More on Bush Mercenaries

[Merrill]

Blackwater USA is a private military contractor offering "tactical training," firing range and target systems, and security consulting under the company's subdivisions: Blackwater Training Center, Blackwater Target Systems, Blackwater Security Consulting and Blackwater Canine. According to its website, Blackwater provides "a spectrum of support to military, government agencies, law enforcement and civilian entities in training, targets and range operations as a solution provider." Their slogan is: "Providing a new generation of capability, skills, and people to solve the spectrum of needs in the world of security." <1>

Blackwater USA was co-founded by former Navy Seal Erik Prince, a "billionaire right-wing fundamentalist Christian from a powerful Michigan Republican family. A major Republican campaign contributor, he interned in the White House of President George H.W. Bush and campaigned for Pat Buchanan in 1992. He founded the mercenary firm Blackwater USA in 1997 with Gary Jackson, another former Navy SEAL." <2>

Prince's father, Edgar Prince, and Gary Bauer started the Family Research Council, where Prince interned. Prince's sister, Betsy DeVos, is a former chair of the Michigan Republican Party. <3>

Blackwater USA received no-bid contracts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and "post-Katrina New Orleans" from the current Bush administration. <4>

More history:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Blackwater_USA

[Fridays Child]

1. Maybe they'll help put the people of Iraq back to work...

...selling Amway. :nuke:

[C_U_L8R]

2. Congress needs to shut these creeps down

Mercenary armies flaunt the Geneva Conventions

(do we even say that?? they're so wrong on so many levels.
It's crazy that they are allowed to exist!)

[patrice]

3. You'd think more of their employees would be wondering if and when

they'll be fatally short-changed like their guys who were killed in Fallujah, because their crew was short changed one (or was it two) guys to gaurd their rear when they went out on some assignment.

But then, I guess many domestic American employees should be wondering about something similar, though of less terminal degree, to some extent too.

[Edweird]

4. Shut Bushler down

and these parasites will starve to death.

[The Traveler]

5. If history is any guide

we will eventually have to bust up Blackwater. Large private armies with substantial covert ops capabilities pose a risk to democratic societies. Even denying them government funds will not be enough ... they by this time have the means to get more than enough work from various dictatorships to stay in business.