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|NEXT STORY »

Blackwater Waging 'Secret War' in Pakistan

Mercenaries doing CIA dirty work, plotting killings

By Rob Quinn| Posted Nov 24, 09 3:33 AM CST|

Updated Nov 24, 09 4:55 AM CST

(Newser) – An elite team of Blackwater operatives have been doing the CIA's dirty work in Pakistan, a Nation investigation finds. The team plans operations, including "snatch-and-grab" assassinations and drone strikes from a secret base in Karachi run by US Joint Special Operations Command, according to a senior source with direct involvement in the program.

The program is so "compartmentalized" that senior figures in the Obama administration and the US military may not be aware of its existence," the source says. Blackwater personnel have been granted the highest level security clearances, helping shield the program from oversight, according to the military intelligence source.

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

Pakistani demonstrators shout slogans against US drone missile strikes on the country's tribal areas. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)

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It wouldn't surprise me because we've outsourced nearly everything. Part of this, of course, is an attempt to get around the constraints the Congress has placed on DoD.
- Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell's chief of staff from 2002 to 2005

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22 comments

VIEWING:

IN RESPONSE:

Woofer58
Nov 24, 09 8:39 AM CST

Obama is going to send 34,000 troops to Afghanistan. What part of that sounds like 'buddy-buddy' to you ?

IN RESPONSE:

sully4411
Nov 24, 09 9:44 AM CST

when did he say that?

IN RESPONSE:

IndependentThinker
Nov 24, 09 9:59 AM CST

So were to become evil terrorist to fight evil terrorists and when we have won (lol like that is possible) the only evil terrorists will be us... Operations like this is why they fucking attack us. We have been doing this stuff for decades to secure resources for big business. They line their pockets and the US pay for it in taxes to the military complex and lives from the military complex. God bless the United Corporation of America for witch they profit.

IN RESPONSE:

kyleleitch
Nov 24, 09 11:12 PM CST

Let's also not forget that Backwater, now known as Xe, ISN'T part of the military. That's why they think they get to do lots of stuff that they can't. They're hired by a private company.

| 0 minutes ago

ChristianKnights
Nov 24, 09 5:26 AM CST

God Bless Blackwater / Xe and all the Christian Knights fighting for the defence of the world. Islam is a cancer which needs surgery to cut it out and kill it Reply

-15

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Nov 24, 09 8:44 AM CST

A weak attempt at sarcasm, DLY?

IN RESPONSE:

alkaseltzersammich
Nov 24, 09 8:51 AM CST

You both are racists.

IN RESPONSE:

Woofer58
Nov 24, 09 8:51 AM CST

You, Sir, are a menace to society. The Crusades have been over for quite some time. Get over it. Private armies, in this day and age, are very frightening, especially with the weapons systems available these days (MetalStorm pops to mind). I'm not an advocate of the Taliban or Al'qaeda, by any means, but I surely don't see cultural/religious genocide as an answer. BTW-- they aren't "defending the world". They do it for the paycheck first and foremost.

IN RESPONSE:

Avalanche
Nov 24, 09 8:54 AM CST

If you're going to troll, at least don't make it obvious

IN RESPONSE:

Corona_Kinq
Nov 24, 09 9:14 AM CST

LOL, Troll Central up in this mofo.

| 0 minutes ago

bewilderbeast
Nov 24, 09 6:10 AM CST

Well surprise, surprise! Make war a profit-driven, secret private enterprise and - companies will make SURE there is ALWAYS war. And politicians will make sure there are always people to be sent to die (never themselves or their families, though. Like Dubya they will coward-out and hide). The puzzling part to me is why goons like X-chin Nights and Doesn'tLikeHimself applaud and actively campaign for their own demise (I'm assuming - likely wrongly - they aren't Blackwater trolls here to foment war for profit). Reply

IN RESPONSE:

alkaseltzersammich
Nov 24, 09 8:41 AM CST

I think dontlikeyou has been playing a little too much COD Modern Warfare.

IN RESPONSE:

Woofer58
Nov 24, 09 8:58 AM CST

DLY-- uh, perhaps Xe has filled their quota for dumbasses for now. Try back later.

| 0 minutes ago

Face-Of-RNC
Nov 24, 09 7:04 AM CST

Nothing is as simple as black and white except maybe your ignorance. Secret snatch and grab is illegal. Paying illegal operatives to perform illegal acts is illegal. This is just you enjoying bullys beating up on a weaker people. If they were over here doing the same to us, your tune would be different. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Twiny
Nov 24, 09 7:06 AM CST

DLY, can't you see the danger here? This report says that the Commander-In-Chief of the United States and his top Commanders in the military may not be aware of what Blackwater, a private company, is doing in Pakistan. If you can't see how frighteningly wrong that is, then you don't understand the most basic and fundamental concept of Chain of Command. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Supercilious
Nov 24, 09 8:26 AM CST

It's the Chinese drywall.

IN RESPONSE:

ende
Nov 24, 09 8:28 AM CST

The use of 'private military' is nothing new. The concept of mercenaries is as old as war itself. Before the United States even had a Navy, it relied upon privateers and bounties. The Constitution authorizes Congress to issue letters of marque and reprisal. Read about EO operating in Africa in the mid-90's, helping to stabilize the government and protect thousands of lives where the UN failed to do so. Oversight is just something that needs to be more carefully included in these contracts.

IN RESPONSE:

Woofer58
Nov 24, 09 9:06 AM CST

Twiny-- yeah, that got my attention, too. Kind of scary. Obama needs to get a better military liaison. He can't afford not have 'all' the info on what is going on over there. Is he being kept in the dark about some ops ? ..and why ?

IN RESPONSE:

Woofer58
Nov 24, 09 9:15 AM CST

ende-- word up !! OVERSIGHT

| 0 minutes ago

kj2833
Nov 24, 09 7:09 AM CST

There are several "black ops" that go on throughout the world every single day. If a story like this gets leaked its for a reason. Most likely to cover something else going on. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

cochiserocks
Nov 24, 09 8:32 AM CST

I'm inclined to agree with you @kj2833, and as for @ChristianKnights - You got enough burning crosses to go round fella? Southern trees bear strange fruit and you my friend are a throwback.

IN RESPONSE:

Woofer58
Nov 24, 09 9:11 AM CST

kj2833-- I'm sure. NSA, CIA, and others... all are busy, but they are all directly accountable to POTUS. Xe isn't. That can and probably will become a serious problem at some time in the future.

| 0 minutes ago

View all 22 comments »

CIA • Pakistan • Blackwater • mercenaries • security contractors • spy drones • Joint Special Operations Command • Xe Services • Blackwater Select

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Blackwater Waging 'Secret War' in Pakistan