Comments on: Our Media’s Failure to Report the Real Blackwater Story http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/ Firedoglake weblog Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:11:53 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: cf http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1012264 cf Wed, 03 Oct 2007 22:21:53 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1012264 <p><a href="http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/03/1349239">DN covered the gaps pretty well, with Jeremy Scahill on hand to discuss what was being missed in the hearing. </a></p> DN covered the gaps pretty well, with Jeremy Scahill on hand to discuss what was being missed in the hearing.

]]> By: mui http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011910 mui Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:59:22 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011910 <p><a href="#comment-1011305"><em>elef @ 155</em></a></p> <blockquote><p>I’m interested in the numbers: Of our approximately 160,000 troops in Iraq how many are in combat positions and how many are support? What are the equivalent numbers of the contractors? The reason I ask is that sometimes I hear the argument that there aren’t that many contractors who are doing active security.</p></blockquote> <p>Well state dept. site has listings of security and non-security (general.) with contact numbers. Maybe you could ask for a brochure or something, the kind investors might get. Halliburton is the boogeyman to me. But some othe brave soul could proabbly do it.<br /> Although DOD probably keeps numbers. I think. I don’t have much confidence in anything anymore.</p> elef @ 155

I’m interested in the numbers: Of our approximately 160,000 troops in Iraq how many are in combat positions and how many are support? What are the equivalent numbers of the contractors? The reason I ask is that sometimes I hear the argument that there aren’t that many contractors who are doing active security.

Well state dept. site has listings of security and non-security (general.) with contact numbers. Maybe you could ask for a brochure or something, the kind investors might get. Halliburton is the boogeyman to me. But some othe brave soul could proabbly do it.
Although DOD probably keeps numbers. I think. I don’t have much confidence in anything anymore.

]]> By: DC Chris http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011808 DC Chris Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:49:18 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011808 <p><a href="#comment-1011247"><em>mui @ 122</em></a></p> <blockquote><p><a href="#comment-1011245"><em>Professor Foland @ 119</em></a></p> <blockquote><p>As I understand it, there are over 100,000 contractors in Iraq. Blackwater provides about 800 of them. I’m sure mighty curious about who’s running all the others…</p></blockquote> <p>Someone in Cmmtte forget who, asked Prince why such and such a contractor treated their subcontracted like actual employees with health insurance, etc. Prince couldn’t answer. But I’m sure Blackwater sorta employees are not the only ones receiving ill treatment. I wonder if Prince includes subcontracted in his numbers.( ca. 1,000 were Prince’s numbers of actual employees I think.)</p></blockquote> <p>It was OUR congresscritter, Eleanor Holmes Norton. This is a HUGE question…….Blackwater treats its employees as “independent contractors” thus no FICA, FUTA or MEDICARE payments….no pensions, health insurance, none of those “pesky” employee benefits.</p> mui @ 122

Professor Foland @ 119

As I understand it, there are over 100,000 contractors in Iraq. Blackwater provides about 800 of them. I’m sure mighty curious about who’s running all the others…

Someone in Cmmtte forget who, asked Prince why such and such a contractor treated their subcontracted like actual employees with health insurance, etc. Prince couldn’t answer. But I’m sure Blackwater sorta employees are not the only ones receiving ill treatment. I wonder if Prince includes subcontracted in his numbers.( ca. 1,000 were Prince’s numbers of actual employees I think.)

It was OUR congresscritter, Eleanor Holmes Norton. This is a HUGE question…….Blackwater treats its employees as “independent contractors” thus no FICA, FUTA or MEDICARE payments….no pensions, health insurance, none of those “pesky” employee benefits.

]]> By: Moon http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011675 Moon Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:08:00 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011675 <p>Judy Woodruff needs to go back to CNN. She is far below the quality of the rest of the Jim Lehrer reporting. Of course, lately, CNN seems to be dumping all their aging blond, on camera, female employees.</p> Judy Woodruff needs to go back to CNN. She is far below the quality of the rest of the Jim Lehrer reporting. Of course, lately, CNN seems to be dumping all their aging blond, on camera, female employees.

]]> By: myshadow http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011504 myshadow Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:53:44 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011504 <p>the hearings were a sham. To sit before congress and talk about spiriting away a murderer the next day…and NOBODY BLINKS>>> This is such a HUGE scandal, I don’t know if the american public can wrap their heads around the fact that this is a Hague-worthy hanging war crime. From Blackwater on up. It is sickening to realize what has happened to this country and the bastards that smearing our good name by butchering innocents to ‘liberate them’. May what exists as a divinity have mercy on us.</p> the hearings were a sham. To sit before congress and talk about spiriting away a murderer the next day…and NOBODY BLINKS>>> This is such a HUGE scandal, I don’t know if the american public can wrap their heads around the fact that this is a Hague-worthy hanging war crime. From Blackwater on up. It is sickening to realize what has happened to this country and the bastards that smearing our good name by butchering innocents to ‘liberate them’. May what exists as a divinity have mercy on us.

]]> By: calguy http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011495 calguy Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:47:02 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011495 <p>Check out coverage in today’s USA Today-totally from the blackwater frame-the headline sets the tone basically accepting Prince’s claims without question.Also,the discussion is described as partisan which immediately suggests purely political motivations behind the hearings.</p> Check out coverage in today’s USA Today-totally from the blackwater frame-the headline sets the tone basically accepting Prince’s claims without question.Also,the discussion is described as partisan which immediately suggests purely political motivations behind the hearings.

]]> By: selise http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011400 selise Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:57:08 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011400 <p><a href="#comment-1011388"><em>bg @ 163</em></a></p> <blockquote><p>selise, Unreported in the incident of the 4 contractors who died in Fallujah when they were “ambushed” by an angry mob and killed, then burned and strung up on that bridge, THAT incident, is that they were leaving the scene of an incident and did what they often do (according to my source). That is, they open the back doors of the vehicles and spray the crowd or anyone around with gunfire as they drive away. In the Fallujah incident, they got stuck in a traffic jam and could not escape the crowd that pursued them after this incident. That is when the crazy sh** happened.</p> <p>I have a source who I believe on this, who has inside info (ie: Blackwater people who have admitted it.)</p></blockquote> <p>ah, i see. thank you. i guess that explains why blackwater won’t tell the families anything.</p> bg @ 163

selise, Unreported in the incident of the 4 contractors who died in Fallujah when they were “ambushed” by an angry mob and killed, then burned and strung up on that bridge, THAT incident, is that they were leaving the scene of an incident and did what they often do (according to my source). That is, they open the back doors of the vehicles and spray the crowd or anyone around with gunfire as they drive away. In the Fallujah incident, they got stuck in a traffic jam and could not escape the crowd that pursued them after this incident. That is when the crazy sh** happened.

I have a source who I believe on this, who has inside info (ie: Blackwater people who have admitted it.)

ah, i see. thank you. i guess that explains why blackwater won’t tell the families anything.

]]> By: bg http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011388 bg Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:50:10 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011388 <p>selise, Unreported in the incident of the 4 contractors who died in Fallujah when they were “ambushed” by an angry mob and killed, then burned and strung up on that bridge, THAT incident, is that they were leaving the scene of an incident and did what they often do (according to my source). That is, they open the back doors of the vehicles and spray the crowd or anyone around with gunfire as they drive away. In the Fallujah incident, they got stuck in a traffic jam and could not escape the crowd that pursued them after this incident. That is when the crazy sh** happened.</p> <p>I have a source who I believe on this, who has inside info (ie: Blackwater people who have admitted it.)</p> selise, Unreported in the incident of the 4 contractors who died in Fallujah when they were “ambushed” by an angry mob and killed, then burned and strung up on that bridge, THAT incident, is that they were leaving the scene of an incident and did what they often do (according to my source). That is, they open the back doors of the vehicles and spray the crowd or anyone around with gunfire as they drive away. In the Fallujah incident, they got stuck in a traffic jam and could not escape the crowd that pursued them after this incident. That is when the crazy sh** happened.

I have a source who I believe on this, who has inside info (ie: Blackwater people who have admitted it.)

]]> By: David http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011387 David Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:50:05 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011387 <p>As I ask in every case with every hearing: So what? Congress is impotent. I might as well not exist. When they DO uncover evidence of wrongdoing the media hides it, the Repubs dispute it, and finally the Dems back down. It’s the same dance EVERY TIME. No one is EVER held accountable much less punished. I say dissolve congress and let Bush rule. He will anyway. No matter what these fools in congress say or do. Face it, we been coup’d. In the immortal words of Mel Brooks: ‘Springtime for George Bush and America’. Or was it Hitler? Oh, well, same difference.</p> As I ask in every case with every hearing: So what? Congress is impotent. I might as well not exist. When they DO uncover evidence of wrongdoing the media hides it, the Repubs dispute it, and finally the Dems back down. It’s the same dance EVERY TIME. No one is EVER held accountable much less punished. I say dissolve congress and let Bush rule. He will anyway. No matter what these fools in congress say or do. Face it, we been coup’d. In the immortal words of Mel Brooks: ‘Springtime for George Bush and America’. Or was it Hitler? Oh, well, same difference.

]]> By: David McGiffertDa http://firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011385 David McGiffertDa Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:45:55 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/03/our-medias-failure-to-report-the-real-blackwater-story/#comment-1011385 <p>Another in an endless string of horrible and misleading<br /> “reporting”.</p> <p>Thank god for the blogs.</p> Another in an endless string of horrible and misleading
“reporting”.

Thank god for the blogs.

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