Blackwater moves away from controversial private security contracting.
By on Jul 21st, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Blackwater moves away from controversial private security contracting.
Contractor Blackwater Worldwide has announced that it will “shift away from the private security business that brought it unwelcome attention” following a deadly shooting in Baghdad last September. Executives say that the “negative media coverage and intense government scrutiny has made the cost of doing business too high” and complain that Blackwater has “unfairly come to symbolize all Iraq contractors and thus is a flash point for those opposed to the war.”
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Not the high death rate, huh?
July 21st, 2008 at 4:51 pmBlackwater has “unfairly come to symbolize all Iraq contractors and thus is a flash point for those opposed to the war.”
Unfairly…?
Yeah, right.
No, Mr. Prince – your unsavory reputation is well-deserved.
July 21st, 2008 at 4:52 pmBullshit.
Blackwater are mercenaries, both in action & business practices.
So, I guess they’ll do away with no-bid contracting, too?
July 21st, 2008 at 4:53 pmApparently it’s not the random multiple murdering without legal consequences that’s expensive ( bullets can be had for less than 25-cents a piece) it’s the cost of the subsequent PR effort and bribing of politicians like Darrel Issa that is driving up the cost of liberation and democracy.
July 21st, 2008 at 4:56 pmOff topic, but I haven’t seen this story discussed yet, and believe it has top priority for us to know. For anyone who may not be familiar with the argument for Congress not to accede to the administration’s request, read “The Dark Side” by Jane Mayer. (I’m not going to cut and paste from the article. Please read. And remember, what they do to “them,” they can do to us as well).
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-security-usa-detainees.html
July 21st, 2008 at 5:00 pmThis is a good thing. It shows they’ve made the political calculation that its business will be negatively impacted by an Obama administration, and they are betting that McCain is going to lose.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:06 pmNow they’ll have time to focus on the more profitable private intelligence service sector.
http://www.blackwaterusa.com/employment/ia.asp
July 21st, 2008 at 5:08 pmIt’s pretty clear that the Sovereign Govt. of Iraq is NOT going to allow Immunity for Foreign Contractors.
Perhaps THAT had something to do with Blackwater’s decision.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:11 pmi call BS.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:18 pmBlackwater’s a nation of whiners.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:21 pmBlackwater: “We’ve got ours. Sorry about your kids.”
July 21st, 2008 at 5:23 pmBadger nailed it, the loss of immunity makes it too hard to be a mercenary in Iraq. License to kill… revoked!
July 21st, 2008 at 5:24 pmYou called it barfly. This is recognition that Chimpy is on the way out, McCain is toast and an Obama administration won’t be handing out no bid contracts to a company that bribed evetry Republican in sight to justify a business model that only works if our country stays locked in a state of perpetual war.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:26 pmMaybe Prince will have to live off his wife’s Amway family money now. What a prick!
July 21st, 2008 at 5:29 pmOn the other hand, it’s going to take everyone on the payroll to protect the foreign villas of our, soon to be, ex government. I don’t think the military of Paraguay, or Dubai, have the will and resources to keep them secure.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:43 pmPerhaps if they would NOT KILL civilians wantonly, then perhaps they might not have gotten the ill reputation they have…
but then again, people of their ilk and Republicans are MASTERS at playing the victim card…
July 21st, 2008 at 5:47 pmSomeone I know here in NC connected with these guys told me over the weekend that they’re simply changing the name.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:53 pmThey’re still in the same business though… just not as Blackwater.
Kinda like saying that the ‘illegal wiretapping’ will stop now that the FISA Amendment is law..
Wow, Blackwater is getting out of the business of killing innocent brown people because of “unwelcome attention”, and “negative media coverage”?
I didn’t realize mass murderers were so sensitive!
July 21st, 2008 at 5:54 pmExecutives say that the “negative media coverage and intense government scrutiny has made the cost of doing business too
So what are they saying? That one of their operatives getting drunk and shooting and killing the Iraqi VP’s bodyguard and others shooting Iraqi women and children are part of “doing business”?
The use of mercenaries is a third world characteristic.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:09 pmAmerica doesn’t need to go down that road, although it seems some would like to take us there.
This has everything to do with Iraq denying contractors IMMUNITY. Blackwater will become as infamous as the SS before this is all over. The execs can expect to see themselves before court in the near future.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:31 pmIf I were a praying man, I would beg God on a daily basis to ensure that the Blackwater thugs are disarmed before they are allowed back into our country. We MUST guarantee that a private army is NEVER allowed on our shores. Home-grown, private, armies have destroyed more civilizations than smallpox.
As much as it pains me to say it, if we can’t disarm them, we should leave them there for the locals to deal with.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:40 pmBlackwater can dish it out but they can’t take it. What a bunch of wusses. No retroactive immunity for mercenaries, ever.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:44 pmThe news article stated, “Blackwater executives say the company will survive with a focus on international training, aviation and construction.”
Rather than a private army, Blackwater will offer a private airforce. The Pentagon has a contracting Jones that can’t be controlled. Look for larger chunks of AirForce operations to head Blackwater’s way.
If they go after military intelligence, they might compete with The Carlyle Group’s Booz, Allen & Hamilton. You’d best believe both Blackwater and Carlyle are setting the stage for success under either a Republican or Democratic administration.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:49 pmBlackwater looking for an “out”. When is the name change coming? Why not try bankrupcy? Maybe no one will notice.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:52 pmYeah…that pesky cost of defending yourself in court for the crimes committed against the little people.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:50 pmBush’s Gestapo.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:55 pmSo what are they turning to. Protection for gangs in urban street fights with the cops.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:57 pmdont be fooled by the bait and switch.
Blackwater has a PR division that rivals that of big pharma…
blood merchant E. Princes new “under the radar” enterprise is Greystone Limited, http://www.greystone-ltd.com/
designed to do basically the same thing blackwater does, without those pesky little impediments created by being under us jurisdiction
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Greystone%2C_Ltd.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:02 pmyeah whatever Halliburton changed their name too
July 21st, 2008 at 9:05 pmTranslated. Mr. Prince is saying that they will be even more secretive about what they do. He has made so much money this man is not about to give up anything no matter how revolting.
This guy considers himself and his minions to be not only ultra conservative but ultra religious. But as with most ultra neocons, he feels somehow sanctified in what he does. Sanctified by money especially. The disappointment of a Navy Seal turning out this way is sad.
We need to remember this is the worlds LARGEST PRIVATE ARMY. And if protests become too hairy for the government, don’t be surprised to see this army on our streets pointing the guns at their fellow citizens. These Blackwater mercenaries are not American patriots, they are a paid private army. They follow the money. And America is simply another place to conquer. You think they will not fire on us? You think the US Army will not fire on us, if the President says go ahead? If you think that you need your head examined. All bets are off boys and girls.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:08 pmPrince and Blackwater are still evil incarnate. I will work for the next eight years to see them snuffed out of government contracts.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:44 pm“Blackwater moves away from controversial private security contracting.”
and straight to jail.” (should be the rest of the title)
What a dumb answer, bad publicity made them change their direction. not because they are immoral ruthless killers. not out of guilt. not because chimpy’s war is ending.
I like blackoil redition of shooting innocent Iraqi citizens while going down the Iraqi highway. And a bonus, it was set against music and their laughter.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:02 pmSo has anyone heard of “Operation Caretaker” where the serving President is incapacitated by mercs such as Blackwater — based on orders from a higher authority — and a very powerful Vice President takes charge of the functions of government…disbands the Congress, declares martial law, suspends elections? All the time blaming the subtle takeover as a result of a terrorist attack on the country…Have you never heard of this???? Democrats are rounded up, liberals are captured, camps are overflowing…the Capitol is burned to the ground…Sound familiar…Do you really believe that this criminal Administration is going to turn over to another political party all those documents which might incriminate it??? America, wake up…There will be no elections in November…Wake up…
The Democratic Underground..
July 21st, 2008 at 10:17 pmContractor Blackwater Worldwide has announced that it will “shift away from the private security business that brought it unwelcome attention”
Never mind the unwelcome deaths you caused.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 21st, 2008 at 11:03 pm.
Blackwaterboarding moves away from controversial private security contracting…
… Because nothing says America better than a private mercenary organization hired by the Nation that spreads Freedom and Democracy at the end of a gun.
.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:05 amToward what exactly?
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:07 amtonymac Says:
——————————————————————————–
So has anyone heard of “Operation Caretaker” where the serving President is incapacitated by mercs such as Blackwater — based on orders from a higher authority — and a very powerful Vice President takes charge of the functions of government…disbands the Congress, declares martial law, suspends elections? All the time blaming the subtle takeover as a result of a terrorist attack on the country…Have you never heard of this???? Democrats are rounded up, liberals are captured, camps are overflowing…the Capitol is burned to the ground…Sound familiar…Do you really believe that this criminal Administration is going to turn over to another political party all those documents which might incriminate it??? America, wake up…There will be no elections in November…Wake up…
The Democratic Underground..
Never come to that – we all have guns. Americans are not like Iraqis, we will fight back!
What I have a major problem with is the fact that many Americans think Fascism is really Patriotism. It is not.
911 was a false flag incident yet despite this obvious fact most Americans are too busy watching American Idol to give a shit.
We are fat dumb and happy and could care less about what the fascists are doing. In fact most Americans think their government is pure and clean and they support fascism.
Not me!
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 amSo they can’t do it if they are held accountable to a legal standard ?
Says a lot about them, doesnt’ it ?
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:48 am“Move away from” doesn’t mean end. Blackwater wants to grow business in other areas, medic contracting and private military aircraft are two new areas.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5idMBfk5wLzzR2W7sxCEd8nGgpWmQD9268AEG0
July 27th, 2008 at 11:08 am