General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNo, Monsanto actually DIDN'T buy Blackwater.
So easily debunked I don't know why the OP saying the opposite hasn't been corrected.
1. Academi (the latest new name for Blackwater) is a privately held company. Monsanto is a publicly held company that trades on the stock exchange, which means if Monsanto owned Academi, that would be stated publicly, in their official documents, annual reports, etc. It's not.
2. There's no representation on Academi's board from anyone connected to Monsanto, which would be unusual if Monsanto owned Academi.
3. Sourcewatch says that Academi is owned by two private equity firms, Forte Capital Advisers & Manhattan Growth Partners, at least one of which has ties to Blackwater founder eric prince.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Academi#Leadership_and_Ownership
4. Here's an article debunking the story & explaining it as a product of the internet rumor mill:
http://redgreenandblue.org/2010/10/16/too-much-of-a-bad-thing-monsanto-did-not-buy-blackwater/
5. Most tellingly, there is NO evidence WHATSOEVER in the article titled "Yes Monsanto actually DID buy the Blackwater Mercenary Group" that supports that title. The article says HIRED Blackwater, not that it bought it.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023138368#post29
There is a false claim that "Jeremy Scahill revealed" Blackwater was sold to Monsanto, but that misrepresents what Scahill reported in the Nation, which was, again, that Monsanto had HIRED blackwater, not bought it.
One of the most incendiary details in the documents is that Blackwater, through Total Intelligence, sought to become the intel arm of Monsanto, offering to provide operatives to infiltrate activist groups organizing against the multinational biotech firm.
Just putting this up because the OP has not yet corrected his post or even addressed the evidence against the claim from other posters.

silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I found that OP very alarming initially, but because I couldn't confirm it in any semi-mainstream, reputable source, I was skeptical.
Thanks very much for taking the time to research this and post the correct information.
msongs
(70,582 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)would *hire* blackwater rather than buy it. if they owned it, no arms-length relationship so monsanto would be responsible if there were a scandal.
the point of all these subcontracting relationships is so there's no oversight & no culpability if anything goes wrong/comes to public attention.
silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]But I found it at least slightly comforting that one isn't owned by the other.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)
bluedeathray
(514 posts)
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)eggy1943
(1 post)The question is Monsanto Responsibility. They may not have bought "Blackwater" but they hired them and directed their actions. Monsanto hired the gun then directed the fire. Monsanto is responsible for everything Blackwater did under their contract.