Thread: Blackwater was like an extension of the CIA

hmmm.....

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...fBTWwD9CGTE9G0

Private security guards working for Blackwater USA participated in clandestine CIA raids against suspected insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, The New York Times reported Thursday.

Blackwater's role points to a much deeper connection between the company and the spy agency than has been previously disclosed and raises concerns over the legalities of involving contractors in the most sensitive operations conducted by the U.S. government.

The "snatch and grab" raids took place regularly between 2004 and 2006, the Times reported, when the insurgency in Iraq was escalating and security throughout the country was deteriorating.

A U.S. official confirmed to The Associated Press that Blackwater provided security and moved around with CIA teams on missions in war zones, but he denied they performed CIA missions. CIA Director Leon Panetta ordered a review several months ago of the company's contracts to be sure its guards only perform security-related work, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity becsause he was not authorized to comment publicly.

CIA spokesman George Little said, "This agency, like many others, uses contractors in roles that complement and enhance the skills of our own work force, just as American law permits."

"Agency staff officers have the decision-making authority and bear responsibility for results," Little said.

Blackwater, based in Moyock, N.C., changed its corporate name to Xe Services after a series of use-of-force controversies, including a September 2007 shooting in Baghdad by five company security guards that left 17 civilians dead.

The Times also reported that former Blackwater employees said they helped provide security on CIA flights that transported detainees.

Messages seeking comment left with Xe representatives were not immediately returned late Thursday.

The report comes as the House Intelligence Committee is investigating the agency's hiring of Blackwater to be part of a program to kill or capture al-Qaida leaders. The death squad program had several lives over an eight-year period before it was canceled Panetta in June. The CIA has said the effort yielded no successes.

The CIA has been reducing its reliance on the use of contractors over the past few years.

The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks occurred after a contraction of the CIA in the post-Cold War period and which compelled the agency to hire contractors to rapidly fill its ranks for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Times Article, which is much better but didn't know if their stories were "Free" to view whenever. Also where the topic title comes from (there a quote in there saying similar)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/us...ater.html?_r=1

Not everyone can get into the military.

If these civilians wanted to help out and this is the only way they could more power to them.

I dont see a problem with mercs.

Originally Posted by hawgballs

Originally Posted by Vlade.the_medic

You say egg on the face but I say more on the plate. Private army's are gonna be a thing of the future....

Private armies used to skirt Conventions and rules of war.......... Not such a good thing. Egg on the face is correct, when we are using mercs that kill indiscriminately, those that witness such horseshit don't think "meh, they are just contractors", NO THEY THINK "Americans".

Private Armies are not the shit, and aren't really that cool, when you come to think about it.

Originally Posted by jason_jinx

Not everyone can get into the military.

If these civilians wanted to help out and this is the only way they could more power to them.

I dont see a problem with mercs.

Whatever is stopping them from joining the military? Bad eyesight? Bad back? Flat feet? Yeah, I don't think that they are allowing invalids to operate as "mercs". Don't confuse operators with truck drivers, which Blackwater doesn't do. All of the operators for Blackwater, I would surmise, are all former active duty personnel.... So I think your reasoning is a little off.

The problem with mercs is summed up in one question. "Who do they answer to?" UCMJ does not apply to these guys.

Besides that, with all of the "conservative types" always watching the purse strings, these guys cost 5x to do what it would cost their active duty counterparts to perform the same job.

Good to know.

Here is a quick quote from a blackwater site I just found.
http://blackwatersecurity.com/employment.html

EMPLOYMENT with BSC

The following information is provided based on inquiries as to working with Blackwater Security Consultants (BSC). BSC is staffing one contract for low, medium, and high-risk overseas work, which is growing this year. BSC is in discussion with several commercial entities to provide services for domestic and overseas surveys and protection details.

As background to the process for being considered for work with BSC, applicants must understand a couple of critical points:

# BSC does not hire you; we contract you as an independent contractor (IC). BSC will provide a 1099 at the end of the year to IC’s that documents all funds paid during the year. The IC has made provisions for all the tax issues. BSC provides overseas insurance (Defense Base Act) when working on a U.S. Government contract.


# BSC initiates the process of using an IC with your resume which should include a detailed summary of applicable military, intelligence, or law enforcement experience. This is to be submitted in Microsoft Word to BSC. That is the method that provides the staff personnel with the mechanism to identify qualified personnel, recruit, vet and ascertain the viability of the candidate. Once your resume has been submitted, and the capabilities determined against existing contract requirements, you will be provided a package describing the process and paperwork required to complete in order to work as an IC for BSC.


# BSC will not be responsible for cost incurred for such items as mailings, passports, physicals, or shots to support contract efforts. If you are interested in work with BSC, and have experience in this field, you will already have yourself prepared and the proper documentation certifying the information available. Additionally, no active duty personnel will be contracted for work. If you are recently retired or separated from service a copy of your DD-214 is required.


# The intangible aspects of the independent contractor that BSC seeks are almost as important as the current or existing qualifications of the candidate. Due to the rotational approach to fieldwork, and individuals being teamed with other personnel, personalities must be such that everyone fosters a positive team environment, a willingness to work over the eight hours a day to team projects, and focus on presenting a unified team appearance and attitude to the customer. No slackers, ghosters, or whiners need apply. You are assessed in the field by the BSC leadership and at initial training by staff. If you do not appear to be a team player or have attitude problems, we will terminate the process. Quiet professionals are what we seek as long-term partners in this work.


# Those personnel that support BSC operations and contract work, who show good basic field skills, positive team attitude, and professional appearance/demeanor/attitude are reviewed for other emerging opportunities that will include training for employment.


# Our deployment model for IC’s is built around the sixty days in the field concept. This allows the IC to have greater control of their down time. After initial assessment and training as a member of the PSF, you are deployed directly from your home of record/location to the work site. If you are selected for other details or assignments, you are brought back to Blackwater Training Center for additional training before deployment on a new task.

Blackwater Security Consultants is focused on moving forward in the market with the best human resources who will receive a market-setting standard for fair pay. BSC understands it can only be as good as its resources and top-notch performers are what we seek to provide on the market. If this sounds acceptable to you and is the type of work you seek, then submit your resume today.

Really, what's the benefit to joining someone like Blackwater over, say, the Army or Marines? Opportunity to get to the job, go "whoa this shit sucks I'm out", and bail without having people chasing you? Who'd want to work with people like that, especially in combat situations?

I don't really see private armies as being a thing of the future... more like a thing of the past. Eight hundred years ago, a privately owned and funded army would probably be better equipped and better trained than your average pack of peasants forced into fighting with minimal supplies and training. These days, I think it'd be unlikely that your average mercenary group would be any better off than the Army or Marines. I guess it's possible they'd get access to new guns and equipment faster, since they presumably don't have to bed Congress to get more funding, though.