BlackwaterUSA developing surveillance airships.

[Jara sang]

What the hell man!?!?!?! Maybe this was already discussed here but it requires further scrutiny. Anybody that cannot see the impending police state in this country has their f-ing head in the sand. Hell, we are already there.

http://www.blackwaterusa.com/press/airship.asp

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.

[Selatius]

1. Actually, adding unmanned aerial drones to help police track people is...

the next logical step.

They can track you if you have systems like OnStar in your vehicle. Even if your vehicle doesn't have that, they can get a good estimate of where your physical position is through the signal emitted by your very own cellphone. Then there is the problem of eavesdropping by third parties on your cellphone and telephone line.

If you have a presence on the internet, that's another way they can monitor you. Technologically speaking, Orwell's 1984 has been a reality for a long time now. Even FOX news has been caught several times trying to "alter history" by attempting scrubbing transcripts to protect folks like Bill O'Reilly as if they have never made mistakes. Technology has made it easy to destroy privacy, and some want to go further and alter reality and alter history.

The 21st century can be full of awesome promise, or it can be full of awesome dangers. Unfortunately, I feel the war in Iraq has "set the tone" for the rest of the 21st century like World War I did for the rest of the 20th century. If that is the case, then the 21st century will usher in a new century of war.

[me b zola]

2. Yep. Iraq may have set the tone, but NOLA sealed the deal

Seeing these guys walking armed through an American city was an eye-opener.

As for what to expect globally, they were featured on a cnn special toinight, 'Hired Guns', and they stated that they are trying to get contracts as "peace keepers" in Dafur.

We have turned the corner into a very dark future, imo.

[LifeDuringWartime]

3. blackwater was in NOLA?

:scared:

[me b zola]

6. They sure were...and armed with automatic weapons

If it weren't so late I may suffle through my files to show the pics, but it was fairly widely reported--and accepted.

On cnn's profile, 'Hired Guns', Blackwater even bragged about being "the first ones into NOLA". They never mentioned that fema would not allow other rescuers in, but then again, Blackwater was not there to be rescuers. IIRC, it was the Blackwater thugs that were involved in the killing of 3-4 citizens on a bridge. Many of us suspect that the citizens were attempting to leave NOLA when they were killed.

I highly recomend doing a search of GD archieves for the two weeks following Katrina. DUers did a great job of chronicling the events that took place. MANY facts that have been left to fall in the memory hole. My choice in avatar is in tribute to the great city of NOLA, and what I saw happen to her citizens at the hands of our government. I will never forget.

[saigon68]

7. HERE ARE THE MERCENARIES armed with Machine guns in amerika

[Pachamama]

8. That is such a scary image! In our country!

I want my country back! :cry:

[saigon68]

11. Get used to it --- these Thugs and their masters write the rules

They are above any other rules civilized people have to follow

Guys like this shove Broom handles up the Rectums of their prisoners

[me b zola]

10. Thanks, saigon

That's some scary shit, eh? So much happened in that time period that has changed me. I will never forget. I prolly will never forgive. :cry:

[Jara sang]

9. Article from 'The Nation'

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051010/scahill

When asked what authority they were operating under, one guy said, "We're on contract with the Department of Homeland Security." Then, pointing to one of his comrades, he said, "He was even deputized by the governor of the state of Louisiana. We can make arrests and use lethal force if we deem it necessary." The man then held up the gold Louisiana law enforcement badge he wore around his neck. Blackwater spokesperson Anne Duke also said the company has a letter from Louisiana officials authorizing its forces to carry loaded weapons.

"This vigilantism demonstrates the utter breakdown of the government," says Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights. "These private security forces have behaved brutally, with impunity, in Iraq. To have them now on the streets of New Orleans is frightening and possibly illegal."

Blackwater is not alone. As business leaders and government officials talk openly of changing the demographics of what was one of the most culturally vibrant of America's cities, mercenaries from companies like DynCorp, Intercon, American Security Group, Blackhawk, Wackenhut and an Israeli company called Instinctive Shooting International (ISI) are fanning out to guard private businesses and homes, as well as government projects and institutions. Within two weeks of the hurricane, the number of private security companies registered in Louisiana jumped from 185 to 235. Some, like Blackwater, are under federal contract. Others have been hired by the wealthy elite, like F. Patrick Quinn III, who brought in private security to guard his $3 million private estate and his luxury hotels, which are under consideration for a lucrative federal contract to house FEMA workers.

[Jara sang]

4. It's a little TOO coincidental that these two are Blackwater employees.

Former Director of the CIA's Counterterrorism Center and the Inspector general of the Pentagon. The company was also founded by a Navy SEAL.

[me b zola]

12. I knew that they were founded by a Navy Seal...

...but I didn't know about the other two. :scared:

[Vidar]

5. I fervently support the death penalty for this whole outfit.

[pinniped]

13. Just like that hovering camera globe that Roddy Piper shot in....

They Live.

[Jara sang]

15. "I've got one that can see!"

That's what I thought of too. Especially since during Katrina it was wealthy elitist who were hiring Blackwater's services.

[pinniped]

16. Where did you get those glasses?

Tooth Fairy

[Island Blue]

14. These guys are scary, folks.

I knew they purchased and took over the only airport in the county where their operations are headquartered (Currituck Co., NC) now I wonder if they've also purchased and taken over the blimp building facility in near-by Elizabeth City, NC. My dad says that when he goes to Elizabeth City for business, he always sees a lot of Blackwater dudes dressed in their black uniforms (I suppose without the machine guns) walking around. I'll ask him today if he knows whether or not they've taken over the blimp building facility.

Quite frankly, I'm more afraid of these guys than I am of foreign "terrorists".

[Occulus]

17. One-word response:

slingshots. Modern, deadly accurate slingshots.

Use pebbles and rocks to shatter a wing.