By- Suzie-Q @ 12:10 PM MST
Time to update the ol’ Blackwater investigation tally. NBC reports that federal investigators are probing the company’s exportation of “dozens” of silencers to Iraq and elsewhere. It’s illegal to do so without permission from the State Department.
NBC reports that a whole bevy of agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the State Department are in on the investigation, which appears to be related to the broader federal criminal investigation for arms smuggling by Blackwater guards led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Raleigh, N.C.
Intriguingly, NBC reports that “experts say it is not clear why Blackwater guards would need them for missions such as personal protection of diplomats.”
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Heat Builds On Blackwater: Congresswoman Moves To Ban Private Security Contractors
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The congressional vice-grip is tightening on Blackwater and other contracted defense firms.
Next Wednesday, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) will introduce legislation to phase out the use of tens of thousands of private security contractors deployed on battlefields where American troops are present. The Stop Outsourcing Security Act intends to effectively put Blackwater and their ilk out of business.
“After 9/11 we thought airport security was so important that it shouldn’t be contracted out and we created the Transportation Security Administration,” said Peter Karafotas, a spokesman for the Congresswoman. “The writing’s on the wall that Blackwater needs to go, and contracting is on its way out.”
Private contractors should not be used “for functions that should be reserved for U.S. military forces,” Schakowsky argued in a “dear colleague” letter to fellow House members earlier this month. Half a dozen fellow members of Congress, including Reps. Bob Fillner (D-CA), Jim McGovern (D-WA), and Nick Rahall (D-WV), have since signed on as co-sponsors, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) may introduce a companion measure in the Senate.
Glenn Frey – The Heat Is On
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The party is over boys and it’s time to pay the piper…
I’m still kinda surprised that my “Support our Mercs!” ribbon didn’t take off.
Maybe I souldn’t be.
Anyway, I did think it was interesting that Blackwater’s founder, Erik Prince, was #98 on The Telegraph’s top 100 most influencial conservatives.
Curious about the “fuller” picture. The mercenaries and that’s what they are are necessary from a manpower level standpoint. They are engaged in operations that makes having silencers/suppressors legit. That’s one question. Another is does anyone think the Dems want to hound Blackwatervis the “contractor” route just to trash policy etc. ?