Mercenary Companies (pun intended)

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forces no longer can handle.

It is a hugely competitive, multibillion-dollar industry, with clients
ranging from governments and blue-chip corporations to warlords, drug
cartels and terrorist groups.

In Iraq, at least 20,000 contractors - local and foreign - are
guarding coalition bases, protecting U.S. officials, training Iraqi
security forces and interrogating detainees. They also protect
businessmen, journalists and humanitarian workers, among others.

Being held to standards

Doug Brooks, head of a U.S.-based association of military contractors, says reports of industry abuse are exaggerated.

"In general, companies are using people who are middle-aged
ex-military, so they know what they are doing, and they don't make as
many mistakes" as the armed forces, he said.

The companies say they recognize the need for regulation in a dangerous industry.

"We would prefer a high level of professionalism across the
board. It makes it easier and safer for everybody," said Greg Lagana,
spokesman for U.S.-based DynCorp International.

Many top firms have joined associations such as Brooks'
International Peace Operations Association, which impose stringent
human rights standards on their members.

Firms say they also are subject to volumes of legislation in
the countries where they are based, where they recruit and where they
operate.

Their employees are bound by international conventions on war
crimes, just like their uniformed counterparts. Those working for the
U.S. government also can be prosecuted in a U.S. criminal court for
offenses committed abroad.

And there is the pressure of the marketplace: "Failure in this
industry comes soonest to those who openly violate sound business
principles and disregard the moral, ethical and legal high ground,"
said Chris Taylor, Blackwater USA's vice president for strategic
initiatives.

Abuses happen nonetheless.

In Iraq, civilians mistaken for car bombers have been killed,
and gunfire has been exchanged between contractors and Iraqi security
forces.

Tighter rules weighed

P.W. Singer, an expert on private military companies at the
Brookings Institution in Washington, said human rights violations are
rarely prosecuted outside the country in which they happened because of the logistic difficulties.

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A review from the Houston Chronicle

By BRUCE WESTBROOK

"That leaves tearful survivors and bitter former employees to tell the tale, and they do so with anguish over their losses and shame about their country's actions.

Former Halliburton truck drivers Ed Sanchez and Bill Peterson describe the living hell of narrowly surviving a fierce insurgent assault that left four of their colleagues dead. Now they feel betrayed.

'They wanted to continue doing business with the Army, whatever the risks were,' Sanchez says of his former employer.

'There's nothing but the money,' Peterson says. 'There's no duty, honor or country among anyone at Halliburton/KBR.'

Greenwald also provides cold graphics and statistics to back up his arguments. According to a survey of one privately contracted service for water supplies, 63 of 67 treatment plants in Iraq weren't producing water safe for American soldiers to bathe in, much less drink. We're also told an American company charged the government $45 for a six-pack of Coca-Cola - which was produced in Iraq, thus not even imported."

In the realm of "services," we learn that privately contracted personnel are among those guilty of atrocities against Iraqi prisoners. While an American soldier can face court-martial and possibly years in prison for such atrocities, a privately contracted employee has no accountability.

We're also told that Halliburton's stock value has quadrupled since the war's start.

In short, we're told that this is the most "privatized" war in history and that the corporations that got cushy deals are cleaning up while U.S. taxpayers are bled dry.

But just because Iraq for Sale isn't evenhanded doesn't mean it lacks truth. It only means Greenwald tackled a tough subject that Congress won't face and that he's more a populist hero of "real-life films" than less prolific leftist poster boy Michael Moore. Even if his films aren't balanced, at least you know, going in, where he stands.

privatized military support services

clipped from www.chron.com The U.S. government has increasingly privatized military support services, creating a multibillion-dollar business. Increasingly, companies that perform more dangerous tasks in Iraq, such as delivering fuel or providing security, have faced criticism that they put civilian employees at too great a risk. ``There is no public accountability for these companies," said Scott Allen, a Houston attorney for the families. ``This is a public war; they're spending our tax dollars. It's appalling."

What set off the investigation

New York Times, Associated Press, Washington Post

BAGHDAD, IRAQ - Five members of a private security detail sent to assist a U.S. Embassy convoy that was under attack were killed Tuesday when their helicopters were fired on and one plummeted to the pavement through a tangle of electrical wires in one of Baghdad's most dangerous neighborhoods.

The four-man crew in one helicopter was killed, and the gunner in a second helicopter apparently died when he was struck by gunfire,

The crash set off a chaotic five-hour battle in the Fadhil neighborhood in which American attack helicopters fired at least one Hellfire missile.

It is unclear if the first helicopter crashed as the result of gunfire, because it got tangled in the wires or as it was trying to land because a passenger was wounded.

An American military official said that at least four of the victims suffered gunshot wounds to the head, raising the prospect that some of them were shot on the ground.

The Sunni insurgent groups the Islamic Army in Iraq and the Ansar al-Sunnah Army claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Washington-based SITE Institute, which monitors terrorism Web sites"

The helicopters were operated by Blackwater USA of North Carolina, the same private security firm that lost four contractors in March 2004 in an ambush in Fallujah, their mutilated bodies hung from a bridge.

Also Tuesday, the U.S. military announced three more troop deaths, a Marine killed Sunday and two soldiers killed Monday. That raised the three-day toll since Saturday to 31.

GRIM NUMBERS

clipped from www.chron.com GRIM NUMBERS Civilian contractor casualties in Iraq: 2006 301 dead 3,273 injured Since the war began* 770 dead 7,761 injured *Through Dec. 31, 2006 Source: Labor Department's Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation

The Tale of Prince - A War Profiteer

clipped from iraqforsale.org

Blackwater: America's Private Army

Just what we need. Government sanctioned mercenaries.

You don't think the private army from Iraq, on the TV show Jericho, is based on these guys do you? (you know the ones who killed everyone in a hospital.)

clipped from iraqforsale.org

CACI made money from torture, then covered it up

For many people we will be hated and despised. Unfortunately they will be justified. What terrorists did was unconscionable. But we in turn have made the lie into a distorted truth. I am gravely afraid that this country will not regain it's good name in my lifetime, if ever. It doesn't make it any better that we frequently see acts almost, if not as, bad in our prisons against Our own citizens. The practice of hiring those who will take the lowest wages for the least desirable jobs has crippled our prisons, and turned offenders of minor crimes to hard core criminals. One can only imagine what might be done to those we have no vested interest in. When will we see that worshiping the all mighty dollar will only hurt us all in the end? I am reminded of the old ad with, I think, Chief Ironhorse, (it's been a long time), staring into the distance as one tear runs down his cheek.

clipped from iraqforsale.org

Soldiers outsourced to KBR

clipped from iraqforsale.org

Soldiers lack necessities, contractors earn huge profits

I was naive. I thought Bush was just selling us out here at home.

clipped from iraqforsale.org Soldiers lack necessities, contractors profit

Movie: Iraq for Sale

clipped from iraqforsale.org Theatrical Trailer Theatrical trailer Soldiers lack necessities, contractors profit Watch → Halliburton CEO comes clean Watch → View this clip:   Embed:   All bonus scenes and clips Send Brave New Films your video on YouTube and we just might post it here! Here's our YouTube profile.

Halliburton moves overseas to avoid taxes, accountability

clipped from iraqforsale.org HalliburtonWatch reports that contracting giant Halliburton is moving its corporate headquarters from the United States to the United Arab Emirates, which will help it avoid taxes and accountability from federal investigators. The company is also in the process of disposing all its ownership in the scandal-plagued KBR, "notorious for overcharging the military and serving contaminated food and water to the troops in Iraq." The article goes on to report that this isn't the first time Halliburton has used tactics to avoid accountability and restrictions: Halliburton has also used its operational structure for contracts in Iraq and post-Katrina -- especially multiple layers of subcontractors -- to elude oversight and accountability to taxpayers. Read more at HalliburtonWatch.

Norcross lied

clipped from iraqforsale.org Youtube video link

Amazing: Sand Art

clipped from video.google.com Sand Art

Painted Cats

Rich people, Ha go figure. I think this falls into more money than sense category... at least some of 'em.

clipped from ueba.net "The book these came from said some of the paint jobs cost $15,000 and had to be repeated every 3 months as the cat's hair grows out. Must be nice to have $60,000 a year just to keep your cat painted!

Unbelievable Graphic Art Picture

Look closely, they're amazing!

clipped from www.adventix.net Unbelievable graphic art pictures by Rob Gonsalves One of these pictures was found at blogs and takes me to deep stupor. Extremely imressive retouch technique, amazing effect of visual illusions, perfect pictures quality engaged me to search and find all what i can find from this author. 37 pictures below! P.S. Look with good doze attention, thats not cheap humour and worth of your attention. Comments are appreciated. Unbelievable graphic art pictures by Rob Gonsalves One of these pictures was found at blogs and takes me to deep stupor. Extremely imressive retouch technique, amazing effect of visual illusions, perfect pictures quality engaged me to search and find all what i can find from this author. 37 pictures below! P.S. Look with good doze attention, thats not cheap humour and worth of your attention. Comments are appreciated.