On October 2, 2007, the Oversight Committee will hold a hearing to examine the use of private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan.The Oversight Committee website says that the brains behind Blackwater, Erik Prince, will be speaking during this hearing. There are some obvious topics of conversation but also, TPM offered a sampling of some other questions that might be brought up during the discussion, like this troublesome fact:
A single Blackwater security contractor costs the government $1,222 every day to guard U.S. civilian personnel, or $445,000 per year. That's six times the cost of getting a U.S. Army soldier to perform the same function.TPM wasn't the only blog to offer a timely article. Salon.com just posted one titled: The Dark Truth About Blackwater.
Well, I don't yet have video of the Prince testimony. He might be pretty smug. Not only did Blackwater not get kicked out of Iraq, they were rewarded with new contracts worth $92 Million. When it's online I'll be sure post it here - Nancy Pelosi usually uploads Oversight Committee clips. Until then... I've posted no less then four Blackwater videos in the recent past, so you can check those out as a warm-up. Below is a segment of the documentary "Iraq for Sale." All about Erik Prince and Blackwater.
*Edit... As promised, videos of the testimony.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I am amused by Bush's lack of knowledge on Blackwater. In his defense though, he's not acting stupid, he IS stupid.
glenn Jones at 10:21AM on Oct 2nd 2007
2. I am a security professional whom has been working in the field for 17 years specializing in high-risk environments.
We must not lose sight of the fact that one of the reasons Blackwater--and agencies like it--have enemies is that they are so effective.
It used to be said that, "When police officers are being shot at, you know they're doing their jobs right!"
Unlike the military, we are not here to, "win their hearts and minds"...we're on-point to get a job done--and by God we will get that job done! Anyone who has seen the Secret Service up close may come away with the feeling that they have no sense of humor. They do...just not on duty.
One of the principal differences between the Secret Service and firms like Blackwater (besides one being a Government agency) is that the scope of the Secret Service is so much narrower (Protecting the President, assisting in Treasury investigations etc.) that most people's lives are relatively uneffected by the measures they must take pursuant to their objectives.
Unlike in the military--where a certain amount of failure or loss is considered inevitable or acceptable--agencies like Blackwater are employed where the tolerance for loss is at or near zero. (Again, much like the Secret Service.)
If the military were used in these situations--and held to the same expectations--the military would be just as hated as Blackwater.
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 1:23PM on Oct 2nd 2007
3. Unlike the military, we are not here to, "win their hearts and minds"...we're on-point to get a job done--and by God we will get that job done!
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Boo-Yah! Kill 'em all and let GOD sort em out! Yee-Hah!!!
Yeah, I know that in my community we always shoot at the cops just to let them know they're doing well. They appreciate the support.
Brian at 3:37PM on Oct 2nd 2007
4. Brian: That cops used to say "Getting shot at was a sign they were doing their job right" meant that being in a position that denies those who would transgress against good order makes one unpopular with such people. I have been involved in urban reclaimation projects wherein we took entire neighborhoods back from gangs, drugs and crime and yes, I've been shot at. To go into such a neighborhood and have nobody complain about you means you are probably not very effective.
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 8:32AM on Oct 3rd 2007
5. The people at Blackwater are much better men than the ignoratn liberal cocksuckers who are slandering them. Seeing how much the left has accused the military of hasn't been even remotely true, why should we believe a word of what they're saying about Blackwater?
Eddie at 6:52PM on Oct 5th 2007