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Federal agents raid Blackwater site.

By Amanda Terkel on Jun 26th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

Federal agents raid Blackwater site.

Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives raided Blackwater Worldwide this week, “as part of an investigation into whether the private security company sidestepped federal laws prohibiting the private purchase of automatic assault rifles.”



42 Responses to “Federal agents raid Blackwater site.”

  1. Buckie Boy says:

    Guess they won’t have those automatics when Bush calls for martial law after his planned false flag attack, or maybe for the mass protests when he bombs Iran and gas goes to 15 dollars a gallon.


  2. Above the Clouds says:

    Of course they “sidestepped federal laws,” isn’t this the Bush White House’s Department of Justice?


  3. LividLib says:

    the federal agents have not been seen since


  4. joe cantwell says:

    the bush/cheney storm troopers

    suffer their first set back.

    or is it too little

    too late?

    *

    good luck.

    >


  5. misshusseinmolly says:

    Wait — the BATF isn’t marching in lockstep with the rest of Bushco? How did that happen?


  6. clb72 says:

    An interesting day in the history of gun control, wouldn’t you say.


  7. The Shadow says:

    I hope they find something. These guys are a threat to our security and the stupid administration doesn’t realize it. You can’t have a private company running around the United States with automatic weapons. They could try to overthrow the government because they are given access to the government facilities unchecked. Eric Prince is a little dictator that Rumsfeld and those other idiots liked so much they made him rich. He didn’t deserve to make all of that money just because he was a former navy seal. I’d like to get a half billion dollar contract to catch Bin Laden. I guarantee I can catch that bastard for that kind of money. All I need is a facility and a bunch of former military vets who are willing to die for their country. If anyone wants to give me the money, I’ll have Bin laden’s head in my hands in one year, you can put your money on it. I’ll bring that bearded asshole to justice or kill him just as sure as I breath.


  8. Shayne says:

    I guess Bushco forgot to politicize ATF. Oops.


  9. Witch1 says:

    Hummmm. let’s see how interesting this get’s..Blessings


  10. Art says:

    Uh oh!
    Cheney forgot to cc someone on the memo.


  11. Evil Spaniard says:

    lock_box Says:

    We knew they were up to no good! These people are maniacs killing innocent Iraqis!

    June 26th, 2008 at 4:57 pm Recommend (0) | Report Abuse

    An island of lucidity in a sea of madness?


  12. Keltoi says:

    WHOA! That is a big deal, it will indeed be interesting to see how that one shakes out.


  13. Witch1 says:

    Hay #15 cheney want’s you to join him on a hunting trip, say’s your not doing your job….Go cheney yourself, troll.


  14. gummitch says:

    rogerse Says:

    so the right to bear arms excludes automatics…

    Wow. It’s really taken you a long time to catch up with the rest of the country.

    It also excludes tanks and guided missiles.


  15. gummitch says:

    Keltoi Says:

    WHOA! That is a big deal, it will indeed be interesting to see how that one shakes out.

    Indeed. In general, you don’t want to mess with the BATF and they don’t seem to carry out raids like this, on such incredibly high-profile targets, without a lot of good reason.


  16. sectionop92 says:

    They’re “looking” for the receipts for automatic weapons? Hell, I’d be shocked if the feds didn’t find all kinds of military shoulder-mounted, anti-armor weaponry that would make whatever the most well stocked militia’s have look like water pistols from Uncle Richard & Auntie Georgina.


  17. dbadass says:

    Hey lock box. Why not stand up like a grown up and address my question? You really can’t be that much of a pussy can you?


  18. shoeless says:

  19. joe cantwell says:

    gummitch Says:
    rogerse Says:

    so the right to bear arms excludes automatics…

    Wow. It’s really taken you a long time to catch up with the rest of the country.

    It also excludes tanks and guided missiles.

    or rental truck bombs filled with ammonium nitrate and and nitromethane

    (a favorite conservative terrorist weapon).

    sorry rog.

    *


  20. dbadass says:

    pwned again eh lock box. You can run from it but it won’t go away. Explain to us how your global climate “hoax” relates to the recent national intelligence assessment on this topic? ur gay isn’t gonna cut it. Let’s go. Stand up and make your case.


  21. belac says:

    lock_box Says:

    I think all Americans should be happy and carefree at the news that someone is finally being held responsible at Blackwater, that is what you meant by gay, right?


  22. Roket says:

    I suppose Blackwater will now cite executive privilege and request immunity from prosecution and/or a retroactive and all inclusive pardon. That’s how all the kewl companies do it.


  23. Zooey says:

    Blackwater should be held to Sharia Law on this…


  24. joe cantwell says:

    dbadass,

    belac,

    i grant you that lock

    is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

    however he does know to get to the point.

    rog could learn so much from him and

    do a much better job with his comments.

    if he’s up to the challenge.

    good luck.

    *


  25. pete says:

    This news is either:
    a. Very, very, good.
    or?
    b. Very, very, bad.

    And it raises the question on how we will go about disarming all those mercs in Iraq when it’s time to pull out. No country can risk an armed force which answers to private interests. Ultimately, abhorrent as the idea is, it may prove safer to leave them to their fate.

    And yes, rog, it is illegal for private citizens or corporations to posses automatic weapons without a VERY exclusive permit. And I’m not sure it’s legal for a corporation to issue an automatic weapon under any circumstance.


  26. Leftside Annie says:

    This was on Rachael Maddow’s show yesterday. If this is the same story, Blackwater purchased the AK-47’s (illegally) and supposedly “gave” them to the local sheriff’s department free of charge.

    Of course, Blackwater hung on to the guns, you know, for safekeeping and all… while thinking that they could point to the “gift” of the guns to the sheriff’s dept as cover for the illegal purchase.

    Idiots.


  27. pete says:

    BTW. If any weapons are seized which turn out to be military issue? Someone’s gonna end up “breaking rocks in Leavenworth”.


  28. tokin librul says:

    @30, pete Says: BTW. If any weapons are seized which turn out to be military issue? Someone’s gonna end up “breaking rocks in Leavenworth”.

    the US doesn’t make AK 47s, afaik…absolutely the best light-infantry weapon in the world…


  29. pete says:

    tokin librul Says:

    the US doesn’t make AK 47s, afaik…absolutely the best light-infantry weapon in the world…
    June 26th, 2008 at 6:01 pm

    They seized “Bushmasters” too, which, if I remember right, is part of the AR-15 line. Plus, with weapons like cars, if they are assembled, reassembled, re manufactured, reconditioned, or modified? They plant which does the work becomes the manufacturer of record. In some cases.

    Also, the U.S. military buys lots of weapons that are not General Issue. If the weapons seized had been purchased by the U.S. military, then show up in private hands, someone’s in really big trouble.


  30. pete says:

    My bad. “Bushmaster” is an arms manufacturer which produces, among others, customized AR-15s in a host of models. I’m not sure if they offer AK’s.


  31. upside99 says:

    I bet Prince is one pissed off dude. He was depending on Darth to protect his flank and that didn’t happen.

    Maybe we can finally dismantle this gang of mercenary thugs.


  32. Hussein McCain says:

    Bush better get some retroactive immunity going for the Prince of death & company. I love you BATF. There, I said it.


  33. pete says:

    upside99 Says:

    I bet Prince is one pissed off dude. He was depending on Darth to protect his flank and that didn’t happen.

    Maybe we can finally dismantle this gang of mercenary thugs.
    June 26th, 2008 at 6:21 pm

    I REALLY hope so. Private armies have destroyed more nations that smallpox and religion combined. If the mercs are allowed to come home first, with their weapons, the temptation could turn us into a Third World Hell Hole. It would be possible, in theory, for Buschco to set up their own private “Green Zone”. That, frankly, can’t be allowed to happen. I’ll hitchhike to do my part in that scenario, LOL!

    Just to be clear. I don’t hold to a specific conspiracy and I don’t think major disaster is likely. However, the danger of a private army can’t be overstated. Bring them home but DO NOT let them become a viable paramilitary force within our boarders. And if they start flooding and/or supplanting the Secret Service? It’s time to turn the legit military loose on them.


  34. Stupidscript says:

    I’m more worried about the local deputies. At least the mercs might know how to use the firearms:

    The 2005 agreements gives the sheriff’s office unlimited access to the weapons, including 17 Romanian AK-47s and 17 Bushmasters. But Perry said his department has only used the AK-47s in shooting practice at Blackwater and that none of his 19 deputies are qualified to use them.

    The 34 weapons are registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record to the Camden County sheriff. The AK-47s and five of the Bushmasters were stored and used at Blackwater while the remainder of the weapons were assigned to local deputies, Perry had said.

    Hmmm … wonder what they’re doing with those Bushmasters …


  35. Stupidscript says:

    (They might be qualified to use the Bushmasters even as they are not qualified to use the AKs, but it doesn’t make me feel any better.)


  36. pete says:

    Stupidscript says, etc.

    I wondered about that too. I would assume that “not qualified” would also mean “not licensed”, even for deputies. I have known a couple deputies, socially, who I would not trust with the care of a military weapon. I ran into one who, I noticed, didn’t have a clip in his sidearm. He confessed it could have been days since he had checked.

    Now. If one knows anything about guns it is that, EVERY time you pick up a weapon you check to make sure it is, or is not, loaded. ANYONE stupid or careless enough to violate that rule should not, in my opinion, be allowed to posses a weapon of ANY kind. And a drunken bunch of Barny Fifes, or mercenaries, with assault rifles is not an encouraging thought.


  37. moondancer says:

    The GOP SS troops must have been shocked. I’m sure Herr Erik Printz of Darkness expects better protection from der cheney.


  38. Ms_Joanne says:


    upside99 Says:

    I bet Prince is one pissed off dude. He was depending on Darth to protect his flank and that didn’t happen.

    Maybe we can finally dismantle this gang of mercenary thugs.

    Unfortunately, we (as in We, The People) funded them almost exclusive to anyone else, and they will take their terrorist ways and offer them to other countries in need of mercenaries.

    So those mercenaries are and forever will be our fault (our being BushCo).

    And if they are not used against us by our own government, the time will come when they will be used against us by other governments.


  39. Miss_Direction says:

    FINALLY…
    Something good happened in the US.
    I was beginning to think I’d never see the day.


  40. marlow says:

    ATF declares its independence. Outstanding. But Prince is one dangerous thug. Watch closely.


  41. randygdc says:

    Um…. I think I may be on the wrong page. First of all has anyone heard of mark and reprisal? It’s provided in the constitution that in cases of enemies of the state that are not of a military or otherwise government body that they can be handled with the use of mercenaries. We used it regularly in the heyday of seagoing piracy! Secondly, as a former security contractor employed by Dyncorp international, ITT, Steele Foundation and Triple Canopy within Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia, and good ole New Orleans, I can say WITH AUTHORITY that yes we regularly used FULLY automatic weapons during every deployment received through both private AND military channels. Furthermore, If I hear one more pencil necked freak of nature say that no corporation or private citizen can legally own, purchase, or carry a fully automatic weapon in the U.S. I swear I will personally invite him for a first rate tour of MY ARMORY. IT’S CALLED A CLASS THREE STAMP PEOPLE! You pay $1500 to $3000 in a “machine gun” state such as the one I so proudly reside in, have your local Sheriff sign your application and VIOLA! GIT YERSELF A SHINY AK47,74,M4 or whatever the hell else your Bleeding Heart desires! PEOPLE SHOULD NOT FEAR THEIR GOVERNMENT! THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FEAR THEIR PEOPLE!


  42. Great Frybread King says:

    Hey, Blackwater was going to put those assault rifles to use in the service of the boy-king and the neocons when they need a private army.



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