Based in the wilderness of North Carolina, Blackwater USA is the fastest growing private army on the planet, with forces capable of carrying out regime change throughout the world.
Blackwater protects top US officials in Iraq, and yet we know almost nothing about the firm's military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and inside the United States.
Founded by the son of a wealthy conservative family known for funding far right-wing causes, the company is intimately connected to the Bush administration, and as a privatized army, accountable to no one.
Jeremy Scahill's Blackwater is the dark story of the rise of this mercenary army- World Affairs Council of Northern California
Bio
Jeremy Scahill
Jeremy Scahill is an unembedded, international journalist.
He is a correspondent for the national radio and television show Democracy Now! and a frequent contributor to the Nation magazine. He is currently a Puffin Writing Fellow at the Nation Institute.
In viewing this piece of video, I have now seen the results of many man hours of research and writing. Mr. Scahill presents a balanced and fair appraisal of the "war" on terrorism and the conflict in Iraq.
It is a disservice to the men and women of our Armed Forces for the government to depend upon mercenaries and "guns for hire."
Our men and women train and train for the time when they will be called into action against an enemy, yet they receive very little compensation for their effort. While the mercenaries, who were mostly trained in any given countries armed services, receive wages that beggar belief. I, believe that everyone should view this lecture and have their eyes opened as to the depth that the current administration has gone to, to hire and keep in country those mercenaries who have committed horrific and violent acts of aggression and war crimes.