Blackwater era ending in Iraq »
Posted By Progressive 6 months, 1 week ago in Business & FinanceBAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The troubled Blackwater era ends in Iraq on Thursday as another firm takes over the once-dominant company's security services contract in Baghdad.
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hyperbola6 months, 1 week ago
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Of course the real story is the question of why we still have 150,000 private mercenaries in Iraq. Just one more indication that Obama has no intention of really withdrawing from iraq.
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Obama's Iraq - The Picture of Dorian Gray
Remember when Barack Obama made that big announcement at Camp Lejeune about how all US combat troops were going to be withdrawn from Iraqi cities by June 30? Liberals jumped around with joy, praising Obama for ending the war so that they could focus on their “good war” in Afghanistan.
Of course, the celebrations were and remain unwarranted. Obama’s Iraq plan is virtually identical to the one on Bush’s table on January 19, 2009. Obama has just rebranded the occupation, sold it to liberals and dropped the term “Global War on Terror” while, for all practical purposes, continuing the Bush era policy (that’s why leading Republicans praised Obama’s plan). In the real world, US military commanders have said they are preparing for an Iraq presence for another 15-20 years, the US embassy is the size of Vatican City, there is no official plan for the withdrawal of contractors and new corporate mercenary contracts are being awarded. The SoFA Agreement between the US and Iraq gives the US the right to extend the occupation indefinitely and to continue intervening militarily in Iraq ad infinitum. All it takes is for the puppets in Baghdad to ask nicely…
...In the latest episode of the “Occupation Rebranded” mini-series, President Obama is preparing to scrap the June 30 withdrawal timeline.
According to the Times, the US is playing with the definition of the word “city” when speaking of withdrawing combat troops from all cities....
...Camp Victory is of tremendous strategic importance to the US occupation. In addition to the military’s share of Baghdad International Airport, it includes four bases—Victory, Liberty, Striker and Slayer—as well as the US-run prison “Camp Cropper.” That’s where the US keeps its “high value” prisoners. While the US officially handed control of Forward Operating Base Freedom to “Iraqi control,” the US military is keeping the swimming pool.
Meanwhile, future plans are being laid for other US bases. Camp Prosperity is going to house US contractors and other personnel, while at Camp Union III housing is being built for several thousand soldiers, trainers and advisers.
What is abundantly clear is that there are enough cosmetic changes going on in Baghdad intended to make it look like the occupation is ending, while continuing it. Again, from the Times: ....
The Iraq occupation is like The Picture of Dorian Gray. No matter what public face the Obama administration attempts to present, it only grows more heinous with each passing day.
http://www.propeller.com/story/2009/04/30/obama39s... -
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Codi69346 months, 1 week ago
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Contractors are the only reason why there isn't a draft. Go ahead fire everyone today. You will put all DoD, DoS operations to a halt. Then let's see how Congress and the President will spin the draft to the American public. I would like to see that.
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vader826 months, 1 week ago
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I disagree, for one thing the primary function of blackwater has been guarding dignitaries, which could be done just has effectively with U.S. military personel at a fraction of the cost . I find it hard to believe that 1000 blackwaters employees not being on the ground would nessecitate a draft. I find the fact that they will be replaced by other private contractors disturbing. Mercenaries are never the way to go in supplementing a military, their allegiance is to the dollar not the flag. They do not follow rules of engagement in line with the employing forces, and there have been instances of them showing authority over U.S. army soldiers. In 2006 a vehicle from a blackwater convoy crashed into a U.S. humvee and held the soldiers at gunpoint until the wreck was untangled.
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HMMace6 months, 1 week ago
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DID THE "NEW" COMPANY WIN BY HAVING THE LOW BID???
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OR--WAS THIS ANOTHE "NO-BID" CONTRACT--AS WAS CHENYS
BLACKWATER..?????
ONE CROOK LEAVES THE WHITE HOUSE, AND ANOTHER ENTERS..
"CHANGE"--HARDLY
THE CHANGE WAS IN NAMES ONLY...
OBAMAS WHITE HOUSE LOOKS A LOT LIKE CLINTONS WHITE
HOUSE..-
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Progressive6 months, 1 week ago
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The "new" company was contracted by the State Department for services in Iraq six years ago.:
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"Triple Canopy first began providing services to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, in September 2003; In 2005, the U.S. Department of State awarded Triple Canopy contracts to provide security at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq and to protect diplomats in Haiti, Israel, and Basrah under the Worldwide Personal Protective Services (WPPS) contract, an Indefinite Quantity, Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) contract comprising Triple Canopy, Dyncorps, and Blackwater."
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