Blackwater Contracts, Short on Detail(169 pages of 323 are blank or mostly blank)

[maddezmom]

Source: WaPo

The State Department has released copies of its contracts for private security services with Blackwater Lodge and Training Center and Blackwater Security Consulting. It's a hefty 323-page stack, and it comes with a catch:

About 169 of the pages are blank or mostly blank.

Released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the contracts -- worth up to $1.2 billion -- have been heavily redacted by the government. A State Department spokesman said the officials responsible for the cuts are simply trying to protect sensitive information that might put individuals at risk. He declined to say what kind of information was cut.

In a cover letter, the department notes that it "gave full consideration" to deletions recommended by Blackwater officials.

A close look at the pages that have not been cut reveals some choice tidbits. The "statement of work" on Page 13 explains why Blackwater was needed. "As a result of conflicts, wars, political unrest and more recently, terrorist activity, these areas have become extremely dangerous places in which to live and work," the document says. "The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is unable to provide protective services on a long-term basis from its pool of Special Agents."


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/07/AR2007120702320.html?hpid=topnews

[bluerum]

1. Aren't we supposed to know how the government spends our tax money

so that we can make informed decisions about who and what to vote for?

the cuts are simply trying to protect sensitive information that might put individuals at risk.

If I were the cynical type, I would see this as the administrations attempt to remove incriminating evidence from public view in order to protect its criminal allies from prosecution in a court of law.

[Mnemosyne]

4. Why do you hate America? No questioning allowed now. n/t

:hi:

[acmavm]

2. Put WHAT individuals at risk? And what risk? Prison?

[sattahipdeep]

7. In Jeremy Schahill's words

Blackwater is branching out. Here are some of its current projects and initiatives

Blackwater affiliate Greystone Ltd., registered offshore in Barbados, is an old-
fashioned mercenary operation offering "personnel from the best militaries throughout
the world" for hire by governments and private organizations. It also boasts of a "multi-
national peacekeeping program," with forces "specializing in crowd control and less than
lethal techniques and military personnel for the less stable areas of operation."

Prince's Total Intelligence Solutions, headed by three CIA veterans among them
Blackwater's number two, Cofer Black, puts CIA-type services on the open market for
hire by corporations or governments.

Blackwater is launching an armored vehicle called the Grizzly, which the company
characterizes as the most versatile in history. Blackwater intends to modify it to be legal
for use on US highways.

http://www.alternet.org/authors/5434

In Jeremy Schahill's words, 'the Praetorian Guard' will soon overtake the
legitimate military and police presence in conflict zones around the world
and is coming soon to a street corner near you. They came for the Iraqis and
you said nothing, they came for the Katrina victims and you said nothing, they
came for the undocumented aliens and you said nothing. Who's going to say anything
when they come for you?

[sattahipdeep]

3. Didn' t get the memo

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3069704&mesg_id=3069704

Did Buzzy comply? :hi:

[SpiralHawk]

5. "Blackwater lodge"??? WTF? is that another OCCULT republicon cabal

Like the occult Skull & Boners?

Sheeesh - republicons and occultism...

What would Jesus think?

[sattahipdeep]

6. Black still headed the CTC at the time of the attacks of September 11, 2001

Former director of the CIA’s Counterterrorist Center Cofer Black tells
the 9/11 Commission “Unfortunately, when Americans get killed, it would
translate into additional resources. It’s a constant track either you run
out, or people die, when people die you get more money.” He says this at
the end of his prepared statement in a section dealing with what he says is
a lack of funds at the CIA for counterterrorism. 9/11 Commission, 4/13/2004

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/context.jsp?item=a041304blackmoney#a041304blackmoney