Cerberus buying Blackwater ?

[kevenj]

Cerberus Capital (owners of Chrysler LLC) have been in negotiations to purchase or invest heavily in Blackwater USA. There are now recent reports that Cerberus has decided not to pursue an investment in Blackwater but as recently as last week this deal was being negotiated. If anyone doesn't know, Blackwater is a fascist mercenary group most famous for "allegedly" murdering innocent Iraqi citizens (the FBI is still "investigating" that). They are of particular interest to me because my local newspaper just ran a story last week that Blackwater wants to build a "law enforcement training center" where I live (North Idaho). This comes after a group of citizens in Potrero, CA (east of San Diego) successfully stopped Blackwater from building a similar facility there.

Here are some links about the possible deal, and the statement by Cerburus that they have decided not to pursue it. I hope that part is true.... but I'll be watching them closely! IF this happens that definitely means no 2009 Challenger for me because I will NOT help fund my own destruction and the destruction of my country - - at least not by choice. If this piques your interest then just google "Blackwater" or go to YouTube and search "Blackwater". Anyone not aware of this group and what it does needs to be aware, because they may be coming to your backyard next!

Let's hope Cerberus really has decided not to do business with this organization.

Hedge Fund Prepping to Buy Blackwater? | Danger Room from Wired.com

TPMMuckraker | Talking Points Memo | Blackwater: Looking for A Few Good Hundred Million

[05Silver_C]

There is nothing wrong with Blackwater, I have worked side by side them on the streets of Iraq... Just because the news blows things out of proportion doesnt mean every one that is affiliated with the company is evil. So what somebody had a poor judgment call. Beside if they were that messed up why would the US government allow them to resume missions in Iraq.

[bigsnake]

I still have friends working for Blackwater and they were some of the best soldiers in the Army. You really got this one wrong! They are no more mercenary than any other protection agency. As far as the bad press they got after being ambushed I would do the same thing! Ever been ambushed before ? I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the times! Blackwater has pro's working for them! These guy's risk their lives to take up the slack for our overworked troops! JMO !

[kevenj]

Originally Posted by 05Silver_C

There is nothing wrong with Blackwater...... Beside if they were that messed up why would the US government allow them to resume missions in Iraq.

OH don't even get me started on that one! The ties between the Prince family (as in Eric Prince, founder of Blackwater) and the Bush family go all the way back to grandpa Prescott Bush - - THAT is why the U.S. government allows Blackwater to operate in Iraq. What's wrong with that, you say? Well first of all Prescott Bush, through his Union Bank, laundered money for Adolph Hitler. Is that enough? No? Ok then google "Smedley Butler" and lean about the attempted coup to overthrow The U.S. government and assassinate President Roosevelt; among the leaders of this attempt were Prescott Bush and members of Prince's extended family. This is History but it isn't taught in school.

Blackwater is the very definition of fascism; or more recently called by it's softer name, 'corporatism". This kind of mixing of government and industry is exactly what President Eisenhower (nut case that he was....) warned us about in his farewell speech at the end of his presidency.... the "military industrial complex" he called it.

I have no doubt that Blackwater has some very good soldiers - - that is not the point. The point is the whole concept is so completely wrong and un-American, to have hired mercenaries fighting our wars for us. But even if I were to concede that they are ok to have in Iraq (which i'm not....) it is still a COMPLETELY different matter to have them training our civilian police recruits. The police in this country have no business or need to be trained by a quasi-military organizaion.

Anyway it appears Cerberus is not in fact buying Blackwater; but it could come back on the table. I just wanted people to be aware - - hopefully some of you don't have your heads buried in the sand!

p.s. If anyone is interested in actually learning something (don't take my word for any of this, PLEASE do your own research....) click on this link and then listen to the radio program from Friday, May 2. It's an hour long but you can skip thru the commercials so it doesn't take that long.

Republic Broadcasting Network

[kevenj]

Originally Posted by bigsnake

These guy's risk their lives to take up the slack for our overworked troops! JMO !

I'm sure the majority of the individual soldiers on the ground are top notch professionals, as are our military personel. It is the COMPANY & Eric Prince that are rotten. Blackwater is not in it to win in Iraq; it is in their interest that this farce continues forever. Blackwater has made over $100,000,000 from federal government contracts since 1998, most of that coming since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Do some research. The internet is a wonderful thing! Yes you have to look at everything with a critical eye, but you can find the truth on the internet; which is more than can be said for our print and television media.

[bigsnake]

You put too much faith in the Internet, they can spew BS as much as any other medium amd sometimes worse. Mercenaries have been fighting the US wars for many many years and especially in small conflicts. You seem to have a problem with Blackwater in particular, what about some of these private military companies. They all do basically the same thing. Or is it just this presidential administration you are pissed with?

My personal choice is "Triple Canopy" on the second page!

PMCs or Private Military Companies (contractors, firms) - The PMC Industry

[kevenj]

Originally Posted by bigsnake

You put too much faith in the Internet, they can spew BS as much as any other medium amd sometimes worse. Mercenaries have been fighting the US wars for many many years and especially in small conflicts. You seem to have a problem with Blackwater in particular, what about some of these private military companies. They all do basically the same thing. Or is it just this presidential administration you are pissed with?

My personal choice is "Triple Canopy" on the second page!

PMCs or Private Military Companies (contractors, firms) - The PMC Industry

Bigsnake you are absolutely right that you have to be careful of what's on the internet, since of course anyone can put whatever they want there; that's also the reason that you can find the truth on the internet. You have to look at anything on the internet with a critican eye, that's for sure. But one thing is also certain - - and that is the "mainstream" media is not telling us the truth, and most definitely not the whole truth!

You are right about other mercenaries fighting in wars (it's still wrong) and other companies like Blackwater. I only have a particular problem with Blackwater because they are the ones that want to locate in my town which caused me to start finding out more about them, leading me to discover the Cerberus connection.

Hell yes i'm Pi$$ed at the current administration; but I'm even more pi$$ed at all of us (including ME - - I voted for the SOB twice!) for letting things get to this point. It goes back a lot further than the current administration and it won't be fixed until we all wake up.

[marlinspike]

I guess it's not a universal sentiment, but my buddy in the army national guard who went to Iraq said something along the lines of "out of shape, white trash mercs" when I asked his opinion on Blackwater. To be fair, he almost falls into the 2nd of those 3 observations. He's "4 and o" (as he puts it) as a result of IIRC 2 separate ambushes, and doesn't think Blackwater responded properly. Though...wasn't the ambush in 2004? Was there another ambush we didn't hear about? How are actions in 2007 a response to that?

[bigsnake]

marlinspike, not sure what your buddie's talking about but the guy I know that works for them is as hard as woodpecker lips and probably would really like to me this NG. Here's a little info on the Blackwater requirements, you decide!

Blackwater Tactical Weekly Newsletter

[kevenj]

Originally Posted by bigsnake

marlinspike, not sure what your buddie's talking about but the guy I know that works for them is as hard as woodpecker lips and probably would really like to me this NG. Here's a little info on the Blackwater requirements, you decide!

Blackwater Tactical Weekly Newsletter

My concern was not whether they are qualified mercenaries or not; but whether it is proper that they exist at all.

It is definitely not proper for such an organization to be involved in training CIVILIAN police recruits which is what they are proposing in my area. The job of the police is not the same as the job of the military; although the lines are becoming blurred more and more. I'm not anti-cop nor am I anti-military, but their jobs are completely separate and should be kept that way. And private military companies like Blackwater (and all the others in that link you posted) have no legitimate role. I do not want these "jackbooted thugs" in my town!