Stonehill College in North Easton MA launched an Independent Voices in the Series and last eveing was the last event for this season. Jeremy Scahill was invited to speak rearding the publication of his book "Blackwater The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army". I attended with some friends as was able to live blog the event and get photos up as well.
If you have the chance to see Jeremy Scahill as he proceeds on his 38 city tour I would urge you to do so. Fascinating and informative.
There was a point during the question and answer and discussion period which you'll see in the diary/liveblog which I have crossposted at my blog BelowBoston.comhttp://www.soapblox.net/... where a former Navy Seal asks Scahill what Scahill's secuity measures were as he travelled promoting the book here in the US, that question and concern displayed by the former Navy Seal for Scahill's safety has stayed with me since I heard it last evening and has me concerned as well.
We got our books signed and he was very gracious;he asked that once we finished the book to please review it on Amazon - he said he was getting killed over there by the right wing who haven't read the book.
My friend assisted me last evening as well by holding a digital voice recorder - could anyone give me some tips on how to upload the audio file to a site that similar to a youtube? I'm having difficulty posting audio clips on my blog unlike video which I have figured out. Thanks.
Go see Jeremy Scahill and bring a friend. Well worth a drive.
He is signing copies of his book as people enter prior to the start of the lecture; hall is filling fast. A former Navy Seal was speaking to Scahill and seemed very pleased to meet the author.
He is being introduced by a professor in sociology and criminology;last installment of Independent Voices in the Media Series.
She is describing him as an a former producer for Democracy Now, and a contributor to The Nation Magazine. He has reported extensively about Iraq and Katrina. "Blackwater" is now # 9 on New York Times bestseller list.
He is on a 38 city tour and this is relatively early into it.
He starts off with announcing that Blackwater's prior attorneys are Ken Starr and Fred Fielding.
Begins 3/31/2004 in Iraq. He's reading from the beginning pages from his book, which describes the ambush of 4 American security contractors whose bodies were hung from a bridge and mutilated.Headlines around the world chronicled this event.
These 4 armed private security contractors worked for Blackwater - it was the first time most Americans had heard of the company based in North Carolina.
Follow me on the flip
350,000 thousand people were living in Fallujah at the time of the ambush. Siege of the city began by Americans after the ambush of 4 contractors. Unembedded reporters noted that the city smelled of death. 37,000 air strikes were called in. It was the week the war changed.
135,000 US troops plus 160,000 private contractors not all of these are armed contractors - roughly 48,000 are however. None of these are subject to military laws - essentially unaccountable. 2 indictments awarded against contractors - American soldiers get court-martial led every day. 1 contractor stabbed someone, the other had pornography on his computer.
Why is Bush Administration using these private contractors? Army stretched so thin - National Guard even. Average monthly wage of private contractor is $48,000 dollars a month. Because of contractors on the ground not being held accountable for any crimes Iraqis not making any distinction between 2 types of American - American soldier getting the brunt of Iraqi rage.
He's now speaking about the Founder Eric Prince;came from a fundamentalist Calvinist family. Most Wealthy former Navy Seal. Gave money to Christian fundamentalist organizations like Gary Bauer's. His sister married into another wealthy republican family who consistently gives money to right wing religious and Republican causes.
Served in the White House and it was too liberal for him - Bush 41. Leaves the Seals and the and starts the company Blackwater after selling his father's business for 1.3billion dollars. Company started out differently but always wanted to end up where it is now. Takes advantage of tragedy. Even used Columbine to make money through training about safety in High Schools and to prepare for an event like Columbine.
Paul Bremer was not guarded by the US Military;got a 21million dollar contract to protect Bremer. Bremer is a big private business enthusiast. "Bremer showing ultimate faith in free market". Guards all leaders of Congressional delegations who go over there.
Brings up Alexander Strategy Group - K St lobbying firm with strong ties to Tom Delay; gets 320million dollar contract - no bid. 3/4 of a billion dollars awarded in contracts he learned through FOIA. He has gotten to know families of 4 ambushed private contractors very well. Says they are very typical of former special forces. Retired sp.ops often don't know what to do with retirement. A lot need money to do something else with their lives and this provides a lot of cash quickly.
Blackwater in NC is a private 7,000 acre estate like a movie set but it's real. Discussing the families;working class poor. The families want to see the incident report. Blackwater says it is classified and "you will have to sue is to
see it."
Ultimately the families did sue - groundbreaking lawsuit. The 4 did sign a contract which appears ironclad - howver they were supposed to be in reinforced armour vehicle( it wasn't) short staffed. Killed in the back. So they were defrauded. Fred Fielding and Ken Starr are represented Blackwater. Their argument is - we are above the law;can't be sued in civilian court or military court. And they countersued against families for 10 million dollars.
Blackwater recruits from Chile as well, from Pinochet's nasty goons.
Mercenaries from different countries working for Blackwater get paid different rates, Bulgarians from Columbians from Russian, from americans.
Mentions how Blackwater was in New Orleans. Takes video and starts talking to them - they said it felt like a vacation. Who -sent you? Myboss. What's your mission? Confront criminals. Then one realized he wasn't buying it. Pulls out a badge and says he was deputized by Gov. of LA.
Investigates and finds out Dept of Homeland Sec. charged the gov't $950 a day paid men $350 a day. Blackwater really wants to do domestic deployment. Blimps for border patrols, weapons, armored vehicles. 10years ago this company did not exits "FEDEX of Nat'l Security" quote from Prince. Want to go to Darfur.
Trying to rebrand the company at the moment.
Even if we leave Iraq the private contractors will stay. Only Kucinich is addressing the problems of contractors.
Prepared remarks over.
1st comment from audience is from a man who spent time with many Lt Col. at a war college last year. Lt Col seem confused to their mission feel they are called upon to be social workers,political scientists. A
Answer starts with Cheneys downsizing the military in 41's admin and his efforts to privatize. He discusses privatization and how it saps the treasury and does not serve the country as a whole merely that private company.
Blackwater is causing a morale problem in th real army-Called "Going Blackwater" Special Ops especially.
No-one is paying attention to the "blowback" of the private forces effect.
A woman is concerned about private militia with no allegience to US except Bush.
% of foreign nationals? Doesn't know.
Says Clinton admin loved privatization. Blackwater only gives money to Republicans. Truly a Republican Guard. Locked in as a Federal vendor.
Massive failure on the part of the corporate media. "We don't have a serious or a democratic media." Coverage sucks. Major, major problem.
Thinks that emphasis on coastal states is simply that natural disasters happen more frequently on the coasts and it is recognized as a "lucrative market for them".
"Revolving Door" between government and private sector lobbying and contract work huge problem.- Blackwater not a door a bridge.
Private security forces to break strikes for over 100 years in this country.
A man from the audience is challenging him: says Blackwater are trained specialists. Criticizing Clinton. Scahill says this is the most anti military administration in American history. Says he was hypercritical of Clinton administration his whole career over policies. Very heated exchange. Should be interesting to hear recording of that exchange.
About the 3rd time a draft has been mentioned it seems people want it to stop this war. He considers it a false debate.
One man says "It's the haves and have nots".
Photo of Navy Seal in Green jacket gesturing whose remarks are below photo:
Navy seal and former graduate of Stonehill up and speaking served in Iraq and a host of other places. Congratulates Scahill on the book and his courage in writing it. Knew one of the men ambushed and liked how he was portrayed. Asking about Scahill's security. Former Seal is concerned for him. Has been out of sp ops 5 years did provide private security in Iraq for someone writing a book. He was embedded.
Admires the fact he was unembedded stressed this point to the audience.
Scahill says he will not go back - incredibly dangerous. Doesn't want anyone to be killed for him or protecting him. Says all those who had been unembedded will not go back- too dangerous.
Former Navy Seal thinks what Scahill is doing is wonderful and tells the audience - You have to get to the politicians. It's power. You have to affect change. Brings up Bill Bradley on MTP saying that US is 139th in voting and he is embarrassed about that. Wants people to get out and work for candidates.
He dedicated his book to unembedded reporters.
Blackwater contract is 750 million dollar contracted from the State Department.
780 death benefits have been awarded to private contractors so that is how we know at least that number.
A woman feels like we have come to a point where we are in an emergency -she is shifting gears from stopping war to impeaching Bush/Cheney.
He thinks we need to take on strategic battles. He understands it(impeachment) but the war and situation is so dire and that should be central focus.
Another brings up "Iraq for Sale" says we need to show people and expose that these private contractors are not giving our soldiers what they need.
Says to look for books that will come out soon by journalist friends who have done nothing but listen to veterans who have served.
Totally bashes Biden's idea to partition the country - did he start studying this country last week ? he says meaning Biden.
Reminds us that Iraq used to be essentially a secular country. Calls partitioning plan a corporate plan.
More photos at my blog link in the comment section which I posted later check them outhttp://www.soapblox.net/...