CNN, NY Times, LA Times, AP omit Romney connection to Blackwater USA
SUMMARY: In reports on recent news that Iraq's Interior Ministry has revoked the license
of Blackwater USA, an American security firm,
several news outlets did not mention that Blackwater USA's vice chairman is also
the head of Mitt Romney's counterterrorism policy advisory group.
In September 17 reports on the decision by Iraq's Interior Ministry to, in the words of CNN.com, "revoke[] the license of Blackwater USA, an American security firm whose contractors are blamed for a Sunday gunbattle in Baghdad that left eight civilians dead," CNN and CNN.com failed to note that Blackwater USA's vice chairman, J. Cofer Black, is reportedly the head of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's counterterrorism policy advisory group. During the 2 p.m. ET hour of CNN Newsroom, CNN re-aired a June 2006 report during which senior international correspondent Nic Robertson interviewed Black, but when co-anchor T.J. Holmes introduced the report, he did not mention Romney's reported connection to Blackwater USA, and, during the report, Black was identified only as, "Vice chairman, Blackwater USA":
The CNN.com article, as well as reports by the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, the Associated Press, and an additional segment during a later hour of CNN Newsroom, all failed to note the reported connection between Romney and Blackwater USA. On September 13, The Boston Globe reported that Romney "tapped" Black, "a former CIA official, who is now a top officer in a private security firm with widespread operations in Iraq, to head his counterterrorism policy advisory group."
By contrast, Time.com Washington editor Ana Marie Cox noted Blackwater USA's reported connection to the Romney campaign in a post on the Swampland blog. Cox wrote: "Company run by Mitt Romney's national security adviser ejected from Iraq over an incident in which 'eight civilians were killed and 13 were wounded when security contractors believed to be working for Blackwater USA opened fire in a predominantly Sunni neighborhood of western Baghdad.' I suspect this is not the way Romney was planning on announcing his plan for withdrawal."
From the September 13 Boston Globe article:
Mitt Romney today tapped a former CIA official, who is now a top officer in a private security firm with widespread operations in Iraq, to head his counterterrorism policy advisory group.
Cofer Black, who also served as a top State Department counter-terrorism official, is now chairman of Total Intelligence Solutions and vice-chairman of Blackwater USA. That firm came to public attention in 2004, when four employees were ambushed, killed, and mutilated in Fallujah.
"The United States faces a new generation of global threats and challenges," Black said in a statement issued by the Romney campaign. "Governor Romney recognizes the threats before us and has already laid out the policies needed to give our men and women the tools they need to protect our country."
Others who will advise Romney on counterterrorism include businesspeople, a former military officer, former FBI officials, and former Foreign Service officials.
From the 9 a.m. ET hour of the September 17 edition of CNN Newsroom:
HEIDI COLLINS (co-anchor): An interesting development in Iraq this morning: Iraq's Interior Ministry has revoked the license of Blackwater Security. The ministry is blaming Blackwater guards for a gun battle yesterday in Baghdad -- the battle leaving eight Iraqis dead, 14 others wounded. An Iraqi Ministry spokesman says the incident is being investigated and, quoting here now, "those responsible for Sunday's killing will be referred to Iraqi justice."
Blackwater guards provide protection for construction workers, diplomats, and government officials -- an estimated 25,000-plus private security workers are in Iraq. It's not known how many of them are employees of the North Carolina-based company. Also unclear, how this will affect reconstruction projects and workers Blackwater guards are assigned to protect.
From the 2 p.m. ET hour of the September 17 edition of CNN Newsroom:
HOLMES: Eight Iraqi civilians killed in a gun battle in Baghdad; a U.S. security firm blamed by the Iraqi government.
Iraq's Interior Ministry is banning Blackwater from operating anywhere in that country.
Blackwater provides security for American diplomats and others working in Iraq. Iraqi officials blame Blackwater contractors for the firefight yesterday in a Baghdad neighborhood.
The U.S. State Department says Secretary [Condoleezza] Rice will call Iraq's prime minister to express regret and assure him an investigation is under way.
Blackwater has, in fact, faced other troubled times in Iraq. More than three years ago, four Blackwater security personnel were ambushed, killed, and mutilated in Fallujah. Last year, CNN got unprecedented access to Blackwater and its security operations.
The tour of Blackwater's North Carolina headquarters given to our Nic Robertson by a vice president of Blackwater, Chris Taylor -- Taylor no longer works for the company.
SUPPORT THE MERCENARIES!
"Cofer Black" & "Blackwater"? Could they at least try to not sound like villains and organizations from a James Bond movie?
It would make me feel like they care.
Maybe they have delusions of grandeur....
Look for others involved in the "War on Terrorism" to be called Goldfinger or Oddjob.....
You can't see it that photo, but Black is petting a white Persian.
Aren't white persians actually Iraqis? And what does the color of their skin have to do with anything? ;-)
I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of these Blackwater mercenaries had more respect for a cat than for the Iraqi people.
Something downhome? The Blackcherry Soda and Perlu Social Club maybe.
Mr. Bremer insured they couldn't be sued by anyone in Iraq before he left.
They are really giving this guy a break in the media, but if Romney were a Democratic candidate forget it.
I'm convinced this Blackwater story is going to be a much bigger deal than people expect if the Iraqi ministry follows through.
Maybe that's the sign of true progress in Iraq: When Iraqis start kicking out these U.S. companies. Since that is the real reason we are still over there.
Could there be anything more meaningless than the Iraqi government pulling the license of a Bush crony company entrenched in the lawless profit zone of Iraq?
Blackwater isn't going anywhere, there's too much tax money ripe for the taking to just simply succumb to the demands of a free, democratic and sovereign Iraq.
Good point. The occupying force probably does have veto power. Some "democracy" we established.
I'm imagining a bunch of Blackwater mercs saying "Licenses? We don' need no steenkin' licenses!"
Okay, I can understand private contractors hiring private security mercenaries...but why is our State Department using them? Shouldn't they be using the U.S. Military? How much are we paying these guys?
I've read reports that private security firm mercenaries can make $600-$1000 a day in Iraq.
Couple that with whatever goes into the Blackwater coffers for every mercenary.
But remember, tax and spend liberals are our biggest enemy.
Sure, Pete. Why, only yesterday there were some posters here, completely terrified that the government might divert some of that war money, increasing their control and eliminating Americans power by giving more of them the opportunity to receive medical care when needed.
The Humanity !
If we didn't have Blackwater et al in Iraq, we'd have a lot more dead American soldiers and we'd have a lower bill to pay. We're paying through the nose for the "services" that Blackwater provides because we don't have enough servicemen to do the job.
It's another lie from this administration about the costs of this war, the human costs and the budget costs. Now it looks like the misdeeds of the Blackwater people have cost us even more credibility with the Iraqi government, like we had any to spare!
As of February of this year, nearly 800 American contractors had lost their lives in Iraq.
One day we'll learn that heading off insurgencies and terrorists is about working against the underlying economic and social issues that are spawning terrorists's disaffection with the pervailing order, as well as ensuring they cannot attack us.
Bingo. What's the unemployment rate in Iraq? Last I heard, it was pretty high. Despite the NeoClown rhetoric, this creates a fertile breeding ground for recruiting new Jihadists. Terrorists are not born, they're created. Terrorism is a tactic used by pissed off people who don't have an army.
Unfortunately, the NeoClowns poopoo this insight...it's not macho enough for their delusional John Wayne foreign policy.
Privatize, privatize, privatize.
Privatize schools, healthcare, social security, roads, military and more.
There's not one damn thing from which a conservative won't try to squeeze a profit.
It's called Capitalism. Get over it.
It's called destroying the commons, get aware of it.
But hey. I understand. You hate American values, you hate shared responsibility.
I further understand that you are just fine with a hired killing force, loyal to their paycheck and not the Constitution of the United States or bound by any miltary code of justice.
And I know you're OK with hired killers, killing for Jesus. They won't come for you. They'll just rid the land of those traitorous lefties.
Providing for the public welfare should not be a part of capitalism. It is something that shouldn't be left up to private industry.
I could be wrong. I mean look at how well things are being run by private industry in Iraq. They have basically got that country back on its feet.
"It's called Capitalism"
In its worst aspects it's known as Greed.
"It's called Capitalism. Get over it."
IT'S CALLED PRIVATIZING A WAR EFFORT FOR PROFIT. NO, I WILL NOT GET OVER IT.
Yeah, yeah, lets make absolutly certain that the Gov never spends a dime that somehow doesnt get filtered through a rich man or corporations pocket. Sure THAT is capitalism. To a brainwashed rightwingnut maybe.
SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!
There was a day when we scoffed at just the idea that we would engage 'MERCENERIES!!!" in any form, and as the Republican "Know-it-all's But Never Served" like Cheney were flogging the effiecencies of the private sector that has completely failed our military, and has gouged taxpayers in a factor 10 from our previous pre-Reagan military!!
I would have an insight as I served during the begining of this transition, '77-83'. If we were stil the military we should be there would have been a First Class Petty Officer or Chief Petty Officer, and thus the Executive Officer in charge of insuring the standard upkeep of housing at Walter Reed, as well as every meal served would be sanitary, and in the field where it would serve the mission instead of the bottom line!!
The $12 Billion a month we spend in Iraq would be a fraction of that, and many times more effective, and in the chain of command instead of the balance sheet!
Happy Thoughts;
Dan Grady
This brings up an interesting point. We often hear Biblethumpers blame "moral corruption" for the fall of Rome. If we tolerate homosexuals, they warn, we'll follow the same path to destruction. Of course, that's nonsense. However, one factor that did contribute to Rome's decline was it's increasing dependence on hired mercenaries to do its fighting.
Food for thought, at least.
Gee. I wonder why the Iraqi Interior Minister doesn't just go and ban the islamofacist terrorists from operating anywhere in Iraq?
Having the vice-chairman of a leading security form on a Presidential candidate's counterterrorism policy advisory group is positively un-American! Never mind that he was a top CIA counterterrorism official What on earth was Mitt thinking?
Now that question is a good one? What is Mitt thinking? And why is he attached to mercenaries?
P.S. AA is right, it is capitalism with a hint of war-profiteering. But what is a few billion here or there. Remember, when Mitt speaks, there is always a microphone around. Probably being carried by one of his sons, just doing their duty.
That's a pretty sweet brand of capitalism- the kind involving boatloads of our tax dollars being funneled to mercenaries affiliated with the GOP.
No-bid capitalism seems pretty popular with those Free-Market rugged individuals, too.
Let's see...billions of our tax dollars are being funneled into the pockets of private contractors in Iraq...a lot of it being wasted. In Conservative World, why doesn't this count as "redistribution of wealth"?
In another thread, they refer to New Orleans as a Rat Hole. Yet, they defend or ignore the obscene waste of money in Iraq? Go figure.
And the gullible have been told that it's capitalism, as the Gov. sucks the money out of their pockets, no questions asked and no competition.
Capitalism = Taxpayer supported mercenaries. That's unbelievable.
Of course you wouldn't hear of all those super-terrificly great things from CNN, the NY Times or the LA Times.
SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!
BANDAID PURPLE HEART WEARING / DRAFT DODGER SUPPPORTING "ANOTHERAMERICAN" that sees privatizing the military as a form of capitalism, thus ok!!
A citizen's military was the only kind of military invisioned for this Representative form of Democracy, not a privatized military who's loyalty is to the highest bidder.
There is no freedom, civil liberties, or democracy with a privatized military, or any militia in the nation that isn't the citizens military, formed by the duly elected democratic government!
Happy Thoughts;
Dan Grady
"I wonder why the Iraqi Interior Minister doesn't just go and ban the islamofacist terrorists from operating anywhere in Iraq?"
Why do you hate democracy?
Terrorism is already addressed in Iraq's Constitution:
"We the people of Iraq who have just risen from our stumble, and who are looking with confidence to the future through a republican, federal, democratic, pluralistic system, have resolved with the determination of our men, women, the elderly and youth, to respect the rules of law, to establish justice and equality to cast aside the politics of aggression, and to tend to the concerns of women and their rights, and to the elderly and their concerns, and to children and their affairs and to spread a culture of diversity and defusing terrorism.
Article 7:
First: No entity or program, under any name, may adopt racism, terrorism, the calling of others infidels, ethnic cleansing, or incite, facilitate, glorify, promote, or justify thereto, especially the Saddamist Baath in Iraq and its symbols, regardless of the name that it adopts. This may not be part of the political pluralism in Iraq. This will be organized by law."
Second: The State shall undertake combating terrorism in all its forms, and shall work to protect its territories from being a base or pathway or field for terrorist activities.
Article 20:
Third: No political asylum shall be granted to a person accused of committing international or terrorist crimes or any person who inflicted damage on Iraq."
Gee. I wonder why the Iraqi Interior Minister doesn't just go and ban the islamofacist terrorists from operating anywhere in Iraq? >>>>>>>>>>>>
I hope this was just a sad attempt at satire. In case it isnt I can think of two reasons. First there is no such THING as Islamofascism. That is a made up word only used for consumption by the terminally brainwashed. Fascism is so far from Islamic fundamentalism that its just stupid. Second maybe for the same reason that the US doesnt just BAN evil. Its dumb. As effective as singing Kumbaya and thinking good thoughts
SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!
"There is simply no way at all that the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security could ever have enough full-time personnel to staff the security function in Iraq. There is no alternative except through contracts," said Crocker in his Senate testimony last week. //
How did we come to this? Dependent on 'CONTRACTORS" to operate in theatre??? ANSWER: Neo-Cons calculus for perpetual power!
The solution? A Four Letter Word; DRAFT!
This is a Republican Adventure, it's needs to be a Republican Reponsibilty, but they won't call for a Draft, that would put the richest among us in harm's way and that does not get Republicans elected!
Democrats will be resolving this conflict, like it or not! The Republican Leadership are LIARS, CRIMINALS, AND COWARDS, and as we all know such kind don't stick around to take responsibility, they have to be put in jail for their crimes!
Happy Thoughts;
Dan Grady
The connection is not surprising. . . . Seeing as Blackwater's primary goal is the launching of a worldwide crusade.
A little background on Blackwater. Founded by an ultra-conservative Christian supremacist with links to the White House and far-right organizations, from a family long known for it's support of far-right causes, it's suspected that Blackwater works closely with the CIA, providing planes to fly people to secret torture chambers and may be engaging in death squad activity in Iraq. If this is a Crusade, these are the Knights Templar. Here's a very good article on them....
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/26/1559232
Blackwater also provided security to the city of New Orleans after the hurricane.
They charged more than $600 per man per day.
Many of the reports of shots being fired by snipers were reported by Blackwater security people.
It seems that wherever and wherever there's an American in trouble, you'll find Blackwater coming to "help".
I guess ol' Raygun was wrong. "I'm from Blackwater, and I'm here to help" is slightly more terrifying than the vague "the Government".
This is all very interesting. I wonder, if Romney should win, will he replace the Secret Service with these Biblethumping Christian soldiers?
Another thing. We are constantly assured by our conservative comrades that any and all criticism of the war diminishes the morale of our troops. I have to wonder, how do they feel about these mercenaries who do the same work that they do for ten times the pay? I guess they have no problem with that....but don't you dare criticize President Numbnuts!
I believe that most people in this country would rather side with the "good John Wayne-ism" than the truth of hired guns (would the Duke hire someone to take out his trash! Unlikely. Unless of course you are talking about the trash at his posh SoCal mansion).
Anywho, what you said reminded me of Howard Beale's "Mad as Hell" speech from the film 'Network..'
"We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone.'"
If this revelation was associated with a Democrat the media would be engaged in an orgy of bashing.
Now is the chance for the adminstration to put its money where its mouth is.
Let Blackwater leave Iraq,And then let the Iraqs handle all the security.Then we will see if progress has been made.
Count how many congressman will go over there then.