Obama: I've been all over Blackwater

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: September 23, 2007
Obama: I've been all over Blackwater


Obama said private security firms should follow miltary codes of conduct.

CRESTON, Iowa (CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, said Saturday during a question and answer period that he doesn't have "much patience" for private security firms like Blackwater USA "getting paid by U.S. tax dollars."

Blackwater USA provides protection for U.S. diplomats in Iraq. But the Iraqi government prohibited the firm from operating after a shooting incident Sunday where, according to the Iraqi government, as many as 20 civilians were killed by gunfire from Blackwater USA contractors guarding a U.S. diplomatic convoy. The U.S. claims the guards were responding to an attack.

"It just so happens I introduced a bill in February…that says we've got to place Blackwater and all these private security firms under the same codes of conduct and the same auditing as our U.S. military."

The Democratic presidential candidate said companies like Blackwater can be "just as damaging to our foreign policy as anybody." "The Iraqis look at these folks as if they're Americans," he said. "They don't make the distinction between…a private security firm (and)…the U.S. military. It's all the same to them."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/09/23/obama-ive-been-all-over-blackwater/

[beberocks]

1. Do what the American people want. Stop paying them by ending the Iraq war funding.

Fire their a**es.

[Benhurst]

2. Placing Blackwater and all private security firms under the same codes

of conduct and the same auditing as our U.S. military would be better than nothing. But not much.

Stop funding the immoral and illegal occupation of Iraq now!

[Colobo]

3. Thanks, Sen. Obama, for your leadership.

[Tellurian]

4. but, but, but...where was Obama when Bush gave Blackwater total immunity?

Blackwater is Bush's private Army.

After Blackwater is thrown out of Iraq... where do you think they're going to go?

Three guesses?

Oh, don't forget Bush asked Congress to keep the Mexican border wide open for transport trucks coming into the US.

[Diane R]

5. Are Obama's bills being heard, or are Hillary's friends sitting on them?

[sandnsea]

6. These people are everywhere

All over the world. Privatization, what a brilliant idea.