I currently reside in North Carolina and a year or two back I was considering going to a place called Blackwater to get training in certain military areas without actually having to join the military and then have the option of working for these people and getting paid a butload of money. This is why i was very interested to see the companies name in the local paper lately. Below is the current news about whats going on with Blackwater...
What is Blackwater?
Blackwater USA is a private military company founded in 1997 by Erik Prince and Al Clark. It has alternatively been referred to as a security contractor or a mercenary organization by numerous reports in the international media. Blackwater is based in the U.S. state of North Carolina, where it operates a tactical training facility that it claims is the world's largest. The company trains more than 40,000 people a year, from all the military services and a variety of other agencies. The company markets itself as being "the most responsive, cost-effective means of affecting the strategic balance in support of security and peace, and freedom and democracy everywhere."
Blackwater is currently the largest of the U.S. State Department's three private security contractors, providing a total of 987 contractors. Of the 987 provided, 744 are American citizens. At least 90 percent of its revenue comes from government contracts, two-thirds of which are no-bid contracts. Missions conducted by Blackwater Security Consulting have raised significant controversy both through casualties suffered and inflicted by their employees. Blackwater USA is currently contracted by the United States government to provide security services in the Iraq War. The cost for each Blackwater guard in Iraq, $445,000 per year, has also come under fire.
Why have they been in the news latelty?
After its guards killed 17 Iraqis and left 24 others wounded on September 16, Blackwater has been reluctantly forced into the media spotlight, and its CEO, Erik Prince, before Congress. Most Americans are only now hearing about Blackwater for the first time, but the organization has been operating in Iraq all along. To get the lowdown on this organization which essentially functions as a private mercenary army for the US, a shadow army that has little accountability, you may want to spend some time listening to Fresh Air’s interview with Jeremy Scahill. It was taped back in March (we first noted it then) when he released his new book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army. In addition, you can give a listen to this recent New York Times audio report on Blackwater that focuses on Congress’ Blackwater investigation and the September 16th killings.
More BW news...
After watching Jeremy Scahill testify before Congress, thanks to a YouTube link, my head is spinning! I am convinced that King George has a hand in the pocket of these corporate mercenaries. It is shameful that these soldiers for hire are raking in the cash & benefits our enlisted and national guard soldiers will never see.
Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army
Scahill points out that these un-accountable mercenaries can go on killing sprees that our soldiers get court martialed for. They are only accountable to their corporation and not USCMJ, US laws or Geneva Convention. This is a long but riviting YouTube piece.
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