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Blackwater: Welcome to the machine

by Duke1676

Fri Feb 24, 2006 at 07:14:33 PM EST

[editor's note, by standingup] Duke1676 has caught something that would normally stay below the radar

In a move right out of 1984, Blackwater USA, the security company that has been a major provider of "private contractor" troops and security experts for missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and most recently New Orleans, announced a new phase in their operation.

Starting in December, they will be providing remote controlled drone airships (see blimps) that will be outfitted with state of the art surveillance and detection technology. The airship will be able to hover for days at a time and furnish command centers with real time information about all activities on the ground.

A second generation of airships will follow that will have the capacity to carry tons of payload.

commentary :: :: :: buzz-it!

So it appears that in addition to being one of the world's premier providers of private armies, Blackwater will be moving into the role of becoming the eyes and ears for big brother. This new capacity will allow them to monitor ground activity, direct their mercenaries, and possibly deliver ordinance, all from a remote, secure station.

And who will be looking after those, who will be looking in on us.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2006
BLACKWATER USA UNVEILS NEW SUBSIDIARY
Blackwater Airships, LLC Is The Newest Addition To The Firm's Security Portfolio
Moyock, NC - The national security of the United States depends upon innovative and flexible solutions in the global war on terror. Blackwater USA, the world's premier security, peace and stability operations firm recently unveiled its plans to create a new subsidiary; Blackwater Airships.
Blackwater Airship's initial focus will be the development and deployment of small remotely piloted airship vehicles (RPAVs) that can operate from 5,000 - 15,000 feet, move and hover, and stay aloft for up to four days. The airships will be equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and detection equipment that can detect, record, and communicate in real time to friendly forces the movement and activities of terrorists.
Gary Jackson, president of Blackwater USA said, "This project is in keeping with Blackwater's support of peace and security throughout the world."
Follow-on phases of the project will include larger airships that will carry tons of payload in support of remote humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. Blackwater, who is already involved in stability operations throughout the world, continues to innovate in support of peace and security, and freedom and democracy everywhere.
The first Blackwater Airship will be available in December 2006.
Blackwater is committed to supporting national and international security policies that protect those who are defenseless and provide a free voice for all. Other Blackwater subsidiaries include: Blackwater Training Center, Blackwater Target Systems, Blackwater Security Consulting, Blackwater Canine, and Raven Development Group. For more information, please visit www.blackwaterusa.com.
link

cross posted from Manning the Barricades

Blackwater: Welcome to the machine | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)

Frightening (none / 0) (#1)

to think of how far they are willing to go with privitization. "Blackwater is committed to supporting national and international security policies..." Should this alarm us?

by standingup on Fri Feb 24, 2006 at 07:49:02 PM EST

More Blackwater info (none / 0) (#2)

My buddy nydem25 from IraqFact has been on Blackwater for a while, here's some additional info:

Blackwater IraqFact Profile

Blackwater in New Orleans part I

Blackwater in New Orleans pert II

Blackwater takes over Iraqi training

by Duke1676 on Fri Feb 24, 2006 at 08:13:51 PM EST

THe privatization of our armed services (none / 0) (#3)

is more frightening to me than the selling of the operations of our ports...

I find this horrific.

by Cho on Fri Feb 24, 2006 at 08:25:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's more like the replacement of our armed sevice (none / 0) (#4)

and it's not just American companies that are taking over our military duties. There are all sorts of mercenary companies based in Europe and South Africa also. Many recruit from former "hot spots" in Africa, Central and South America, and Asia where there are an abundance of trained fighters. These are the people who will be representing US interests overseas.

by Duke1676 on Fri Feb 24, 2006 at 08:40:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

: I recall (none / 0) (#5)

reading about this subject before the 2004 elections. Wheren't the companies hiring people from nations where the economic conditions were so bad they were also able to pay them a mere pittance of what they would pay Americans?
The whole issue of who has oversight or command over these forces representing the US should be front and center in the discussion.

by standingup on Fri Feb 24, 2006 at 09:21:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Ah, if only... (none / 0) (#6)

...we were 1950's sci fi writers, merely musing about such things in the future.
On PTSD Combat | Email list | Book
by ilona on Sat Feb 25, 2006 at 09:18:58 AM EST

Disturbing for a different reason (none / 0) (#7)

The reason for the existence of the Blackwells of this world is because the Fed gov't is so lame-brained inefficient. The development of that blimp is cool from an invention standpoint, but if we actually had a government who knew what they were doing they'd buy the damn thing from them and deploy it themselves. (And then it would still be a bad idea, though I can see floating one over the Superbowl from a security standpoint).

We're not taking the inefficiencies out of the government, we're ignoring them! So what might have been a short term fix (have Blackwell do it) is now a permanent frickin policy!

I'd like to take so many heads and just mash 'em together until they could start thinking right.

OK - I feel better for having said that. No more coffee for me though....

by kfred on Sat Feb 25, 2006 at 10:25:58 AM EST

Blackwater: Welcome to the machine | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)

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