Harry Reid just told Ed Schultz he doesn't know what Blackwater Security

[Algorem]

is.That's odd.

[hiley]

1. Maybe his staff should have him read the gd emails

sent to him!:mad:
Send him the articles listed below immediately!
I have sent this before so I take it many should do it now..
Please nominate this thread.

http://reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm

[electropop]

2. Can we send him some facts?

I know some here have lots of good stuff. Please e-mail it to him.

[hiley]

5. new article

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051010/scahill
http://reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm

[hiley]

7. Overkill: Feared Blackwater Mercenaries Deploy in New Orleans

Overkill: Feared Blackwater Mercenaries Deploy in New Orleans
By Jeremy Scahill and Daniela Crespo
http://www.democracynow.org/static/Overkill.shtml

NEW ORLEANS -- Heavily armed paramilitary mercenaries from the Blackwater private security firm, infamous for their work in Iraq, are openly patrolling the streets of New Orleans. Some of the mercenaries say they have been "deputized" by the Louisiana governor; indeed some are wearing gold Louisiana state law enforcement badges on their chests and Blackwater photo identification cards on their arms. They say they are on contract with the Department of Homeland Security and have been given the authority to use lethal force. Several mercenaries we spoke with said they had served in Iraq on the personal security details of the former head of the US occupation, L. Paul Bremer and the former US ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte.
snip--

Send to Senator Reid and Others..
http://reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm

[understandinglife]

27. Mind boggling. I wonder how many other Members don't realize who ...

... the Blackwater mercs (and others) are and, more importantly, the implications of private corporate mercenaries operating in the US and throughout the world funded by public tax revenue.

Truly mind-boggling ...


Peace.

[hiley]

31. to insulated..

i think

[electropop]

3. Can we send him some info?

I know some here have lots on Blackwater.

[Atman]

4. It's not odd at all.

These fuckers we keep sending to Washington are not real people.

They don't watch teevee. They don't follow real news. They only live in their own bubble, a circle-jerk love-fest of cronyism. They spend so much time attending cocktail party fundraisers and sucking Bush's dick, none of them have a clue what is actually going on in the world. They get all their information from BushCo briefings and CNN Headline News. They are more clueless than even the average BushCo supporter, really. They're totally out of touch with what is going on in "real" America.

[Tace]

17. You're Right About That, And...

money, money, money, money, money, money 24/7/365

[PATRICK]

23. A kinder gentler trashing

Probing deeper one suspects the party is in drastic need of an overhaul on how they utilize staff or resources. Instead of improving over the new tech years they have degraded in adapting to their losing position in negative waste of time and cozying up to the wrong people instead of THE People.

If any of us had a staff for research we would have them in turn accessing and networking and prioritizing a lot more effectively. The "Gee whiz, you guys amaze me. That stuff about global warming..." attitude shows the elected need some training in how to better use resources- right, for other things than fundraising and bureaucratic schlump work. We had a great intern of Hillary's run here and she was naively thrown to the wolves just by that kind of bad judgment from on top. A good staff can't save a faulty leader. And there is no excuse for a rightly prioritized Dem to lack a good one.

And when they do get the research, someone had better know how to get on the ball instead of meekly lining up behind the eight ball a day late and a trillion dollars short.

Do we dare criticize professional politicians and respected lawmakers who know "more than we do"? Again it is a tragic commentary that ordinary citizens can- easily and correctly.

And professional politicians ARE expected to cover their ignorance better than that AND at least show some heat to do something even if they don't really mean it. Often what we see, even from our best and most admired is just what comforts the Bush team- who know ALL about pathetic and a lot more about bluff.

[stubertmcfly]

24. Don't sugar coat it, Atman...

...tell us how you really feel! Awesome. My sentiments exactly.

[acmejack]

6. Arggh! Thats great, appearing just as incompetent as the opposition.

nt

[otohara]

8. Great Article About Blackwater & Others Patrolling NO - Scary Stuff

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051010/scahill

Democracy Now did a great segment on two Nation articles, one concerning Blackwater


The men from Blackwater USA arrived in New Orleans right after Katrina hit. The company known for its private security work guarding senior US diplomats in Iraq beat the federal government and most aid organizations to the scene in another devastated Gulf. About 150 heavily armed Blackwater troops dressed in full battle gear spread out into the chaos of New Orleans. Officially, the company boasted of its forces "join the hurricane relief effort." But its men on the ground told a different story.

Some patrolled the streets in SUVs with tinted windows and the Blackwater logo splashed on the back; others sped around the French Quarter in an unmarked car with no license plates. They congregated on the corner of St. James and Bourbon in front of a bar called 711, where Blackwater was establishing a makeshift headquarters. From the balcony above the bar, several Blackwater guys cleared out what had apparently been someone's apartment. They threw mattresses, clothes, shoes and other household items from the balcony to the street below. They draped an American flag from the balcony's railing. More than a dozen troops from the 82nd Airborne Division stood in formation on the street watching the action.

Armed men shuffled in and out of the building as a handful told stories of their past experiences in Iraq. "I worked the security detail of both Bremer and Negroponte," said one of the Blackwater guys, referring to the former head of the US occupation, L. Paul Bremer, and former US Ambassador to Iraq John Negroponte. Another complained, while talking on his cell phone, that he was getting only $350 a day plus his per diem. "When they told me New Orleans, I said, 'What country is that in?'" he said. He wore his company ID around his neck in a case with the phrase Operation Iraqi Freedom printed on it.


In an hourlong conversation I had with four Blackwater men, they characterized their work in New Orleans as "securing neighborhoods" and "confronting criminals." They all carried automatic assault weapons and had guns strapped to their legs. Their flak jackets were covered with pouches for extra ammunition.

Snip

Blackwater is not alone. As business leaders and government officials talk openly of changing the demographics of what was one of the most culturally vibrant of America's cities, mercenaries from companies like DynCorp, Intercon, American Security Group, Blackhawk, Wackenhut and an Israeli company called Instinctive Shooting International (ISI) are fanning out to guard private businesses and homes, as well as government projects and institutions. Within two weeks of the hurricane, the number of private security companies registered in Louisiana jumped from 185 to 235. Some, like Blackwater, are under federal contract. Others have been hired by the wealthy elite, like F. Patrick Quinn III, who brought in private security to guard his $3 million private estate and his luxury hotels, which are under consideration for a lucrative federal contract to house FEMA workers.

[KoKo]

34. Everything about Blackwater you wanted to know, HERE:

CLICK ON THIS FIRST LINK:
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:RsYXKdaGfCUJ:www.publicintegrity.org/wow/bio.aspx%3Fact%3Dpro%26ddlC%3D95+Blackwater+Security,+NC&hl=en

THEN CLICK ON THESE OTHERS FOR EVERYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO KNOW:

lackwater USA
Blackwater is also providing security services to federal agencies working ...
Blackwater is working to secure critical communications infrastructure and is ...
www.blackwaterusa.com/ - 33k - Sep 21, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Windfalls of War - The Center for Public Integrity
Blackwater Security Consulting LLC. 850 Puddin Ridge Road. Moyock, NC 27958.
Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. http://www.blackwatersecurity.com ...
www.publicintegrity.org/wow/bio.aspx?act=pro&ddlC=95 - 17k - Sep 21, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Katrina-hit states turn to security firms - Business - The ...
Blackwater USA, a Moyock, NC, security services firm, also has sent about 150 of
its workers to the region, said spokeswoman Anne Duke. ...
washingtontimes.com/business/20050909-104738-8181r.htm - 41k - Sep 21, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Blackwater USA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
... Blackwater Target Systems; Blackwater Security Consulting, Moyock, NC ...
Blackwater Security Consulting was one of several private security firms ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_USA - 20k - Cached - Similar pages

USATODAY.com - Four civilians killed in Iraq worked for NC ...
MOYOCK, NC (AP) — The deaths of four employees of a local security company ...
They worked for Blackwater Security Consulting, one of five subsidiaries of ...
www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-03-31-casualties_x.htm - 62k - Cached - Similar pages

Blackwater Security Services: Information From Answers.com
Blackwater Security Services Blackwater USA is a private military contractor ...
The Associated Press, "Four civilians killed in Iraq worked for NC security ...
www.answers.com/topic/blackwater-security-services - 29k - Cached - Similar pages

CNN.com - Blackwater aids military with armed support - Mar 31, 2004
Blackwater Security Consulting provides security training and guard ...
Other Blackwater USA subsidiaries train dogs and handlers for security work, ...
www.sandline.com/hotlinks/CNN-Blackwater.html - 46k - Cached - Similar pages

newsobserver.com | NC News Wire
... for North Carolina-based Blackwater Security Consulting, the company said.
Sept. 21, 2005 Second man pleads guilty in shootings outside of NC State game ...
www.newsobserver.com/news/ncwire_news/ - 52k - Sep 21, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Federal judge sends lawsuit over Blackwater deaths to NC court
Federal judge sends lawsuit over Blackwater deaths to NC court ... RALEIGH,
NC (AP) - A lawsuit accusing a North Carolina-based security contractor of ...
www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=3728396&nav=1ugFdOF7 - 72k - Cached - Similar pages

CorpWatch : IRAQ: Explosive Growth for Private Security Firm
ELIZABETH CITY, NC - Security contractor Blackwater USA, which has lost at least
eight workers in ambushes in Iraq, is growing at an impressive rate, ...
www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=11585 - 20k - Cached - Similar pages

[Helga Scow Stern]

9. Recommended. For educating Reid.

[PassingFair]

10. Earlier this week, SCHULTZ didn't know about Blackwater!

A caller from New Orleans called to tell him about the mercs on the streets. Schultz had NEVER heard of Blackwater.
Apparently, he has schooled himself since.

[hiley]

11. I would say about time...

:argh:

[Nikki Stone 1]

12. Recommending

:kick:

[xray s]

13. The Blackwater Fallujah lynching

for cryin' out loud, it was the lynching of four Blackwater employees in Fallujah last year that set that powderkeg off.

Reid douesn't know who they are? Is he joking?

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Nor surprised

I sent plenty of info to my critters, but how much of it gets to the top

[Zhade]

15. How the FUCK is that possible?

How can those WHO ARE PAID BY US TO LEAD not know what WE know?

And they have full staffs to do the research. Meanwhile, I read threads at work.

Unfuckingbelievable.

[KoKo]

16. Sheesh..... What can one say about that. I guess we need to inform his

staffers...or just have him talk to Liddy Dole or Richard Burr from NC.

Oops...I forgot..I guess we Dems can't "cross the aisles" in Congress anymore. :eyes:

[gulfcoastliberal]

18. Harry Reid isn't very bright.

Nice of him to bow to * by saying he'll prevent the dems from filibustering Roberts. I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Daschle. Even he wouldn't have allowed this crazy extremist through without a fight. Harry, you suck.

[mzmolly]

19. Well frankly neither did I.

And I consider myself fairly well informed. I read DU almost daily.

[shance]

21. Molly, do you see the difference between a citizen and the Minority

Leader?

It's his JOB to know.

[mzmolly]

22. I am certain he was familiar with the circumstances, as was I, but he

likely didn't recall the name of the security company?

:shrug:

That's my take.

[KoKo]

32. mzmolly....we couldn't even be in Iraq without Blackwater and the Other

Mercenary Hired Guns that the "Green Zone" uses for security. They have 10,000 or more hired guns and that's only that ONE company. Great Britain has a competitor to Blackwater providing security for their Big Military Brass...

We couldn't be in Iraq with the limited troops we have without them..but they are HIRED GUNS! They are PRIVATE ...and Not under the Geneva Convention Guidelines in what they do. They Guard and Kill for a living. In Iraq they make $1,000 a day! In New Orleans they complained they only made $350. a day. In an article one of them said they wanted to go back to Iraq where they could make more. :-(

[mzmolly]

33. Some scary shit.

:(

[KoKo]

37. See Post #34 about them...

Scary Shit for sure...:scared:

[shance]

20. Well that's frightening. Either he doesnt know

or is claiming he doesnt know. Either way it's not good.

It seems clear that there is a huge barrier between Washington and reality.

What do we do about it?

[Drewskie]

25. So what's the big deal?

Are these people gunning folks down or what? Don't understand why this is a huge story.

[mzmolly]

26. Here's more:

Montgomery says he and his men were armed with AR-15s and Glocks and that they unleashed a barrage of bullets in the general direction of the alleged shooters on the overpass. "After that, all I heard was moaning and screaming, and the shooting stopped. That was it. Enough said."

Then, Montgomery says, "the Army showed up, yelling at us and thinking we were the enemy. We explained to them that we were security. I told them what had happened and they didn't even care. They just left." Five minutes later, Montgomery says, Louisiana state troopers arrived on the scene, inquired about the incident and then asked him for directions on "how they could get out of the city." Montgomery says that no one ever asked him for any details of the incident and no report was ever made. "One thing about security," Montgomery says, "is that we all coordinate with each other--one family." That co-ordination doesn't include the offices of the Secretaries of State in Louisiana and Alabama, which have no record of a BATS company.

[Zhade]

39. Don't you think that the fact that the U.S. government has hired them...

...by the thousands for combat operations in Iraq is a big deal?

These are mercenaries, paid for with OUR tax dollars, which are given much freer reign than the regular military.

That a prominent Democratic leader doesn't know the company that makes up a noticeable portion of the fighting ranks in Iraq is mind-boggling.

These guys and gals SHOULD know what the hell is going on in Iraq, shouldn't they? ESPECIALLY the ones who voted for the damn war in the first place?

That's why I see it as a big deal, anyway.

[trof]

28. Many of our ploiticians are really out of touch.

On both sides.
Many times on C-span a caller has brought up something that I would have thought people who pay attention would know about and the politician draws a blank.

[NNN0LHI]

29. Well he is either an idiot or a liar. Hmmm n/t

[SoCalDem]

30. He KNOWS... they ALL know.. This is a little game they play

when interviewed.. By saying they "don't know", it shuts the questioner down, and prevents them from having to comment on an "uncomfortable issue". These mercernaries are and have been used by BOTH parties..and probably donate CASH to every candidate, regardless of the party.. They NEED the government to stay in business, so they dare not piss anyone off..and the senators know (wink-wink) that these mercenaries are owned and operated by powerful people who work "behind the scenes"..

[KoKo]

35. SoCal, do you remember when you and I were the first to dig up

the info on Blackwater. Way back when the soldiers in Falujah were dragged out of the burning cars and strung up and we bombed Falujah because of it. We had the pictures of the facility and their military "training ground," the weapons, the planes, and all of it.

We should earn a Pulitzer for digging that stuff out of GOOGLE. :D It was weeks before the MSM dug out what Blackwater was all about, I think.

:-)'s

[Starbucks Anarchist]

40. Exactly.

Remember when Clinton pretended not to know about the DSM when Letterman asked him about it?

[Opusnone]

36. Blackwater is Wackenhut with more firepower

Read any of Howard Zinn's books to learn how these private militias (mercenaries) have been used in this country always AGAINST citizens. They have no allegiance to country or flag, only to the corporation. By the way, does anyone know if Carlyle group has a stake in Blackwater? They will probably be "protecting" property (not people) in DC tomorrow, too. Just a heads up.

[Nothing Without Hope]

38. Sorry, I don't believe Reid's statement. The Blackwater incident in Iraq

was just TOO well-publicized for him NOT to have heard about it. And you and I know he has gotten many, many emails about Blackwater mercs strutting around New Orleans with their illegal (civilians are supposed to not have them) guns. I believe Reid is lying, perhaps to "justify" doing absolutely NOTHING about this blatantly illegal situation.

Lying about this is a cheap way to CYA: claim he didn't know about it, so no wonder he has done NOTHING about this egregious situation. Politically safer to look ignorant - "oh, I can't read EVERYTHING, you know, I'm a busy man" - than to look guilty of serious negligence in failing to address this crisis.

[NNN0LHI]

43. He may be concerned about future war crimes charges too?

If he admits to the existence of these mercenaries but doesn't do anything about them he could very well find himself brought up on charges and in the dock some day. And he knows the "only following orders" stuff doesn't work.

Don

[rman]

41. That's what you get from listening to the MSM; you become uninformed.

Blackwater Down
The Nation
Jeremy Scahill
September 21, 2005
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051010/scahill

The men from Blackwater USA arrived in New Orleans right after Katrina hit. The company known for its private security work guarding senior US diplomats in Iraq beat the federal government and most aid organizations to the scene in another devastated Gulf. About 150 heavily armed Blackwater troops dressed in full battle gear spread out into the chaos of New Orleans. Officially, the company boasted of its forces "join the hurricane relief effort." But its men on the ground told a different story.

<more>

========

Blackwater Down: Fresh From Iraq, Private Security Forces Roam the Streets of an American City With Impunity
Democracy Now
Friday, September 23rd, 2005
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/23/133...
(video, audio)

In this week's cover story in The Nation, Democracy Now! correspondent Jeremy Scahill reports on how
mercenaries from private security firms like Blackwater USA and BATS are patrolling the streets in New Orleans.

<more>

[leesa]

42. More selective ignorance from our "leadership". It's the guys you

have arranged to be our SS officers when the internments begin.

[0007]

44. If our Dems are that far out of the loop then they should be

thrown out of office.