Friday, November 23, 2007

Follow Up Report: Blackwater Planning a New Training Center near So Cal MX Border

As I reported a few days ago, Blackwater is positioning itself to be the Contractor used "to carry out the Integrated and Automated Surveillance Program" to supplement the Border Patrol and Border Security.

According to CBS 5, Blackwater is planning to open a Training and Reconnoissance Center near the SoCal Mexican Border. If successful, the training center will be housed on 824 acres of land in San Diego County. The proposed facility is less than 10 miles from the Mexican border. (also see associated Video on this link)

Blackwater is proactively wooing Border Patrol facilities and offering to Train border agents and provide backup for Illegal Immigration crackdowns.
There are complications to their plans. The company is currently in a lockdown struggle with residents in the community of Potrero. Local residents are fighting against Blackwater´s move due to the company´s long history of controversy and wrongdoings.
Missions conducted by Blackwater Security Consulting have raised significant controversy both through casualties suffered and inflicted by their employees. Blackwater Worldwide is currently contracted by the United States government to provide security services in the Iraq War.On September 16, 2007, Blackwater contractors, during a complex confrontation in downtown Baghdad, shot and killed Iraqis in the crowded Nisour Square. The FBI and State Department are currently investigating the incident, yet it further sheds light upon a growing private sector security force in Iraq and elsewhere, that many fear has not been held accountable to the same degree as have US military officials.
If Blackwater is successful in their pursuit of their Training Center and if the SAVE Act is passed, is it only a matter of time before Blackwater enforces Operation Wetback all over again?
Will the country stand for another no bid contract with the potential for so much abuse?
Time will only tell!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

What legally stops Blackwater from locating anywhere in the United States...anywhere at all?

Dee said...

Dianne, As with any other business moving into an area, the local community or city council can block a business from moving into the area. However, this may be guided by city ordinance. Blackwater sounds like the type that would find their way around these ordinances.

What worries me is what they did in New Orleans. I wrote about this in my 1st article. I am copying it below. I am writing one more article today about what else they are planning for Border Security. These guys just jump in and take over. They take advantage of their crony status!

From earlier article:
Of its own volition, Blackwater moved about 200 personnel into the area hit by Hurricane Katrina. Most of the 164 employees eventually were working under a contract with the Department of Homeland Security to protect government facilities, but the company held contracts with private clients as well. Overall, Blackwater had a "visible, and financially lucrative, presence in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as the use of the company contractors cost U.S. taxpayers $240,000 a day." There has been much dispute surrounding governmental contracts in post-Katrina New Orleans, especially no-bid contracts such as the one Blackwater was awarded. Blackwater's heavily-armed presence in the city was also the subject of much confusion and criticism

Anonymous said...

Come on dee, the only thing you are really worried about is that the illegals will have to go home and more will be prevented from coming. You keep digging and digging to come up with excuses to not enforce our immigration laws and therefore hoping it will tie our government's hands in any real internal or border enforcement.

Dee said...

Pat, I am blogging. This is a blog.
You need to relax and become informed along with the rest of us.

Anonymous said...

I am well informed of what is going on and also what is going on with both Blackwater and the SAVE ACT. You are using Blackwater and many other conspiracy theories to stop the SAVE ACT because it will rid our country of illegal aliens.

What does this being a blog have to do with it? Aren't blogs where people discuss the facts and different opinions?

Dee said...

Pat, You are always free to discuss your opinion here.

Anonymous said...

dee, did I say otherwise? But I didn't understand your response of "this is a blog" to my remarks about calling you out on the fact that you don't want any legislation that sends these illegals home aka the SAVE ACT and you keep digging up dirt on Blackwater and every other method of securing our borders. You want the employers sanctioned which is what the SAVE ACT would do and yet you want no punishment for the illegal employees. What has that to do with "this is a blog"? It was just another attempt by you to change the subject or not to address my remarks.

Dee said...

I said what I meant Pat.
SAVE Act, or the mass deporation of 12 - 20M people would not be good for American.
Blackwater has a bad history of abuse, we do not need them obtaining no bid contracts for our Immigration issues.

As most of the people discussing have said, if this must be done, it can be done humanely!

Anonymous said...

It would be wonderful for America to rid itself of illegal aliens and use legal foreign workers where needed. What are you talking about?

You keep harping about Blackwater without even knowing what the ultimate plan would be and that is because all you have are "what ifs" for arguments.

Humanely means to you legalizing most of the 12 million already here. It may be humane for the illegals but it is inhumane for Americans.

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