Blackwater sought to become the "intel arm" of Monsanto

[bananas]

Posted in LBN by kpete:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4541506

Blackwater's Black Ops-Internal docs reveal the firm's clandestine work

Source: The Nation

Blackwater's Black Ops

Internal documents reveal the firm's clandestine work for multinationals and governments.
Jeremy Scahill
Posted September 15, 2010

Over the past several years, entities closely linked to the private security firm Blackwater have provided intelligence, training and security services to US and foreign governments as well as several multinational corporations, including Monsanto, Chevron, the Walt Disney Company, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and banking giants Deutsche Bank and Barclays, according to documents obtained by The Nation. Blackwater's work for corporations and government agencies was contracted using two companies owned by Blackwater's owner and founder, Erik Prince: Total Intelligence Solutions and the Terrorism Research Center (TRC). Prince is listed as the chairman of both companies in internal company documents, which show how the web of companies functions as a highly coordinated operation. Officials from Total Intelligence, TRC and Blackwater (which now calls itself Xe Services) did not respond to numerous requests for comment for this article.


One of the most incendiary details in the documents is that Blackwater, through Total Intelligence, sought to become the "intel arm" of Monsanto, offering to provide operatives to infiltrate activist groups organizing against the multinational biotech firm

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According to internal Total Intelligence communications, biotech giant Monsanto—the world’s largest supplier of genetically modified seeds—hired the firm in 2008–09. The relationship between the two companies appears to have been solidified in January 2008 when Total Intelligence chair Cofer Black traveled to Zurich to meet with Kevin Wilson, Monsanto’s security manager for global issues.

After the meeting in Zurich, Black sent an e-mail to other Blackwater executives, including to Prince and Prado at their Blackwater e-mail addresses. Black wrote that Wilson “understands that we can span collection from internet, to reach out, to boots on the ground on legit basis protecting the Monsanto brand name…. Ahead of the curve info and insight/heads up is what he is looking for.” Black added that Total Intelligence “would develop into acting as intel arm of Monsanto.” Black also noted that Monsanto was concerned about animal rights activists and that they discussed how Blackwater “could have our person(s) actually joinactivist] group(s) legally.” Black wrote that initial payments to Total Intelligence would be paid out of Monsanto’s “generous protection budget” but would eventually become a line item in the company’s annual budget. He estimated the potential payments to Total Intelligence at between $100,000 and $500,000. According to documents, Monsanto paid Total Intelligence $127,000 in 2008 and $105,000 in 2009.

Read more: http://www.thenation.com/article/154739/blackwaters-black-ops

[htuttle]

1. They ought to just change their name to "Legion of Doom"

"All-Around Bad Guys For Hire"

[howaboutme]

2. Critical Mission is not liberal vs conservative or D vs R

it is reigning in a corporate America that controls our government and intends to make serfs out of the people.

Until Americans comprehend the difference between the status quo of corporate fascism and democracy is the difference between night and day, we are doomed to argue forever about unimportant trivialities, while representatives of the fascist state control power and they have their hooks in both Parties.

[HillbillyBob]

3. Very Well put.

nt

[phantom power]

4. Always extra super when reality tries to imitate bad dystopian SF movies

x(