Response from Red Cross re: Blackwater in Algiers

[preciousdove]

----- Original Messag -----
From: Info
To: PreciousDove
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 2:02 PM
Subject: RE:'CaseID=598-977'Red Cross Inquiry-URGENT Disaster Relief

PreciousDove,

American Red Cross is partnering with a network of nearly 50,000 financial locations nationwide and around the world, where those who lived before the storm in ZIP codes presidentially declared Hurricane Katrina areas can receive emergency financial assistance.

The respective institutions will handle security at those locations, just as they routinely do to protect all of their customers.

Sincerely,
American Red Cross Public Inquiry

-----Original Message-----
From: PreciousDove
Date: Thursday, September 29, 2005 04:41 PM
To: [email protected] ([email protected])
Subject: Red Cross Inquiry-URGENT Disaster Relief

<snip personal contact info>

inquirytype: URGENT Disaster Relief

questions: This is guaranteed to slash your donations. It will take no time at all to go around the internet. We have not had mercenaries operating on American soil since 1774 and now the Red Cross is entertainting Black Water mercinearies in NOLA. Is there anybody left there with at least half a brain? Please forward this message to them. RC is to good to have ruined by stupidity.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4924604

"Blackwater Security is now providing security to the Red Cross! That's right, you heard correctly. Armed mecenaries are providing security to a (supposedly) humanitarian relief organization. I spoke with three Red Cross volunteers about what was going on with their distribution and pointed out that Blackwater is a group of armed mercenaries - corporate contractors who have a very bad reputation. I offerred the question - who are they accountable to?"

A well meaning volunteer from Vermont said that the Blackwater guys were very nice and they offered protection. I asked, "Who do you need protection from?" The conversation ended."

on edit: corrected title to indicate location