DOCSLIB.ORG

Iraqi Reconstruction: Reliance on Private Military Contractors and Status Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Iraqi Reconstruction: Reliance on Private Military Contractors and Status Report IRAQI RECONSTRUCTION: RELIANCE ON PRIVATE MILITARY CONTRACTORS AND STATUS REPORT HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION FEBRUARY 7, 2007 Serial No. 110–11 Printed for the use of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/index.html http://www.house.gov/reform U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 36–546 PDF WASHINGTON : 2007 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 10:54 Aug 15, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 C:\DOCS\36546.TXT HGOVREF1 PsN: HGOVREF1 COMMITTEE ON OVERSISGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM HENRY A. WAXMAN, California, Chairman TOM LANTOS, California TOM DAVIS, Virginia EDOLPHUS TOWNS, New York DAN BURTON, Indiana PAUL E. KANJORSKI, Pennsylvania CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, Connecticut CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York JOHN M. MCHUGH, New York ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland JOHN L. MICA, Florida DENNIS J. KUCINICH, Ohio MARK E. SOUDER, Indiana DANNY K. DAVIS, Illinois TODD RUSSELL PLATTS, Pennsylvania JOHN F. TIERNEY, Massachusetts CHRIS CANNON, Utah WM. LACY CLAY, Missouri JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR., Tennessee DIANE E. WATSON, California MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio STEPHEN F. LYNCH, Massachusetts DARRELL E. ISSA, California BRIAN HIGGINS, New York KENNY MARCHANT, Texas JOHN A. YARMUTH, Kentucky LYNN A. WESTMORELAND, Georgia BRUCE L. BRALEY, Iowa PATRICK T. MCHENRY, North Carolina ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, District of VIRGINIA FOXX, North Carolina Columbia BRIAN P. BILBRAY, California BETTY MCCOLLUM, Minnesota BILL SALI, Idaho JIM COOPER, Tennessee ——— ——— CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland PAUL W. HODES, New Hampshire CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY, Connecticut JOHN P. SARBANES, Maryland PETER WELCH, Vermont PHIL SCHILIRO, Chief of Staff PHIL BARNETT, Staff Director EARLEY GREEN, Chief Clerk DAVID MARIN, Minority Staff Director (II) VerDate 11-MAY-2000 10:54 Aug 15, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 C:\DOCS\36546.TXT HGOVREF1 PsN: HGOVREF1 C O N T E N T S Page Hearing held on February 7, 2007 ......................................................................... 1 Statement of: Ballard, Tina, Assistant Undersecretary for Procurement and Policy, U.S. Department of the Army; Andrew G. Howell, general counsel, Blackwater USA; R. Timothy Tapp, managing director, business oper- ations, Regency Hotel and Hospital Co.; W. Steve Murray, Jr., director of contracting, ESS Support Services Worldwide; George Seagle, direc- tor of security, government and infrastructure division, KBR; Tom Flo- res, senior director, corporate security, Fluor Corp.; and Alan Chvotkin, senior vice president and counsel, Professional Services Council ............. 111 Ballard, Tina .............................................................................................. 111 Chvotkin, Alan ........................................................................................... 135 Flores, Tom ................................................................................................ 133 Howell, Andrew G. .................................................................................... 121 Murray, W. Steve Jr. ................................................................................. 117 Seagle, George ........................................................................................... 128 Helvenston-Wettengel, Kathryn, mother of Blackwater employee Stephen Helvenston; Kristal Batalona, daughter of Blackwater employee Wesley Batalona; Rhonda Teague, wife of Blackwater employee Michael Teague; and Donna Zovko, mother of Blackwater employee Jerry Zovko .............................................................................................................. 71 Helvenston-Wettengel, Kathryn ............................................................... 71 Letters, statements, etc., submitted for the record by: Ballard, Tina, Assistant Undersecretary for Procurement and Policy, U.S. Department of the Army, prepared statement of ....................................... 113 Blackwater family members, prepared statement of ..................................... 76 Chvotkin, Alan, senior vice president and counsel, Professional Services Council, prepared statement of .................................................................... 138 Flores, Tom, senior director, corporate security, Fluor Corp., prepared statement of ................................................................................................... 134 Davis, Hon. Tom, a Representative in Congress from the State of Vir- ginia: Letter dated December 13, 2006 .............................................................. 15 Prepared statement of ............................................................................... 19 Howell, Andrew G., general counsel, Blackwater USA, prepared state- ment of ........................................................................................................... 123 Issa, Hon. Darrell E., a Representative in Congress from the State of California, letter dated December 13, 2006 ................................................ 35 Murray, W. Steve, Jr., director of contracting, ESS Support Services Worldwide, prepared statement of .............................................................. 119 Seagle, George, director of security, government and infrastructure divi- sion, KBR, prepared statement of ............................................................... 130 Waxman, Chairman Henry A., a Representative in Congress from the State of California: Memorandum dated February 7, 2007 .................................................... 27 Prepared statement of ............................................................................... 4 (III) VerDate 11-MAY-2000 10:54 Aug 15, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 C:\DOCS\36546.TXT HGOVREF1 PsN: HGOVREF1 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 10:54 Aug 15, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 C:\DOCS\36546.TXT HGOVREF1 PsN: HGOVREF1 IRAQI RECONSTRUCTION: RELIANCE ON PRI- VATE MILITARY CONTRACTORS AND STA- TUS REPORT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2007 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM, Washington, DC. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m. in room 2157, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Henry A. Waxman (chairman of the committee) presiding. Present: Representatives Waxman, Lantos, Towns, Maloney, Cummings, Kucinich, Davis of Illinois, Tierney, Clay, Watson, Lynch, Higgins, Yarmuth, Braley, Holmes-Norton, Cooper, Van Hollen, Hodes, Murphy, Sarbanes, Welch, Davis of Virginia, Shays, Souder, Platts, Cannon, Duncan, Turner, Issa, Westmoreland, McHenry, Foxx, Bilbray, and Sali. Also present: Representative Schakowsky. Staff present: Phil Schiliro, chief of staff; Phil Barnett, staff di- rector and chief counsel; Kristin Amerling, general counsel; Karen Lightfood, communications director and senior policy advisor; David Rapallo, chief investigative counsel; Theodore Chuang, dep- uty chief investigative counsel; Jeff Baran, counsel; Christopher Davis, professional staff member; Earley Green, chief clerk; Teresa Coufal, deputy clerk; Matt Siegle, special assistant; Lauren Belive, Kerry Gutknecht, Davis Hake, and Will Ragland, staff assistants; Leneal Scott, information officer; David Martin, minority staff di- rector; Larry Halloran, minority deputy staff director; Jennifer Safavian, minority chief counsel for oversight and investigations; Keith Ausbrook, minority general counsel; Ellen Brown, minority legislative director and senior policy counsel; John Brosnan, minor- ity senior procurement counsel; Steve Castor, minority counsel; Ed- ward Kidd, Christopher Bright, and Allyson Blandford, minority professional staff members; John Cuaderes and Larry Brady, mi- nority senior investigator and policy advisors; Patrick Lyden, mi- nority parliamentarian and member services coordinator; Brian McNicoll, minority communications director; and Benjamin Chance, minority clerk. Chairman WAXMAN. The meeting of the committee will come to order. Today the committee will investigate potential fraud, waste, and abuse in the almost indecipherable world of contractors and sub- contractors. (1) VerDate 11-MAY-2000 10:54 Aug 15, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 C:\DOCS\36546.TXT HGOVREF1 PsN: HGOVREF1 2 In the last 2 years I have tried to get a clear answer to what I thought was a simple question: How much money the Halliburton subsidiary named KBR and private security subcontractors were making under the Army’s troop support contract called LOGCAP. We know that the war in Iraq has given private contractors an unprecedented role in providing security services. Almost $4 billion in taxpayer funds has been paid for private security services in the reconstruction effort, alone. But sorting out overhead, subcontracts, sub-subcontracts, profit, and performance has been nearly impos- sible. For over 18 months the Defense Department wouldn’t even re- spond to my inquiry. When it finally replied last July, it didn’t even supply the breakdown I requested. In fact, it denied that pri- vate security contractors did any work at all under the LOGCAP contract. We now know that isn’t true, and today we will try to un- derstand the layers of subcontractors, with a particular
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Afghan National Security Forces Getting Bigger, Stronger, Better Prepared -- Every Day!
    afghan National security forces Getting bigger, stronger, better prepared -- every day! n NATO reaffirms Afghan commitment n ANSF, ISAF defeat IEDs together n PRT Meymaneh in action n ISAF Docs provide for long-term care In this month’s Mirror July 2007 4 NATO & HQ ISAF ANA soldiers in training. n NATO reaffirms commitment Cover Photo by Sgt. Ruud Mol n Conference concludes ANSF ready to 5 Commemorations react ........... turn to page 8. n Marking D-Day and more 6 RC-West n DCOM Stability visits Farah 11 ANA ops 7 Chaghcharan n ANP scores victory in Ghazni n Gen. Satta visits PRT n ANP repels attack on town 8 ANA ready n 12 RC-Capital Camp Zafar prepares troops n Sharing cultures 9 Security shura n MEDEVAC ex, celebrations n Women’s roundtable in Farah 13 RC-North 10 ANSF focus n Meymaneh donates blood n ANSF, ISAF train for IEDs n New CC for PRT Raising the cup Macedonian mid fielder Goran Boleski kisses the cup after his team won HQ ISAF’s football final. An elated team-mate and team captain Elvis Todorvski looks on. Photo by Sgt. Ruud Mol For more on the championship ..... turn to page 22. 2 ISAF MIRROR July 2007 Contents 14 RC-South n NAMSA improves life at KAF The ISAF Mirror is a HQ ISAF Public Information product. Articles, where possible, have been kept in their origi- 15 RAF aids nomads nal form. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily n Humanitarian help for Kuchis reflect official NATO, JFC HQ Brunssum or ISAF policy.
    [Show full text]
  • Defense Logistical Support Contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan: Issues for Congress
    Defense Logistical Support Contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan: Issues for Congress Valerie Bailey Grasso Specialist in Defense Acquisition September 20, 2010 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL33834 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Defense Logistical Support Contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan: Issues for Congress Summary This report examines Department of Defense (DOD) logistical support contracts for troop support services in Iraq and Afghanistan administered through the U.S. Army’s Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP), as well as legislative initiatives which may impact the oversight and management of logistical support contracts. LOGCAP is an initiative designed to manage the use of civilian contractors that perform services during times of war and other military mobilization. The first LOGCAP was awarded in 1992. Four LOGCAP contracts have been awarded for combat support services in Iraq and Afghanistan. The current LOGCAP III contractor supports the drawdown in Iraq by providing logistical services, theater transportation, augmentation of maintenance services, and other combat support services. On April 18, 2008, DOD announced the Army’s LOGCAP IV contract awards to three companies—DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, TX; Fluor Intercontinental, Inc, Greenville, SC; and KBR, Houston, TX, through a full and open competition. The LOGCAP IV contract calls for each company to compete for task orders. Each company may be awarded up to $5 billion annually for troop support services with a maximum annual value of $15 billion. As of March 2010, each company has been awarded at least one task order under LOGCAP IV. Over the life of LOGCAP IV, the maximum contract value is $150 billion.
    [Show full text]
  • Minority Views
    MINORITY VIEWS The Minority Members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on March 26, 2018 submit the following Minority Views to the Majority-produced "Repo11 on Russian Active Measures, March 22, 2018." Devin Nunes, California, CMAtRMAN K. Mich.J OI Conaw ay, Toxas Pe1 or T. King. New York F,ank A. LoBiondo, N ew Jersey Thom.is J. Roonev. Florida UNCLASSIFIED Ileana ROS·l chtinon, Florida HVC- 304, THE CAPITOL Michnel R. Turner, Ohio Brad R. Wons1 rup. Ohio U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, DC 20515 Ou is S1cwart. U1ah (202) 225-4121 Rick Cr.,w ford, Arka nsas P ERMANENT SELECT C OMMITTEE Trey Gowdy, South Carolina 0A~lON NELSON Ellsr. M . S1nfn11ik, Nnw York ON INTELLIGENCE SrAFf. D IREC f()ti Wi ll Hurd, Tcxa~ T11\'10l !IV s. 8 £.R(.REE N At1am 8 . Schiff, Cohforn1a , M tNORllV STAFF OtR ECToq RANKIN G M EMtlER Jorncs A. Himes, Connec1icut Terri A. Sewell, AlabJma AndrC Carso n, lncli.1 na Jacki e Speier, Callfomia Mike Quigley, Il linois E,ic Swalwell, California Joilq u1 0 Castro, T exas De nny Huck, Wash ington P::iul D . Ry an, SPCAl([ R or TH( HOUSE Noncv r c1os1. DEMOC 11t.1 1c Lr:.11.orn March 26, 2018 MINORITY VIEWS On March I, 201 7, the House Permanent Select Commiltee on Intelligence (HPSCI) approved a bipartisan "'Scope of In vestigation" to guide the Committee's inquiry into Russia 's interference in the 201 6 U.S. e lection.1 In announc ing these paramete rs for the House of Representatives' onl y authorized investigation into Russia's meddling, the Committee' s leadership pl edged to unde1take a thorough, bipartisan, and independent probe.
    [Show full text]
  • KBR 2020 Proxy Statement
    TO OUR FOR MAKING ANYTHING POSSIBLE NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND PROXY STATEMENT Dear KBR, Inc. Stockholders, As I write this letter to you for our Proxy Statement, the world is in the middle of a global health crisis. The COVID-19 outbreak is an unprecedented event, and although this is a time of significant uncertainty, we are taking actions to support our people, their families and our customers. With operations in China and South Korea we had an early warning of the potential impact of the virus, and this allowed us to plan ahead and stress test our operations for remote working. I am humbled by the amazing efforts of our people around the globe who have pulled together, shared ideas and implemented best practices to continue to provide world-class service for our customers while also protecting their well-being and the health and safety of their colleagues. It is this can-do, people-centric and forward-thinking culture that makes KBR a great company to be part of. It is thus a great honor to share with you this special Proxy Statement, which marks the 100-year anniversary of our company, and to dedicate it to the people who made it possible — our incredible employees. It is remarkable to think of all they have accomplished throughout KBR’s history, beginning in the earliest days, when they worked with teams of wagons and mules to pave rural roads, to today, when they are helping NASA return to the moon and discover life beyond Earth. Over the past 100 years, KBR has grown into an innovative and dynamic global company, and I am proud to be a part of this journey.
    [Show full text]
  • Explaining Blackwater's Unparalleled Record of Violence in Iraq
    Wheeled Warriors: Explaining Blackwater’s Unparalleled Record of Violence in Iraq by Scott Fitzsimmons Department of Political Science University of British Columbia [email protected] On September 16, 2007, employees of Blackwater, a private security company tasked with protecting U.S. State Department personnel in Iraq, opened fire on pedestrians and motorists in Baghdad’s bustling Nisour Square. This brief but ferocious use of violence against unarmed Iraqi civilians, which came to be known as the “Nisour Square incident,” left 17 civilians dead and two dozen wounded.1 This event was one of the most violent and widely reported on incidents involving Blackwater’s personnel, but it was emblematic of their unparalleled record of violent actions during the Iraq War. In fact, the firm’s personnel fired their weapons during at least 323 incidents in Iraq between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007, for an average of two shooting incidents per week. Moreover, despite operating during the same period, performing the same tasks, for the same clients, and facing the same threats in the same general environment, Blackwater’s personnel killed and seriously injured far more people than their counterparts in DynCorp, one of the other major private security companies that provided protective services for the U.S. State Department during this period of the Iraq War. Stunningly, while Blackwater’s personnel inflicted at least 62 deaths and 86 serious injuries during this 1 Blackwater changed its name to Xe in 2009 and to Academi in 2011. However, since the firm is almost invariably referred to by its original name, this study will, whenever possible, do the same.
    [Show full text]
  • February 19, 2020 VIA EMAIL U.S. Department of State Office Of
    February 19, 2020 VIA EMAIL U.S. Department of State Office of Information Programs and Services A/GIS/IPS/RL SA-2, Suite 8100 Washington, DC 20522-0208 [email protected] Re: Freedom of Information Act Request Dear FOIA Officer: Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552, and the implementing regulations of your agency, American Oversight makes the following request for records. According to press reports, allies of the Trump administration have used numerous back channels to advance personal interests during recent upheaval in Venezuela. For example, former Rep. Pete Sessions and President Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani reportedly participated in a phone call with Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro in September 2018, which followed a trip of Sessions’ to Caracas the previous spring that had been at least partly coordinated with the State Department.1 Their interests reportedly aligned with U.S. energy interests in Venezuela, including those of Harry Sargeant III and Lev Parnas— both implicated as well in the matters at the core of President Trump’s impeachment.2 Giuliani has also lobbied the Department of Justice on behalf of Venezuelan energy executive Alejandro Betancourt Lopez, arguing that he should not be charged in a money- laundering case—in fact staying at Betancourt’s estate in Madrid on the same trip in August 2019 when he met with Ukrainian official Andriy Yermak to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political opponent of the President.3 1 Rosalind Helderman et al., Trump’s Lawyer and the Venezuelan President: How Giuliani Got Involved in Back-Channel Talks With Maduro, WASH.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Cost of Post-9/11 Wars: Direct War Deaths in Major War Zones
    Human Cost of Post-9/11 Wars: Direct War Deaths in Major War Zones, Afghanistan and Pakistan (October 2001 – October 2019) Iraq (March 2003 – October 2019); Syria (September 2014-October 2019); Yemen (October 2002-October 2019); and Other 1 Neta C. Crawford and Catherine Lutz2 November 13, 2019 Afghanistan Pakistan Iraq Syria/ISIS3 Yemen4 Other5 Total US Military6 2,2987 —8 4,5729 710 111 136 7,014 US DOD Civilian12 6 15 1 — — 22 US Contractors13 3,814 90 3,588 1714 2 43915 7,950 64,12417 National Military and 64,12417 9,12918 48,337- 51,48320 —21 173,073- Police16 52,33719 177,073 Other Allied Troops22 1,145 — 323 11,00023 12,468 Civilians 43,07424 23,92425 184,382- 49,59127 12,00028 312,971- 207,15626 335,745 Opposition Fighters 42,10029 32,73730 34,806- 67,06532 78,00033 254,708- 39,88131 259,783 8686 Journalists and Media 125 67 86 277 75 31 536 Workers34 Humanitarian/NGO 424 97 63 185 38 807 workers35 TOTAL 157,052 66,064 276,363- 179,424 90,072 575 769,549- 308,212 801,398 TOTAL (rounded to 157,000 66,000 276,000- 179,000 90,000 600 770,000- nearest 1,000) 308,000 801,000 1 This chart tallies direct deaths caused by war violence. It does not include indirect deaths, namely those caused by loss of access to food, water, and/or infrastructure, war-related disease, etc. The numbers included here are approximations based on the reporting of several original data sources.
    [Show full text]
  • TESTIMONY of ERIK PRINCE Thursday, November
    1 UNCLASSIFIED TESTIMONY OF ERIK PRINCE Thursday, November 30, 2017 U.S. House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Washington, D.C. The committee met, pursuant to call, at 3:05 p.m., in Room HVC-304, the Capitol, the Honorable Mike Conaway presiding. Present: Representatives Conaway, King, LoBiondo, Rooney, Ros-Lehtinen, Turner, Wenstrup, Stewart, Crawford, Gowdy, Stefanik, Hurd, Schiff, Himes, Speier, Quigley, Swalwell, Castro, and Heck. Also Present: Representative Calvert. UNCLASSIFIED 2 UNCLASSIFIED CHAIRMAN CONAWAY: All right. A quorum being present, I call the meeting to order. I'd like to welcome our witness, Mr. Erik Prince. Thank you for speaking with us today. As a reminder to our members, we are and will remain in open session. This hearing will address only unclassified matters. Although the hearing is closed, a transcript will be produced and released to the public. Before we begin, I'd like to take care of a few housekeeping matters. First, without objection, I move that each side shall be given 30 minutes to ask Mr. Prince questions. At each 60-minute interval, I will ask unanimous consent to continue the alternating 30-minute rounds. Without further objection, the chair is authorized to declare a recess of the committee at any time. At this time, I would like the witness to raise his right hand. Thank you, sir. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you give before the committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? MR. PRINCE: I do . CHAIRMAN CONAWAY: Thank you .
    [Show full text]
  • Ex-Spies Recruited in Push to Attack Liberal Groups
    C M Y K Nxxx,2020-03-08,A,001,Bs-4C,E3 Late Edition Today, plenty of sunshine, a milder afternoon, high 58. Tonight, partly cloudy, low 45. Tomorrow, mostly sunny, turning even milder, high 67. Details, SportsSunday, Page 6. VOL. CLXIX .. No. 58,626 © 2020 The New York Times Company NEW YORK, SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2020 $6.00 Ex-Spies Recruited in Push To Attack Liberal Groups Former Blackwater Chief Tapped Operative to Help Infiltrate Union, Suit Says By MARK MAZZETTI and ADAM GOLDMAN WASHINGTON — Erik Prince, Both Project Veritas and Mr. the security contractor with close Prince have ties to President ties to the Trump administration, Trump’s aides and family. has in recent years helped recruit Whether any Trump administra- former American and British tion officials or advisers to the spies for secretive intelligence- president were involved in the op- gathering operations that includ- erations, even tacitly, is unclear. ed infiltrating Democratic con- But the effort is a glimpse of a vig- gressional campaigns, labor orga- orous private campaign to try to nizations and other groups con- undermine political groups or in- sidered hostile to the Trump dividuals perceived to be in oppo- agenda, according to interviews sition to Mr. Trump’s agenda. and documents. Mr. Prince, the former head of One of the former spies, an ex- Blackwater Worldwide and the MI6 officer named Richard Sed- brother of Education Secretary don, helped run a 2017 operation Betsy DeVos, has at times served to copy files and record conversa- as an informal adviser to Trump tions in a Michigan office of the administration officials.
    [Show full text]
  • 247012037-Blackwater.Pdf
    Annotation La historia no autorizada del épico ascenso de una de las fuerzas más poderosas y secretas surgidas del «complejo militar-industrial» estadounidense.En marzo de 2004 la Guerra de Irak dio un giro decisivo tras el abatimiento de 4 soldados americanos en una emboscada de Faluya. La noticia, de gran repercusión mediática, puso al descubierto Blackwater, un ejercito privado de élite que venía operando en misiones estadounidenses desde principios de la administración Bush.El 16 de septiembre de 2007, unas inesperadas ráfagas de ametralladora disparadas en la plaza Nisour, de Bagdad, dejaron un saldo de 17 civiles iraquíes muertos, entre los que se contaban mujeres y niños. Esta matanza indiscriminada, conocida como «el domingo sangriento de Bagdad», no fue llevada a cabo por insurgentes iraquíes ni por soldados estadounidenses, pues los autores de los disparos pertenecían a una empresa secreta de mercenarios, la Blackwater Worldwide. Esta es la escalofriante historia de una compañía fundada hace más de una década en Moyock, Carolina del Sur, y que se convirtió en uno de los protagonistas más poderosos de la «guerra del terror». En su apasionante best seller, el periodista Jeremy Scahill nos lleva desde las ensangrentadas calles de Irak hasta las zonas de Nueva Orleans devastadas por el huracán Katrina, pasando por las esferas gubernamentales en Washington, para poner al descubierto a Blackwater como el nuevo y terrible rostro de la maquinaria bélica estadounidense. JEREMY SCAHILL BLACKWATER — oOo — Título original: Blackwater. The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army © Jeremy Scahill, 2007 © de la traducción: Albino Santos y Gemma Andújar, 2008 En colaboración con Editorial Planeta, S.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Senator Byron L. Dorgan Chairman, Democratic Policy Committee
    Opening Statement Senator Byron L. Dorgan Chairman, Democratic Policy Committee “Abuses in Private Security and Reconstruction Contracting in Iraq: Ensuring Accountability, Protecting Whistleblowers” Friday, September 21, 2007 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building Today the Democratic Policy Committee is holding a hearing to examine the continuing lack of accountability in private security and reconstruction contracting in Iraq. There are now nearly as many private contractors in Iraq as there are American soldiers. And when contractors operate without accountability, and come to believe that there will not be any consequence for wrongdoing, our mission in Iraq is compromised and our troops are undermined. One of the largest sectors in which private contractors are active in Iraq is the area of security. Last year the GAO estimated that there are as many as 48,000 private security contractors in Iraq, though no one knows the precise number. And these security contractors have operated in a climate of impunity. On Sunday, there was a firefight in Iraq involving private security contractor Blackwater that left at least 11 Iraqis dead. The incident is being investigated, and I certainly do not want to prejudge the results of the investigation. But we cannot ignore the fact that the Iraqi government has said that it believes that Blackwater overreacted and caused the loss of innocent life. Prime Minister Maliki said that this was the seventh such incident involving Blackwater, and he urged that Blackwater be replaced. Nearly a year ago, the Congress passed a law requiring that private security contractors be bound by the same code of conduct as U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Houston, We Still Have a Problem
    HOUSTON, WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM AN ALTERNATIVE ANNUAL REPORT ON HALLIBURTON, MAY 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION II. MILITARY CONTRACTS III. OIL & GAS CONTRACTS IV. ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST HALLIBURTON V. CORPORATE WELFARE & POLITICAL CONNECTIONS VI. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS COVER: An Iraqi National Guard stands next to a burning US Army supply truck in the outskirts of Balad, Iraq. October 14, 2004. Photo by Asaad Muhsin, Associated Press HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM HOUSTON, WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM In the introduction to Halliburton’s 2004 annual report, chief executive officer David Lesar reports to Halliburton’s shareholders that despite the extreme adversity of 2004, including asbestos claims, dangerous work in Iraq, and the negative attention that sur- rounded the company during the U.S. presidential campaign, Halliburton emerged “stronger than ever.” Revenue and operating income have increased, and over a third of that revenue, an estimated $7.1 billion, was from U.S. government contracts in Iraq. In a photo alongside Lesar’s letter to the shareholders, he From the seat of the company’s legal representatives, the view smiles from a plush chair in what looks like a comfortable is of stacks of paperwork piling up as investigator after investi- office. He ends the letter, “From my seat, I like what I see.” gator demands documents from Halliburton regarding every- thing from possible bribery in Nigeria to over-billing and kick- People sitting in other seats, in Halliburton’s workplaces backs in Iraq. The company is currently being pursued by the around the world, lend a different view of the company, which continues to be one of the most controversial corporations in U.S.
    [Show full text]