Blackwater takes to the waves (new maritime division)

[babylonsister]

Blackwater showing off new training ship at Nauticus


By BILL SIZEMORE, The Virginian-Pilot
© September 19, 2007

NORFOLK

As it tries to weather a worldwide storm of negative publicity, Blackwater USA is hoping to find a little love this week on the Norfolk waterfront.

The Moyock, N.C.-based private military company is hosting an invitation-only open house today and Thursday on board the McArthur, a training vessel recently acquired by its new maritime division.

The ship is docked adjacent to the decommissioned battleship Wisconsin at Nauticus, the city-owned maritime science museum.

The two-day event is not open to the public or media. It was planned well before the fatal shooting Sunday of at least 11 Iraqis by Blackwater security contractors in Baghdad, which triggered a flood of protests and calls for the company's ouster from Iraq.

Whether or not the Iraqi government succeeds in expelling Blackwater, the event at Nauticus signals that the company is actively seeking out new markets.

more...

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=132785&ran=12900

[trumad]

1. Air force is next?

[babylonsister]

2. You've got it: they apparently bought 8 of these:

http://www.tucanodisplay.co.uk/aircraft.html

Tucano light-attack aircraft


I found this info here:

http://omnipotentpoobah.com/2007/09/21/blackwater-takes-to-the-waves/

[aquart]

4. Why not? They can afford it.

How much of our money do they have now?

[Cooley Hurd]

3. Shit... what a SCOW:

:eyes:

Also, I caught this little nugget further down in the article:

"The company has trained thousands of sailors and other U.S. military personnel at its 7,000-acre Moyock compound."

Jesus, has the US military outsourced Basic Training, too????:wow:

[babylonsister]

6. Oh, my. I didn't catch that. I wonder what the Navy brass thinks about that. nt

[spanone]

5. junior has privatized our military...