There's Something About Blackwater

Posted by D. Cupples   |These days, there's always something to investigate about government contractor Blackwater.  If it's not the reportedly reckless shooting of civilians or killing of the Iraqi Vice President's bodyguard, it's the alleged milking of taxpayers or the possible theft of Iraqi military aircraft.   

Yesterday, MSNBC reported:

"Federal agents are investigating allegations that the Blackwater USA security firm illegally exported dozens of firearm s sound suppressors — commonly known as silencers — to Iraq and other countries for use by company operatives, sources close to the investigation tell NBC News."

It's normal for soldiers to use silencers in covert operations, but nobody knows why Blackwater security guards needed silencers to openly protect diplomats. 

According to MSNBC, exporting silencers without State Department paperwork carries criminal penalties of up to 10 years' prison and $1 million in fines per incident (i.e., it's a serious crime).  Blackwater has strong ties to the State Department: the company protects State Department personnel in Iraq and had State Dept. contracts last year totaling $600 million.

Links to more Blackwater info are on the next page.

* Blackwater Took Iraqi Airplanes, CEO Misled Congress?

* Blackwater Hearing: Poor Media Coverage

* Blackwater Uses Fuzzy Math to Justify Costs

* State Dept.'s Odd & Untimely Reactions to Blackwater Scandals

* State Dept. Staff Threatened for Cooperating with Congress re: Blackwater

* Inspector General Blocked Investigations re: Waste and Fraud?

* Have U.S. Officials Protected Blackwater?

* Govt. Contractors: Driving up War's Costs?

.

Memeorandum has other bloggers' reactions.

Comments

[Jeff]

It's way past high time we renationalized our military. By the way, you might be interested in The Wounded Warriors Project. It's a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness for U.S. troops severely wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. It really puts a face on the cost of this conflict. Here's a link:

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/aarwebs

Jeff

[Jeff]

It's way past high time we renationalized our military. By the way, you might be interested in The Wounded Warriors Project. It's a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness for U.S. troops severely wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. It really puts a face on the cost of this conflict. Here's a link:

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/aarwebs

Jeff

[Jeff]

It's way past high time we renationalized our military. By the way, you might be interested in The Wounded Warriors Project. It's a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness for U.S. troops severely wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. It really puts a face on the cost of this conflict. Here's a link:

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/aarwebs

Jeff