Blackwater tainted shooting evidence.
By on Jan 12th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Blackwater tainted shooting evidence.
Shortly after Blackwater guards shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians on Sept. 16, the firm “repaired and repainted its trucks immediately,” essentially “destroy[ing] evidence that Justice Department investigators hoped to examine.” Blackwater responded that any repairs “would have been done at the government’s direction.” The State Department refused to comment.
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Beck
Birther
Brown
Budget
Bush
Business
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
DADT
Deficit
Economy
Education
Election
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Global Warming
Haiti
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Iran
Justice
LGBT
Limbaugh
Lobbying
McCain
Media
Military
National Security
O'Keefe
Obama
Palin
Race
Radical Right
Robertson
Sports
Steele
Steve King
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Terrorism
Torture
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
What evidence isn’t tainted by this administration? What can we believe? What evidence, what study, what report. It’s all lies and fabrications.
January 12th, 2008 at 5:25 pmIt’s OK, corporations should never be questioned.
-Authoritarian Worshipping Bush-Bot
January 12th, 2008 at 5:41 pmCriminals b eing facilitatedby a criminal conspiracy at the highest levels of the Cheney-Bush administration.
January 12th, 2008 at 5:44 pmGive it a rest. These guys are the modern-day Untouchables.
January 12th, 2008 at 5:56 pmWelcome 2 FACISM 2.0
good luck to everyone. you’re on your own!
January 12th, 2008 at 5:59 pmCrimes, crimes everywhere and not an indictment in sight.
January 12th, 2008 at 6:03 pmGive it a rest. These guys are the modern-day Untouchables.
Comment by Badmoodman — January 12, 2008 @ 5:56 pm
You’re right. Blackwater was a mistake. There should have been some accountability.
Comment by CaptainMantastic — January 12, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
You’re both wrong!!! Too the core!!! Blackwater should NOT EXIST IN THIS WORLD!!!
NOT IN THIS COUNTRY!!!
January 12th, 2008 at 6:07 pmNOT NEVER!!
CRIMINALS!!!
There should have been some accountability.
Comment by CaptainMantastic — January 12, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
The world is likely to hold us accountable, if we let the parties responsible go. It is always the way it goes. When we make ourselves look like a threat to the world rather than “the good guys going after bad guys”, we run the risk of the world looking upon us as the bad guys. The world has never been kind to overzealous hegemonies and eventually they are taken down.
This whole administration has been running amuck without accountability.
January 12th, 2008 at 6:10 pmBLACKWATER IS THE FACIST CORP THAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM OUR COLLECTIVE SPLEEN BEFORE THIS COUNTRY IS DRAINED AND MURDERED BY THE FACIST REPUGNISCUMS!!!
WE ARE PHU(KED!!!
January 12th, 2008 at 6:11 pmWhat’s a few war crimes when god is on your side?
Plus, it’s only a few Iraqis. I mean, it’s not as if actual people died….
/sarcasm off
January 12th, 2008 at 6:27 pmThey’re just getting their routine down, so that when the next terrorist attack happens and Marshall Law is imposed, they will know how to deal with “enemy combatants” and their sympathizers.
January 12th, 2008 at 6:46 pm“…Marshall Law…”
Comment by JPV
LOL
You so readily betray your ignorance.
Or maybe you mean Penny Marshall…
January 12th, 2008 at 6:58 pmMarshall Tucker?
Thurgood Marshall?
Marshall Dillon? (Marshall Dillon!!! Marshall Dillon!!!!)
You’re both wrong!!! Too the core!!! Blackwater should NOT EXIST IN THIS WORLD!!!
NOT IN THIS COUNTRY!!!
NOT NEVER!!
CRIMINALS!!!
Comment by dixie blood — January 12, 2008 @ 6:07 pm
I got news for you. They do exist and they are in this country.
Posting on a message board isn’t going to change that fact.
January 12th, 2008 at 6:59 pmIt’s OK. They can rape and murder and and gas US troops whatever. As long as they keep sending our tax dollars to them so they can be resdistributed to a small group at the top of the heap, it’s fine.
Corporate oligarchs.
-GSD
January 12th, 2008 at 7:09 pmI got news for you. They do exist and they are in this country.
Posting on a message board isn’t going to change that fact.
Comment by JPV — January 12, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
You are right. What should one do?
Give up? Like you? Just suck teets? Lie down??
Stop posting here? Because a collective voice just doesn’t count?
Are you a moron or did you stay at a Holiday Inn last night with a credit card????
January 12th, 2008 at 7:14 pmBlackwater is protected by the State Dept. All they have to do when they do something wrong, and get caught at it, is say the State Dept made me do it. In this situation, the State Dept is the client and Blackwater is the whore.
January 12th, 2008 at 7:15 pmPosting on a message board isn’t going to change that fact.
Comment by JPV — January 12, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
I will post and post and post until this democracy is safe again!!!! From anyone anywhere, within and without!!!!!!!!!!!
January 12th, 2008 at 7:17 pmIt’s OK, corporations should never be questioned.
-Authoritarian Worshipping Bush-Bot
Comment by GSD — January 12, 2008 @ 5:41 pm
You’re channeling Frank M. Maybe that means he’s left us, for good.
January 12th, 2008 at 7:22 pmthey will know how to deal with “enemy combatants†and their sympathizers.
Comment by JPV — January 12, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
And by “enemy combatants” you mean non-fascist, patriotic, Americans.
January 12th, 2008 at 7:26 pmTo repeat. Blackwater get the paint job. The troops get shit.
January 12th, 2008 at 7:36 pmIf you’re not a conspiracy theorist by now, you really aren’t paying attention.
Clearly there was a conspiracy between Libby and Cheney. Conspiracy is a legal term. Can we all be adults and discuss this and other related conspiracies without being accused of being “Conspiracy Theorists?”
Having a theory about a conspiracy was a prerequisite for Fitzgerald’s investigators. It’s time to praise those who are able to think outside the box and comprehend the means, motive and opportunity that leads to these types of Conspiracies.
It’s time to raise the level of discourse where the term “Conspiracy” is concerned:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/reports/2005/franklin_indictment_04aug2005.htm
We’ve all been conditioned to snicker and ridicule when non-professionals offer theories about conspiracies. It’s time to talk about all of these theories and unravel the whole thing.
AIPAC SPY SCANDAL:
CONSPIRACY TO COMMUNICATE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION TO AGENT OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENT
1. Defendant LAWRENCE ANTHONY FRANKLIN was employed by the United States government at the Department of Defense (DoD) in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), International Security Affairs (ISA), Office of Near East and South Asia, Office of Northern Gulf Affairs, Iran desk, and held a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI). FRANKLIN’S office was located within the Pentagon, in the Eastern District of Virginia. FRANKLIN was also a Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve (USAFR).
2. Throughout his employment with the United States government, FRANKLIN repeatedly signed written agreements acknowledging his duty to safeguard classified information
3. At no time was FRANKLIN authorized to release classified information to ROSEN and WEISMANN except with respect to Overt Acts 43 and 44 in count one.
4. Defendant STEVEN J. ROSEN was employed as the Director of Foreign Policy Issues for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington, D.C. ROSEN was hired by AIPAC in or about July 1982. AIPAC, according to its website, is ” America’s ProIsrael Lobby.” AIPAC lobbies the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch agencies on various issues related to Israel and U.S. Foreign policy in the Middle East. As the Director of Foreign Policy Issues, ROSEN lobbied on behalf of AIPAC, primarily with officials within the Executive Branch of the U.S. government. During the time period of this indictment, ROSEN did not have a U.S. government security clearance and was not authorized to receive or possess U.S. government classified information.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/reports/2005/franklin_indictment_04aug2005.htm
WAYS, MANNER AND MEANS OF THE CONSPIRACY
A. It was part of the conspiracy that, in an effort to influence persons within and outside the United States government, ROSEN and WEISSMAN would cultivate relationships with FRANKLIN and others and would use their contacts within the U.S. government and elsewhere to gather sensitive U.S. government information, including classified information relating to the national defense, for subsequent unlawful communication, delivery and transmission to persons not entitled to receive it.
B. It was further part of the conspiracy that FRANKLIN would use his position as a desk officer in the Office of the Secretary of Defense to gather information relating to the national defense, for subsequent unlawful communication, delivery and transmission to ROSEN and WEISSMAN and others not entitled to receive it.
C. It was further part of the conspiracy that FRANKLIN, ROSEN and WEISSMAN would meet at locations in the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere, to exchange information, including classified information relating to the national defense.
D. It was further part of the conspiracy that FRANKLIN would unlawfully deliver, communicate and transmit classified national defense information in an effort to advance his own personal foreign policy agenda and influence persons within and outside the United States government.
E. It was further part of the conspiracy that ROSEN and WEISSMAN, without lawful authority, would communicate to persons not entitled to receive it, classified information relating to the national defense.
On or about June 11, 1999, WEISSMAN had a conversation with FO-1 and told FO-1 that a “Secret FBI, classified FBI report” on the Khobar Towers bombing had been prepared and that he (WEISSMAN) had gotten this information from three different sources, including United States government officials.
On or about March 13, 2003 , WEISSMAN had a separate conversation with FO-1. WEISSMAN asked FO-1, “Have you talked to Steve about Iran lately?” WEISSMAN related that “we” had heard from a “friend of ours in the Pentagon” about a national intelligence document. WEISSMAN discussed specifics about the classified draft internal policy document and the internal deliberations of United States government officials.
On or about March 18, 2003 , in a conversation with a member of the media about the classified draft internal policy document, ROSEN stated, “I’m not supposed to know this,” and that it was a “considerable story.” He encouraged the member of the media to pursue the story.
January 12th, 2008 at 7:48 pmI don’t understand why they bothered to paint the trucks. Under the rule of law in the sovereign state of Iraq, Blackwater is immune from prosecution.
Imagine the lengths they would have gone to if they had been in peril of legal prosecution ?
January 12th, 2008 at 7:49 pmIf I’d only had the foresight to buy stock in companies that manufacturer paper shredders in January, 2001…
January 12th, 2008 at 7:55 pmthey will know how to deal with “enemy combatants†and their sympathizers.
Comment by JPV — January 12, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
And by “enemy combatants†you mean non-fascist, patriotic, Americans.
Comment by Shayne
Yeah, I’m benig sarcastic. Sorry if that wasn’t obvious.
January 12th, 2008 at 8:00 pmYou are right. What should one do?
Give up? Like you? Just suck teets? Lie down??
Stop posting here? Because a collective voice just doesn’t count?
Are you a moron or did you stay at a Holiday Inn last night with a credit card????
Comment by dixie blood
Americans don’t have the stomach for what it’s gonna take to fix things.
January 12th, 2008 at 8:00 pmChimpy loses Taiwan too!
Pro-China party in landslide win.
-GSD
January 12th, 2008 at 8:00 pmBlackwater tainted shooting evidence
January 12th, 2008 at 8:07 pmBlackwater has to be one of the filthiest privatized outfits out there. Not only are the murderers, but they kill dogs and rape women. If and when we have a disaster or another 9/11, the giggling murderous Bush Crime Family won’t waste time sending these thugs out to help US… and if need be will call martial law to help US again.
Is there ANYTHING they can do that would cause their no bid contracts to be voided?
January 12th, 2008 at 8:09 pmRe: Post #36 — Post Katrina in New Orleans was a sneak preview.
January 12th, 2008 at 8:18 pmRe: Post #37 — Yes, if they stopped sending campaign contributions to the Bush Crime Family.
or did you stay at a Holiday Inn last night with a credit card????
Comment by dixie blood
What’s wrong with that?
January 12th, 2008 at 8:28 pmfor lack of a better thread (this one appears less dead), i’ll post this and hope someone can help end my confusion…
Sorry, Barack, You’ve lost Iraq.
Bush’s efforts to negotiate a long-term U.S-Iraq pact may remove troops as an ‘08 election issue for Obama, Clinton
(newsweek, michael hirsch) http://www.newsweek.com/id/91651
it’s like he’s saying, “ha ha ha, dems… boosh is gonna get the troops out before you can… nya nya nya”
but it sounds like another political ruse… the troops won’t REALLY be out of there…
“play” …
so, is this michael hirsh a shill? a jerk? both/all?
January 12th, 2008 at 8:36 pmor did you stay at a Holiday Inn last night with a credit card????
Comment by dixie blood
What’s wrong with that?
Nothing…but, the ad implies that staying at a HI gives you intelligence beyond your skills…or something…
The JOKE is using credit (borrowed brain, etc.) to get there!!
Man, when I have to explain my humor…well…is it me or what?
Does anyone else get my joke?
January 12th, 2008 at 8:36 pmjuan – it’s a teevee commercial for holiday inn hotels…
January 12th, 2008 at 8:37 pmsupposedly staying there makes one “smarter”…
here in the states, i should add
January 12th, 2008 at 8:39 pmI was wondering what the running gag about Holiday Inn was all about.
January 12th, 2008 at 8:41 pmI don’t have a television.
Haven’t had one for over 30 years.
I’m sorry, dixie. I just threw the question without reading earlier the comments. I do this a lot. I apologize.
January 12th, 2008 at 8:43 pmBlackwater responded that any repairs “would have been done at the government’s direction.†The State Department refused to comment.
SNAFU! BushCo is like a black hole! Everything goes in, while nothing comes out. No one ever knows anything. Responsibility always belongs to someone else. And as Calvin (Calvin and Hobbes) said, “Medals all around! What a great club this is!”
January 12th, 2008 at 8:46 pmI’m sorry, dixie. I just threw the question without reading earlier the comments. I do this a lot. I apologize.
Comment by Juan C. — January 12, 2008 @ 8:43 pm
Don’t apologize. I don’t need it. Was my comment funny?
January 12th, 2008 at 8:50 pmWas my comment funny?
Comment by dixie blood
I guess I have to say yes now. :)
January 12th, 2008 at 8:56 pmTake it Back in 2008!
Nancy Pelosi is standing in the way of a full investigation into the crimes of the Bush/Cheney administration. She will not allow impeachment hearing to take place.
Please sign the petition to replace Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. It is Constitutional and can be done during session. In fact the rule was written for just such an occasion; the removal of a complicit Speaker to advance the impeachment of a rogue administration.
http://www.petitiononline.com/everyman/petition.html
January 12th, 2008 at 9:10 pmWilly – thanks for the link. Everyone needs to get on board. Where does Wexler’s petition stand at this point in time? The way I see it, even with all of the diversion provided by the coming election, this will be the only way in which this country can begin to restore respect for this country globally. It’s called “policing our own” and what better a way to show the rest of the world that we’re not just a country of lazy sycophants who don’t have enough backbone to bring people who violate the constitution and laws of this country to the justice they deserve.
Bringing about impeachment hearings, essentially, has become a matter of “national security” at this point. The earlier post regarding the degree of disrespect and overt hatred held by the rest of the world for this administration of criminals and thugs is indicative of the way they view all of us – which means that we’ve become a world-class enemy in 7 short years. It means that this country is no longer safe. It means that someday, if national integrity is not restored via impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheney, the rest of the world will unite “against” us. If this doesn’t fall into the category of serious national security, I don’t know what else would.
Thanks, Willy, for your dedication and hard word toward this end.
Clearly, Pelosi is a charlatan about whom they probably have so much dirt that she’s totally compromised from doing her job and duty to the american people. After all, when impeachable offenses are “believed” (operative word here: Believed is the only requirement under the constitution) to have occurred, it is the “obligation and duty” of Congress to bring about hearings immediately.
As I see it (as does Robert Wexler) Congress is clearly in a state of “derelection of duty” of their oath of office right now and ALL can be removed by the people, if necessary.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:21 pmImmediate impeachment hearings when high crimes and misdemeanors have occurred are not a “choice”; they are a clear “mandate” by the oath of office each congressman takes. People need to begin flooding their representatives with calls for impeachment hearings NOW.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:23 pmOr perhaps we should simply cut off funds to Congress if they continue to drag their feet? Why do they deserve a paycheck when they are failing to uphold the constitution? Or uphold their oath of office? Or, as the argument can handily be made….making the citizens of this country LESS SAFE by their inaction??
January 12th, 2008 at 10:24 pm“No tickie/no washie” Congress! Do your job or no longer be paid. It’s coming down to that. The “government” should revere and be afraid of the people; the people should never be afraid of their government. This is certainly not democracy.
Taxation with absolutely NO representation?? We have as much a legitimate claim right now as they did during the Boston Tea Party. No one is minding the store in this administration; no one is protecting the people; no representative is taking their oath of office seriously – there’s no reason to continue to fund this horrendous mess.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:27 pmI agree with most of you. Blackwater and high crimes will continue if we do not elect a president that practices what he preaches.
John Edwards is the only candidate that is not on the taxpayers payroll and does practice what he preaches. He is not taking corporate and special interest campaign money. He pledges to run the corporations and lobbyists out of Washington. By not taking their money now, he is practicing what he preaches. This is so rare in this country. This must be acknowledged with historical significance.
Change in America will not happen as long as the corporate pigs are running things in Washington.
Think before you vote. You can’t destroy a wart without killing the root.
January 12th, 2008 at 11:24 pm37 RUCerious:
? Uh, stop paying huge “donations” to Bush ?
January 12th, 2008 at 11:56 pmTo anyone outraged over this incident: Please don’t act like this incident is anything new. This is the same old, same old death and destruction that’s been occurring in Iraq since the invasion in 2003. If you’re only now waking up and you consider this to be an outrageous act, then where have you been for the last four years and eight months? These 17 deaths represent only about 0.01% (read that as one one-hundredth of a percent) of the total Iraqi civilian casualties (assuming the very lowball (in my opinion) figure of 150,000 total civilian casualties) and hence these deaths are nothing more than a drop in the bucket. Shouldn’t your outrage have started long ago?
January 13th, 2008 at 2:12 amI haven’t had television for about 4 years and I don’t miss it in the least. Occasionally there is something I want to see but not so much that I would go out and get cable or anything. I own a set just to watch films on. It just is not a needed item in my home. There is a never ending wealth of knowledge, insight, and discovery by simply reading and talking to others.
January 13th, 2008 at 10:51 ambartlebee – speaking of bill maher…
i watched the repeat last night… you were so correct about that aso,
tony snow… wow, what a jerk… it was like he thought he was still
w.h. spokesman, still trying to propagandized it all…
not sure why maher let him go on like that… maybe just a way to expose the liar even more… tiabi seemed almost speechless with the
obvious bullshite coming from the guy…
if i never see snowjob again, it’ll be too soon…
January 13th, 2008 at 11:16 amComment by BARTLEBEE — January 13, 2008 @ 11:52 am
Why does not having television service require good luck?
January 13th, 2008 at 11:58 amLike I said…good luck with all that.
Comment by BARTLEBEE — January 13, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
Like I said.. I don’t get it. It seems to have nothing to do with luck
January 13th, 2008 at 12:08 pmOf that I am sure.
Comment by BARTLEBEE — January 13, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
Which only serves to reinforces my assumptions about you.
January 13th, 2008 at 12:53 pmAnd now, a word from our sponsors…
I am gross and perverted
I’m obsessed ‘n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little has changed
I’m the tool of the Government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you
I may be vile and pernicious
But you can’t look away
I make you think I’m delicious
With the stuff that I say
I’m the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I’m the slime oozin’ out
From your TV set
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don’t need you
Don’t go for help . . . no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold
That’s right, folks . . .
Don’t touch that dial
Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin’ along on your livin’ room floor
I am the slime from your video
Can’t stop the slime, people, lookit me go
I am the slime from your video
Oozin’ along on your livin’ room floor
I am the slime from your video
Can’t stop the slime, people, lookit me go
Frank Zappa, I’m the Slime
Have a nice day, Bartlebee!
January 13th, 2008 at 5:51 pmQuoting Frank Zappa makes one’s age apparent.
Comment by justasking — January 13, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
or one’s wisdom or maybe both
January 13th, 2008 at 6:22 pmGood humor is timeless.
RIP Frank…
January 13th, 2008 at 7:01 pmIt may be a few generations before such talent wends it way back…
I can envision the album cover but can not pull up the title. Wasn’t this the same one that had Dina Moe Humm on it?
January 13th, 2008 at 7:17 pmI have the 1986 release of Apostrophe / Overnight Sensation, a combo CD with a lot of these greats, including Dinah Mo Hum.
I actually never had any of Franks albums back in the good ol’ days; before we had to put up with uppity young whippersnappers asking a lot of dumb questions just to be annoying.
January 13th, 2008 at 8:09 pm