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Help Save 1.800.SUICIDE


The Raw Data on Civilian Contractors in Iraq: Discussion

by rcs1

ePluribus Media researcher on civilian contracting, Susie Dow, reviews the CENTCOM data on civilian contractors in Iraq that she received in response to her FOIA request.

She finds some curious blanks in the data. Take a look at what is there, but more importantly, at what is missing.

Read her call for research help in Iraq Contractors: Raw Data From CENTCOM and post what you find below! Here's the download link for the CENTCOM data dump: FOIA data



If you like what ePMedia's been doing with research, reviews and interviews, please consider donating to help with our efforts.


commentary :: :: :: buzz-it!
Display:
available also in ORANGE

by Cho on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 05:41:39 PM EST
to go over and rec this... This is some imprtant stuff to know. But I ain't commenting or sticking around there.

Guaranteed to be plastered all over the Internet
Drinking Liberally in New Milford
by Connecticut Man1 on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 07:32:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
n/t

by roxy317 on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 07:51:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]
recommend it on Kos, but read it on the ePluribus Media Journal !

CTMAN1... we need to plan a meetup...seriously.  Greyhawk mentioned it again.....

by Cho on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 08:27:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What did you have in mind?

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Drinking Liberally in New Milford
by Connecticut Man1 on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 10:07:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This comment has been deleted by Cho



by GreyHawk on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 10:34:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]
about an hour south of Mass, and along the NY/CT border.

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Drinking Liberally in New Milford
by Connecticut Man1 on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 10:42:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
makes me giggle every time I read one of your comments.

by roxy317 on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 11:45:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]
It is more of a reference to the fact that I x-post and participate in several left communities. But I am glad it gives you a giggle. :) It is meant to do that.

Guaranteed to be plastered all over the Internet
Drinking Liberally in New Milford
by Connecticut Man1 on Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 12:56:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]
The FOIA link above results in a page that says "Sorry I can find that story"

by DEFuning on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 08:13:19 PM EST
That would be sorry I CAN'T find that story

by DEFuning on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 08:14:14 PM EST
I will fix... moving way too fast... overwhelmed by that CENTCOM data!


by Cho on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 08:25:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]


by Cho on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 08:29:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]
[Bobby wants plain toast, which isn't on the menu.]
Bobby: I'd like an omelet, plain, and a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, no mayonnaise, no butter, no lettuce. And a cup of coffee.
Waitress: A #2, chicken salad sand. Hold the butter, the lettuce, the mayonnaise, and a cup of coffee. Anything else?
Bobby: Yeah, now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich, and you haven't broken any rules.

Can I get that .xls in five easy pieces?

by rba on Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 09:54:29 PM EST

from DailyKos -- a diary called "I don't mean to be an Alarmist, but..." posted by mswsm may have some very interesting leads in it.

Check it out.

by GreyHawk on Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 12:40:49 AM EST

It's great to see a diary that's using e Pluribus Media!! Hopefully we'll see a wide array of analysis and perspective of the data.

PS I admit, KBR, DynCorp, etc bore me to tears because I've now been reading about their contract awards for years over at Defense Link. As a result, it's the companies I don't know about that I often find the most intriguing.

by susie dow on Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 01:25:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

we have the most to fear from, particularly with the Bush crowd still at the helm.

by GreyHawk on Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 06:33:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Excellent work Susie.  I missed reco'ing the diary on Orange  my I'net connection is being a yoyo - has been all weekend.  I'm going to try to take a closer look at this stuff.

by kfred on Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 11:40:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]
mswsm of wampum has been doing a terrific job of taking Susie's data and tracking down the real scoop on many of these companies...

by Cho on Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 12:03:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
When four Blackwater USA security guards were ambushed and massacred in Fallujah in 2004, graphic images showed the world exactly what happened: four men killed, their bodies burned and dragged through the streets. A chanting mob hung two mutilated corpses from a bridge.

Since then, Congress and the families of the murdered private security contractors have been demanding answers: Why did the lightly armed and undermanned team go through the heart of one of Iraq's most hostile cities? Why did the two teams sent out that day have four members, not the usual six?

Some answers can be found in memos from a second team for Blackwater operating around Fallujah on March 31, 2004.

Blackwater, based in North Carolina, sent two squads through Fallujah without maps, according to memos obtained by The News & Observer. Both of the six-man teams, named Bravo 2 and November 1, were sent out two men short, leaving them more vulnerable to ambush.

The Bravo 2 team members had protested that they were not ready for the mission and had not had time to prepare their weapons, but they were commanded to go, according to memos written by team members. The team disregarded directions to drive through Fallujah and instead drove around it and returned safely to Baghdad that evening.

The November 1 team went into Fallujah and was massacred.

continue reading



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Drinking Liberally in New Milford
by Connecticut Man1 on Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 03:19:23 PM EST

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