The Ledge - Blackwater, the World's most powerful Mercernary Army

financed by a crony of the Bush family, and an ally of the Christian coalition. This group placed its operatives in the ravaged streets of New Orleans, proclaiming that it had been "deputized" by the Governor of New Orleans. Unfortunately, this was a blatant lie. The group may have been licensed to be in the vicinity, but it certainly was NOT deputized.

anyone who cares should read this book by Jeremy Scahill, who, coincidentally is speaking in Chico tomorrow night. If I had the $$$ I'd be there. Im betting it will be an enormously informative lecture....

btw, here is the book info on Amazon.com:

Quote:

Meet BLACKWATER USA, the world's most secretive and powerful mercenary firm. Based in the wilderness of North Carolina, it is the fastest-growing private army on the planet with forces capable of carrying out regime change throughout the world. Blackwater protects the top US officials in Iraq and yet we know almost nothing about the firm's quasi-military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and inside the US. Blackwater was founded by an extreme right-wing fundamentalist Christian mega-millionaire ex- Navy Seal named Erik Prince, the scion of a wealthy conservative family that bankrolls far-right-wing causes.
Blackwater is the dark story of the rise of a powerful mercenary army, ranging from the blood-soaked streets of Fallujah to rooftop firefights in Najaf to the hurricane-ravaged US gulf to Washington DC, where Blackwater executives are hailed as new heroes in the war on terror. This is an extraordinary exposé by one of America's most exciting young radical journalists.