SNAFU

Call for William Kristol here! We need to get your fabulous opinion on this issue ASAP.

Racists killers from SA on the U.S. payroll?

Oh…you say it doesn’t bother you that much ’cause look, look that All Gore dude, the guy that lied about the Internet, got the Nobel Peace Prize and you wanted your BFF Georgy to to get it?

Aw shucks Bill…since Blackwater is going to pull out of Iraq, or look like it anyway, can we send ‘em over to your house to watch out for IslamoFascists creepin’ in over yer lawn?

Sentry-turned-thief. How interesting!

I maintain that the word which fits Erik Prince best is not “mercenary,” but “warlord.”

Move that Blackwater headquarters from Moyock to Mogadishu, trade that business suit for ethnic dress, and tell me why you’d insist on calling him a “CEO” of a “private security force.”

Nothing of substance is different.

I just feel much more comfortable knowing that Condi is on top of ‘things’ in the Middle East.

Kagro! welcome!

and warlord sounds about right to me!

Wonder who’s putting this stuff out. Nothing in the Middle East is what it seems. I’ve heard it said.

The Russian president has been warned of a plot to assassinate him during a planned visit to Iran next week, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.

Siun @ 5

Kagro! welcome!

and warlord sounds about right to me!

Well, we do this all the time.

Rambling jackass business suit = pundit.

Warlord business suit = private security contractor.

Paid militia is just another way to subvert the will of the American people who are not signing up in large numbers for military service and are not calling for a draft, FOR A REASON!

I just learned that Blackwater is actively recruiting in my community. The person rejected their offer after visiting their headquarters as their guest. They said no.

Who is saying “yes”? Someone is. The exact people you dont want have a lawless gun to wave in your face. Blackwater Sleeper Cells in your community too?

Oy vey.

Read the 1st Chapter of the Gulag Archipelago

edit: it was implied that the recruit would remain local.

The Man Behind Blackwater
Dutiful and intense, son of a self-made billionaire, Erik Prince is an adventure seeker and conservative true believer. An exclusive.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/43361

Didn’t Jack Abramoff have some connection the pro-apartheid forces in SA? It shouldn’t surprise me anymore.

Rice’s commission is a little like the Godfather summoning Tessio, Clemenza, and Sonny to investigate the Mafia.

I’m just giddy over Condi’s brain.

The US secretary of state has warned that Israel’s plan to seize Palestinian land in east Jerusalem could damage confidence in next month’s meeting on Palestinian statehood.

Did everyone notice that Blackwater resigned from the trade association – International Peace Operations Association. We have to keep an eye on the whole lot of them – not just Prince

Tonights special: Curry favored Rice.

Gouws was employed as a mercenary in Iraq by an unnamed US firm, injured in a suicide bombing and is now applying for US Workman’s Compensation.

What.
The.
Hell.
!!!??!!?!?!?!

My taxpayer dollars could go to that??

No. No, no, no, no. Carve their compensations out of the fortunes the neocons have made out of the. Carve their compensations out of Halliburton, et al. For all I care, carve it directly out of Cheney’s hide, but NOT MY MONEY.

What are our foreign policy objects ms rice? The whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Israel has decided to resume controversial excavation work outside the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Arab East Jerusalem.

The digging, which Israel says will clear the way for construction of a new pedestrian walkway to the Old City compound, sparked angry protests from Muslims when it was begun in February.

“Some of the U.S.-contracted thieves are remnants of Serbian militias whose role in the genocide of Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo cannot be denied. Some others are the remnants of the hated apartheid regime of South Africa.”

These scumbags are like mold. They show up everywhere.

my snark for today and for Frank Rich:
911 cheneyed everything.

The entire Iraq affair is hard to believe as fiction, let alone fact. Who could make up this shit? Turn over any stone and bugs and creepy crawlies are there and dart away.

I’d laugh, but we killed maybe 1 million and displaced 4 million.

peanutbutter @ 16

Gouws was employed as a mercenary in Iraq by an unnamed US firm, injured in a suicide bombing and is now applying for US Workman’s Compensation.

What.
The.
Hell.
!!!??!!?!?!?!

My taxpayer dollars could go to that??

No. No, no, no, no. Carve their compensations out of the fortunes the neocons have made out of the. Carve their compensations out of Halliburton, et al. For all I care, carve it directly out of Cheney’s hide, but NOT MY MONEY.

Taxpayers don’t pay Workers Compensation. Employers do. It’s private insurance that employers are required to have.

The immensity of the wrong doing is so vast that it seems no one will have the patience or the will to clean it up. One day we’ll scoot out of there and there will be no truth and reconciliation. It will be .. let’s move on… it’s too painful to revisit.

Sources: Rice won’t impose any conditions on Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has no intention of imposing on Israel “anything that will not be acceptable to it,”during the negotiations with the Palestinians in preparation for the summit at Annapolis, according to sources in the Prime Minister’s Bureau.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/912746.html

Carve their compensations out of Halliburton, et al. For all I care, carve it directly out of Cheney’s hide, but NOT MY MONEY.

All of Cheneys money was once your tax money.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 24

Sources: Rice won’t impose any conditions on Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has no intention of imposing on Israel “anything that will not be acceptable to it,”during the negotiations with the Palestinians in preparation for the summit at Annapolis, according to sources in the Prime Minister’s Bureau.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/912746.html

Rice is busy working on her legacy. Unfortunately for her, her legacy has already been written and it is one of failure.

Tithonia @ 22

peanutbutter @ 16

What.
The.
Hell.
!!!??!!?!?!?!

My taxpayer dollars could go to that??

No. No, no, no, no. Carve their compensations out of the fortunes the neocons have made out of the. Carve their compensations out of Halliburton, et al. For all I care, carve it directly out of Cheney’s hide, but NOT MY MONEY.

Taxpayers don’t pay Workers Compensation. Employers do. It’s private insurance that employers are required to have.

Yes, but isn’t it a pool? So aren’t other companies subsidizing the risk?

Howdy, Kagro!

Check this out, by Bob Bateman — he’s the guy who regularly wrote in to Eric Alterman while stationed in Iraq:

Every time one of those Blackwater convoys drives an Iraqi civilian off the road because the most important thing in the world is the protection of their “principal,” they make a new enemy for the United States. Every time they ram another car to clear the way (and, yes, I’ve seen them do that), so that they could maintain their own speed and thereby minimize their exposure to “improvised explosive devices,” they make another enemy. Every time they kill innocent civilians, or wound them, they make whole families of new enemies.

[…]

…But the reality is that Blackwater USA, from top to bottom, just does not care.

What employees of the private security firm care about, and I have heard this from the Blackwaters with whom I interacted in Iraq, is their paycheck. They care about their huge compensation packages, and about getting home alive to spend them. Blackwater USA has already taken in more than $1 billion from the public coffers.

All in all, that’s not a bad take for Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater and a Naval Academy dropout who served less time under the colors of the nation, in uniform, than my most recent pair of boots.

TheOtherWA @ 19

“Some of the U.S.-contracted thieves are remnants of Serbian militias whose role in the genocide of Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo cannot be denied. Some others are the remnants of the hated apartheid regime of South Africa.”

These scumbags are like mold. They show up everywhere.

where are the Contras? don’t we have some of Reagan’s freedom fighters spilling blood in Iraq?

Siun @ 14

Did everyone notice that Blackwater resigned from the trade association – International Peace Operations Association. We have to keep an eye on the whole lot of them – not just Prince

A spooky web site: International Peace Operations Association

The article from the Chi Trib mentions that one of the SA mercenaries – who has a commendation from Gen.Petraeus no less – is organizing the other SA mercenaries to apply for workers comp …
seems like hutzpah to me.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 18

Israel has decided to resume controversial excavation work outside the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Arab East Jerusalem.

The digging, which Israel says will clear the way for construction of a new pedestrian walkway to the Old City compound, sparked angry protests from Muslims when it was begun in February.

maybe some of their old apartheid buddies from south africa now working as missiona- oops i mean mercenarys in iraq can protect the ‘pedestrian walkway’

Eureka! thanks for adding the link – the IPOA is quite an operation, eh?

Kagro, Dean is still answering questions…!!! Excellent Post, Siun!!!

Iraq contractors and workers compensation

Workers compensation for contractors is mandatory under the U.S. Defense Based Act (DBA) of 1941. Coverage applies to both U. S. workers and any foreign subcontractors who are not covered under their own country’s workers comp laws. Since Iraqi contractors are not covered by workers comp, any contractors must be covered under the DBA.

Insurers are not mandated to provide this coverage. As an inducement, the government reimburses insurers for war related claims:

“Labor Department officials said they had no cost estimate for reimbursements of Iraq-related claims, but given the maximum payment of $1,030.78 per week and the number of injuries and deaths, it could well climb into the multimillions. In past years, annual reimbursement costs under the War Hazards Act have ranged from $1 million to $2 million.

Katymine – that’s very helpful info!

katymine @ 35

Iraq contractors and workers compensation
Workers compensation for contractors is mandatory under the U.S. Defense Based Act (DBA) of 1941. Coverage applies to both U. S. workers and any foreign subcontractors who are not covered under their own country’s workers comp laws. Since Iraqi contractors are not covered by workers comp, any contractors must be covered under the DBA.

Insurers are not mandated to provide this coverage. As an inducement, the government reimburses insurers for war related claims:

“Labor Department officials said they had no cost estimate for reimbursements of Iraq-related claims, but given the maximum payment of $1,030.78 per week and the number of injuries and deaths, it could well climb into the multimillions. In past years, annual reimbursement costs under the War Hazards Act have ranged from $1 million to $2 million.

we’re getting screwed by them every which way including Sunday.

Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 32

Oklahoma kiddo @ 18

Israel has decided to resume controversial excavation work outside the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Arab East Jerusalem.

The digging, which Israel says will clear the way for construction of a new pedestrian walkway to the Old City compound, sparked angry protests from Muslims when it was begun in February.

maybe some of their old apartheid buddies from south africa now working as missiona- oops i mean mercenarys in iraq can protect the ‘pedestrian walkway’

They’ve likely got to excavate some water wells to put in the sidewalk. Progress is a bitch sometimes. Especially if you’re Palestinian.

I wonder if the American people really understands the implications of Blackwater.

Hugh @ 26

Oklahoma kiddo @ 24

Sources: Rice won’t impose any conditions on Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has no intention of imposing on Israel “anything that will not be acceptable to it,”during the negotiations with the Palestinians in preparation for the summit at Annapolis, according to sources in the Prime Minister’s Bureau.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/912746.html

Rice is busy working on her legacy. Unfortunately for her, her legacy has already been written and it is one of failure.

Von Ribbentrop best illustrates her legacy – may it claim her, Bush, Cheney, and Blair soon.

Three black-painted wooden scaffolds stood inside the gymnasium, a room approximately 33 feet wide by 80 feet long with plaster walls in which cracks showed. The gymnasium had been used only three days before by the American security guards for a basketball game. Two gallows were used alternately. The third was a spare for use if needed. The men were hanged one at a time, but to get the executions over with quickly, the military police would bring in the man while the prisoner who proceeded him still was dangling at the end of the rope.

The ten once great men in Hitler’s Reich that was to have lasted for a thousand years walked up thirteen wooden steps to a platform eight feet high which also was eight square feet.

Ropes were suspended from a crossbeam supported on two posts. A new one was used for each man.

When the trap was sprung, the victim dropped from sight in the interior of the scaffolding. The bottom of it was boarded up with wood on three sides and shielded by a dark canvas curtain on the fourth, so that no one saw the death struggles of the men dangling with broken necks.

Von Ribbentrop entered the execution chamber at 1.11 a.m. Nuremberg time.

He was stopped immediately inside the door by two Army sergeants who closed in on each side of him and held his arms, while another sergeant who had followed him in removed manacles from his hands and replaced them with a leather strap.

It was planned originally to permit the condemned men to walk from their cells to the execution chamber with their hands free, but all were manacled following Goering’s suicide.

Von Ribbentrop was able to maintain his apparent stoicism to the last. He walked steadily toward the scaffold between his two guards, but he did not answer at first when an officer standing at the foot of the gallows went through the formality of asking his name. When the query was repeated he almost shouted, ‘Joachim von Ribbentrop!’ and then mounted the steps without any sign of hesitation.

When he was turned around on the platform to face the witnesses, he seemed to clench his teeth and raise his head with the old arrogance. When asked whether he had any final message he said, ‘God protect Germany,’ in German, and then added, ‘May I say something else?’

The interpreter nodded and the former diplomatic wizard of Nazidom spoke his last words in loud, firm tones: ‘My last wish is that Germany realize its entity and that an understanding be reached between the East and the West. I wish peace to the world.’

As the black hod was placed in position on his head, Von Ribbentrop looked straight ahead.

Then the hangman adjusted the rope, pulled the lever, and Von Ribbentrop slipped away to his fate.

Field Marshall Keitel, who was immediately behind Von Ribbentrop in the order of executions, was the first military leader to be executed under the new concept of international law – the principle that professional soldiers cannot escape punishment for waging aggressive wars and permitting crimes against humanity with the claim they were dutifully carrying out orders of superiors.

Keitel entered the chamber two minutes after the trap had dropped beneath Von Ribbentrop, while the latter still was at the end of his rope. But Von Ribbentrop’s body was concealed inside the first scaffold; all that could be seen was the taut rope.

Siun @ 36

Katymine – that’s very helpful info!

I don’t suppose the Labor Dept uses the same scale for payments that is used by various US agencies for compensating Iraqi families for the deaths of their loved ones.

A Guide for U.S. Contractors in Iraq

This website is wacked….. from the point of the contractors
DBA Workman’s comp guide for employees

Don’t you just love teh Google?

katymine @ 35

Iraq contractors and workers compensation

Workers compensation for contractors is mandatory under the U.S. Defense Based Act (DBA) of 1941. Coverage applies to both U. S. workers and any foreign subcontractors who are not covered under their own country’s workers comp laws. Since Iraqi contractors are not covered by workers comp, any contractors must be covered under the DBA.

Insurers are not mandated to provide this coverage. As an inducement, the government reimburses insurers for war related claims:

“Labor Department officials said they had no cost estimate for reimbursements of Iraq-related claims, but given the maximum payment of $1,030.78 per week and the number of injuries and deaths, it could well climb into the multimillions. In past years, annual reimbursement costs under the War Hazards Act have ranged from $1 million to $2 million.

So much for employers like Blackwater footing the costs. Can’t sue them, can’t be held accountable for murder or anything else, but they’ll get their comp from the fed.

Reminds me of the Coalition Provisional Authority. After they tallied a bejillion f*ck-ups and misplaced millions of dollars they closed up shop and were thus accountable for nothing.

kirk murphy @ 40

Hugh @ 26

Rice is busy working on her legacy. Unfortunately for her, her legacy has already been written and it is one of failure.

Von Ribbentrop best illustrates her legacy – may it claim her, Bush, Cheney, and Blair soon.

Three black-painted wooden scaffolds stood inside the gymnasium, a room approximately 33 feet wide by 80 feet long with plaster walls in which cracks showed. The gymnasium had been used only three days before by the American security guards for a basketball game. Two gallows were used alternately. The third was a spare for use if needed. The men were hanged one at a time, but to get the executions over with quickly, the military police would bring in the man while the prisoner who proceeded him still was dangling at the end of the rope.

The ten once great men in Hitler’s Reich that was to have lasted for a thousand years walked up thirteen wooden steps to a platform eight feet high which also was eight square feet.

Ropes were suspended from a crossbeam supported on two posts. A new one was used for each man.

When the trap was sprung, the victim dropped from sight in the interior of the scaffolding. The bottom of it was boarded up with wood on three sides and shielded by a dark canvas curtain on the fourth, so that no one saw the death struggles of the men dangling with broken necks.

Von Ribbentrop entered the execution chamber at 1.11 a.m. Nuremberg time.

He was stopped immediately inside the door by two Army sergeants who closed in on each side of him and held his arms, while another sergeant who had followed him in removed manacles from his hands and replaced them with a leather strap.

It was planned originally to permit the condemned men to walk from their cells to the execution chamber with their hands free, but all were manacled following Goering’s suicide.

Von Ribbentrop was able to maintain his apparent stoicism to the last. He walked steadily toward the scaffold between his two guards, but he did not answer at first when an officer standing at the foot of the gallows went through the formality of asking his name. When the query was repeated he almost shouted, ‘Joachim von Ribbentrop!’ and then mounted the steps without any sign of hesitation.

When he was turned around on the platform to face the witnesses, he seemed to clench his teeth and raise his head with the old arrogance. When asked whether he had any final message he said, ‘God protect Germany,’ in German, and then added, ‘May I say something else?’

The interpreter nodded and the former diplomatic wizard of Nazidom spoke his last words in loud, firm tones: ‘My last wish is that Germany realize its entity and that an understanding be reached between the East and the West. I wish peace to the world.’

As the black hod was placed in position on his head, Von Ribbentrop looked straight ahead.

Then the hangman adjusted the rope, pulled the lever, and Von Ribbentrop slipped away to his fate.

Field Marshall Keitel, who was immediately behind Von Ribbentrop in the order of executions, was the first military leader to be executed under the new concept of international law – the principle that professional soldiers cannot escape punishment for waging aggressive wars and permitting crimes against humanity with the claim they were dutifully carrying out orders of superiors.

Keitel entered the chamber two minutes after the trap had dropped beneath Von Ribbentrop, while the latter still was at the end of his rope. But Von Ribbentrop’s body was concealed inside the first scaffold; all that could be seen was the taut rope.

The Death Penalty is no longer permitted by The Hague, Kirk…!!!

Well, I’ll “settle” for life imprisonment (and would actually prefer it).

Nevertheless, I’d like the planet to watch the Butcher of Brownsville and his minions petition the Court for the clemency his Shrubship denied to hundreds on Texas’ Death Row.

And them have them all – after the pro forma grant of clemency – spend the rest of their lives fed off of plates and bowls with graphic pictures of the Iraqi dead staring up from beneath their food.

These “sentries turned thieves” should be illegal. The military should not be privatized plain and simple.

kirk murphy @ 45

Well, I’ll settle for life imprisonment (and would prefer it).

Nevertheless, I’d like the planet to watch the Butcher of Brownsville and his minions petition the Court for the clemency his Shrubship denied to hundreds on Texas’ Death Row.

And them have them all – after the pro forma grant of clemency – spend the rest of their lives fed off of plates and bowls with graphic pictures of the Iraqi dead staring up from beneath their food.

Yes, I’d rather they rot in Jail too, let them ponder their plight…!!! 8-)

kirk murphy @ 45

Well, I’ll settle for life imprisonment (and would prefer it).

Nevertheless, I’d like the planet to watch the Butcher of Brownsville and his minions petition the Court for the clemency his Shrubship denied to hundreds on Texas’ Death Row.

And them have them all – after the pro forma grant of clemency – spend the rest of their lives fed off of plates and bowls with graphic pictures of the Iraqi dead staring up from beneath their food.

I believe in The Princess Bride they speak of a duel “to the pain” instead of “to the death” . . .

Prince Humperdinck: First things first, to the death.

Westley: No. To the pain.

Prince Humperdinck: I don’t think I’m quite familiar with that phrase.

Westley: I’ll explain and I’ll use small words so that you’ll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon.

Prince Humperdinck: That may be the first time in my life a man has dared insult me.

Westley: It won’t be the last. To the pain means the first thing you will lose will be your feet below the ankles. Then your hands at the wrists. Next your nose.

Prince Humperdinck: And then my tongue I suppose, I killed you too quickly the last time. A mistake I don’t mean to duplicate tonight.

Westley: I wasn’t finished. The next thing you will lose will be your left eye followed by your right.

Prince Humperdinck: And then my ears, I understand let’s get on with it.

Westley: WRONG. Your ears you keep and I’ll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, “Dear God! What is that thing,” will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever.

Is that about what you are hoping for, kirk?

Re my 48

Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Peterr @ 49

Re my 48

Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Dang, Rev, ya had me worried…!!! ;-)

Bush is going to pardon them all. that is the gooper way….see Ford and Nixon and Bush the First and Iran Contra and Bush the Second and Scooter.
You can take that to the bank. Blanket pardons for rove and abu gonzalez and anyone else that faces even a sniff of an indictment should the Senate insist the mokaskey (whatever) install an independent prosecutor as a condition of confirmation;. (as unlikely as that is for the grow-a-pair Senate Dems).

The only way to make these guys pay is to impeach the both of them, so they lose the pardon power.

kirk murphy @ 40..As as aside, the very experienced Army hangman, “miscalculated” the drop numbers..all of the Nazi’s were strangled..MP’s finally had to pull on their feet to finish them off.

I also think that the max penalty at the Hague is 20 years..better to try them under the US 1996 War Crimes Law..which has death penalty or better life without parole.

“It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever.”
No more worthy pair than Darth and Shrub could possibly be found!!! 8-)

peterboy @ 51

Bush is going to pardon them all. that is the gooper way….see Ford and Nixon and Bush the First and Iran Contra and Bush the Second and Scooter.
You can take that to the bank. Blanket pardons for rove and abu gonzalez and anyone else that faces even a sniff of an indictment should the Senate insist the mokaskey (whatever) install an independent prosecutor as a condition of confirmation;. (as unlikely as that is for the grow-a-pair Senate Dems).

Full pardons cannot stop their testimony, and, Impeachment proceedings would nullify any run around attempts…!!!

nope, peterr.

In all sincerity, I do hope to see the senior Bushies who launched a war of aggression held to the same standards established at Nuremberg – right up to the death sentences they and Condy’s model Von Ribentrop merit.

Then – in all sincerity – I’d love to see whatever tribunal sentences them autoamtically commute their death sentences to life imprisonment.

I’d love to see the international law and common decency Bush and his minions mocked and defiled affording them the mercy Bush denied to hundreds at Brownsville – and all of them denied to millions of Iraqis.

Were I able to choose, I’d choose for the images on their plates and bowls – the victims of the Bushies’ savage violence – to be animated with sound tracks.

No violence. No abuse or harsh treatment. Just a reminder – with each meal – of those who would never join their families for another meal – all because of Bush and his servants’ evil choices.

Every meal – for the rest of their natural lives.

Kirk – you have a very refined sense of punishment – I’d support that sentence.

hi peterr – responded to your 48 before I saw your 49.

thanks for (implicitly) asking if I really desire suffering as punishment.

Nope – not even for the Bushies.

Metaphorically – I don’t wish them anguish – but I do wish them all thrice daily reminders of their evil choices – and the suffering their choices brought.

and Steve-AR – thanks for the background. I’ve never understood how the hangman miscalculated.

Now I know: he didn’t.

kirk murphy @ 56

nope, peterr.

In all sincerity, I do hope to see the senior Bushies who launched a war of aggression held to the same standards established at Nuremberg – right up to the death sentences they and Condy’s model Von Ribentrop merit.

Then – in all sincerity – I’d love to see whatever tribunal sentences them autoamtically commute their death sentences to life imprisonment.

I’d love to see the international law and common decency Bush and his minions mocked and defiled affording them the mercy Bush denied to hundreds at Brownsville – and all of them denied to millions of Iraqis.

Were I able to choose, I’d choose for the images on their plates and bowls – the victims of the Bushies’ savage violence – to be animated with sound tracks.

No violence. No abuse or harsh treatment. Just a reminder – with each meal – of those who would never join their families for another meal – all because of Bush and his servants’ evil choices.

Every meal – for the rest of their natural lives.

I was (mostly) just offering snark. Your image of doing this for the rest of their lives brought TPB to mind.

From a recent WaPo chat with Dana Priest:

Pennsylvania: Dana, were the contracts given to Blackwater no-bid? Are there other U.S. firms that can do the same thing, and why can’t we respect the Iraqis and pull Blackwater out?

Dana Priest: I know this is going to sound weird in the current context, but the fact is, of all the armed security firms, Blackwater USA’s reputation is that they are the most professional of the bunch. It’s been around longer than most American security firms. Take that as you will.

That’s a truly scary thought. If this is what the “most professional” of the private security firms look like, God help us all.

It will apparently take Generations to expose to the daylight the true extent of the criminality of the people. And that isn’t going to happen.
What has to occur is IMPEACHMENT.Immediate impeachment. Even it does not lead to actual conviction, it will at least have the affect of instilling a tidge of fear. At least it should slow them down.

Save us Bruce Fein!

I think the saving is somehow up to us smapdi …

Peterr @ 60

From a recent WaPo chat with Dana Priest:

Pennsylvania: Dana, were the contracts given to Blackwater no-bid? Are there other U.S. firms that can do the same thing, and why can’t we respect the Iraqis and pull Blackwater out?

Dana Priest: I know this is going to sound weird in the current context, but the fact is, of all the armed security firms, Blackwater USA’s reputation is that they are the most professional of the bunch. It’s been around longer than most American security firms. Take that as you will.

That’s a truly scary thought. If this is what the “most professional” of the private security firms look like, God help us all.

All their hires are former Spiders for Lunch Bunch, Ranger, or, foreign equivalent such as SAS…!!!

*sigh*

peterboy @ 20

my snark for today and for Frank Rich:
911 cheneyed everything.

OT, but interesting:

The man who knew too much
http://www.guardian.co.uk/paki…..77,00.html

CovertinoPotential live-Blog? . . . in the upcoming trial of former Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino as a rogue who “wanted to play dirty” by exaggerating evidence and concealing weaknesses from the defense.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb…../710080325

MarkH – that’s a very interesting looking link – I’ve marked it to read later.

jjrt – thanks for that link as well … I’ll pass it along to the team!

TSF is upstairs with Pelosi and Turkey

Who (what) are the “spiders for lunch bunch”?

OT: Would the “spiders for lunch bunch” want to check out SF’s “Gordo’s” take-out Mexican joints?

I used to enjoy meals from their Clement St. outlet – until the night a huge ol (dead) spider showed up in my tub o’ guac – about 3/8 inch from the bottom.

Yecch.

I brought it back to Gordo’s. Not a flinch – not a suggestion of surprise.

“Sometimes the avocados have spiders.”

No refund, either.

I don’t eat at from Gordo’s anymore.

And the bastard Prince of Blackhawk is still asserting that his mercenaries WERE fired upon (contrary to both the Pentagon and Iraqi investigations)! Seems that he trusts the worrds of former Serbian war-criminals rather than those of the witnesses and the physical evidence recovered at the scene (e.g. all cartridge casings were of weapons that Blackhawk goons were assigned).

And poor Mr. Prince also asserts that the lawsuit from the victims his company massacred is “purely political”.

This man is arrogant beyond belief! We paid him $1 billion dollars because he is a Bush crony and he thinks that, because of that connection, he is above the law (both of Man and God).

billjpa @ 61

It will apparently take Generations to expose to the daylight the true extent of the criminality of the people. And that isn’t going to happen.
What has to occur is IMPEACHMENT.Immediate impeachment. Even it does not lead to actual conviction, it will at least have the affect of instilling a tidge of fear. At least it should slow them down.

In addition there is nothing to prevent a post-tenure Impeachment. Impeachment is not covered by “double-jeopardy” provisions, nor is it constrained to individuals still serving. It not only can expel an Executive officer from office, but also “disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States.”

That would mean that they are cut off from any future office or appointment. They couldn’t receive any benefits that derived from their FORMER office (Secret Service protection, franking privelege, the right to use the Title and Emblems of their former office). It would likely put a hold on the Bush Presidential library…both fundraising (use of the title) as well as obtaining the records and items he received as gifts while President for display (these are definitively NOT his personal property). He couldn’t be hired on to a corporation as the Federal contracts to that company might assist his salary…particualrly if he was a lobbyist or in a PR role…that would allow him to “enjoy” an “office of profit and trust” under the United States.

And he couldn’t use his former position to BLOCK ACCESS to his records of office (something authorized to former Presidents and now the Vice-President) by Congress, the DOJ, the Courts, or the public, without his explicit permission!

MarkH @ 66

peterboy @ 20

my snark for today and for Frank Rich:
911 cheneyed everything.

OT, but interesting:

The man who knew too much
http://www.guardian.co.uk/paki…..77,00.html

I hate to be pessimistic but I doubt he’ll get his due with this Republican lite group in power. There is a long line of whistleblowers still waiting.

cinnamonape @ 73

billjpa @ 61

It will apparently take Generations to expose to the daylight the true extent of the criminality of the people. And that isn’t going to happen.
What has to occur is IMPEACHMENT.Immediate impeachment. Even it does not lead to actual conviction, it will at least have the affect of instilling a tidge of fear. At least it should slow them down.

In addition there is nothing to prevent a post-tenure Impeachment. Impeachment is not covered by “double-jeopardy” provisions, nor is it constrained to individuals still serving. It not only can expel an Executive officer from office, but also “disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States.”

That would mean that they are cut off from any future office or appointment. They couldn’t receive any benefits that derived from their FORMER office (Secret Service protection, franking privelege, the right to use the Title and Emblems of their former office). It would likely put a hold on the Bush Presidential library…both fundraising (use of the title) as well as obtaining the records and items he received as gifts while President for display (these are definitively NOT his personal property). He couldn’t be hired on to a corporation as the Federal contracts to that company might assist his salary…particualrly if he was a lobbyist or in a PR role…that would allow him to “enjoy” an “office of profit and trust” under the United States.

And he couldn’t use his former position to BLOCK ACCESS to his records of office (something authorized to former Presidents and now the Vice-President) by Congress, the DOJ, the Courts, or the public, without his explicit permission!

I fucking love it!!! Where/how does it say we can do that to this son of a bitch? Moreover, I want him and his cronies brought to justice as an example to others.

mls @ 74

MarkH @ 66

OT, but interesting:

The man who knew too much
http://www.guardian.co.uk/paki…..77,00.html

I hate to be pessimistic but I doubt he’ll get his due with this Republican lite group in power. There is a long line of whistleblowers still waiting.

Pelosi, Hoyer, and Emanuel are too beholden to some special interest or other. We need better democrats.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 10

The Man Behind Blackwater
Dutiful and intense, son of a self-made billionaire, Erik Prince is an adventure seeker and conservative true believer. An exclusive.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/43361

Soon to be starring in an exciting, adventurous war film, showing soon near you! (which he will produce and profit from, probably to an indecent extent)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hessian

England used Hessians during the Revolutionary War. Even with the help of the Hessians, well trained and armed, England lost the War. It seems we forget facts all the time. We forget our “own esperiences” when justifying delusional policies against other nations. At least the Hessian did not turn into thieves and were returned after the war was won!