“The time to show these contractors the door is long past due.”
--Hillary Clinton, February 28, 2008
Year after year, the United States government continued to contract with private security firm (read as “mercenary firm”) Blackwater, which has since undergone a name change to “Xe” in but another failed attempt to stymie and blunt criticism. Despite repeated reports (and subsequent testimony verifying the veracity of these reports) of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and outright illegality to include the crime of murder, the United States government continues to contract with this private security firm for operations in Iraq. These contracts and operations continue in Iraq despite the fact that the Iraqi government has also revoked the firm’s operating license.
So much for honoring Iraq’s sovereignty, but I digress.
While it is true that many of the continuing contracts are carry-overs from the previous administration, it is also true that these contracts have been increased and extended under the Obama administration.
Add it to the ever-growing list of disappointments with the new administration.
Meet the new boss.
While it comes as a disappointment, it does not come as a surprise.
As a presidential candidate, Obama refused to sign on to a bill proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders (Stop Outsourcing Security Act) that, no longer than six months after its passage, would’ve seen to it that security services in theater would be provided by federal government employees only. While Obama refused, Clinton joined in support… which is why it’s troubling that she has yet to show these contractors the door despite now being in a position to make it happen.
After all, the time is long past due.
There have been recent murmurings that the Xe (formerly Blackwater) contract was to run out today, September 3rd. Much to my dismay, the contract has once again been extended “indefinitely”. Apparently, so we’re told, this is to provide for a timed overlap in the transfer of duties from one private security firm, Xe (formerly Blackwater), to… wait for it… another private security firm, Dyncorp.
The mind reels.
That’s right, folks.
We will apparently be ending the contract with a private security firm that has been implicated in fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and murder… in order to start a new contract with a private security firm that has been implicated in fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and children as sex slaves.
Well, at least they don’t have that whole “murder” thing going on.
That is, unless you count the deaths of babies that resulted from Dyncorp participation in haphazard and reckless spraying of herbicides and fumigants during operations in Columbia.
Oh, and that Iraqi taxi driver.
Yep, let’s put them in charge of security operations in Iraq.
Brilliant!
Now would be the time for one of those often-talked-about, much-rumored, isn’t-it-fun-to-speculate-that-there-might-be power plays from within by Hillary Clinton to put pressure on the President to discontinue these practices.
That is, if Madame Secretary was serious in her support and not just busy disingenuously trying to find wedge issues to use against her fellow Democratic opponent at the time.
In fact:
“The time to show these contractors the door is long past due.”
--Hillary Clinton, February 28, 2008
Well said, Madame Secretary.
Now, given your position, what will you do about it?