Family Members of Killed Blackwater Employees Testify (Live Hearing); Halliburton Rep to Testify

[CorpGovActivist]

http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1165

"Family members of four Blackwater employees killed in Fallujah will testify about what they view as profiteering by Blackwater USA, including the company’s alleged failure to provide armored vehicles and other critical safety equipment. The Committee will also examine the costs of Blackwater’s security operations to the taxpayer and the adequacy of federal oversight of Blackwater and other security contractors."

Please note that a Halliburton/KBR rep will testify:

George Seagle
Director of Security, Government and Infrastructure Division, KBR

(I worked with his wife at KBR's offices in Arlington, VA. She was very proud of the fact that he worked on President Bush's Secret Service detail.)

http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1163

He is a member of the Private Security Company Association of Iraq: http://www.pscai.org/forum/member.php?u=79

... whose membership includes:

Aegis www.aegisworld.com
American-Iraq Solutions Group www.aisgiraq.com
Armor Group www.armorgroup.com
Asbeck Armoring www.asbeck.com
Babylon Gates www.babylongates.com
Blackwater www.blackwaterusa.com
BLP www.blpintl.com
Blue Hackle www.bluehackle.com
BritAm Defence www.britamdefence.com
Castlegate-CSS-Iraq www.castlegategroup.com
Centurion www.centurionsafety.net
Cochise www.cochiseconsult.com
Crescent Security Group www.crescentsecuritygroup.com
CRG www.crg.com
DS Vance www.vanceglobal.com
DynCorp International www.dyn-intl.com
Edinburgh Risk www.edinburghrisk.net
EODT www.eodt.com
Erinys www.erinysinternational.com
Falcon www.falconiraq.com
Global www.globalgroup.com
Greystone www.greystone-ltd.com
Hart www.hartsecurity.com
Janusian www.janusian.com
Kroll www.krollworldwide.com
Motorola JV (AIEE) www.motorolajv.com
Mushriqui Consulting www.mushriquiconsulting.com
MVM, Inc. www.mvminc.com
OAM
www.oam-group.com
Olive www.olivegroup.com
Paratus Group, LLC www.paratusiraq.com
Pilgrims Group Ltd. www.pilgrimsgroup.com
Reed www.reedinc.com
RONCO www.roncoconsulting.com
Rubicon www.rubicon-international.co.uk
Safe Security Limited www.safesecurityltd.com
Safenet www.safenet.co.za
SAIC www.saic.com
Sallyport www.sallyportglobal.com
Sabre International Security www.securitybysabre.com
Securiforce www.securiforce.com
SIS Iraq www.sabre-int.com
SOC-SMG www.soc-smg.com
Streit Manufacturing Inc. www.armored-cars.com
Threat Management Group www.pwclogistics.com
Toifor www.toifor.com
Triple Canopy www.triplecanopy.com
Unity Resources Group www.unityresourcesgroup.com
Wamar International, Inc www.cwamar.com

***********************************************************

FYI...

- Dave

[EFerrari]

1. Bookmarked. This is the Waxman hearing, Dave?

/typo

[CorpGovActivist]

2. Yup! The Waxman Series of Hearings This Week...

... are just the opening salvo.

- Dave

[EFerrari]

5. Last week when we took the shuttle ride from Dulles to downtown

we saw the way the road is lined with those big buildings and signs -- DynCorp and their buds -- I pointed them out to my family so they could see what Waxman and there rest of us need to take on. It was pretty sobering.

[CorpGovActivist]

6. The Beltway Bandits

Check out who Blackwater's president has contributed to: http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/advindsea.shtml

(Search on Blackwater as the employer.)

- Dave

[Lugnut]

3. K&R

Thanks Dave. This investigation, along with the others, will be worth watching.

[gratuitous]

4. A merc's worst nightmare

An engaged congressman with the power of subpoena.

I'd really like to see a bunch of folks going to jail and a lot of money disgorged from these outfits. Maybe even cut into Dick Cheney's deferred compensation a little bit.

[CorpGovActivist]

7. Issa Is Tangling with the Wrong Widows

They're articulate.

- Dave

[halobeam]

8. so true....

they are "on it!"

[gratuitous]

12. Crybaby Issa is on this committee?

Does his little nameplate say "Comic Relief"?

It should.

[tsuki]

13. Issa is bought and paid for. Period. The widows are beating him

up. Accountability, not money. Issa wouldn't understand that.

[CorpGovActivist]

96. See His Contributors...

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_detail/C00350520/

- Dave

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

9. It has not been mentioned why they cannot sue Blackwater. Shrub signed an EO

excluding contractors from lawsuits in Iraq.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_13303

[CorpGovActivist]

14. Excellent Point!

Thank you!

- Dave

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

16. Dave, it's driving me crazy here that no one at this hearing has brought that up.

I remember when Shrub signed that Executive Order, and knew how outrageous it was.

[CorpGovActivist]

18. Call Waxman's Office...They Can Slip Him a Note

Committee office: http://oversight.house.gov/contact.asp

His personal office: http://www.henrywaxman.house.gov/contact.htm

- Dave

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

22. Just did! The staff member said they would pass it on. He even double checked with

me the number on the Executive Order. Thank you for your advice!

[CorpGovActivist]

23. You Just Proved...

... that democracy is participatory.

Thank you!!!

- Dave

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

24. No Dave, thank you SINCERELY, as you proved to me that I could do something

meaningful. Thank you again!

[CorpGovActivist]

26. Call Kucinich's Office, Too

Just a thought...

; )

- Dave

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

33. Done. I told Dennis' aide, and the aide at first didn't take down the info

and I had to explain to him how important it was. He told him if he had to look it up, all he had to do was go to whitehouse.gov and search the EOs. He didn't want to go that far and just wanted to pass it on. Dennis has to have a talk with this kid! laughing here!

[CorpGovActivist]

34. As You Continue to Watch...

... notice the hard-hitting Dems, and call their offices, too.

All it takes is for any member of the committee to ask the question, and the can of worms is open.

- Dave

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

38. I will do the best I can as I have to get back to work here. I have a tough

boss (myself) and will try to explain to myself that I can take breaks to do it!

[CorpGovActivist]

40. Other DUers Can Help...

... by calling into Waxman's office, and hammering home this point:

http://oversight.house.gov/contact.asp

- Dave

[halobeam]

10. Dennis is UP !!!

[halobeam]

11. Widow state they don't want ONE PENNY

They want accountablility

[tsuki]

19. Did you catch that? Don't interrupt me when I'm spinning the truth.

[CorpGovActivist]

15. Mercenary Companies' Recruiting Tactics

I hope that the tactics that these companies use to lure active duty military away are probed today.

- Dave

[Norquist Nemesis]

17. Looks to me like Shays is fillibustering

along with blaming the people that were killed. 'They KNEW what they were getting into and they did it for the money!'

[bobthedrummer]

20. Blackwater hired Fred F. Fielding and Ken Starr to prevent widows litigation

Fielding replaced Harriet Miers as WH counsel in Jan.

Blackwater founder Erik Prince is a billionaire RW fundamentalist his older sister is Betsy DeVos chair of the Michigan Republican Party-and her husband is that DeVos

Fred F. Fielding profiles

from SourceWatch.org
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Fred_F._Fielding

from Spartacus.schoolnet
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKfielding.htm

Blackwater Security profile from SourceWatch.org
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Blackwater_USA

Betsy DeVos
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Betsy_DeVos

Correction: Betsy DeVos was the Michigan Republican Party Chair-the current chair is Sauius Anuzis

[Norquist Nemesis]

21. Shays whining he can't continue to intimidate

Criticizing Waxman (heard a LOT of that over the past couple of days from the Cons). Glad Waxman cut him off.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

25. From all I've heard from the testimony, I keep getting the feeling that these men

were set up.

[Norquist Nemesis]

28. Especially after hearing the one lady talk about her

hubby(?) being held down by "two thugs" and told that if he didn't go on the mission, he's be on the streets of Baghdad alone having to find his own way to get back home, and be charged for any pay he'd received to boot!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

30. Yes, that was convincing but also the circumstances and the stand downs.

Like an assassination.

[Norquist Nemesis]

44. Sure hope that Berman stays safe

Don't know why, but the name Chris Berman is familiar (and no, not the ESPN guy).

Maybe it was this... http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/global.php?id=466834 :shrug:

[goforit]

27. The wagons are circling. Stay valiant Waxman!

[halobeam]

29. Blackwater will be answering to this committee next, correct?

[CorpGovActivist]

31. Yes, Along with...

... some other defense contractors' reps.

- Dave

[halobeam]

39. What a list

Blackwater
ES&S
Regency
Haliburton


This ought to be good.

[bobthedrummer]

32. Here we go...

[Norquist Nemesis]

37. ta da da da ta da da da da! ta ta da da da ta da

*cuing dog and pony show music*

"...And now for the GOOD news"

[bobthedrummer]

35. KBRS, KBRS,KBRS...thanks again Dave! n/t

[CorpGovActivist]

36. So Strange for Me to Hear LOGCAP...

... mentioned, even though I knew this day was coming.

- Dave

[halobeam]

41. honest question

hunger for knowledge here.. what is LOGCAP?

[CorpGovActivist]

43. LOGCAP Stands for...

Logistics Civil Augmentation Program, and is a multi-billion dollar contract awarded to Halliburton/KBR to provide "civilian augmentation" to the military mission:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=logcap+halliburton

- Dave

[halobeam]

45. thanks

[KittyWampus]

42. and thanks to you bobthedrummer!

[tsuki]

46. Had to step away for a while. Was that Blackwater warning

Congress not to ask him questions, that they could not talk in an "open" forum?

[CorpGovActivist]

47. Yes, the General Counsel for Blackwater n/t

[tsuki]

48. Thanks. n/t

[Norquist Nemesis]

49. Questions...but first! Issa seeking to "take down" words from

the Illinois Rep. He thinks better now.

[tsuki]

50. Issa, I'd like to set the record straight. You are a jerk. You attempted

to smear and slight the mothers and widows, and you were pull up by your jock strap. Deal with it.

[Norquist Nemesis]

51. *gasp* Here we go! The emails first up on the questions!

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[tsuki]

52. Closed session? I see where this is heading. n/t

[Norquist Nemesis]

54. Looks that way. Think Chris Shays will be demanding it all be out

in the open like he was with the previous panel? Doubt it.

[CorpGovActivist]

53. E-Mail to Figure Prominently in Waxman Hearings...

... this is going to be so eye-opening for the American public, as to what really goes on in the defense contractors.

- Dave

[Norquist Nemesis]

55. IF they let the American public SEE it! This guy's pushing for closed

session and looks just short of desperate.

[CorpGovActivist]

57. Closed Session? Barking up the Wrong Tree with Waxman n/t

[tsuki]

56. If they pay attention. Sorry, sometimes I get cynical.

[texasclarkie]

66. Let's see if the MSM says anything about the hearings. n/t

[tsuki]

79. Just looked. Showing Timmee on crutches. n/t

[redqueen]

93. A little ray of hope...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/07/AR2007020701037.html

[CorpGovActivist]

94. Monitor Here, Too...

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=waxman+blackwater+kbr&ie=UTF-8&filter=0

[bobthedrummer]

58. At one time Salem Chalabi, Ahmed's nephew was the Iraqi with "authority"

to "approve" all contracts with US businesses, I assume that included PMC's-but so much of this are black ops and SAP's.

A brave non-com I know told me years ago, and I believe him, that the Fallujah press was publishing the truth about what was going on in Abu Ghraib before it became public knowledge. There were public demonstations. Blackwater employees broke up the demonstrations by shooting people in the face, and a lot worse. Revenge was taken on Blackwater employees at that time-not on our troops. Our troops (mostly Marines) received orders to take reprisals for the mercenaries in Fallujah. That was years ago.

And there is so much more to this-people like the Chalabi's and our own criminals abusing OUR troops that were put into Iraq by lies of war criminals...

I just want to listen to these lies compared to what a US non-com that was there then told me about Fallujah...

[Norquist Nemesis]

59. What the hell is this guy talking about with "unclassified" vs

"classified" contracts???

[CorpGovActivist]

60. Classified Contracts...

... entail work that - by its nature - can't be bid out on an open and competitive basis.

- Dave

[Norquist Nemesis]

65. Thanks. Under almost any other Administration, "classified"

contracts wouldn't freak me out so much, but under Bush/Cheney... :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[CorpGovActivist]

61. Counting Heads - Military vs. Mercenary

The DoD can account for military personnel who have been deployed to Iraq.

Why can't the private sector?

- Dave

[tsuki]

62. Are you, in fact, profiteering from the war? Naw, not at all. n/t

[Norquist Nemesis]

63. The Cons are trying to attack again

Was that Issa again? "Are you suggesting the VP was wrongdoing?"

[tsuki]

64. Sorry, I am at work listening over the Tubes. Didn't catch that, was

working on an order.

[Norquist Nemesis]

67. LOL! I walked in on the middle of it ...One of the Cons was

challenging questions again. Another attempt to have a Dems words "taken down" (and in doing so not allow them to speak for the rest of the day). Sounded like Issa, but might have been someone else.

[WinkyDink]

68. I get still pictures, not live action.

[Norquist Nemesis]

69. Maybe check popup blocker

Had that problem yesterday and then noticed a banner saying Windows Media was attempting to connect/play (or words to that effect), and click here if you want to allow it. :shrug:

[Norquist Nemesis]

70. argh! Waxman needs to gavel this Westmoreland guy

'Sir! If you want to waste your questioning time trying to criticize me and or my staff, instead of getting some answers and participating in the Constitutional authority of Congress to perform oversight, that's your prerogetive."

[CorpGovActivist]

71. Recess until 2:45 ET n/t

[bobthedrummer]

72. Republican rhetoric starts out-this is horrible NAZI like obsfucation

[bobthedrummer]

73. Kucinich has them lying under oath on 6-13-06

[Greeby]

74. I think Dennis is building to demanding a perjury charge

:bounce:

[CorpGovActivist]

75. Committee Supporting Docs Posted during Recess...

http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1165

Worth re-loading to see the links.

- Dave

[malaise]

76. Thanks

Watching.

[Laurab]

77. I'm wondering if they'll get into the cheap labor

that Blackwater/KBR hired from Nepal, Philippines, etc, to whom they paid very little, lied to, and didn't protect once they were in Iraq. If not, they should.

[CorpGovActivist]

78. Read That Against the LOGCAP III Contract Clauses...

... regarding use of American labor.

- Dave

[Laurab]

80. Thanks, do you have a specific link?

There's so many LOGCAP - for once I'm asking you for a link, I don't believe it!

:-)

[CorpGovActivist]

85. Oh, the Irony!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=logcap+foreign+labor+contractual

The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs) govern this.

Such things as the Buy American Act also apply.

- Dave

[Greeby]

81. Kucinich just asked about a mercenary essentially getting away with murder

Saying that Blackwater's executives could be considered accesories

[helderheid]

82. That had my jaw on the floor!

:applause: KOOCH! :applause:

[Laurab]

83. From what I've read - which may or may not be accurate

There are no laws that cover this - neither Iraqi or US, so, in effect these guys can and do get away with murder. I hope I'm mistaken.

[helderheid]

86. He stated he was "off duty" when this happened - wouldn't that flat out be murder? Why isn't he

being tried for murder in Iraq?

[Greeby]

88. Reminds me of the line from Apocalypse Now

"Charging a man with murder in this place was like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500"

[helderheid]

92. ain't that the truth

[Laurab]

90. That may be why they got him out of Iraq

from what I read recently (in a book called "Blood Money"), there are no laws on the books for dealing with contractors bad behavior, either in Iraq or the U.S. I would guess his being "off duty" may make a difference, but I'm not sure.

[redqueen]

89. NICE! n/t

[Greeby]

84. Waxman straight demanding that Blackwater turn over documents

The counsel is stuttering

[CorpGovActivist]

87. KBR E-Mails

Did you hear the KBR e-mails being read?

More of those to come - provided by the Halliburton whistleblowers, in many cases.

- Dave

[Greeby]

91. Hearing is over nt

[bigtree]

95. k$r

[faithnotgreed]

97. kicking for henry waxman - thank you sir

and keep it coming