***** Senate Hearing on Contractors in Iraq ********

[MiniMe]

Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing

"The Lack of Accountability in Private Security and
Reconstruction Contracting in Iraq"

Friday, September 21, 2007
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
226 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Video Link: http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/index22.cfm

This should be broadcast on CSPAN!!

This is important people

[eleny]

1. Thanks! Jeremy Scahill is speaking now

Stakes are high for the W administration. Blackwater protects the administration when there. 800 million in contracts for security contracts.

[Lindsay]

2. Thanks for the heads-up.

Scahill speaking at the moment.

Wonder why it's DPC, and not a Senate committee hearing.

[L. Coyote]

3. Thanks. K & R

[L. Coyote]

4. This is really worthwhile AND today is PEACE DAY

Rec this by NOON

2007.09.21 NOON ET === ONE BILLION people worldwide will join in a moment of silence
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1867880

[MiniMe]

5. Did he just say he was tortured by americans??

[goodhue]

6. please feed cube rats

[Beelzebud]

7. Thanks for the heads up.

[Blackhatjack]

8. K & R (It's not a WAR, it is a HEIST --Follow The Money!)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

9. Recommend! After coming in late and hearing the tail end of the last statement, I can see

why c-span isn't covering it. The people will find out about the thugs that carry out the filthy deeds in "our name".

[eleny]

10. Scahill: There are 170 contracting companies in Iraq performing military duties

[L. Coyote]

11. We torture our own. INCREDIBLE. Gulag 666

[MiniMe]

12. Webb talking about the total lack of accountability of contractors

Also talking about how *co is using the private contractors in place of a draft. The contractors are hiring nationals from other nations that are being paid pennies to work in Iraq.

[eleny]

14. Scahill illustrated how little some forein contractors are paid

some foregin mercenaries were offered a lot more money until they got to Iraq. Then they were told by Blackwater that they would be paid a lot less and if they didn't like it they could leave Iraq - on their own. Scahill detailed this in his book on Blackwater.

[MiniMe]

13. Did Blackwater operate in New Orleans after Kaatrina?

Scahill - Yes, I interviewed them. They were running around with assault rifles. Thinks there were 180 in NO, 600 across the south. Blackwater was making $240,000 per day right after the hurricane. The contractors were making $350 each plus a per diem

[MiniMe]

15. Contractors - contractors are brought in and their passports taken away

When they get there, it is a different job than they were promised, and they basically can't leave.

Disgusting

[MiniMe]

16. Talking about some of the contracts that have been awarded

[Solly Mack]

17. Congressional Report on Contractors (CRS)

Private Security Contractors in Iraq:
Background, Legal Status, and Other Issues>

[MiniMe]

18. Vance - imprisoned by his own country

he had no right to habeaus corpus, no access to a lawyer, no rights, tortured for 97 days because he saw a gun transaction. He says at the end of that time, he was taken and dumped at the Baghdad airport with $20 by the US Military.

This guys story is absolutely incredible.

[MiniMe]

19. Vance has documents that say he does not have the right to legal counsel

Dorgan asked for a copy of them.

[L. Coyote]

20. USG holds him 97 days in prison w/o rights to cover up crimes in IRAQ

[MiniMe]

21. New panel of 4 whistle blowers coming up

[MiniMe]

22. There are no republicks on this committee?

No softball questions.

[MiniMe]

23. Bunnatine Greenhouse up now

[eleny]

24. I had completely forgotten about Ms. G.

I believe that she was the very first whistle blower on this issue.

[Solly Mack]

25. She's great

[Solly Mack]

26. Kicking....