2005 Use of Gas by Blackwater Leaves Questions
The helicopter was hovering over a Baghdad checkpoint into the Green Zone, one typically crowded with cars, Iraqi civilians and United States military personnel.
Suddenly, on that May day in 2005, the copter dropped CS gas, a riot-control substance the American military in Iraq can use only under the strictest conditions and with the approval of top military commanders. An armored vehicle on the ground also released the gas, temporarily blinding drivers, passers-by and at least 10 American soldiers operating the checkpoint.
“This was decidedly uncool and very, very dangerous,” Capt. Kincy Clark of the Army, the senior officer at the scene, wrote later that day. “It’s not a good thing to cause soldiers who are standing guard against car bombs, snipers and suicide bombers to cover their faces, choke, cough and otherwise degrade our awareness.”
Both the helicopter and the vehicle involved in the incident at the Assassins’ Gate checkpoint were not from the United States military, but were part of a convoy operated by Blackwater Worldwide, the private security contractor that is under scrutiny for its role in a series of violent episodes in Iraq, including a September shooting in downtown Baghdad that left 17 Iraqis dead.
None of the American soldiers exposed to the chemical, which is similar to tear gas, required medical attention, and it is not clear if any Iraqis did. Still, the previously undisclosed incident has raised significant new questions about the role of private security contractors in Iraq, and whether they operate under the same rules of engagement and international treaty obligations that the American military observes.
“You run into this issue time and again with Blackwater, where the rules that apply to the U.S. military don’t seem to apply to Blackwater,” said Scott L. Silliman, the executive director of the Center on Law, Ethics and National Security at the Duke University School of Law.
Officers and noncommissioned officers from the Third Infantry Division who were involved in the episode said there were no signs of violence at the checkpoint. Instead, they said, the Blackwater convoy appeared to be stuck in traffic and may have been trying to use the riot-control agent as a way to clear a path.
Anne Tyrrell, a spokeswoman for Blackwater, said the CS gas had been released by mistake.
“Blackwater teams in the air and on the ground were preparing a secure route near a checkpoint to provide passage for a motorcade,” Ms. Tyrrell said in an e-mail message. “It seems a CS gas canister was mistaken for a smoke canister and released near an intersection and checkpoint.”
She said that the episode was reported to the United States Embassy in Baghdad, and that the embassy’s chief security officer and the Department of Defense conducted a full investigation. The troops exposed to the gas also said they reported it to their superiors. But military officials in Washington and Baghdad said they could not confirm that an investigation had been conducted. Officials at the State Department, which contracted with Blackwater to provide diplomatic security, also could not confirm that an investigation had taken place.
About 20 to 25 American soldiers were at the checkpoint at the time of the incident, and at least 10 were exposed to the CS gas after “rotor wash” from the hovering helicopter pushed it toward them, according to officers who were there. A number of Iraqi civilians, both on foot and in cars waiting to go through the checkpoint, were also exposed. The gas can cause burning and watering eyes, skin irritation and coughing and difficulty breathing. Nausea and vomiting can also result.
Blackwater says it was permitted to carry CS gas under its contract at the time with the State Department. According to a State Department official, the contract did not specifically authorize Blackwater personnel to carry or use CS, but it did not prohibit it.
The military, however, tightly controls use of riot control agents in war zones. They are banned by an international convention on chemical weapons endorsed by the United States, although a 1975 presidential order allows their use by the United States military in war zones under limited defensive circumstances and only with the approval of the president or a senior officer designated by the president.
“It is not allowed as a method or means of warfare,” said Michael Schmitt, professor of international law at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. “There are very, very strict restrictions on the use of CS gas in a war zone.”
In 2003, President Bush approved the use of riot control agents by the military in Iraq under the 1975 order, but only for such purposes as controlling rioting prisoners. At the time of Mr. Bush’s decision, there were also concerns that the Iraqi Army would use civilians as shields, particularly in a last-ditch battle in Baghdad, and some officials believed that riot control agents might be effective in such circumstances to reduce casualties.
A United States military spokesman in Baghdad refused to describe the current rules of engagement governing the use of riot control agents, but former Army lawyers say their use requires the approval of the military’s most senior commanders. “You never had a soldier with the authority to do it on his own,” said Thomas J. Romig, a retired major general who served as the chief judge advocate general of the United States Army from 2001 to 2005 and is now the dean of the Washburn School of Law in Topeka, Kan.
Several Army officers who have served in Iraq say they have never seen riot control agents used there by the United States military at all. Col. Robert Roth, commander of Task Force 4-64 AR of the Third Infantry Division, which was manning the Assassins’ Gate checkpoint at the time of the Blackwater incident, said that his troops were not issued any of the chemicals.
“We didn’t even possess any kind of riot control agents, and we couldn’t employ them if we wanted to,” said Colonel Roth, who is now serving in South Korea.
But the same tight controls apparently did not apply to Blackwater at the time of the incident. The company initially got a contract to provide security for American officials in Iraq with the Coalition Provisional Authority, an agreement which did not address the use of CS gas. After the authority went out of business, the State Department extended the contract for another year until rebidding it. Blackwater and two other companies - DynCorp and Triple Canopy - that now provide security are not permitted to use CS gas under their current contracts, the State Department said.
The State Department said that its lawyers did not believe the Blackwater incident violated any treaty agreements.
In a written statement, the State Department said the international chemical weapons convention “allows for the use of riot control agents, such as CS, where they are not used as a method of warfare. The use of a riot control agent near a checkpoint at an intersection in the circumstances described is not considered to be a method of warfare.”
Yet experts said that the legal status was not so clear cut. “I have never seen anything that would make it permissible to use tear gas to get traffic out of the way,” Mr. Schmitt said. “In my view, it’s an improper use of a riot control agent.”
Blackwater’s regular use of smoke canisters, which create clouds intended to impede attacks on convoys, also sets it apart from the military. While it does not raise the same legal issues as the CS gas, military officials said the practice raised policy concerns. Col. Roth said that he and other military officers frowned on the use of smoke, because it could be used for propaganda purposes to convince Iraqis that the United States was using chemical weapons.
Officers and soldiers who were hit by the CS gas, some of whom asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the incident, have described it with frustration. They said no weapons were being fired or any other violence that might have justified Blackwater’s response.
In a personal journal posted online the day of the incident, Captain Clark provided a detailed description of what happened and included photos.
While standing at the checkpoint, he wrote, he saw a Blackwater helicopter overhead.
“We noticed that one of them was hovering right over the intersection in front of our checkpoint,” he wrote. “There was a small amount of white smoke coming up from the intersection. I grabbed my radio and asked one of the guard towers what the smoke was. He answered that it looked like one of the helicopters dropped a smoke grenade on the cars in the intersection. I asked him why were they doing that, was there something going on in the intersection that would cause them to do this. He said, nope, couldn’t see anything. Then I said, well what kind of smoke is it?
“Before he could say anything, I got my answer. My eyes started watering, my nose started burning and my face started to heat up. CS! I heard the lieutenant say, “Sir that’s not smoke, it’s CS gas.”
After reporting the incident to his superiors, Captain Clark wrote, a convoy that the helicopter was protecting showed up. Because the gas caused a “complete traffic jam in front of our checkpoint,” the captain wrote, “armored cars in the convoy made a U-turn - and threw another CS grenade.”
“It just seemed incredibly stupid,” he wrote. “The only thing we could figure out was for some reason, one of them figured that CS would somehow clear traffic. Why someone would think a substance that makes your eyes water, nose burn and face hurt would make a driver do anything other than stop is beyond me.”
Army Staff Sgt. Kenny Mattingly also was puzzled. “We saw the Little Bird (Blackwater helicopter) come and hover right in front of the gate, and I saw one of the guys dropping a canister,” Sergeant Mattingly said in an interview. “There was no reason for dropping the CS gas. We didn’t hear any gunfire or anything. There was no incident under way.”
© 2008 The New York Times
Does Blackwater have any nuclear weapons?
Havin a senior moment there TWISTER? It’s OKay, I fully understand.
This amounts to little more than an assault on US Military personel during the course of performing their duties. That has to be illegal somehow. And the fact that CS gas was deployed by not only the helicopter but the ground vehicle as well, suggests some sort of a planned or coordinated action. This was deliberate. This is the kind of shit to which the administration subjects our professional military. Erik Prince’s company is allowed to perform these kinds of treasonous acts because the White House needs a private army in Iraq (and at home too) that is not accountable to the laws of our society. Why don’t more Americans see this? Why are more Americans not outraged and frightened by this?
“This was decidedly uncool and very, very dangerous,” Capt. Kinky Clark of the Army, the senior officer at the scene, wrote later that day. “It’s not a good thing to cause [US] soldiers who are standing guard against car bombs, snipers and suicide bombers to cover their faces, choke, cough and otherwise degrade our awareness.”
Jesus, Capt. Kinky, that was the only cool thing about it. Way cool. Somebody at Dirtwater should get a medal.
Open season.
The U.S. can use chemical warfare, preemptive military strikes, and disregard non-combatant killings.
The U.S. has lost any and all moral authority. No one need comply to American aspirations.
george w. bush: it’s Kincy Clark, not Kinky Clark, you sound like the real W.
Sounds like ‘boys’ just trying to have fun. You know how a hard day of maiming and killing can lead to boredom, got to something for fun.
I guess the small calibre weapon the Marine carries is incapable of shooting down the wirly-bird.
Sometimes we hit the wrong key here and our “well typed and informative”, comment is lost, it ain’t the editor TWISTER.
Blackwater = up to date name for Brownshirts.
Blackwater was just protecting the president. You have to let it do its job.
As I written before, Blackwater is the US equivalent of the Congo Free State’s Force Publique. That they would deploy CS gas is not surprising. Unless something substantial is done soon, they will have morphed into a modern day version of the private army accountable only to their paymasters a la the forces of the British East India Company or the Force Publique. As the people of India and the Congo know well, that is not good news in the least.
Blackwater is the religious right carrying out the commands of God, er I meant GW.
boys will be boys until they learn otherwise i suppose, and i think george w. b typed it intentionally Edward1793.
kinky - it is all very kinky and sick and pathetic….but i’m glad officer Clark’s report is seeing the light of day…
Twister: This having a comment “moderated” before it posts is not new. You’re comment did not disappear into the ether. I’ve had this happen to my comments also. I’m not sure what it means. Sorry
I think this incident needs to be brought to the attention of your Congress Critters. I’m going to copy this article and e-mail it to mine. Then I’m gonna follow up with a call. These mercenaries ALL need to be fired. They are just U.S. paid terrorists. Just like Bush & Company. They all need to be tried in a court of law, preferably the Hague, and locked up for life.
I wonder if enough of these Blackwater SNAFUs will irritate the U.S. troops enough to promulgate retaliation??
Twister22, that usually only happens if you use too many URLs or quote something too long (ie fear of copywrite). I hate when it happens after quoting from Hansard (ie Question Period) since it takes time to find that stuff. Hey, as a Canadian, I am part owner of Hansard!
BTW - How do you find the American version of Hansard (ie transcripts of what goes on in Congress). It might be fun to pull up each page and used the edit/find to find what Clinton and Edwards were saying about various things.
……………..
According to Aljazeera, Kucinich is the only one who said specifically that he would bring the US contractors (ie Blackwater) home.
Edwards said that he would bring Combat troops home (meaning that he has not ruled out a peacekeeping force) and the others just say “troops” (which includes both combat and peacekeepers).
Personally, I would not rule out a peacekeeping mission in those regions (that depends on a few things), but want the Combat mission stopped. I don’t like Combat missions and figure that they just piss off the locals.
The think is that nobody has asked the three lead Democratic candidates anything at all about what they think concerning what Aljazeera calls “US Contractors”
I agree with those who consider the use of gas sick and that the order for doing so was because, unlike the troops, the contractors don’t seem to be subject to any type of regulation.
The locals cannot tell the difference between Blackwater and the US Military. Some one goes Postal because of what happened to their friends or their family, it will be a soldier rather than a contractor who comes home in a body bag.
RE: - Does anyone realize that the Schutzstaffel or SS directed by Heinrich Himmler was a private organization working for the Nazi Party?
No. Always figured that the SS and the Gestapo were a bit redundant but knew that Hitler used each to spy on the other so that those who were disloyal to him could be weeded out.
Knew about the looting. Know about the looting in Bagdad (sp?) right after Bush claimed that the war was won.
(sp?)=too lazy to look up
RE: - This article PROVES that Blackwater is above the laws that apply to everyone else. How can they get away with gassing US soldiers
They may be outside of the law, but someone, taking advantage of that, gave them their orders to gas. It doesn’t sound like they all got drunk and decided it would be a gas to gas. Seems a way of someone getting the job done while keeping the regular militarys’ hands clean.
Seems also that Blackwater is a bit sloppy in that they don’t really care about collateral damage or friendly fire. If they have a worse problem with firing on friendlies than even the American Military!
Or are you saying the gassing of “our own” was intentional?
The fact that the American Military seem prone to friendly fire is something that irks Canadians because, for the first year or so in Afghanistan, Americans were killing more Canadians than the Taliban were.
Spartacus: Thanks for the history lesson. I never before made the link between Blackwater and the Repugs. I just thought it was all about the profits and the corporations. What I still don’t understand, however, is what motivates the Dimm’s to continue to allow our own homegrown SS. Maybe they are just in it for the money. Or maybe the two parties are really just one and the same. Maybe we should just call it the Repuglicrat Nazi Party. It would make all so much easier to understand.
What the hell is going on here? While we make jokes and try to think it will go away, They seem to be more deliberate and provoking and bullying. If this what America has in store for the future I’m glad I saw the good days. WAKE UP AMERICA, especially our younger generations!!
What the hell is going on here FRANK? Maybe you didn’t notice this Blackwater incident occurred more than 32 months ago. What is going on is, nothng has changed since then to stop Blackwater, dump Halliburton, or impeach Cheney and Bush. What is going on is, we won’t support the ONLY candidate who will fight to change anything in Washington, so jokes or sarcasm are a cynical method of expressing ourselves and our distaste. The comic strip Pogo got more attention to our stupidity than any president ever did.
Hi Frank,
You and I must be about the same age. Very wise words to the Lemmings in any case. Hey, Lemmings, listen to Frank! If you need further convincing about our military being “picked on” check out this site. By the way, another Knee-walking swine’s daddy, Admiral McCain, was complicit in hiding this from us and guess what? you idiots are considering voting the doughy quizling into office! A nation of sheep, led by a cartel of whores, controlled by Israel/big business. Welcome, to the REAL Evil Empire!
http://www.gtr5.com/
“decidedly uncool”
Oh, military jargon!
I’m going to try and use that phrase more often.
Thank you Spartacus! For all practical purposes, Blackwater IS TODAY’S US EQUIVALENT OF THE SS. Mercenaries, murderers, warmongers.
Thanks Spartacus
Every time I draw parallels to the Nazi structure I risk to be isolated as nut case. My 89(!) year old Great Grandmother was beaten up by the Gestapo, because they knew she was hiding jewish neighbors in
Poland, Lodz to be specific. My German ancestors had left Germany in 1647 to go to Poland because
in Germany there was a religious war.
So You are absolutely ‘right’. Let’s call them what they are:
BROWNWATER and not blackwater.
How long are we going to put up with this my friends? Until they CS’ us here too? Give me a break.
FROM PASCHN:
The USS Liberty Memorial site abhors the racist and ill-informed positions taken by the Liberty Lobby, the American Free Press, and similar anti-Semitic organizations. We repudiate their comments and oppose them in every way. The campaign for accountability for the attack on USS Liberty has no room for hatemongers. We do not seek harmfor any country or people, only accountability for the criminal acts perpetrated against us.
That is always the tricky part of it - legitimately criticizing the actions of Israel without appearing anti-Jew or attracting anti-Semitics.
RE: - so jokes or sarcasm are a cynical method of expressing ourselves and our distaste.
Dark humour is a sign of a desire for change mixed with a sense of powerlessness to bring it about. Why do you think most of the comics come from Canada! Laughter reduces the sense of powerless and keeps us banging our heads against the wall until the wall breaks. It also keeps us from getting too angry, frustrated, or suicidal.
Everyone joins conversations with varying amounts of knowledge on them. Sometimes we know it and sometimes we learn something new.
RE: - nothng has changed since then to stop Blackwater, dump Halliburton, or impeach Cheney and Bush
One reason why the Repugs spent valuable resources of money and time trying to impeach Clinton is that they figured that Clinton would have been a great help to Gore during the election if he wasn’t brought down a few pegs.
Bush coming out in support of a candidate is more apt to be a death blow than a help so impeaching him now doesn’t help the Democrats. Thus the time and money is focused more on electing candidates and impeaching Bush etc is put on the “to do” list for later.
Blackwater will be stopped - just not as soon as we would like - and we will see more events like this before they go down. History is repetative.
Articles concerning Blackwater have appeared in the Australian media and so it would be safe to say that the entire world is watching aghast.
This is not a ‘liberal’ issue hidden away on American politically progressive web sites - it’s out there. The most amazing aspect is not that a rogue organisation is firing on American troops, dropping CS gas and murdering Iraqui civilians but that we are discussing it.
Atrocities happen in war and no blame is attributed further up the chain of command because immediately on discovery, after the first act, the evil doers are recalled and stand trial.
Here, we have a PR spokeperson ‘explaining that it was an accident’. Okay, fine. Then let them argue ‘negligence’ in court when charged with the treasonous act of attacking USA forces.
So what happens if one of these clowns fires on and kills an Australian soldier doing his or her duty in Iraq? Friendly fire is a tragic thing that comes out of the confusion of battle and those involved mourn together. However, no one, not even their apologists have described the actions of Blackwater as ‘Friendly Fire’.
What is absolutely amazing is that in order to apportion blame you continue up the chain of command until you find the guy who wants to withdraw the force to put them on trial. The guy below him is guilty. Is W really that stupid?
WTF……….Why did it take so long to bring this to the public. Like the troops don’t have enough to worry about, now we have HOME GROWN MERCS to worry about .enough is enough……enough lies….enough cover ups…….enough mis-managegment…enough non-accomlishments. Enough Killed ……enough wounded….enough displaced from their country……enough starved to death in the phoney name of Demonacracy……Bring the troops home and send the WASHNGTON DC Politicians to the Hauge to stand trial. Enough is enough
I can’t joke about the B-waters and their
sociological type, having participated in
an anti-torture march at Smithfield, NC, home of rendition flights (and not far from B-water headquarters). While one can find Nazis everywhere, there is
a particularly odious conglomeration of them in that part of the very conservative
state of North Carolina. To be demonstrating a few feet from them was
scary enough– not only were they pro-torture but clearly indicated they would like to torture YOU. Skinheads, motorcyclists, KKK members, pro-war Viet vets– they come in various guises with their nondescript enablers perhaps most numerous and scariest of all. The line between their being ominous and actually violent is perhaps one beer. I can only think of the Isherwood, Joel Grey, Lisa Minelli CABARET, where there is a chanting crowd that seem ordinarily blond and pretty people but then take on the recognizable, nightmare ugliness of Nazis which everybody unconsciously knows. A kid might know them as the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz or the Orcs in Tolkien– self-debased and dangerous half-beasts, half-people. Not something to joke about since that is the beginning of dismissing them. Keep the scaries scary, I say. Treat them as the fatal virus they are.
Can’t wait Iran is attacked, USA is under martial law, Blackwater is let loose with new secret weapons, the shadow government is kicked into gear, presidential elections are canceled and Dick Cheney becomes acting presdent.
coming soon to reality tv.
paschn & Frank-
you make some valuable appeals, but there is one aspect that worries me, and that is the discussion of age, as part of who needs to do what, and how. There are plenty of well oriented, mature (sometimes really mature, as date-of-birth is concerned) individuals who do absolutely nothing to stop what is happening, let alone can understand the nature of the situation. This is a current event, and so we do not have the benefit of retrospect, quite the opposite. I worry that because of the attitude that the younger generations (not exactly sure what you mean, to be honest) are those who are irresponsible for being unaware, that no change can be made. If the youth are disinterested or uninformed, I think this would more be a reflection on the adults and the greater society. Are young people (or any people) asked to be critical thinkers? not so much these days. They are encouraged first to be anything but that, and while this is tragic, I can’t put blame on them for that. This behavior is reinforced on a daily basis, and I worry that it may be in part because of the sentiment like those you expressed, that “I’m glad I saw the good days,” makes possible that same sort of bleeding apathy I am so disappointed by. I’ve never really cared much for age, so maybe I am putting pressure where there is no opposition. I’d say wake up america, and grab your utility belt, and get going.
I was on the last war ship to pass through the Suez safely before the six day war. We were about 12 hours ahead of the Liberty making the transit through the canal. In passing through we were in battle readiness,which included manning fire hoses with suicide nozzles to repel the many Arabs that surrounded us in small boats. obviously this was a very tense situation. The next day all hell broke out. The Liberty was bombed on purpose in my and many of my other shipmates judgement. The Israeli’s were aware of the Liberties primary function, intelligence. it was providing up to date info. to U.S. central command ,Atlantic fleet. The Israelis could not afford to let the U.S.S. Liberty transmit data that could and would be intercepted by Egypt, mainly.
We all know that the U.S. government has a record of conducting experiments on our troops, without knowledge or consent, using them to test substances and techniques that no one would willingly submit to. With this in mind, I want to know to what extent is our State Department involved in this incident? CS gas is a riot-control substance. Its use under the circumstances described in this episode is forbidden to the U.S. military, but not to a private paramilitary force under contract by the State Department.
Because the State Department is currently protecting Blackwater from prosecution for the September 2007 massacre of 17 civilians in Iraq, how will any investigation by the State Department into this incident provide us with reliable, truthful information?
Through its lobbying efforts, Blackwater just scored a $1 billion U.S. taxpayer-financed no-bid contract with terms that call for increased deployment of Blackwater troops within America’s borders. It’s not unreasonable to project that Blackwater’s steroid-enhanced “contractors” will use this same riot-control technique against American citizens exercising our freedom to assemble, when those citizens are seen by the Bush/Cheney administration as active critics, during a time when criticism is defined as espionage, and dissent as treason.
After Blackwater slaughtered a bunch (16+) of Iraqis and wounded God only knows how many more I heard the puppet Iraqi government proclaim that Blackwater was through in Iraq and they could pack up.
The puppet masters then made a phone call. Guess what?
“…the State Department extended the contract for another year…”
For Blackwater business is looking good.
The Jack Boots are commin, with blackwater burned in their sole! Where do you think their gonna go when this bullshit occupation starts to wind down, if…..? Sometimes I think we’re so f@#king doomed. Yeah, Kem, there is only ONE candidate who is REALLY for us and is untarnished in, any way, shape or form, by corporate sponsorship. All the rest are DIRTY. Sorry for yellin. Thanks Tex
RE: - Articles concerning Blackwater have appeared in the Australian media and so it would be safe to say that the entire world is watching aghast.
Has discussion of Blackwater come up during Question Time? It has come up during Question Period. Seems as if Blackwater is training Canadian Troops (search for “hansard”).
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/10/30/4900/
Question Time=Australia
Question Period=Canada
Prime Minister’s Questions=UK
I think that we were all afraid of American Friendly fire and have been for quite a while. If it happens to Canada, they make an example of the one who did it and don’t look into changing the way they do things to prevent others. I get the impression (someone will correct me if I’m wrong) that not as much is done if American friendly fire kills Americans).
BTW - John Howard losing his seat - sweet!
RE: - Bring the troops home and send the WASHNGTON DC Politicians to the Hauge to stand trial. Enough is enough
Clinton did not want to sign but did so after the deadline:
The U.S. eventually did sign in what President Bill Clinton called an act of “moral leadership.” But the signature didn’t come until the deadline for signatures, Dec. 31, 2000. President Clinton wrote when he signed the treaty: “I will not, and do not recommend that my successor submit the Treaty to the Senate for advice and consent until our fundamental concerns are satisfied.” …
On May 6, 2002, President George W. Bush repudiated Clinton’s signature. …
Critics led by conservative Republicans drafted legislation that not only opposes American involvement in the international court but also aims to punish countries that ratified it. Among those who endorsed the proposed bill was Donald Rumsfeld, Bush’s defence secretary. The Armed Services Members Protection Act was passed in 2001.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/warcrimes/icc2.html
RE: - I can’t joke about the B-waters and their
sociological type, having participated in
an anti-torture march at Smithfield
You can still joke about the logic they use. Remember Bush Talking about “Bombing for Peace”? Mary Walsh said that (pp) “bombing for peace is like screwing to get your virginity back.”
I have the book version of Shake Hands with the Devil, saw the doc version and plan to see the movie version with Roy Dupuis in the lead role once it comes out on DVD. My mother thinks that I am crazy to want to see the movie or to even want the 15 year old to see it. I think I will need a good laugh after watching it.
At the minimum, I think watching it will keep my son out of the Military. I did not raise him to die and I definitely did not raise him to kill.
He keeps telling me that he won’t vote when he gets older just to piss me off. Voting is something.
Want to see why your all drawing parallels between the old Nazi party and the new Nazi party.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4315024059102108031
Don’t tell anyone: it’s because there the same party.
ren ren,
As a member of this “younger generation” that is frequently mentioned, thank you. I may be one of the youngest posters on this website (20), so take it from me those of you who are older: My generation, the younger generation, is for the most part in a TV-induced coma. Unable to reason, rationalize, think objectively, think independently, ect. Many see problems in the world and the US, and want change, but don’t know how to bring it about. Trying to get many young people to actively participate in political discourse is near-impossible, as they would rather see if there’s something more pleasurable to occupy their time with on TV. We need a movement for change to encompass all races, ages, and genders.
Progressive student, I usually do not find myself judging based on age, or generation for that matter, there are, I think, some patterns in how populations act. There will always be some people questioning what is going on, to given degrees, and then significantly fewer of those people, acting on it. I know what you’re talking about with your generation, in a lot of ways I feel the same way, but I know that there is no standard for any group of people, as thoughts and actions are concerned. I don’t know where in your life you are, or where geographically for that matter, but I relate to what you’re sharing. I too, do not know what the right answer is for action, I know action is necessary, but I am at a loss in a lot of ways for what should be done. I do not lose hope though, that this situation is one we can change, and look back at as a societal dark ages, if you and I are around (maybe cause) the change when it happens. When change is made, not if, or else we will not live to see our own downfall, we will just cease.
(note: I do not consider myself to be part of the older population)
Cheney/Bush have been followng the Hitler script to the letter, improving on his errors. That runs in the Bush family of course, starting with his grandfather Preston Bush. The Blackwater gang is similar to the Hell’s Angels, only much better armed and funded. No, they are not funny, not at all.
Your words are encoraging .(I now it”s spelt wrong but I’m to drunk to look it up.)
Kem you’ve been doing your homework.
Do you want to know all about Blackwater?
Google- Jeremy Scahill…
He wrote the book that should be the best seller.
Buy it Read it learn it.
“Blackwater” By Jeremy Scahill…
Sparticus,
You go boy ! ! ! Bottom line is that “Shrub” is human slime.
Joe in Texas
Cool beans dude.
They just got their poison gas mixed up with their poison gas canisters, that’s all.
Tear Gas? Tear gas is nothing compared to some of the nerve agents on the riot control market now days. Schidt that the FDA never tested because they’ve never even heard of it.
2005 was the year, IIRC, a Shorts 360 was buzzing “ragheads” in the city and then went out chasing camels up a blind canyon and killed everybody onboard. This too was a private contractor flight.
A congressional investigation was launched and found pilot error and company policies of turning loose pilots who had only been in the country a few days to be the cause. The last words on the voice recorder was the brand new captain laughing hysterically: “THERE’S NO WAY THEY WOULD PAY ME FOR THIS SHXT IF THEY KNEW HOW FXXXXXX FUN THIS IS!”
KAMBLAM!!
These out of control contracters are heading to a FEMA crowd control town near you after this war’s over.
Comforting thought, huh?
“Blackwater says it was permitted to carry CS gas under its contract at the time with the State Department. According to a State Department official, the contract did not specifically authorize Blackwater personnel to carry or use CS, but it did not prohibit it.”
This is ominous and unnerving to say the very least. Wonder what ‘else’ it has similarly been ‘permitted’ to carry (but not expressly prohibited from using ) under its contract with the US Govt. Dirty bombs and cluster bombs perhaps.
Blackwater’s use of gas leaves no questions at all. They commit war crimes with impunity.
There are 160,000 Mercenaries working for the U.S. State Department and Department of Defense. The average cost for taxpayers is over one thousand dollars per individual per day.(Who gives a rip about SCHIP, when there are billions to made controlling the American People.) The mercenary receives three hundred and fifty dollars a day with a promise of U.S. Citizenship.
Whether it is Blackwater or Dyn Corp, each company has ex CIA officials working as managing directors, or executives.
Remember Donald Rumsfeld saying in 2002, “We can not account for two trillion dollars worth of materials.” Then the following year,2003, the GAO reported that the Department of Defense could not account for another trillion dollars worth of materials.
Funny, I would say the Private Armies were given those materials, “Off Book”…….Yes the CIA and Department of Defense have been working “Off Book” since the “Church Commission of the Mid 70 s”…….
It all began after World War II when Capitalist Conservatives decided that it was better to bring Nazi War Criminals into the newly invented CIA than punish them. Men who were in charge of Nazi Intelligence like Reinhard Gehlen, Dieter Schenk, and Paul Dickopf were assigned CIA handlers and rose to power in the new German Republic, even as high as Director of Interpol…Meanwhile, under “Operation Paperclip” over 1600 Nazi War Criminals were rewarded with new identities and given jobs in the CIA and Department of Defense…..Those new hirees helped develop new mind control chemicals, new torture systems,all kinds of stuff presently used by the CIA and Departments of Defense…
Many Americans, including the Bush Family, made lots of money by helping Hitler. Many Americans made lots of money from the attacks of 9/11 and all the events that have followed it. Yes, World Trade Center 7 was nothing but a planned demolition whether to destroy all documents related to the CIA “Operation Cyclone” and the financing of same and the SEC documents on Enron and Worldcom or an insurance fraud of major profits for Mr. Silverstein (A 15 million dollar investment got him a 7 billion dollar insurance payout) ……The CIA had offices in World Trade Center 7. The SEC had offices in World Trade Center 7….So stretch that event and its “Coverup” and you have a “Power Elite” that is in control and has been in control since the early days of the Viet Nam Conflict which they escalated to the “Viet Nam War” once John F Kennedy was out of the way. Viet Nam had never attacked the U.S., never threatened to attack the U.S. and never had a plan to invade or occupy the U.S…….over 5 million people died fighting for their independence and well over 58,000 Americans died to enrich the American Capitalist Conservatives.
As Naomi Klein explained, the U.S. Capitalist Conservatives have used natural and man made disasters to Privatize government operations and turn taxpayers money into profits for Capitalist Conservatives……Once the U.S State Department hired Accenture (Foremerly Arthur Anderson Consulting from the Enron Scandal) to do the passports, you had to figure they were going to help with the “Off Book” Operations…..We now have a Private Army of 160,000 men operating “Off Book” and beyond congressional control.
Where the beef?
I wonder at so many criticisms of what is simply capitalism in action…..All you Ron Paul supporters should be very supportive of this ample demonstration that unfettered, uncontrolled, unrestricted capitalism really truly works.
Whatsamatta you? If you cant take the heat get out of the kitchen…or better yet, vote Green.
They fuckin’ dropped TWO CS gas canisters by mistake? BULLSHIT!!!
Ren Ren and Progressive Student and everyone else: What you can do is call everyone in Congress (not just your own representatives) and DEMAND an end to Blackwater in Iraq and in the US now! GET ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO CALL TOO.
This was an intentional expeiment conducted on U.S. troops to see if Blackwater will be able to squelch free speech and assembly within our borders when they’re called up by the Bush/Cheney administration to do so.
Progressive Student, does history seem less repetitive to the young? When you are older it is “Oh No here we go again!”
I am watching workreno’s video as we speak and they are talking about the murderers writing history of the victims as an extension of the old adage about the victors writing history. I am not sure if living will let JKR write his own history - Mulroney tried that and it did not work.
But the talk of victors writing history also reminds me of something written in 1915:
“If I go to my neighbours house, and break her furniture, and smash her pictures, and bind her children captive, it does not prove that I am fitter to live than she - yet according to the ethics of nations it does. I have conquered her and she must pay me for my trouble; and her house and all that is left in it belongs to my heirs and successors forever. That is war!” - Nellie McClung
The movie is talking about the late Canadian born Peter Jennings who worked for the CBC before he worked for CTV before moving onto the US. And whose to say that there was only one plot that day.
You heard about Kingston Ontario resident, Darren Lovelock, who threatened to assassinate “an internationally-protected person” - namely George Bush. He is presently being checked out to see if he was crazy - or just fed up!
Guess I will have to watch it a while before I see the Bush link, back to posts. Strange that no one at the time in congress called for an inquiry.
RE: - That runs in the Bush family of course, starting with his grandfather Preston Bush.
Didn’t Preston Bush do business with Thyssen? Didn’t Mulroney give the Eulogy for Ronald Reagan - highlighting his role for the reunification of Germany?
Former prime minister Mulroney has acknowledged receiving cash payments from Schreiber when he left office. He told a House of Commons ethics committee last month that the money was payment for his efforts as an international lobbyist on behalf of Thyssen, a German armoured vehicle company.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/01/11/harper-inquiry.html
ohnston also left open the door for the prime minister to avoid setting up a public inquiry if he is satisfied with the work of the Commons committee, according to sources.
But a senior insider said Harper has no choice but to immediately set up a public inquiry, otherwise the “opposition will scratch out our eyes.”
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080110/schreiber_mulroney_080110/20080110?hub=Canada
RE: - A congressional investigation was launched and found pilot error and company policies of turning loose pilots who had only been in the country a few days to be the cause.
Blackwater Pilot error. The first four Canadian casualties in Afghanistan were also the result of Pilot error (this time US Military). Sgt. Marc Leger, Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer, Pte. Richard Green, Nathan Smith were killed by “pilot error” on April 18, 2002. When a reporter asked for Bush’s reaction to the deaths, Bush acted as if the reporter was making a big deal over nothing.
Are they still pumping American pilots full of dex (however you spell the earlier version of ritalin/methylphenidate)? Seems that the paradoxical effect is between taking enough and taking too much.
When you read about child soldiers, don’t they also pump them full of drugs.
If this happens in the US Military and with child soldiers - then what are the Blackwater soldiers taking to “keep alert”?
workreno, I want to know if there is a connection between the Bushes and the 1999 CDU contributions scandal. (The German Wikipedia entry has more and different info than the English one).
The connection between German corporations and Nazism may have less to do with Hitler’s stance against Jews and more to do with Hilter’s anti-Communism stance. From the BBC History for kids pages:
Rich people (because they feared that the Communists would nationalise their farms and factories) …
Hitler was given power in a seedy political deal by Hindenburg and Papen who foolishly thought they could control him.
What we need to figure out is how German businesses - during WWII to the Reagan-Bush era influenced government policy and contracts in multiple countries. I doubt that the Germans were the only ones doing this.
will the american masses ever wake up? with the death and destruction you have wrought upon the planet.. world trials for your hated leaders and there immediate removal from office is the only chance for human survival for us all….
What is this I hear about Mitt Romney’s connection with Blackwater? Also why was Norah O’Donnell allowed to be involved in asking questions of the Democrats during one of the debates since her husband works for Romney? The Republicans worry so much about Hillary’s knowledge during her husbands Presidency, what about Nancy Reagan? Reagan was like George bush is today, just a message carrier and jokester. Without a script the guy was a puddle of melted jello just like the dunce we have at in the White House today. If we can get a Democrat elected in November we need to go after Nancy Pelosi and the white haired guy, I don’t recall his name, and get them out of Government. She should never have been chosen for the office she has as leader of the House. We need to elect a few people with public speaking skills. The Pubs all go to a school to learn how to promote their speechesand lies. We just stumble and stutter and rock the clenched hand with flimsy resolve. They all make me sick.
GOOD NEWS FOR ALL
While Geo the inferior + cronies attempt a pseudo-verdant “astroturfing”
We are actually present today for a real grass-rooting expression of
But not for Paul Hawkins’ Blessed Unrest.
Please visit and be inspired, empowered, and become part of the largest organizing human endeavor to save our lovely Earth and Ourselves (too).
Namaste
It doesn’t say they cannot rape your kids when they get out of Iraq if they are still under contract, or when the contract expires, either. They are free forever possibly to do what they want … to you! Are they under contract here? Yes! Do they have a dick? In office even! What are the state side protections? What state side protections, for who?
nspire, thank you so much for that link to Blessed Unrest as I was inspired in the first 10 minutes of listening to him. It was just what I needed as I’ve OD’d on the news lately. This was just the break I needed.
As for Blackwater “accidentally” dropping CS gas on our troops and Iraqi civilians, yea, and the Gulf of Tonkin incident really happened. Reminds me of the story last August about the nukes on board a B-52 bomber that flew out of Minot, South Dakota. Evidently it flew with 6 nukes “accidentally” attached to it! Human error in both cases? I didn’t think the military allowed for it. What’s next? The “accidental” pushing of the panic button?
Made a note to add the term “astroturfing to my vocabulary - it will come in useful concerning the Canadian political scene.
FIREFEM — Yes, I wrote some of it down:
Namaste … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Mahatma Gandhi … … … … … … … … … …
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I was always for gun control but now I’m going to go buy a gun to protect myself from the coming Blackwater army in Californiaaaa….