Military Contractor Wants To Build Mercenary Camp

[sabra]

Source: NBC San Diego

<snip>

Defense contractor Blackwater USA is the subject of some controversy as well as a congressional committee investigation. The company provides armed security for U.S. personnel and supply contractors in Iraq.

Blackwater USA wants to train its private army on the site of an old chicken ranch, just over the hills from Potrero. Residents of that community, environmentalists and anti-war activists have a protest scheduled on Thursday in advance of the county planning commission meeting.

"It's going to wipe that valley out," Potrero resident Carl Meyer told NBC 7/39. "When you have golden eagles about 3,500 feet away, it's going to affect them. It's going to affect mountain lions. It's going to affect mountain lion corridors. That's a mountain meadow."

...

On the site, Blackwater USA envisions constructing an armory, 15 firing ranges and an emergency-vehicle operator course for about 300 former Army Rangers, Navy SEALs and Marines.

...

For its part, Blackwater USA insists the complex will not be harmful to the environment and will, in fact, be helpful to the local economy and U.S. efforts in Iraq.


Read more: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/11538204/detail.html

[politicaholic]

1. Isn't the French Foreign Legion for that? n/t