Crosspost:

Blackwater's "Spectacle of Spin"

Posted Oct 21st 2007 6:38PM by Jeff Hoard
Filed under: Iraq, Video, Controversy

In the video below, Bill Moyers describes the "Spectacle of Spin" that has been provided by Blackwater leader, Erik Prince and the media during the past week. Almost everyday a new revelation about Blackwater is revealed and American citizens are starting to protest the private army.

For good reason, as it is American citizens who pay for Blackwater to exist with their tax dollars. I may have used the quote below before, but it continues to blow my mind. (Bold mine)

Federal contracts account for about 90 percent of the revenue of Prince Group holdings, of which Blackwater is a subsidiary. Since 2001, when it made less than $1 million in federal contracts, Blackwater has received more than $1 billion in such contracts - including at least one with the State Department for hundreds of millions of dollars that was awarded without open, competitive bidding.

The Congressional investigation found that Blackwater charges the government $1,222 per day for each private military operative - more than six times the wage of an equivalent soldier. And still it uncovered instances of overcharging. It reported that an audit in 2005 by the State Department's inspector general found Blackwater was charging separately for "drivers" and "security specialists" who were, in fact, the same people.

After digesting the above, also keep in mind that Erik Prince was once an intern for George H. Bush...

Without further adieu, here is the Bill Moyers clip as promised. Tip to C&L.

Still interested?
One of Prince's interviews last week was with Lara Logan on 60 Minutes, here it is.