomatic of the Bush Administration's complete disregard and disdain for the Constitution and the freedoms it guarantees the citizens of this country.
Responsible citizenship and patriotism involve more than slapping a flag sticker on a vehicle or applauding a president's lies. We, here in California, have plunged ourselves into a crash course on Blackwater USA and military contractors in general, for this knowledge will be the weapon we wield to STOP BLACKWATER WEST. It is important to Know Your Enemy.
I call upon all who read this, especially my fellow bloggers, to study up and inform everyone. It will not be easy to end the privatization march toward fascism but we must. Blackwater and other companies like it need to be stopped locally and nationally.
Some ideas.... Suspend all private contractor operations - freeze all payments pending investigation - investigate - prosecute - legislate to prohibit privatization and the formation of private mercenary companies - dissolve the existing companies - find and refund the billions of dollars that went missing in the private contractors' private fog of war.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ ENLIGHTENING LINKS ~
Blackwater: The World's Largest Most Powerful Mercenary Army by Jeremy Scahill available here.
- This link will take you to Jeremy Scahill's Blackwater web page. Please purchase this book if you have not already or check your library and friends for borrowing options. It is a well written and very detailed, informative book. It is difficult to read only in that the subject matter is so disturbing. Read it a little at a time or group read aloud and have a discussion. Pass it on when you are done.
Stop Blackwater.net
This link documents the fight to keep Blackwater out of Potrero, California. Click on "Learn More..." to find a wealth of information and links to other sites. A very useful website.
Check out SourceWatch for some additional info on Blackwater USA
Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers - available here.
- this film by Robert Greenwald exposes the privatizated culture of corruption and greed that is sapping financial support from American troops every day in Iraq. It is also available for rent at Blockbuster.
Please visit Capitol Hill Blue for some up-to-date information on Blackwater, similar militaristic contractor firms, and discussion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Blackwater contractor spoke of his mercenary work as Peace Enforcement. Peace does not exist at the end of a gun - oppression does.
..................Kitchen Window Woman.......................
..................American Patriot Institute....................
Labels: Blackwater, Bush, Cheney, contractor, Erik Prince, investigate, Jeremy Scahill, mercenary, Potrero, privatization, Rumsfeld, Stop Blackwater, war profiteers
posted by Kitchen Window Woman at 4:10 PM
19 Comments:
This is definitely something we all need to be very wary of. I first heard of Blackwater during Katrinagate. Their armed guards were protecting the largest mansions in New Orleans, making sure none of that riffraff might sneak in. That's certainly a higher priority than providing aid after a disaster.
Who Hijacked Our Country
Thank you Kitchen Window Woman for your insightful commentary on this privatization/fascist menace that is sweeping the country.
And, people shouldn't be confused about what the real goals are of this program are--complete control of the citizenry by a small cabal of wealthy capitalists who can't controls us using the checks and balances of state and federal laws, not to mention the constitution. This is a private army that, according to Scahill and others, will be free to operate unhampered by the constraints of law should an emergency happen, manufactured or not.
Do you want death squad militia from Pinochet's Argentina patrolling your street? Guys who haven't a clue what the Constitution. And, what about many of these top Blackwater execs who claim to be members of Knights of Malta! Knights of Malta are members of their own sovereign state recognized by the U.N. Does that mean we are being taken over by another country?
This is really serious folks. Think Handmaid's Tale. If you haven't read the book I would highly recommend it.
TOM...
Blackwater was paid 77 million $$ for patrolling the streets of New Orleans and terrorizing people. They were put on the payroll by FEMA /Home Land Security and were there for about 4 months. These are real bad people with a real bad agenda.
Anon...
This is real serious. I am glad that you know about the privatization/fascist menace - speak up and out - tell everyone you know. Blackwater and other PMCs need to be exposed.
I will be writing more on Blackwater because it poses a multi-layered threat to all of us and our families. There are several aspects that need to be examined. It is hard to write about because it is such a dirty subject.
This is really serious... include to that list, American Security Group, DynCorp, Wackenhut, the Israeli company called Instinctive Shooting International (ISI) and Intercon.
The right-wing Christian CEO and co-founder of Blackwater is none other than billionaire Erik Prince.
Remember you don't have to worry about "Posse Comitatus" when you have this type of force... everyone say thank you to Blackwater's President Gary Jackson.
Great post!!!
kitchen window women....
Another great post from you. I see that you see the same things I do when I think of Der Fuehrer Bush and his Gestapo minions.
See this post I did where I also saw the threat during the State of the Union message Der Fuehrer gave...
SOTU: Civilian Reserve Corps
We are in deep trouble over here and too many people just don't get it.
God Bless
This is a huge problem for us and the world. These guys are literally all over the planet. They are the private militias for the ultra-wealthy elite and they are killing Africans, Asians, and Latin Americans indiscriminately for their resources.
I remember reading "Leopold's Ghost" which tells the story of how the King of Belgium was using the Congo as his personal treasure box. His private army would go in and terrorize the Africans to work. If a man didn't work then the next morning he could find his young daughter's cut off foot waiting for him in front of his house.
This was a hundred years ago, and nothing has changed yet except that now they have grown into a force that almost is unstoppable, and it will be unless we really get the word out and protest in mass.
Let's Talk...
Because this issue is so serious it is very important that we bloggers keep the information flowing and the discussion going about Blackwater and private American militias . Keep on Blogging Brother!
Anon-paranoid...
I went in and read SOTU:Civilian Reserve Corps. It's a good one. I sure am glad that you wrote it.
We've all got to write as much as we can and then protest or demonstrate and anything else we can think of to stop this creeping fascism. We also need to demand that not only our troops be pulled out of Iraq - The Hired Guns Must Be Pulled Out, TOO! Blog On Brother!
Anonymous...
American has become a global bully under the Bush Administration but it was already behaving pretty badly beforehand. Too many Americans think that they are superior because of the color of their skin, because the are Christians, because they are wealthy and some like the poor Straussians mistakenly believe that they are intellectually superior. Americans are not superior!
America's use mercenary armies in other countries is just one of the many answers to the oft asked question, "Why Do They Hate Us"?
Geez, I hate what America has become and what it is doing, too. We are pretty stinky neighbors. Let's clean house and fix things!
They sure are the private militias for the ultra-wealthy elite! It doesn't surprise me that they are killing Africans, Asians, and Latin Americans indiscriminately for their resources, afterall they're taking after Shrub. When they don't like something they have it removed, they don't care how! GREAT post Kitchen Window Woman.
Kitchen Window Woman I've just finished reading a lot of your site and as I said "STOP BLACKWATER #1 - Know Your Enemy" is a great post... I'm adding you to my blog link.
EXCELLENT POST, KWW!!!
I so wanted to go to Schaill's talk last week...
we need to do everything we can to keep blackwater out of our back yard out here in east san diego. this corp is like a cancerous growth.
i have been meaning to write an article on this for the peace train...thanks for the nudge. =)
Let's Talk...
Thanks. I tried to add you yesterday but couldn't get your url so I had to wait for one of the tech geniuses(my husband or daughter) to help me. Finally I was able to add you as well.
bluegrrrrl...
It was an excellent lecture and the question/answer session afterwards was good, too.
I am trying to get part #2 on Blackwater up in the next few days. Then a Mother's Day piece and sometime after that, part #3. One advantage to us is that there are so many different dangerous and dirty layers of the privatization/mercenary scam that we will all have plenty to write about for a long time - and that keeps this horrible subject out there in the public eye!!! The more people we inform the harder it will be for these greedy, sick theothugs to gain more and/or maintain their current level of power.
Can't wait to see what you have to say about Blackwater on the Peace Train. Blog on!
dear k-w-w,
great post and comments. i keep thinking: "nobody should profit from war!" nobody should profit from killing or torture.
peace, peter
whiney, leftist propaganda. pure rubbish. what of the french and german mercenaries that helped george washington battle abd defeat the english during the revolutionary war? POLITIANS LOVE DISARMED PEASANTS. ANY AMERICAN THAT WOULD WILLINGLY TRADE HIS FREEDOMS FOR SECURITY HAS NEITHER.
THANKS TO THE GUN GRABBING LIARS THIS COUNTRY NEEDS UNITS LIKE BLACKWATER TO PROTECT THOSE THAT CANNOT PROTECT THEMSELVES. AS FOR ME, I PROTECT MYSELF AND MY OWN. THE POLICE MAY SHOW UP TO TAKE A REPORT AFTER THE FACT BUT I AM THE PROTECTOR AND I AM THE SOLDIER IN MY FAMILY. POST KATRINA N.O. NEEDED BLACKWATER FORCES TO PROTECT SOME OF THE CITIZENS SINCE MANY OF THE LOCAL P.D. TOOK OFF TO PROTECT THEIR OWN. I PROVIDE SECURITY FOR MY FAMILY, I PROVIDE FOOD FOR MY FAMILY, UNLKIKE MANY OF THE CITIZENS OF NEW ORLEANS, SITTING ON MY ROOF AND WAITING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FOR ME AND MINE WONT DO. SOME OF AMERICA HAS BEEN ON THE "PAD" OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR SO LONG THEY DONT KNOW HOW OR REFUSE TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND PROVIDE AND PROTECT THEIR OWN. SO
KEEP UP YOUR WHINING AND YOUR COMPLAINTS ABOUT WHATEVER IT IS YOU NEED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT. MEN, SOLDIERS LIKE ME WILL BE TAKING CARE OF OUR BUSINESS WHIEL GOD AND THE UNITED STATES MILITARY DO THEIR JOBS. FREEDOM ISNT FREE.
IT MAY BE TIME FOR A TEAPARTY AGAIN, BUT SAVE THE TEA AND THROW ALL THE POLITIONS IN THE HARBOR.
DEMARATS? REPUBLICANTS? GREEN PARTY
I AM SICK OF ALL THE "POLITICIANS" NAME CALLING, HE SAID, SHE SAID, HIGHSCHOOL CRAP. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD COME FIRST.PERIOD.
NOLI ME TANGERE
bullhocky
Good Christ, if I was as illiterate as the inbred cretin who styles himself "anonymous" is, I'd be ashamed to put up a name and a link too.
These people are the CORE SUPPORTERS of Chimpy! Americans, aren't you ALL proud?
I used to think the Bush playbook was Orwell's 1984, but now it is clear that they are also using "Revenge of the Clones". Here come the "Blackwater" clones. This was not good in the movie and is not good for us now and in the future. 1984 was always seen as a prophetic warning of the future. Now we see Star Wars in the same light.
This all comes to us from the same administration that violates our Constitution and siphons off our Treasury to their best contributors by embracing policies that provoke anger, war and fear. Sci-Fi is now reality.
Blackwater has deep ties Knights of Malta and Order of St George. St George is the oldest military order and had 2 Popes in the past as its Grand Master. Spicer belongs to the Order. Tony Schiena is its new Grand Prior and he has irrefutable links with African Intelligence and a division formerly called SCORPIONS. He also leads a Intergoverment Agency linked to the UN. St George Order is to be watched and investigated.
We think we have another location
being used by Blackwater (or South-west Law or Enforcement, or Raven
Development or Xe (pronounced Zee) or whatever they are calling themselves now)In Couser Canyon,
Valley Center, a quiet, secluded unincorporated area of North County San Diego. An 18 Ac.Avocado Grove owned by a policeman has hundreds of police & military, many being bused in along with horse trailers, and other eqiupment on our narrow PRIVATE road, (paid for by the grove owners fronting the road).In an interview with the North County Times. (Fri. July 17th, Front page & continued on A-6)it was claimed that the "explosions and gunfire is taped sound" and the smoke is a "smoke machine". Admitted to using shotguns with birdshot and "injuring animals for trauma practice" "No charge for using the property". Suddenly new gates with
4 (four) NO TRESSPASSING signs! We
need help to prove its them. The police & military seem to be in favor of the whole thing. He is probably being paid by Blackwater because they have been turned down at the other locations. HELP! Can we stop these people?
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