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NEWS & LETTERS, March-April 2010
'Blackwater' reviewed
In Blackwater (Nation Books, 2009), Jeremy Scahill shows us a powerful force that has been operating without oversight. He investigates Blackwater's extreme right-wing origins--the people, politicians and the climate in the U.S. which permitted this anomaly to arise.
Blackwater operates surreptitiously, close to the line of illegality, and lacks public acceptance. A private organization coming together on the basis of profit through militarized violence, and able to do so by calling itself, and actually being, an arm of the government/military, is a fearful phenomenon. Such an entity is a threat to democracy. Didn't President Eisenhower warn us to beware of the power of the military-industrial complex?
Blackwater covers territory wherever there is massive destruction by nature or conflict by war. Their agents were immediately in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, arriving heavily armed in war gear, totally out of place, without orders of what they were to do. Blackwater has been present in Iraq and Afghanistan as "security guards." After their outrageous killing of Iraqi civilians, they continue to ply their murderous trade under a new name, Xe Services.
George W. Bush's use of the word "crusade" for his wars throughout the Middle East was perfect for Blackwater and the extreme religious beliefs of its executives.
Scahill's Blackwater is highly readable and goes into greater depth than the usual newspaper items concerning Blackwater's atrocities.
--Nobu
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