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On Dem. Now! today: Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army

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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-20-07 08:45 AM
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On Dem. Now! today: Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/20/1337226

Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army

Investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill joins us to talk about his new book, "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army." Scahill writes, "Blackwater is the elite Praetorian Guard for the 'global war on terror,' with its own military base, a fleet of twenty aircraft, and 20,000 private contractors at the ready. Run by a multimillionaire Christian conservative who bankrolls President Bush and his allies, its forces are capable of overthrowing governments." From Iraq to New Orleans, Blackwater has continued to pull in multi-million-dollar government contracts, mostly without accountability and in near-secrecy. Four years ago today, the US invasion of Iraq was in its opening hours. Hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries later, another date marked later this month has taken on nearly as much significance. March 31st, 2004. Four employees of the private U.S. security firm Blackwater USA are ambushed as they drive through the center of Fallujah. In images broadcast around the world, their burnt corpses are dragged through the streets. Two of them are strung up from a bridge. This is an excerpt of the PBS documentary, "Private Warriors", going back to that day.

* "Private Warriors" - excerpt of PBS documentary.

The U.S. military followed with the first of two major attacks that ended up virtually destroying Fallujah -- and setting off a new wave of Iraqi resistance that continues to this day. Meanwhile, instead of curbing the reliance on contractors in Iraq, the Bush administration has expanded the privatization of war. Blackwater has been one of the biggest recipients. From Iraq to New Orleans, it has continued to pull in multi-million-dollar government contracts, mostly without accountability and in near-secrecy.

Today, an in-depth look at Blackwater with investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill. He"s just come out with his first book: "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army." Jeremy is a Democracy Now! correspondent and a Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute. He joins us in the firehouse studio.

* Jeremy Scahill, Democracy Now! correspondent and a Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute. He is the author of the new book, "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army."
More information at Blackwaterbook.com
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illinoisprogressive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-20-07 08:54 AM
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1. My husband heard on NPR
That at 10 times the cost, Bushie boy sent them to NOLA to do security for looting after Katrina. Your dollars in action! ( I'd love a say so in how he spends my dollars.)
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PVnRT Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-20-07 08:56 AM
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2. The show "Jericho" has taken a few shots at them
After the bombs go off, they basically become a roving band of thugs stealing supplies. Wait...
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DemReadingDU Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-20-07 08:59 AM
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3. I heard Scahill on NPR Monday 3/19/07


It was a segment about Blackwater on NPR Fresh Air. Jeremy Scahill talks about his book Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army.

Very enlightening. Scahill said that .40 cents of every dollar being spent for the so-called war on terror, goes to private contractors!

Another interesting tidbit. During the aftermath of Katrina, Blackwater was paying something like $350 for people to work. Then billing the govenment something like $950 per day per man! Where did this $600 go???


click here to listen
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8992128

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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-20-07 09:09 AM
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4. I just hope Waxman is aware of this. So many scandals... nt
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shadowknows69 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-20-07 09:10 AM
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5. Hands up if you think there will be a tussle someday
Edited on Tue Mar-20-07 09:10 AM by shadowknows69
between these stormtroopers and remnants of our army and guard in some Civil War II scenario. Shit like this is why I don't bother even reading science fiction anymore. Real life is so much more scary and dystopian.
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MikeNearMcChord Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-20-07 09:27 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. Private Armies are a threat to democracy
Maj General Smedley Butler(author of War Is A Racket) was once approached by businessmen to form an army to go after FDR, because of the New Deal. One only has to look at South America and see the atrocities committed by private armies. If the militia movement is a threat to America, so are the mercs.
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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Mar-20-07 10:19 AM
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7. On now... nt
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