The unauthorized story of the epic rise of one of the most powerful and secretive forces to emerge from the U.S. military-industrial complex, hailed by the Bush administration as a revolution in military affairs, but considered by others as a dire threat to American democracy.
Though I am still in the process of reading the Book I find it rather interesting, as well as disturbing and the principal behind the guy named Erik Prince.
There are several accusations towards Blackwater and its many other divisions that are connected to it of Weapon Smuggling. One such accusation being that Blackwater was supplying the PKK with weapons, cash, and other forms of aid of which the company had denied. But the interesting things is from Turkish forces:
Turkish security forces have started recovering US made rifles and pistols from dead PKK militants.
In the United States, officials in Washington said the smuggling investigation grew from internal Pentagon and State Department inquiries into U.S. weapons that had gone missing in Iraq. It gained steam after Turkish authorities protested to the U.S. in July that they had seized American arms from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, rebels.
The PKK, which is fighting for an independent Kurdistan, is banned in Turkey, which has a restive Kurdish population and is considered a “foreign terrorist organization” by the State Department. That designation bars U.S. citizens or those in U.S. jurisdictions from supporting the group in any way.
More Accusations/Evidence:
Along with the current investigation of the Nisoor Square Massacre, along with other random acts of violence:
Her husband was working as a security guard at the Iraqi Media Network, a state broadcaster, when a Blackwater convoy passed them one day in 2007. She says that without warning, the Iraqis were fired upon and three of them were killed. The Blackwater convoy never stopped or sent anyone to check what happened.
Abu Suhad lost his daughter in 2007 when she was driving her car near the Iraqi Foreign Ministry in central Baghdad. He said: “Eyewitnesses told me that four white Blackwater cars went by her. Three were already past when the last one shot her in the head at close range and killed her. The eyewitnesses said they were very bewildered why they shot her. The bullet came from the driver’s window, which means that he got next to her when he shot her. The bullet entered from under the ear and left from the upper side of her skull. There were bits of her hair and skin on the car roof.”
On the Nisoor Square massacre:
Mr Walid remembers the Nisour Square shooting on September 16, 2007 — for Iraqis one of the blacker days of the US occupation. Claiming to have come under fire, Blackwater guards stopped in the middle of a large roundabout and began shooting in all directions.
“I left my car and ran away to hide in a petrol station, which was made of concrete. The shooting was so heavy it was like rain,” he said. “I saw lots of people getting shot. The driver who had been in front of me died and his wife fell out of the car. Her child was killed as well. The shooting went on for about ten minutes.”
Unbelievable. Blackwater was also in New Orleans during post Hurricane Katrina:
In order to carry an automatic weapon such as an AK-47 in the United States, you have to be part of the Government, or the Military, or maybe even Police. If Blackwater wasn't licensed to be there, or even authorized to be there they were breaking the law.
Just shows how powerful corporations with enough money can do.
really nice OP actually.. I read/watched the links and I find it quite informative. I've had to debate on this company several times.. fascinating what is "allowed" these days.
On August 11 2009 15:41 eMbrace wrote: Blackwater is so badass
I assume you mean badass in its villainy? (or alleged villainy if you please)
I have a slight doubt in my mind that Blackwater isn't a villainous corporation.
But hey that's just me -- they are most likely out to conquer the world.
Glad you are having fun.
So explain - in what way are "they" badass? Please be specific if you have the time.
Thanks
Being labeled as a mercenary group of elite ex-special forces guys who are equipped 10x better than our own soldiers and don't follow rules, and have several controversies surrounding some of the actions that certain members of the organization have done -- makes for a very scary, thrilling, interesting story and sometimes a "badass" story that many people would get a kick out of
i wish i wrote the book first -- probably would of made a pretty penny.
as for my personal views on the organization -- well I'll never know the real facts about their business and neither will anyone in this thread.
as it stands, I know they are a private military corporation that our government has paid for assistance for a variety of issues including the war in the middle east and for humanitarian aid after Katrina hit.
they've done good things in Iraq, and then there's some bad things that have been done that this thread is dwelling on -- although our own country's army has committed some war crimes themselves yet I wouldn't call our military villainous by any means.
so IMO, blackwater is interesting to me -- i will always wonder if they are truly a hell-bent corporation of badass ex-special forces trying to preserve christianity through killing Iraqi citizens -- or if they are just a frighteningly successful private military service that has ultimately helped us, albeit with having a few shameful stains on its hands.
the former story sounds much more thrilling though -- and if I was an author or the head of a news broadcast, I'd talk about that side of the story.
On August 11 2009 15:41 eMbrace wrote: Blackwater is so badass
I assume you mean badass in its villainy? (or alleged villainy if you please)
I have a slight doubt in my mind that Blackwater isn't a villainous corporation.
But hey that's just me -- they are most likely out to conquer the world.
Glad you are having fun.
So explain - in what way are "they" badass? Please be specific if you have the time.
Thanks
Being labeled as a mercenary group of elite ex-special forces guys who are equipped 10x better than our own soldiers and don't follow rules, and have several controversies surrounding some of the actions that certain members of the organization have done -- makes for a very scary, thrilling, interesting story and sometimes a "badass" story that many people would get a kick out of
i wish i wrote the book first -- probably would of made a pretty penny.
as for my personal views on the organization -- well I'll never know the real facts about their business and neither will anyone in this thread.
as it stands, I know they are a private military corporation that our government has paid for assistance for a variety of issues including the war in the middle east and for humanitarian aid after Katrina hit.
they've done good things in Iraq, and then there's some bad things that have been done that this thread is dwelling on -- although our own country's army has committed some war crimes themselves yet I wouldn't call our military villainous by any means.
so IMO, blackwater is interesting to me -- i will always wonder if they are truly a hell-bent corporation of badass ex-special forces trying to preserve christianity through killing Iraqi citizens -- or if they are just a frighteningly successful private military service that has ultimately helped us, albeit with having a few shameful stains on its hands.
the former story sounds much more thrilling though -- and if I was an author or the head of a news broadcast, I'd talk about that side of the story.
The charges recently brought up are from former employees. Also the U.S. State Department has recommended that Blackwater/Xe be dropped from the contractors to protect U.S. diplomats in Iraq. Also Xe/Blackwater is also under lawsuit for a string of charges that include Tax evasion, Drug, and Weapons trafficking, as well as Racketeering charges.
In order to carry an automatic weapon such as an AK-47 in the United States, you have to be part of the Government, or the Military, or maybe even Police.
This is an interesting assertion. Civilians are not barred from owning automatic weapons. There are some pretty hefty restrictions of course, but we can have them. Youtube search "knob creek" (hehe knob) sometime.
On August 11 2009 15:36 LaLuSh wrote: Man. The US just seems so fucked up sometimes. Read and watched all of it -- sounded like it was all taken out of a movie.
All this thread needs now is Aegraen defending blackwater.
I have nothing against the idea of private security firms. I do however believe all transgressions that break the law should be punished per the law.
Lastly, civilians are allowed to have automatic weapons and per the US Constitution is one of our rights to bear arms, and it shall not be infringed upon.
Unlike you and others that frequent this site, I don't see Corporations as evil entities.
thread is quite biased other than that i mostly agree with the fact that blackwater has committed crimes and should be punished for it the idea of mercenary armies, however, isn't a bad idea. Otherwise, bigger, badder countries can push around weaker but more industrial nations. Mercenaries are an equalizer. The hotel I'm staying in right now is actually run by an ex-Blackwater, one who was in Iraq until 3 years ago.
On August 11 2009 21:55 Caller wrote: thread is quite biased other than that i mostly agree with the fact that blackwater has committed crimes and should be punished for it the idea of mercenary armies, however, isn't a bad idea. Otherwise, bigger, badder countries can push around weaker but more industrial nations. Mercenaries are an equalizer. The hotel I'm staying in right now is actually run by an ex-Blackwater, one who was in Iraq until 3 years ago.
I remember reading about Blackwater a few years ago. Back then, advertised pay was around $550-$650 a day while they were on duty. Unlike they actual military, these guys are allowed to shoot without having to go through all the red tape and letting the person get away/start firing first. Working for them is pretty much any ex-special force's wet dream as far as I'm concerned.
The bullet entered from under the ear and left from the upper side of her skull. There were bits of her hair and skin on the car roof.
This made me sick...the horrors of war...for thousands of years, fuck humankind.
MGS4 might not be far off haha
MGS has been telling the future, today, really how far off in the future are genetically engineered soldiers and war has already been a business for a century ._. "What the fuck are we fighting for" was the question soldiers where asking themselves in Iraq.
EPT![[image loading]](http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/27350000/27359142.jpg)
