September 27, 2007
Special Prosecutor Needed for Blackwater, the Republican Mercenary Company (Brent Budowsky)
Democratic Congressional leaders should demand, Republican leaders should support, and President Bush should accept the naming of a special prosecutor in the Blackwater case as a condition of confirming a new attorney general.
If the use of mercenary forces in Iraq on such an enormous scale is unprecedented in the history of the American military, and the sheer number of revelations and investigations of scandal regarding mercenary conduct grows daily, and the lack of any prosecutions in this matter raises the reddest of red flags, what is striking is the relationship between a billion- dollar contractor and the Republican Party.
Let's be clear: Blackwater, like all suspects, should receive the presumption of innocence. But let's also be clear: This whole matter stinks like a rotten egg, drenched in blood, as part of a catastrophically failed policy that more than any conflict in American history is conducted outside the rule of law.
We learn daily of new allegations of wrongdoing that go back several years, without even one prosecution, without even one conviction, and without even one case being thoroughly vetted through normal investigative procedures until recent hours.
Should anybody trust the Bush administration to investigate this honorably, given its record of misconduct — a record that only begins with what Gen. Antonio Taguba suggests is a continuing cover-up of the crimes of Abu Ghraib?
Looking at the history and current actions of Blackwater, its ownership and management, its related companies and interests of family members close to the company, what is revealed is a billion-dollar-level contractor surrounded by Republican campaign donations and a revolving door of Republican officials.
This is not only a mercenary company by the standards of what average Americans would call mercenary. This is not only a company under multiple investigations begun only recently after exposure of years of allegations. This is not only a mercenary company that at best has created enormous ill will and anger among the hearts and minds of the people of the nation we occupy.
This is a company that has created enormous ill will not only with the people of Iraq but among American commanders and active-duty troops.
This is a company with aggressive, long and financially deep relationships with one political party: the Republicans.
What is needed is a totally independent special prosecutor with integrity, professionalism and objectivity beyond any trace of political bias or partisanship. Let the truth come out, let the facts emerge, let justice be done, without any fear, favor or politics.
If Blackwater is innocent, let them be cleared; if Blackwater is guilty, let them be charged; but let the rule of law prevail without any culture of corruption impeding or obstructing a fair and honest investigation.
There are many Americans with extensive legal experience who would be universally seen as honest, fair and independent who could spearhead a full and total investigation.
It is time for truth, for honor, for justice. It is time for a special prosecutor. Now.
30 Comments
»
The Hill welcomes comment from anyone and will almost always post it whether it is favorable or critical, as long as it is substantive and advances debate.
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Yeah. We're fighting a war and let's take the time to smell the roses.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — September 27, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Why do left wingers feel the need to lie constantly?
Why is this company a "Republican Mercenary Company"?
Is this another fabrication of connections where none exist ala Michael Moore?
Judging by your vitriol, it looks like you've already assumed guilt or innocence. Why not be honest about it?
Oh, by the way, Rupert Murdock, head of the company that owns Fox News, is a Hillary Clinton supporter. Did ya know that?
Comment by DFAL — September 27, 2007 @ 11:48 am
How about a concept for jurisdiction, under the Bremmer rules in Iraq the mercenaries are above the law and the violations of Blackwater happened outside American jurisdiction. (Unless Iraq was made the fifty first state without me noticing it.)
Comment by Kevin from Indiana — September 27, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Even before Blackwater arrived in New Orleans following Katrina under contracts with FEMA and the State of Louisiana, its reputation as an organization doing violence in Iraq had preceded it. Note this article from Sept. 10, 2005. http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/091005A.shtml which makes it clear that they were permitted to use lethal force. Whether they did or not has been questioned before but not formally investigated. Harkening back to the Pinkertons, there was federal legislation, I believe, which banned them from contracting with the government as an armed force. And for good reason. Private armies are and will always be destructive of democracy. I believe that this is the intent of the Republicans. What happens when our military is deliberately shrunken and broken? Retired generals are stepping forward to tell much the same story about what the Bush/Cheney administration and its congressional cohorts are doing to our military forces including our National Guard.
Comment by Pat Williams — September 27, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
To DFAL: Blackwater was founded in 1997 by two born again Christians (?) with a messianic agenda. They've been gifted with no bid contracts by the Bush administration to the tune of about a billion dollars. Their people are trained and serving as mercenaries aka contractors. So what is this nonsense about "fabrication of connections" to the Republicans?
Comment by Pat Williams — September 27, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
Blackwater may have been at fault in the shooting incident and some other cases. This should be investigated. The priority of punishing the guilty is extremely low compared to winning the war. The priority should be how to guarantee the least damaging resolution of the problems that may have existed or may still exist IN ORDER TO WIN THE WAR. Tying this to the AG confirmation? SCREW THIS PARTISANSHIP IN THE FACE OF FIGHTING A VICIOUS ENEMY!
Comment by Igor R. — September 27, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
Big smear Imus hunters are out for bigger game. This BBudowsky guy is carrying George Soros' water. Blackwater is doing a job nobody else wants to do. Cowards like ex-Col BB should shut their mouths. Is he running for office?
Comment by daveinboca — September 27, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
We are fighting this war, in part, to feed the coffers of the Blackwaters. There isn't a person in this country that can come up with any reasons that hold any water, unless you are the paranoid authoritarian war lovers who post on here regularly.
There is no way that the administration will lift a finger to investigate anything. Doing this would expose the charade, that is slowly and surely being exposed day by day.
By any polling that you measure, despite the pundit class lies on cable TV daily, the people of the United States want our trrops out of there now. This subject is currently contributing to the growing revulsion of an evil illegal war.
Defend the crimes all you wish, my friends. you will have your comeuppance after the next election, when the party of death is voted into oblivion.
Comment by Chris Calbi — September 27, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Read this to figure out what's REALLY going on:
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12080
Comment by Igor R. — September 27, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
A special prosecutor is indeed required. It won't happen, of course.
If it did, tho, would it be discovered that Blackwater is, in fact, a private militia belonging to the Republican Party who has removed them
from the juristiction of any law in any country anywhere?
Would they discover that the State Department is their nominal civilian overseer with absolute
authority over their activities? Blackwater answers to no one except the Sec. of State,
who answers to the President and his political party?
Would it be discovered that citizens' tax monies are being used to support a Republican Party private militia?
How is this different from the militias now
operating for political/religious parties in Iraq? It is more sophisticated and has more
money. Other than that, all these militias
operate under the same loss of moral sanity
that permits them to murder whoever gets in their way with utterly no accountablility to anyone anywhere anytime.
Blackwater is the face of the Republican Party under its mask.
Comment by banjobailey — September 27, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
[…] Special Prosecutor Needed for Blackwater, the Republican Mercenary Company […]
Pingback by Make Them Accountable / Brent Budowsky: Special Prosecutor Needed for Blackwater — September 27, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
Chris makes this claim:
"We are fighting this war, in part, to feed the coffers of the Blackwaters."
This is an outrageous lie and there is no proof for it. His hatred simply has no bounds.
Comment by Igor R. — September 27, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
daveinboca, now that you mentioned Soros, read on:
http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2007/09/26/political-parties-a-buyers-guide-by-george-soros/
Comment by Igor R. — September 27, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
More Soros revelations. Can it get any worse????
http://sweetness-light.com/archive/soros-gets-cash-from-palestinians-us-goverment
Comment by Igor R. — September 27, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
Yes it can. While a skeptic on Global Warming is forced to resign:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070927/METRO/109270054/1004
we learn who is really behind the Global Warming lie of the century:
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=275526219598836
Comment by Igor R. — September 27, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
Traitors having a breakdown:
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r320/smoothsailing_02/2004725360743686844_rs.jpg
Comment by Igor R. — September 27, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
Another top notch post there Brent. But we do know, of course, that Presdient BunnyPants won't do any of the such. It makes too much sense, and would reveal the utter corruption of the freaks at Blackwater.
Then you got nutballs like RR and Igor that really think we are fighting a "war". Ha Ha, how stupid, gullible, and naieve can they be. If it's such a noble cause, Igor and RR, why aren't you over there fighting? I thought so, chickenhawk neocons.
Comment by Chris in NM — September 28, 2007 @ 2:11 am
[…] Read more Blackwater […]
Pingback by True Blue Liberal » Special Prosecutor Needed for Blackwater — September 28, 2007 @ 7:10 am
Igor, bring the truth and the proof, please. Just don't post one of your whacko Right wing links, as you do everyday. they have no credibility, my friend. If you notice, we on the other side do not link anything form the left side websites. We just speak, as the people out there speak. You, on the other hand, have immersed yourself in the death culture of the right.
Comment by Chris Calbi — September 28, 2007 @ 7:52 am
Chris, I also do speak without links. I'm just too multifaceted to stick with one style, that's all.
Death culture? Hm…is it because the right wants to defend this country? Remember, the quickest way to stop fighting a war is to lose it.
Comment by Igor R. — September 28, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
We all want to do that. the problem is that we're doing it in the wrong place.
Comment by Chris Calbi — September 28, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Igor has several challenges ahead, mostly history and reality. You're so funny Igor. Do you really believe what you post, or are you just trying to sound like a fool for the kicks of it? Would you vote for Ted Nugent Igor?
Comment by Mary Ann — September 28, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
Sadly, he does believe these things. Let's respect him for that, but never, never let the lies go too far. They have built their whole belief set on a oile of lies.
The reasons for the war were a lie. The current state of Iraq and the success of the surge, a huge lie. A good economy? A total lie. Islam hates us or our freedom..another lie.
If you split these people up, and lop off the economic issues, for which they are very sincere, then the social issues, which seem to expose their hypocricy so blatantly, you are left with the paranoid warriors against "Islamofascists". These are the most dangerous. the other issues can be logically debated, and there is validity and sincerity on both sides of the argument. Igor's "flat tax" argument is a valid one and widely held by economic conservatives. The argument on these issues will always be there, and the trends will ebb and flow.
On the social side, the Right has been weakened by the hypocricy of the politicians that trumpet these concepts. Hopefully, the country as a whole recognizes this, and there is some enlightenment. Make no mistake though, things like that will also ebb and flow thru the years.
It's the last one that poses the biggest danger to our democracy. 9-11 set off a paranoia and panic with the authoritarian Right that has caused our own government to systematically take away our basic rights, and trample the sacred Constitution, that has held our great democracy together for over two hundred years. Be afraid, people, very afraid.
Now we've got this phony Guiliani banging at our door. This creepy toad is hanging his entire candidacy in continuing the fear mongering and playing right into the paranoiacs who are sucking the freedom right out from under us. He is a true "four flusher" in the GW Bush mold, and he is dangerous. He must be stopped. The rest of the GOP field consists of a brave but brain damaged former POW, a quiz show host, and a Ronald reagan wannabe who seems to be even lighter than the man he is attempting to emulate. Guiliani could take it, and he will stoke these people up with his 9-11, 9-11, 9-11.
Comment by Chris Calbi — September 29, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Mary Ann, like several existing posters your say something negative and information-free that simply amounts to "you're wrong" and nothing else, but in a nasty way. I have not come to my conclusions lightly. I believe that people who think like you are delusional, and can't tell right from wrong. Actually I don't know exactly what you think, but since you seem to stand for everything I don't believe, let me guess that you don't want to fight the evil Islam by force, you want to tax the rich, and you want the federal government to do lot's and lot's of good things with taxpayers money. If that's so, these are very silly opinions, although they are held by many. History has proven that when you don't fight evil it triumphs, and when you attempt to do massive wealth transfers by the government, it all goes terribly wrong.
Comment by Igor R. — September 29, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
Chris Calbi, as I mentioned to you before and I thought you understood, I don't beleive that the Islamists hate us for our freedoms. I do think the true believers hate anyone who doesn't follow Koran, and especially they hate those who are standing in the way of them re-establishing the caliphate.
The economy was great for several years, it has clearly weakened in the last quarter based on the liquidity crisis. The capitlist economies typically go up and down, but countries over time gravitate towards capitalism. I'm not sure of the relevance of the "good economy" to anything unless you provide more context.
The basic freedom argument is just so context-free as well. There is a right of free speech. Yet there is also the famous "fire/crowded theater" rule. Human beings using sophistry can prove any abstract concept not based on mathematical conventions. The question is this: Is Bush a Hitler-in-the-making, plotting to take over the country, himself or through his movement? Is he taking "rights" to subjugate the populace? Unless you can answer that, any miniscule attempt to do anything about the "rights", like listening to suspected Jihadist as quickly as he possible can be turned into an all-out assault on everything we hold dear.
Comment by Igor R. — September 29, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Igor, you must admit that this President has proven himself to be an intellectual lightweight. You are telling me that our people need to accept that someone of this intellectual calibre, is the sole determiner of who is an enemy combatant, who should be surveilled against, and who can attend any event that he is attending? All of this without any oversight or judicial process to test it by?
I reject that in the extreme. He is a fool, plain and simple.
I did not raise any Hitler statements. That is just your usual straw man, as if doing that comparison negates any validity to an argument.
I ask this question. Can this President face any audience, at any time, that is not totally vetted for those who might disagree with him in any way, or who would be vocal in questioning him in a circumspect fashion? If you answer the obvious, then it is fair to say that the people are not being afforded the rights that are inherent in this democracy. It is not Left Wing hyperbole when we hear of people being removed from his events because they are wearing a T shirt of have a bumper sticker on their car. These are not made up fables, they have happened.
If BOTH parties have set up "free speech zones" at their national conventions, rather then the usual and continuous way that we have dealt with protest in the past, there is something terribly wrong in America.
If entertainers of any philosophy are dismissed or no longer going to be employed because of some statement that they made expressing their feelings, we have a problem in this country my friend. That goes for the Dixie Chicks, Imus or Limbaugh.
If we can't have a government and a President, that must submit to some oversight or judicial review, even though they can do it retroactively, when they are interested in a suspect, then we have lost America.
If we cannot guarantee every person due process of the law, and the basic rights of habeus corpus, before we pursue a legitimate claim against them, I can safely combine all of the above with this aspect, and say that we are no better than those who we revile and attack us, and we have handed them the victory.
It is not those like me, that cherish all of the above, who are defeatist or hate America. Rather it is those who support this behavior and refuse to exercise their rights as citizens of the world's onetime greatest democracy.
Comment by Chris Calbi — September 30, 2007 @ 7:59 am
Fact is a special prosecutor isn’t even necessary. Blackwater is already subject to the UCMJ just like the regular military as are all ‘security contractors’. Backwater will answer in great and exhaustive detail for this incident and if there are guilty parties they will face the same consequences as a member of the regular military would. Wouldn’t want to jump to Murtha level conclusions and wind up in his shoes later.
And to make a “Republican Mercenary Company” statement is intellectually dishonest. They aren’t awarded contracts by the President. Government contracts are awarded by CONGRESS. Again, let’s be informed folks. The President has NO POWER TO AWARD GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. Not to Backwater, Halliburton, Lockheed Martin, NO ONE. The Executive branch has no money to spend and no power of appropriations (saying how money will be spent).
This kind of intellectual dishonesty just re-enforces the perception that the left uses attack more then reason to affect opinion. If this isn’t the perception they wish to be perpetuated then let’s get informed, rational, and reasonable about our points.
Comment by Bruxley — October 1, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
As for the surveilence of Americans with judical review nonsense. Let’s get the facts straight there too shall we.
The TEXT OF THE ACT:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill…show-changes=0
Downloadable PDF available there too
Lets read it so we can separate the facts from the BS OK.
Enough bloviating already
From the text:
Quote:
"There are reasonable procedures in place for determining that the acquisition of foreign intelligence information under this section concerns persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States, and such procedures will be subject to review of the Court pursuant to section 105C of this Act;"
Quote:
"This determination shall be in the form of a written certification, under oath, supported as appropriate by affidavit of appropriate officials in the national security field occupying positions appointed by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate, or the Head of any Agency of the Intelligence Community, unless immediate action by the Government is required and time does not permit the preparation of a certification. In such a case, the determination of the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General shall be reduced to a certification as soon as possible but in no event more than 72 hours after the determination is made."
Quote:
"The Attorney General shall transmit as soon as practicable under seal to the court established under section 103(a) a copy of a certification made under subsection (a). Such certification shall be maintained under security measures established by the Chief Justice of the United States and the Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, and shall remain sealed unless the certification is necessary to determine the legality of the acquisition under section 105B."
Quote:
"An acquisition under this section may be conducted only in accordance with the certification of the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General, or their oral instructions if time does not permit the preparation of a certification, and the minimization procedures adopted by the Attorney General. The Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General shall assess compliance with such procedures and shall report such assessments to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate under section 108(a)."
Quote:
"SEC. 4. REPORTING TO CONGRESS.
On a semi-annual basis the Attorney General shall inform the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, concerning acquisitions under this section during the previous 6-month period. Each report made under this section shall include–
(1) a description of any incidents of non-compliance with a directive issued by the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence under section 105B, to include–
(A) incidents of non-compliance by an element of the Intelligence Community with guidelines or procedures established for determining that the acquisition of foreign intelligence authorized by the Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence concerns persons reasonably to be outside the United States; and
(B) incidents of noncompliance by a specified person to whom the Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence issue a directive under this section; and
(2) the number of certifications and directives issued during the reporting period.
Quote:
A person receiving a directive issued pursuant to subsection (e) may challenge the legality of that directive by filing a petition with the pool established under section 103(e)(1).
`(B) The presiding judge designated pursuant to section 103(b) shall assign a petition filed under subparagraph (A) to one of the judges serving in the pool established by section 103(e)(1). Not later than 48 hours after the assignment of such petition, the assigned judge shall conduct an initial review of the directive. If the assigned judge determines that the petition is frivolous, the assigned judge shall immediately deny the petition and affirm the directive or any part of the directive that is the subject of the petition. If the assigned judge determines the petition is not frivolous, the assigned judge shall, within 72 hours, consider the petition in accordance with the procedures established under section 103(e)(2) and provide a written statement for the record of the reasons for any determination under this subsection."
Sorry for the long post. And the quotes aren't intended to be read in secession, they are just to highlight areas of ACCOUNTABILITY in the act. This is hardly unchecked 4th amendment violations or unchecked dictatorial power, etc. The parties that the attorney General and Director of National Intelligence will be accountable at various times include the United States Chief Justice (Chief justice of the Supreme Court), The Supreme Court in total, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, and a pool of Judges.
Comment by Bruxley — October 1, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Chris, he is an intellectual lightweight compared to true intellectuals. He is much more intelligent than his critics point him out to be, but his very poor ability to communicate often makes him look stupid in conversation, but not when he is talking to a friendly interviewer. He is also as far as I could determine not intellectually curious, and that's a problem. I don't think he is the best this country has to offer, but if you simply look at how he was able to outfox Congress to get his way on Iraq, you have to admit he is not a lucky fool. As any good poker player would, he uses the myth of his idiocy to his advantage. In my opinion, the supposedly intellectual Kerry is not. The FedEx founder who knew them both at Yale thinks they are about intellectually equal.
People actually don't have to accept anything, and don't. In reality what happens that if enough people suspect that the arrests are mostly politically motivated, there is a scandal and it does get corrected. People also judge if the accusations themselves are politically motivated, and act accordingly. It's a balancing act. Clearly, some who don't like his policies do it out of general principles that freedom should not be abridged, others do it for political consideration, and I believe the vast majority does it out of the mixture of the two. I can't understand why a solution where he does what he wants for 48 hours and then it's reviewed by a somewhat hostile committee is not a solution, I just haven't studies the issue enough.
Ideally he should be able to face any audience. Given his poor ability to communicate and the demonstrated penchant of many of the people who come to protest to simply start chanting slogans and making any debate or opposing speech impossible, there has to be something in between. Clearly all kinds of t-shirts have to be allowed.
Comment by Igor R. — October 1, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
Blackwater is indeed a private army, which is banned under the Geneva Conventions. This the private army of the Republican party. They are a dagger pointed at the heart of American Democracy. For this and so many reasons, Bush proceedings must be started now. Nancy Pelosi is showing a Hillory like stubbornness in not admitting she should not have taken impeachment of the table. When the Dems take power in 2009, they will be saddled with a terrible burden of debt, endangered Constitution, hatred for America aboad, a stupid war, a declining dollar…
THey need to start impeachment proceedings if only to indict the whole republican party for what has been allowed to happen when they controlled congress.
Comment by william schmidt, ph.d. — October 4, 2007 @ 8:01 pm