The often overlooked subplot of the wars of the post-9/11 period is their unprecedented scale of outsourcing and privatization. From the moment the US troop buildup began in advance of the invasion of Iraq, the Pentagon made private contractors an integral part of the operations. Even as the government gave the public appearance of attempting diplomacy, Halliburton was prepping for a massive operation. When US tanks rolled into Baghdad in March 2003, they brought with them the largest army of private contractors ever deployed in modern war. By the end of Rumsfeld’s tenure in late 2006, there were an estimated 100,000 private contractors on the ground in Iraq–an almost one-to-one ratio with active-duty American soldiers.
While the initial inquiries into Blackwater have focused on the complex labyrinth of secretive subcontracts under which it operates in Iraq, a thorough investigation into the company reveals a frightening picture of a politically connected private army that has become the Bush Administration’s Praetorian Guard.
“Private contractors like Blackwater work outside the scope of the military’s chain of command and can literally do whatever they please without any liability or accountability from the US government,” Katy Helvenston, whose son Scott was one of the Blackwater contractors killed, told the committee.
I find it interesting that the Army underlined advertising link is to shopping . com — was this planned?
I’m just glad they are over there! Just think if Bush had 100,000 private troops HERE! – He probably will have, come Jan 2009
AC
Someone’s been watching Jericho again…
Wow. They actually planned to support an invasion. This is surprising… how?
Now we know where those tax dollars go — private industry! Doggone it, I wish I was a good buddy with some Repubs like Rumsfeld, Cheney et. al. I could’a been a contender!
Just what we need, private cops on the streets of the good ‘ol USA with AK-47s, M16s, grenades, etc.
Here’s blackwater’s website for those who don’t believe:
http://www.blackwaterusa.com/
This is nothing new to me. My brother and I had offers to go and do telco work and networking. Would have been great pay, but the risks were just insane.
There’s a new book out about this:
Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army
How demoralizing must it be for our troops to be denied even basic stuff while working alongside some contractor who is getting six figures a year to drive a truck?
This is very interesting…
NO wonder the number of military ISNT that large, but we are paying 10 times the COST.
Something else, is that a friend of mine looked into doing trucking over there. He would have earned only $40,000 per year…
This is as bad as being charged, $40 an hour to fix your car, and the mechanic only gets $10 per hour…
Sorry, you can only post a new comment once every 15 seconds. Slow down cowboy.
5. I agree. It will just be easier for them to use this army AGAINST us in case we get a little too uppity. Mercenaries will have no problem killing civilians.
#5: Don’t forget to get a Glock clip or other Blackwater signature item for equipping your own paramilitary forces at their on-line store.
BTW, I wonder if everyone who goes to their website gets their IP address captured.
You mean the way every web server in existence “captures” your IP?
Yeah, I’m sure it does. That’s how the internet works.
#12: Poor choice of words. I meant saves it, stores it, catalogs it, etc in case they want to investigate you for whatever they may be doing without oversight. Big Brother stuff.
Blackwater was mixed up in the post-Katrina mess in New Orleans, too, as I recall. But given the extent to which local police departments have been turned into paramilitary outfits in the U.S., a Blackwater army inside the country would seem to be redundant.
Then again, there are all those Halliburton-built camps scattered around the country. Put them and Blackwater together with a Cheney/Bush operation feeling threatened – oboy, here come the conspiracy theorists…
And let us all hope that’s all it is, fodder for fringe element hysteria.
This past weekend my wife and I decided to go camping in Bandalier Monument just outside Los Alamos. Friday night we went into town for dinner and were surprised to see the public road into town covered by a civilian paramilitary checkpoint. Camouflage, black boots, assault rifles, etc. We watched as the car in front of us blew by the gates at around 30mph. Expecting to see a military style takedown we waited outside the gate. He didnt get more than 100 yards and was surrounded by five units all flashing. We asked the gate guards how to get into the town, (we thought maybe this was an entrance to one of the labs), and they waved us through. Apparantly all entrances into this American town are covered by these checkpoints. According to the locals its a relatively recent development, that was in place years ago and is returning now. I know, of course, of the sensitivity of Los Alamos and the work that is done there, but I was surprised at the locals acceptance/indifference to this. A strange night indeed.
15, Holy Cripes, Batman! If this was the National Guard, I guess I wouldn’t be so freaked out. But some triple tax sucking paramilitary organization blocking roads into an American town? Good Grief, Charlie Brown!! The American way of life just ain’t what it used to be, is it?
Adios, muchachos. Guess I won’t be touring Los Alamos soon.
If it was the National Guard, it would be illegal.
http://www.blackwaterusa.com/airship/
http://www.blackwaterusa.com/aviation/
Apparently our friendly ninjas for hire are building themselves a shiny new air force to match. All with our money!
Lovely.
Perhaps this is Emperor Bush’s plan to circumvent the Posse Comitatus Act which prohibits federal troops and the National Guard (operating under federal command) from being used as law enforcement within the US. However, he’s trampled on most other parts of the US Constitution without much accountability so I’m not sure why he would go through all of this covert planning to accomplish something that could be done in the open without fear of prosecution, impeachment, etc.
And Clinton was impeached for lying about sex…hmmmmmm it just doesn’t seem like Americans are getting their votes worth.
My cousin works for Blackwater, and he is paid rather well. The thing is, when they go in, they do not have the option for a whole lot of backup in the case where they are too deep over their heads. I would rather take 25k a year and have complete air support and helos to pull you out instead of 60k a year and never know if your extract can get you out of a hot LZ.