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June 18, 2013
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Blackwater Plans to Back Away From Security BizPosted on Jul 22, 2008
Stung by lawsuits, protests, government audits, criminal charges and negative media attention, executives from the mercenary firm Blackwater Worldwide say providing security in Iraq and elsewhere has become a drain on the company’s future and will be gradually all but phased out. However, while Defense Secretary Robert Gates released a letter Monday questioning the extensive use of private contractors by the military, there are no immediate plans to end Blackwater’s Iraq contract, renewed last year despite a deadly Baghdad shooting spree by the company’s agents.
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By samosamo, July 23, 2008 at 1:53 pm Link to this comment
Then the question is:
Report thisWhat is blackwater going to do with 100,000+ steroid monkeys?
If they are laid off, what are 100,000+ steroid monkeys going to do?
By Jim Yell, July 23, 2008 at 6:09 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
A large group of armed bank robbers killed hundreds of bank customers and stole millions of dollars in cash. The leader of the group now says bank robbing is causing him too much negative publicity and legal problems.
He is investing his stolen money and winding down his bank robbing, except for a few small scale efforts and has declared his stolen money not to be stolen.
More later!
Report thisBy purplewolf, July 22, 2008 at 11:16 pm Link to this comment
Now that they have sucked off the monies that this illegal war has wrought, they tell us they are going to fade off into the sunset so to speak? Are they afraid that the next president, if the election actually does take place, may not be so beholden to the famous “Blackwater” paid killers and they may have to seek employment elsewhere under a false name or business spin-off?
Eric Prince-of-darkness didn’t invest all this time and effort to let it go so easily.
Snowbunny sounds fluffy and soft, cute and cuddly-something these guys are not. Flutterbys-an off take of butterflies, might work also, as it looks like these guys may take a powder, flight maybe. But they are still a bunch of rabid mad-dogs in my eyes.
Report thisBy cynner, July 22, 2008 at 4:59 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Does this mean the Iraq war is over? If there were money left to be made, these guys would stay in the biz.
Report thisBy Fadel Abdallah, July 22, 2008 at 4:36 pm Link to this comment
Good riddance! I would say first.
But even though that one mercenary group is forced to downscaling its merchants of death business is not going to totally improve the situation, it’s nevertheless a step in the right direction towards making this world a little more peaceful! Or so I hope!
Report thisBy samosamo, July 22, 2008 at 4:13 pm Link to this comment
Another possible light breaking through though knowing how tricky neocons and their cabal which includes private contractors are look for something quite opposite from what they are saying and don’t stop paying attention because that could be the main reason behind their claim of backing or ending their security sevices, to make everyone loose interest in their endeavors. Especially look for them around our borders where they could relocate. I will still trust that our border security can handle it.
Report thisBut I am glad to hear that they may be having a lot of issues from their deployment with our military and surprise that Gates is questioning their role.
And I guess I better pick up Scahill’s book, ‘Blackwater’.
By amunaor, July 22, 2008 at 2:31 pm Link to this comment
Machiavelli, in his Art of War, issued the following warning: I say that governments should fear those persons who make war their only business And if a prince has not enough power over his occupations when a war is over, he is on the road to being ruined. For no infantry can be so dangerous as that which is composed of men who make war their only calling, because a prince either must keep them continually engaged in war, or must constantly keep them paid in peacetime, or must run the risk of their stripping him of his kingdom. But it is impossible to keep them forever engaged in war, or forever paid when war is over; therefore, a prince must run no small risk of losing his kingdom.
When the Cold War ended, many of officers became unemployed or in fear of becoming so. Defeated or unemployed military officers represent a dangerous phenomenon in any society, and today this problem is compounded by the issue of a mercenary (or all-volunteer) force. Machiavelli wrote about precisely this in 1521, warning that unemployed mercenaries and professional soldiers would inevitably stir up coups and conflicts in order to procure jobs and glory for themselves.
Stay alert and don’t be deceived!
Peace, Best Wishes and Hope
Report thisBy BlueEagle, July 22, 2008 at 1:57 pm Link to this comment
Ha ha ha… yeah right. I’m looking for Blackwater to change their name to something softer like Snowbunny. How can you be angry with a company like Snowbunny. Besides Blackwater is just one in a long list of security companies, such as Triple Canopy, Dyncorp, Erinys and Aegis.
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