"Blackwater missile-load contract canceled; Firm denies it had role in secret raids" by Pamela Hess and Adam Goldman, Associated Press | December 12, 2009
WASHINGTON - CIA Director Leon Panetta has canceled a contract with the former Blackwater security firm that allowed the company’s operatives to load missiles on Predator drones in Pakistan.
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Panetta canceled the contract earlier this year and the work is being transitioned to government personnel, a person familiar with the contract said yesterday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the classified program. Blackwater is now known as Xe Services.
See: War-Profiteering Mercenaries, by Any Other Name....
A spokesman was not immediately available for comment on the contract cancellation. The New York Times first reported the contract’s existence in August.
The CIA’s Predator program targets senior Al Qaeda operatives and Taliban in Pakistan’s tribal area along the border with Afghanistan, but the agency has never publicly confirmed its role in the operation. Since Jan. 28, 2008, there have been at least 67 suspected US missile strikes into Pakistan, according to Pakistani intelligence officials and witnesses interviewed by the Associated Press after each strike.
There was a new strike Tuesday, according to Pakistani officials. A US government official yesterday identified the target of that attack as Saleh al-Somali, a senior Al Qaeda operations planner. Somali was responsible for the terror group’s operations outside the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, reaching into activities in Africa, the official said, adding that Somali has probably been involved in plotting attacks against the United States and Europe. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss covert operations.
Related: "Covert action programs, a particularly secret category in which the role of the United States is hidden"
And the MSM does a great job of hiding them, too!!!
News of the cancellation of the contract was heard on the heels of published reports late Thursday that Blackwater security operatives joined CIA agents in “snatch and grab’’ raids that took place regularly between 2004 and 2006, when violence from the insurgency in Iraq was escalating.
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A US official confirmed to AP on Thursday that Blackwater provided security and traveled with CIA teams on missions in war zones, but emphasized they were not hired to directly participate in sensitive CIA missions....
Yeah, I'm going to believe a lying government, yup.
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Separately, George Little, CIA spokesman, said yesterday that “at this time, Blackwater is not involved in any CIA operations other than in a security or support role.’’
Okay, the CIA NEVER CONFIRMS, DENIES, or COMMENTS, so the fact that they are ISSUING a DENIAL means it is TRUE, readers!!!!!!
Of course, the "at this time" covers it, doesn't it?
Also see: AmeriKan MSM Covering Up Cheney's Crimes
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It'll comes together at the highest levels of power, folks -- and now the no-change changer sits there!
Xe Services said yesterday that Blackwater was not under contract for involvement in the secret raids. “Blackwater USA was never under contract to participate in covert raids with CIA or Special Operations personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, or anywhere else. Any allegation to the contrary by any news organization would be false,’’ Mark Corallo, Xe spokesman, said in an e-mailed statement.
Then SOMEONE is LYING, aren't they?
Not a good result for EITHER SIDE here!
The firm, based in Moyock, N.C., changed its corporate name this year after a series of use-of-force controversies, including a September 2007 shooting in Baghdad by five company security guards that left 17 civilians dead.
Yeah, and no one is going to do time for those murders in accountable AmeriKa!!
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