Autumn
08-20-2009, 09:53 AM
C.I.A. Sought Blackwater’s Help in Plan to Kill Jihadists
hxxp://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/us/20intel.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
The Central Intelligence Agency in 2004 hired outside contractors from the private security contractor Blackwater USA as part of a secret program to locate and assassinate top operatives of Al Qaeda, according to current and former government officials. ...
It is unclear whether the C.I.A. had planned to use the contractors to actually capture or kill Qaeda operatives, or just to help with training and surveillance in the program. American spy agencies have in recent years outsourced some highly controversial work, including the interrogation of prisoners. But government officials said that bringing outsiders into a program with lethal authority raised deep concerns about accountability in covert operations.
Blackwater, which has changed its name, most recently to Xe Services, and is based in North Carolina, in recent years has received millions of dollars in government contracts.
I thought this article was interesting, though about an old abandoned program. I didn't realize Blackwater had changed its name. Pretty smart move, I suppose, given the press they've been getting, glad I know who they are now.
hxxp://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/us/20intel.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
The Central Intelligence Agency in 2004 hired outside contractors from the private security contractor Blackwater USA as part of a secret program to locate and assassinate top operatives of Al Qaeda, according to current and former government officials. ...
It is unclear whether the C.I.A. had planned to use the contractors to actually capture or kill Qaeda operatives, or just to help with training and surveillance in the program. American spy agencies have in recent years outsourced some highly controversial work, including the interrogation of prisoners. But government officials said that bringing outsiders into a program with lethal authority raised deep concerns about accountability in covert operations.
Blackwater, which has changed its name, most recently to Xe Services, and is based in North Carolina, in recent years has received millions of dollars in government contracts.
I thought this article was interesting, though about an old abandoned program. I didn't realize Blackwater had changed its name. Pretty smart move, I suppose, given the press they've been getting, glad I know who they are now.