Blackwater's Bu$ine$$

[Orwellian_Ghost]

Blackwater's Bu$ine$$

By Jeremy Scahill

12/06/07 "The Nation" -- -- Gunning down seventeen Iraqi civilians in an incident the military has labeled "criminal." Multiple Congressional investigations. A federal grand jury. Allegations of illegal arms smuggling. Wrongful death lawsuits brought by families of dead employees and US soldiers. A federal lawsuit alleging war crimes. Charges of steroid use by trigger-happy mercenaries. Allegations of "significant tax evasion." The US-installed government in Iraq labeling its forces "murderers." With a new scandal breaking practically every day, one would think Blackwater security would be on the ropes, facing a corporate meltdown or even a total wipeout. But it seems that business for the company has never been better, as it continues to pull in major federal contracts. And its public demeanor grows bolder and cockier by the day.

Rather than hiding out and hoping for the scandals to fade, the Bush Administration's preferred mercenary company has launched a major rebranding campaign, changing its name to Blackwater Worldwide and softening its logo: once a bear paw in the site of a sniper scope, it's now a bear claw wrapped in two half ovals--sort of like the outline of a globe with a United Nations feel. Its website boasts of a corporate vision "guided by integrity, innovation, and a desire for a safer world." Blackwater mercenaries are now referred to as "global stabilization professionals." Blackwater's 38-year-old owner, Erik Prince, was No. 11 in Details magazine's "Power 50," the men "who control your viewing patterns, your buying habits, your anxieties, your lust.... the people who have taken over the space in your head."

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http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18842.htm

[peacetalksforall]

1. Out with the puppet and puppeteer and the churches and more haves they rode in on

and the private army they begot. Black shirts of nazism, facism. Perfect for some church-goers and ceo's plus their stockholders. The truth hurts. Honor the pain and decide what you can do to educate one more person. Tell them its going to hurt when the realization settles in. The more who know what is really going on, the less the pain for all of us. We must start demanding that there be NO MORE OF OUR MONEY TO PAY THESE PEOPLE. Starving kids and a well fed and supplied killing team reigns.

[bobthedrummer]

2. Welcome to DU, Orwellian_Ghost-here's a couple of Blackwater threads

as a virtual welcome wagon gift, share them freely.

"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