Blackwater CEO and founder Erik Prince
Best selling author John Grisham is finally speaking out. He said the current administration is built around "bad people with evil intent" and contends President Bush played politics as thousands died in Iraq.
Between 75-100 coalition forces (mainly Americans) die every month in Iraq.
Blackwater's Prince Has GOP, Fundamentalist "Christian" Group Ties (the "quotes" are mine)
by Corey Flintoff
With more than $800 million in contracts, Blackwater USA, led by Erik Prince, is among the biggest companies providing armed guards for U.S. officials and government contractors in Iraq.
Prince, the heir to a Michigan auto-parts fortune, has close ties to the Republican Party and conservative Christian groups. He began his career with a stint as an officer in the U.S. Navy SEALs, and co-founded Blackwater in 1997 with other former commandos. His family's wealth made it possible for the then 27-year-old Prince to fund the Blackwater start-up with his own money.
Prince and his firm have drawn scrutiny from members of Congress after Blackwater guards were accused of opening fire on civilians in Baghdad in an incident that left at least nine people dead.
Blackwater has said that its employees were defending a State Department convoy and denied that they had done anything improper, though Prince has made no public statement on the issue. The Iraqi government threatened to expel the company from the country, but after four days, Blackwater was allowed to resume its activities guarding State Department personnel.
Republican, Christian Ties
Prince grew up in Holland, Mich., where his father, Edgar Prince, built Prince Corporation, an auto-parts company that based its success on novel products, such as the lighted vanity mirror for car window visors. The elder Prince was a close friend and supporter of Christian evangelists, such as James Dobson of Focus on the Family, as well as a contributor to the Republican Party. He was an early benefactor of the Family Research Council.
Residents of the Tiny Town of Potrero, California - East of City of San Diego
Need Your Help to Stop Blackwater West!
As US Congress and Iraqi government officials probe recent killings of civilians by the notorious private contractors in Baghdad, join local residents to the expansion of Blackwater USA at a major rally and encampment at the gates of the proposed “Blackwater West” site in Potrero, a tiny town in east San Diego county on Saturday, October 6th - Sunday, October, 7th. Events planned for just days after Blackwater founder Erik Prince is scheduled to testify before the US Congress.
STOP BLACKWATER WEST CAMP, RALLY AND WALK!
Saturday, October 6th and Sunday, October, 7th Two day Educational Encampment and Walk to Stop Blackwater West in
Potrero, California - East of City of San Diego
Join us, Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7, 2007 to:
MARCH TO THE GATES OF THE PLANNED BLACKWATER WEST
800 ACRE MERCENARY TRAINING FACILITY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
--SAY NO TO THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT
--SAY NO TO WAR PROFITEERS
--SAY YES TO KEEPING POTRERO A SAFE, LIVABLE COMMUNITY
As Blackwater USA Comes Under Increasing Fire for Actions in Iraq,
Turn Up the Heat to Stop Blackwater West ! Join Local Residents for the Largest Protest to Date
at the Gates of Planned Blackwater West Site Near Tiny Border Town
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Some things to think about:
Why is the Republican party pushing Hilary to be the candidate? Newt Gingrich started pushing this plot, and if he's behind something you know it has to have a sinister design. I like Hilary and think she'd be a terrific president — as would Obama, Kucinich, Edwards, Gravel, Richardson, Biden -- but there must be a reason Bush and Rove want Hilary to be the nominee. What is up there sleeve? I think it's this: they do not believe the majority of men and women in the United States could stomach voting for a woman. I think they're counting on this archaic, mysoginistic view that the neocons share.
