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Blackwater

I just listened to an interview with Jeremy Scahill, who has just written a book about Blackwater. These guys are pretty scary and seem to operate with no oversight. I know they are busy in Iraq, but i`m just wondering if down the road they might end up in Colombia or if maybe they already are there?

By greg on Mar 20, 2007, 16:52 in Politics & the war.

cali373 says on Mar 21, 2007, 07:50:

I can't recall reading anything about blackwater being in Colombia. In essence they operate like a legal mercenary force. The U.S. congress caps the number of troops that are allowed to be in Colombia, so the U.S. military uses contractors to add head count. In my opinion it is just a way to find a way to use more of our tax dollars needlessly. In other words a waste of money. There are already U.S. military contractors in Colombia, so blackwater operating in colombia as "security" would not be out of the ordinary.

Smile if you are a thinker!

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Mr. Hollywood says on Mar 21, 2007, 11:19:

Good luck if they do Blackwater was the company accused of hiring a bunch of Colombian ex-military and then changing the terms of employment on them when they arrived in Iraq (and paying them something like $50 a day).

So I wouldn't hold my breath to see Blackwater operating in Colombia. Might be a tough reception from the local boys.

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juancegomez says on Mar 21, 2007, 11:23:

Indeed... What I recall about Blackwater pretty much is what Mr. Hollywood already mentioned.

I also do not know if they are operating in Colombia per se, outside of their hiring former Colombian personnel for missions elsewhere in the globe, but it's not out of the question either. They might well be serving as contractors in some other capacity here, like cali373 observed, but we're all just guessing.

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profebill says on Mar 22, 2007, 15:14:

Get more info first; If you would like more info, read Robert Young Pelton's book, License to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror. Bob is the only guy to get it somewhat correct so far. Read the book first, it has good research in it.

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Joell says on Apr 17, 2007, 13:26:

BlackWater there always will be a blackwater excpet that by the time they get into Colombia it will be called something else. Why not use cheap labor war is just another making machine. Its Business.

Thank you All

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kalder says on Apr 22, 2007, 03:23:

I notice that on their website you can buy (for $10) a 'Cuddly bear in brown or black sporting a Blackwater Logo'.

Funny old world.

"A piece of cheese may entrap a mouse, but a bicycle could ensnare the Imperial Chancellor."~~An Bai Kuang

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