Blackwater USA - $1B US Contractor - Steps Up Lobbying Efforts - Your Tax Dollars at Work!

[marmar]

from AfterDowningStreet.org:




Blackwater USA - $1B US Contractor - Steps Up Lobbying Efforts - Your Tax Dollars at Work!
Submitted by Chip on Wed, 2008-01-09 23:26. Congress | Evidence | General Discussion
Blackwater USA steps up lobbying efforts

Private-security contractor Blackwater Worldwide, which protects U.S. government officials in Iraq and faces scrutiny over its role in the shooting deaths of Iraqi civilians, has ramped up its lobbying representation on Capitol Hill.

Law firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice was tapped by the company, whose chairman is Erik Prince, a Holland native. They've been hired to lobby the government on contracting and other issues, according to the form posted online Tuesday by the Senate's public records office.

Womble Carlyle is the third lobbying firm to be hired by Moyock, N.C.-based Blackwater since October.

The company has attracted considerable congressional scrutiny and criticism from the Iraqi government and human rights groups for its involvement in several dozen shooting incidents.

Federal prosecutors are investigating the Sept. 16 shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians involving several Blackwater security guards. The company has maintained that its guards have always acted appropriately.

Prince, a former Navy SEAL, is a Holland native whose family fortune was made in the auto parts industry. His sister, Betsy DeVos, a former chairwoman of the Michigan GOP, is married to Dick DeVos, a Republican and Amway Corp. heir who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2006. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/29967

[fascisthunter]

1. PS - KBR gets to Rape Your Daughters in the US Military

I bet they get payed to shoot them too when they witness corruption within the military.

[marmar]

3. "I bet they get payed to shoot them too when they witness corruption"

Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case.

[Hydra]

2. Color me surprised

I knew that little shooting incident would get swept under the rug, along with the disarming of US soldiers in the green zone at gunpoint.

Why isn't congress derailing these mercs? They sure ain't worth 400k a head.

[sam sarrha]

4. they just got $15 billion for guarding the southern boarder an to build "Stealth Blimps",