Blackwater/ Xe is just a corporate front organization for the CIA.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

Blackwater Won Contracts Through a Web of Companies
By JAMES RISEN and MARK MAZZETTI

WASHINGTON — Blackwater Worldwide created a web of more than 30 shell companies or subsidiaries in part to obtain millions of dollars in American government contracts after the security company came under intense criticism for reckless conduct in Iraq, according to Congressional investigators and former Blackwater officials.

While it is not clear how many of those businesses won contracts, at least three had deals with the United States military or the Central Intelligence Agency, according to former government and company officials. Since 2001, the intelligence agency has awarded up to $600 million in classified contracts to Blackwater and its affiliates, according to a United States government official.

The Senate Armed Services Committee this week released a chart that identified 31 affiliates of Blackwater, now known as Xe Services. The network was disclosed as part of a committee’s investigation into government contracting. The investigation revealed the lengths to which Blackwater went to continue winning contracts after Blackwater guards killed 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad in September 2007. That episode and other reports of abuses led to criminal and Congressional investigations, and cost the company its lucrative security contract with the State Department in Iraq.

The network of companies — which includes several businesses located in offshore tax havens — allowed Blackwater to obscure its involvement in government work from contracting officials or the public, and to assure a low profile for any of its classified activities, said former Blackwater officials, who, like the government officials, spoke only on condition of anonymity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/04/world/middleeast/04blackwater.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

[NNN0LHI]

1. Recommended

[Billy Burnett]

2. And the CIA is a gov't front for corporations.

One hand washes the other.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

7. nicely put

[another saigon]

14. great book

imagine if more than a few americans were aware of this.

[JerseygirlCT]

3. K&R for the hope of sunshine disinfectant... nt

[SpiralHawk]

4. Sarah Pale Horse (R ) & Co. also uses a web of occult shell corporations

By the same token, the Teabaggers are pretty much a Republicon, Inc. shell "movement."

It is a primary Republicon modus operandi to Go Occult.

Palin apparently uses the same business model as Blackwater.

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2010/10/sarah-palin-201010

"Palin’s belief that evil surrounds her may account for the secretive nature of her business arrangements. SarahPAC staffers and contractors have made what seem like concerted efforts to disclose an absolute minimum of information. Palin’s tours around the country are supported by a network of organizations that are not always what they claim to be..."

[glitch]

9. Evil does surround her. She creates it, swims in it. Wallows in it. It's her habitat.

And it's attempting to encroach on healthy systems.

[SpiralHawk]

10. Even the so-called 'very elect' shall be deceived*

* So THEY say.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

5. It's the Kochtopus business model.

They're all doing it.

[fascisthunter]

6. fascist paramilitary outfit

[KittyWampus]

8. Well, if DU'ers REALLY wanted to make a difference they'd support the movement

to end military contracting and laud every movement in that direction.

But as usual, even when things DO HAPPEN in Washington that move in the right direction, DU'ers ignore them and focus like lemmings on the negative path that leads over the cliff.

But HEY, some DU'er posted this thread with a provocative thread title and then lots of other DU'ers will recommend it.


A subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold hearings on Defense Secretary Robert Gates' decision to cut the Pentagon's military contracting budget by 10 percent a year for the next three years.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/08/the_xx_will_hold_hearings.html

[HankyDubs]

21. well that's a fair assessment

and by no means a blanket indictment slapped together and combined with childish insults

:sarcasm:

[Octafish]

11. Capitalism's Invisible Army runs like a Swiss watch.

A well-oiled Swiss watch.

Know your BFEE: Spawn of Wall Street and the Third Reich

Thank you for the heads-up on Risen and Mazzetti's article, Jeffersons Ghost. Must-read.

Hey, Prince! How are things in Abu Dhabi?

[Dystopian]

12. KandR

peace~

[Jeffersons Ghost]

13. thanks for ALL the kicks and recs.

[glinda]

15. K & R n/t

[JonBenet Ashcroft]

16. Link: Harper's Mag: CIA alarmed by Blackwater connections

http://harpers.org/archive/2006/09/sb-revolving-door-blackwater-1158094722

[JonBenet Ashcroft]

17. Link 2: Erik Prince funds right-wing religious causes & more

http://spitfirelist.com/news/blackwater-founder-and-west-michigan-native-funds-right-wing-through-foundation/

[Dystopian]

18. .............

:kick:

peace~

[leveymg]

19. NYT: "Confederate States May Have Employed Forced Labor,"

No shit. Whoever writes the Times' headlines takes the cake.

[rucky]

20. Corporations really are like people.

I spin myself off into several different people all the time. Doesn't everybody?

[LatteLibertine]

22. Look at who

attends the Bilderberg Meetings. They almost always have someone involved in "national security".

The most wealthy minority and their corporations have a solid grip on the government. This definitely includes much of secret service agencies, the military and our police.

This stuff is going to continue to go on as long as the masses buy into mindless nationalism and so called patriotism. People need to stop being cowardly about opposing unjust wars and war profiteering.

[ensho]

23. I don't think they are a 'front'. I think they are a hired sub-contractor

by the CIA. they play nice together as they rake in the dough.