HuffPost: Blackwater contract renewed

[Muttocracy]

Lovely how this was announced on a Friday:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/04/blackwaters-iraq-contract_n_95168.html

Blackwater's Iraq Contract Renewed Despite Investigations

WASHINGTON — Amid investigations into fatal shootings of civilians and allegations of tax violations, Blackwater USA's multimillion-dollar contract to protect diplomats in Baghdad has been renewed, the State Department said Friday.

A final decision about whether the private security company will keep the job is pending, the department said. Moyock, N.C.-based Blackwater is one of the largest private military contractors, receiving nearly $1.25 billion in federal business since 2000, according to a House committee estimate.

[lligrd]

1. Anyone Surprised? nt

[Bobbieo]

2. He still has 10 months to go - Anyone stopping him????

They may not speak to him but they do not stop him!!!

[tavalon]

3. Thank you for digging this one out of the Friday News Dump

Hopefully we can get this one to get legs.

I support the troops, I do not support the mercenaries or the people making money off of the Iraq War.

[bklyncowgirl]

4. Friday Martin Luther King Assassination anniversary news dump

That makes it even more special.

Unfortunately not surprising at all.

[tavalon]

5. kicked and a request that more people nominate this

It needs wide audience.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Blood Pact

The military is so reliant on Blackwater and other contractors they are all but forced to live with 'em and the Erik Princes know this and screw the American taxpayer at every turn. Here we go again.

The big lie about this war for profit is that we don't have 130,000 troops there, but 200,000+...the remainder being the contractors who have taken over key support roles that puts them in the catbird seat. They've privatized the food services so that the army no longer has any of their own "KP" any longer. The State Department and other agencies in the Green Zone depend on these people for their security since we don't have our own military police available to handle the job. It's cheney's dream come true...the military has become a very profitable venture. That is as long as you have thousands of shares of Haliburton, KBR and other contractor stocks in your portfolio.

[Muttocracy]

7. and Cheney et al don't even need to stay in office to keep this going

Halliburton, Blackwater, etc. will be making money for decades in Iraq and Afghanistan. We broke it, we bought it, we're going to be paying debt and interest for years.