Bloodsucking Blackwater Gears Up For Gustav

[Joanne98]

Amy Goodman from DemocracyNOW asks investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill how Blackwater profited off Hurricane Katrina.

Security and intelligence expert Dr. R.J. Hillhouse reports at her “Spy Who Billed Me” blog that Blackwater has issued a shout-out for armed security officers for possible deployment under their DHS contract in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. Officers must have a firearms license - and those with revolver- only status need not apply. She reproduces this call for personell from Blackwater themselves, issued late Friday:

Blackwater is compiling a list of qualified security personnel for possible deployment into areas affected by Hurricane Gustav. Applicants must meet all items listed under the respective Officer posting and be US citizens. Contract length is TBD.

Law Enforcement Officers (all criteria must apply)

1. Current sworn

2. With arrest powers

3. Armed status (must indicate Armed and/or Semi Auto. Revolver only not accepted) expiration must be greater than 60 days out

4. Departmental credentials (not just a badge)

Armed Security Officers (all criteria must apply)Only from the following states: OR, WA, CA, NV, NM, AZ, TX, FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, MD, IL, OK.

1. Current/active/licensed/registered armed security officer

2. All training verification

3. Current state issued face card indicting armed status

Last time out, during Katrina, Blackwater mercenaries were patrolling New Orleans in full battle dress and with assault weapons in what some called an end-run around Posse Comitatus. It looks like they’re ready to do it again. If so, let’s hope there’s none of the kind of “accidents” they’ve had in Iraq

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/31/blackwater-gear-up-for-gustav/

[midnight]

1. I don't follow all the training and verification, and the listed states,

But I don't feel good about this organization going in and having another crack at this work.

[aikoaiko]

2. At least Blackwater or other private security can be held accountable by state and local officials.

...for any criminal actions.

Hiring publicly or privately hiring private security for disasters is not necessarily a bad thing.

The last time they were used in NOLA they were hired by civilians to protect private property. I don't understand how even a tinfoil hatterist could bring up Posse Comitatus in that context.

[tannybogus]

3. Because they have such tight ties to Bushco...

Because of semantics, I may not be able to invoke Posse Comitatus.
However, it's the US government outsourcing them. Don't think they won't try to
protect everything they do. As far as I am concerned, they are acting under orders
from the US government. They are an illegal government militia used by Bushco to
carry out acts they don't want done by legal entities.
Now I will go put my tinfoil hat on.:tinfoilhat:

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Yeah...that worked so well in Iraq