Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
BLACKWATER GAINS FOOTHOLD IN SAN DIEGO
Submitted by sandiegowoman on Mon, 2008-06-02 13:42. General Discussion
Posted by Barbara Cummings
Subject: Death Squads Plead Discrimination
http://www.truthawaits.com/death_squads_plead_discrimination.html
Death Squads Plead Discrimination
by Mark E. Smith
Today, Friday, May 30, 2008, I sat in Courtroom 13 on the 5th floor of the federal courthouse in San Diego and watched in horror as a white male former Marine general, acting as attorney for Blackwater International, a private Christian evangelical mercenary (death squad) corporation, told a sweet-looking blonde female federal judge, Marilyn Huff, that they were being discriminated against, and the judge not only agreed with their argument and confronted the city attorney with it, but also added a charge of diversity. Diversity? San Diego has too few murderers and killers to meet federal diversity standards?
The story behind this is that Blackwater intends to have a large presence in San Diego, and everywhere else in the U.S. possible, so that it will be in a position to quell any civil unrest that may happen after the next stolen Presidential election in November. In the meantime it will compete for work training U.S. military troops and guarding the border against Mexican invaders. Blackwater tried to open a training facility in Potrero, but seeing that they were likely to be unsuccessful due to public outrage, they quietly began seeking permits for another facility in Otay Mesa under the names of front companies like Raven (raven means black). But their purpose in Otay Mesa was also disguised. They said at different times that it would be a law enforcement training facility, a vocational school, or just a warehouse. Once all the permits had been granted, it became clear to the city that this was to be a mercenary training facility and the city exercised its discretion to stop them from opening before there was further review. Blackwater then went to federal court seeking a temporary restraining order on the grounds of irreparable injury, and the judge will grant their order on Monday.
Obviously Judge Huff does not understand what discrimination is. If people disliked Blackwater because of a historically suspect category, such as age, race, sex, disability, etc., that would be discrimination. But to dislike a company because they are known for shooting civilians indiscriminately and with impunity is not discrimination, it is fear.
In order to get a temporary restraining order in federal court, Blackwater had to show that otherwise they would suffer irreparable injury. The San Diego attorney cited rulings stating that loss of income is not an irreparable injury and the judge asked the Blackwater attorney to state what the injury was. Instead he began talking about our brave fighting men and women defending our country. Believe me, you've never seen a Marine speak so respectfully of the Navy before, because it is a contract with the Navy that begins on Monday that Blackwater stood to lose, at least temporarily, if the order was not granted. Since a temporary loss of income is not irreparable, he never did answer the judge's question, but sought shelter behind false patriotism and phony national security. Mexico is not invading the U.S. and has no intentions of doing so, and our efforts to deport undocumented workers have been so successful that several U.S. farms and factories have had to move to Mexico in order to be able to rehire their deported workers when they could find no adequate replacements for them here. We are not only not under attack, we are waging wars of aggression, so self-defense is not an argument. To hear this mouthpiece say it, you'd think that if the restraining order was not granted, Osama bin Laden and five million crazed terrorists would cross the Mexican border and conquer the United States.
This remarkable proceeding is the final proof, if any more were needed, that the fascist takeover of America is complete. A federal court has no business intervening in a city's business, not even if the company's owner is a friend of Bush and Cheney. This means that we no longer have any local or states' rights whatsoever, as the federal counts, stacked with judges appointed by the fascist regime in Washington, will always intervene on behalf of facism whenever states or municipalities attempt to assert their rights.
The city may appeal the ruling, but the Blackwater presence in San Diego is now a fait accompli and cannot be undone. Even if the city were to win on appeal, which it should because the laws are definitely on the side of the city, the case would just be appealed by Blackwater until it reached the Supreme Court, where the partisan thugs who installed Bush against the will of the people, including some who were appointed by that unelected President, would rule for Blackwater. No matter how illegal or unconstitutional a Supreme Court ruling, there is no possible appeal from that unelected body. A democracy is a form of government in which the ultimate power belongs to the people, not to unelected fascist thugs and their cronies.
An hour before the court hearing began, we held a protest in front of the courthouse. We had "Stop Blackwater" t-shirts, signs, and banners. A woman standing near me was talking about the election, so I asked what has become my standard question these days, "Would you still vote if the only federally approved voting mechanism was a flush toilet?" She said that she would. She is one of millions of people concerned about their right to vote, but who don't actually care whether or not their vote is really counted or if it gives them a voice in government. As long as they can vote, they're happy. The man standing next to her said, "Well, if a lot of people didn't vote, maybe it would make a difference." I said, "How's fifty percent?" He said, "But they're apathetic." I said, "You don't care if your vote is counted or not, and you call them apathetic?"
One of the protest organizers asked afterwards if anything like this had happened in Nazi Germany. I explained that it had. That many people had trusted the courts to uphold what laws remained, but the courts were just as fascist as the Nazis. Judges who weren't, were forced off the bench. Fascist dictators appoint judges on the basis of blind loyalty, and their lapdog legislators confirm them to show their collegial support for and complicity in fascism.
Blackwater has been getting a lot of publicity. As private contractors they consider themselves exempt from all laws, domestic, foreign, and international. But they went running to the law for help when they feared a possible temporary setback to their plans. In truth the city of San Diego might be able to delay their operations, but probably couldn't keep them out. We have a "strong mayor" system, so the mayor, who only became mayor after not one, not two, but three rigged elections, is the decider, and he said on the radio the night before the hearing that he believed that Blackwater's permits were in order. We the people don't get to actually vote on issues of concern to us, we can only vote for "representatives" but our votes are counted secretly by easily and undetectably hackable central tabulators and our elections officials in San Diego are a former voting machine salesperson and a guy who stated publicly that he didn't think that manipulating a recount so that the ballots would match a fraudulent machine count was wrong. So good luck with those elections.
Author Jeremy Scahill, who has written extensively about Blackwater, will be in San Diego on June 10th. Although they didn't say so, it is his scheduled book signing at the Unitarian/Universalist church that Blackwater feared might cause them irreparable injury, as Scahill has documented who the owners of Blackwater are, what sort of murderers and terrorists they hire, and why a company like that has no place in a democracy.
This was a sad day for America and a sad day for democracy. The poor itty bitty multi-billion dollar death squad terrorist mercenary corporation told a federal judge that they felt discriminated against, and the judge bought it. Actually, it seemed like the judge had made up her mind before hand, as she was arguing on behalf of Blackwater, handing them citations, and belittling the city and the relevant laws. On the question of jurisdiction, the right of the federal courts to preempt a city's discretion, she did say that she didn't think that an ordinary citizen could run to federal court if a city denied a building or business permit, but she obviously doesn't consider Bush cronies like Blackwater to be ordinary citizens. Fascists get special treatment and favors in fascist courts.
And so, having witnessed it, I am already in a state of shock. But this shock may not reach the average San Diegan or the average American until another catastrophe like 9/11 or hurricane Katrina hits, and that will be much too late as Blackwater mercenaries will be in our streets and in helicopters overhead with automatic weapons to prevent us from getting food or medical help or escaping death. If we had a voice in the matter, we might say no. But we have no voice. Our elections aren't about giving us a voice, they're about legitimizing elite rule and depriving us of any voice. Instead we are told that our vote is our voice, and then our votes aren't counted. Too bad, nothing to see here, move along.
###
Permission to forward, repost, republish, or line the bird cage with this, is hereby granted.
--
Mike Copass
Democrat for U.S. Congress, CA-53
MikeCopass.com
Posted by Barbara Cummings
Subject: Death Squads Plead Discrimination
http://www.truthawaits.com/death_squads_plead_discrimination.html
Death Squads Plead Discrimination
by Mark E. Smith
Today, Friday, May 30, 2008, I sat in Courtroom 13 on the 5th floor of the federal courthouse in San Diego and watched in horror as a white male former Marine general, acting as attorney for Blackwater International, a private Christian evangelical mercenary (death squad) corporation, told a sweet-looking blonde female federal judge, Marilyn Huff, that they were being discriminated against, and the judge not only agreed with their argument and confronted the city attorney with it, but also added a charge of diversity. Diversity? San Diego has too few murderers and killers to meet federal diversity standards?
The story behind this is that Blackwater intends to have a large presence in San Diego, and everywhere else in the U.S. possible, so that it will be in a position to quell any civil unrest that may happen after the next stolen Presidential election in November. In the meantime it will compete for work training U.S. military troops and guarding the border against Mexican invaders. Blackwater tried to open a training facility in Potrero, but seeing that they were likely to be unsuccessful due to public outrage, they quietly began seeking permits for another facility in Otay Mesa under the names of front companies like Raven (raven means black). But their purpose in Otay Mesa was also disguised. They said at different times that it would be a law enforcement training facility, a vocational school, or just a warehouse. Once all the permits had been granted, it became clear to the city that this was to be a mercenary training facility and the city exercised its discretion to stop them from opening before there was further review. Blackwater then went to federal court seeking a temporary restraining order on the grounds of irreparable injury, and the judge will grant their order on Monday.
Obviously Judge Huff does not understand what discrimination is. If people disliked Blackwater because of a historically suspect category, such as age, race, sex, disability, etc., that would be discrimination. But to dislike a company because they are known for shooting civilians indiscriminately and with impunity is not discrimination, it is fear.
In order to get a temporary restraining order in federal court, Blackwater had to show that otherwise they would suffer irreparable injury. The San Diego attorney cited rulings stating that loss of income is not an irreparable injury and the judge asked the Blackwater attorney to state what the injury was. Instead he began talking about our brave fighting men and women defending our country. Believe me, you've never seen a Marine speak so respectfully of the Navy before, because it is a contract with the Navy that begins on Monday that Blackwater stood to lose, at least temporarily, if the order was not granted. Since a temporary loss of income is not irreparable, he never did answer the judge's question, but sought shelter behind false patriotism and phony national security. Mexico is not invading the U.S. and has no intentions of doing so, and our efforts to deport undocumented workers have been so successful that several U.S. farms and factories have had to move to Mexico in order to be able to rehire their deported workers when they could find no adequate replacements for them here. We are not only not under attack, we are waging wars of aggression, so self-defense is not an argument. To hear this mouthpiece say it, you'd think that if the restraining order was not granted, Osama bin Laden and five million crazed terrorists would cross the Mexican border and conquer the United States.
This remarkable proceeding is the final proof, if any more were needed, that the fascist takeover of America is complete. A federal court has no business intervening in a city's business, not even if the company's owner is a friend of Bush and Cheney. This means that we no longer have any local or states' rights whatsoever, as the federal counts, stacked with judges appointed by the fascist regime in Washington, will always intervene on behalf of facism whenever states or municipalities attempt to assert their rights.
The city may appeal the ruling, but the Blackwater presence in San Diego is now a fait accompli and cannot be undone. Even if the city were to win on appeal, which it should because the laws are definitely on the side of the city, the case would just be appealed by Blackwater until it reached the Supreme Court, where the partisan thugs who installed Bush against the will of the people, including some who were appointed by that unelected President, would rule for Blackwater. No matter how illegal or unconstitutional a Supreme Court ruling, there is no possible appeal from that unelected body. A democracy is a form of government in which the ultimate power belongs to the people, not to unelected fascist thugs and their cronies.
An hour before the court hearing began, we held a protest in front of the courthouse. We had "Stop Blackwater" t-shirts, signs, and banners. A woman standing near me was talking about the election, so I asked what has become my standard question these days, "Would you still vote if the only federally approved voting mechanism was a flush toilet?" She said that she would. She is one of millions of people concerned about their right to vote, but who don't actually care whether or not their vote is really counted or if it gives them a voice in government. As long as they can vote, they're happy. The man standing next to her said, "Well, if a lot of people didn't vote, maybe it would make a difference." I said, "How's fifty percent?" He said, "But they're apathetic." I said, "You don't care if your vote is counted or not, and you call them apathetic?"
One of the protest organizers asked afterwards if anything like this had happened in Nazi Germany. I explained that it had. That many people had trusted the courts to uphold what laws remained, but the courts were just as fascist as the Nazis. Judges who weren't, were forced off the bench. Fascist dictators appoint judges on the basis of blind loyalty, and their lapdog legislators confirm them to show their collegial support for and complicity in fascism.
Blackwater has been getting a lot of publicity. As private contractors they consider themselves exempt from all laws, domestic, foreign, and international. But they went running to the law for help when they feared a possible temporary setback to their plans. In truth the city of San Diego might be able to delay their operations, but probably couldn't keep them out. We have a "strong mayor" system, so the mayor, who only became mayor after not one, not two, but three rigged elections, is the decider, and he said on the radio the night before the hearing that he believed that Blackwater's permits were in order. We the people don't get to actually vote on issues of concern to us, we can only vote for "representatives" but our votes are counted secretly by easily and undetectably hackable central tabulators and our elections officials in San Diego are a former voting machine salesperson and a guy who stated publicly that he didn't think that manipulating a recount so that the ballots would match a fraudulent machine count was wrong. So good luck with those elections.
Author Jeremy Scahill, who has written extensively about Blackwater, will be in San Diego on June 10th. Although they didn't say so, it is his scheduled book signing at the Unitarian/Universalist church that Blackwater feared might cause them irreparable injury, as Scahill has documented who the owners of Blackwater are, what sort of murderers and terrorists they hire, and why a company like that has no place in a democracy.
This was a sad day for America and a sad day for democracy. The poor itty bitty multi-billion dollar death squad terrorist mercenary corporation told a federal judge that they felt discriminated against, and the judge bought it. Actually, it seemed like the judge had made up her mind before hand, as she was arguing on behalf of Blackwater, handing them citations, and belittling the city and the relevant laws. On the question of jurisdiction, the right of the federal courts to preempt a city's discretion, she did say that she didn't think that an ordinary citizen could run to federal court if a city denied a building or business permit, but she obviously doesn't consider Bush cronies like Blackwater to be ordinary citizens. Fascists get special treatment and favors in fascist courts.
And so, having witnessed it, I am already in a state of shock. But this shock may not reach the average San Diegan or the average American until another catastrophe like 9/11 or hurricane Katrina hits, and that will be much too late as Blackwater mercenaries will be in our streets and in helicopters overhead with automatic weapons to prevent us from getting food or medical help or escaping death. If we had a voice in the matter, we might say no. But we have no voice. Our elections aren't about giving us a voice, they're about legitimizing elite rule and depriving us of any voice. Instead we are told that our vote is our voice, and then our votes aren't counted. Too bad, nothing to see here, move along.
###
Permission to forward, repost, republish, or line the bird cage with this, is hereby granted.
--
Mike Copass
Democrat for U.S. Congress, CA-53
MikeCopass.com
Monday, July 7, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Beware U.S. Propaganda, Farc Rescue Farce? Leftists Abducting Leftists?
The convenience of this rescue smells of a propaganda blitz for the McCain campaign.
The recent additions of former Bush campaign mamagers to McCains staff is a another indicator of the push to perpetuate the Bush family nightmare.
The recent story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7266587.stm
President Uribe’s Hidden Past:
http://www.colombiajournal.org/colombia185.htm
Background on Ingrid Betancourt (the leftist detainee)
http://www.global.greens.org.au/colombia.html
The latter is the Leftist Green woman candidate that was "rescued" while McCain visited Columbia pushing the military bravado campaign that McCain wants serving a false flag for his run for U.S. presidency.
The contractor hostages could possibly be gov’t/private contractor employees keeping the progressive candidate in captivity like the military coup in Myanmar did with Aung San Suu Kyi
7/03/08, Nighline was talking as if the hostages were used to being moved by helicopter…. they “faked” them out wearing Che t-shirts… sounds so cheesey and unreal…
Meanwhile Blackwater, a private military contractor, has bought planes from Brazil.
Is Blackwater already in Columbia? (Drug War Purge on Google?) Mexican Drug War contract.
The Farc was so loosely knit(?), they could be used as a scapegoat to retain Uribe’s opposition?
http://www.gnn.tv/blogs/27377/Smash_Uribe
Comment from above site:
“There’s a very weird disinfotainment flick out in the sphere entitled La Sierra …. attempting to portray the FARC as nothing more than scrawny (and I mean SCRAWNY) street kids with guns and out of control sex drives — no political nada — and then, coup de grace, there’s a slice in at the end showing the paras handing in their weapons (and you know how pumped up on steroids those guys are) trying to put the kids in that category as well. Incredible blow job. Worth watching, I think. Just cuidado.
It’s not like they aren’t real street kids trying to make it in “modern” Colombia.
Here’s the netflix blurb :
Colombia-based journalists Scott Dalton and Margarita Martinez introduce us to a nation at civil war by hitting the streets of Medellín, a dangerous city ruled by a fierce paramilitary gang. By focusing on three vastly different personalities — Edison, a gang leader; Cielo, a widowed teenage mother; and Jesus, a drug-using thug — the filmmakers draw us into their world and capture startling moments of truth and sorrow.”
The following (from a friend) added July 4th, 2008;
dated on june 10 Hugo Chavez tells FARC to free hostages The Venezuelan leader surprises analysts by advising the Colombian rebel group to put down its arms and make peace.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-farc10-2008jun10,0,2750345.story
Who is Marc Gonsalves?
Marc is a 31 year old man that served in the US Air Force for 8 years.He is now an employee of California Microwave Systems ,a Defense Department contractor. He is a husband, father, and a son of people who care very much for him.
The reason I am telling you this?
Gonsalves, Stansell and Howes were doing drug surveillance for the Department of Defense when they were taken hostage in February. The single-engine plane carrying them and two other men crashed in a remote, mountainous region south of Colombia's capital, Bogota. Almost eight months later they are still being held. A rebel commander told the Americans their only hope for freedom would be an exchange of hostages held by the rebels for imprisoned guerrillas. If President Alvaro Uribe rejects an exchange, the Americans face years in captivity, said the commander, who goes by the nom de guerre Alfredo. Fearful that making deals with the rebels will only encourage more kidnappings - as has been the case in the past - U.S. and Colombian officials have taken a hard line and refuse to negotiate.
http://schema-root.org/military/mercenaries/marc_gonsalves/
all 3 employed here Northrop Grumman gets $20.8M Air Force deal Tuesday July 1, 11:22 am ET Northrop Grumman gets $20.8 million Air Force deal for technology work on B-52
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A division of Northrop Grumman Corp. received a $20.8 million contract from the Air Force to develop technology needed on the B-52 aircraft, the Pentagon said late Monday.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080701/northrop_grumman_air_force_contract.html?.v=1
ComputerWire Staff Computer Business Online - 1 hour 23 minutes ago Northrop Grumman has won a 56-month $240m subcontract from Lockheed Martin to provide critical technologies for the Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station (AMF) Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS).
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/cwire/20080704/ttc-northrop-grumman-wins-240m-dod-subco-78e70a2.html
Although officials said everyone directly involved in the rescue were Colombians, U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield said there was "close cooperation" from the Americans that included "exchange of intelligence" as well as "exchange of equipment, training advice and experiences of other operations. I will not enter into details." Breaking into tears, Betancourt appealed to the FARC to release the remaining hostages and make peace.
She thanked Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, against whom she was running when she was kidnapped, and said he "has been a very good president."
However, she said, "I continue to aspire to serve Colombia as president."
For now, she added, "I'm just one more soldier."
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/FARC.ingrid.betancourt.2.762285.html
A previous story from Greg Palast;
"$300 MILLION FROM CHAVEZ TO FARC A FAKE"
http://www4.gregpalast.com/300-million-from-chavez-to-farc-a-fake/
Chavez was interfering in the U.S. Prop machine?????
http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/07/04/afx5184293.html
FARC leaders were paid millions to free hostages: Swiss radio 04 Jul 2008 Leaders of the Colombian FARC rebel movement were paid millions of dollars to free Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages, Swiss radio said on Friday, quoting 'a reliable source'. The 15 hostages released on Wednesday by the Colombian army 'were in reality ransomed for a high price, and the whole operation afterwards was a set-up,' the radio's French-language channel said. Saying the United States, which had three of its citizens among those freed, was behind the deal, it put the price of the ransom at some $20 million. The radio said its source was 'close to the events, reliable and tested many times in recent years.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1031937/Freed-hostage-Betancourt-returns-France-amid-claims-Colombian-rebels-paid-10-million-ransom.html
Freed hostage returns to France amid claims Colombian rebels were paid a £10 million ransom
04 Jul 2008 After six years of being held hostage in the Colombian jungle, the former Colombian presidential candidate and French citizen, Ingrid Betancourt, flew back to France... But her return came amid claims she was released together with three Americans after a £10million ransom was paid. Columbia had said the hostages were released after a daring raid on a rebel compound.
The recent additions of former Bush campaign mamagers to McCains staff is a another indicator of the push to perpetuate the Bush family nightmare.
The recent story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7266587.stm
President Uribe’s Hidden Past:
http://www.colombiajournal.org/colombia185.htm
Background on Ingrid Betancourt (the leftist detainee)
http://www.global.greens.org.au/colombia.html
The latter is the Leftist Green woman candidate that was "rescued" while McCain visited Columbia pushing the military bravado campaign that McCain wants serving a false flag for his run for U.S. presidency.
The contractor hostages could possibly be gov’t/private contractor employees keeping the progressive candidate in captivity like the military coup in Myanmar did with Aung San Suu Kyi
7/03/08, Nighline was talking as if the hostages were used to being moved by helicopter…. they “faked” them out wearing Che t-shirts… sounds so cheesey and unreal…
Meanwhile Blackwater, a private military contractor, has bought planes from Brazil.
Is Blackwater already in Columbia? (Drug War Purge on Google?) Mexican Drug War contract.
The Farc was so loosely knit(?), they could be used as a scapegoat to retain Uribe’s opposition?
http://www.gnn.tv/blogs/27377/Smash_Uribe
Comment from above site:
“There’s a very weird disinfotainment flick out in the sphere entitled La Sierra …. attempting to portray the FARC as nothing more than scrawny (and I mean SCRAWNY) street kids with guns and out of control sex drives — no political nada — and then, coup de grace, there’s a slice in at the end showing the paras handing in their weapons (and you know how pumped up on steroids those guys are) trying to put the kids in that category as well. Incredible blow job. Worth watching, I think. Just cuidado.
It’s not like they aren’t real street kids trying to make it in “modern” Colombia.
Here’s the netflix blurb :
Colombia-based journalists Scott Dalton and Margarita Martinez introduce us to a nation at civil war by hitting the streets of Medellín, a dangerous city ruled by a fierce paramilitary gang. By focusing on three vastly different personalities — Edison, a gang leader; Cielo, a widowed teenage mother; and Jesus, a drug-using thug — the filmmakers draw us into their world and capture startling moments of truth and sorrow.”
The following (from a friend) added July 4th, 2008;
dated on june 10 Hugo Chavez tells FARC to free hostages The Venezuelan leader surprises analysts by advising the Colombian rebel group to put down its arms and make peace.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-farc10-2008jun10,0,2750345.story
Who is Marc Gonsalves?
Marc is a 31 year old man that served in the US Air Force for 8 years.He is now an employee of California Microwave Systems ,a Defense Department contractor. He is a husband, father, and a son of people who care very much for him.
The reason I am telling you this?
Gonsalves, Stansell and Howes were doing drug surveillance for the Department of Defense when they were taken hostage in February. The single-engine plane carrying them and two other men crashed in a remote, mountainous region south of Colombia's capital, Bogota. Almost eight months later they are still being held. A rebel commander told the Americans their only hope for freedom would be an exchange of hostages held by the rebels for imprisoned guerrillas. If President Alvaro Uribe rejects an exchange, the Americans face years in captivity, said the commander, who goes by the nom de guerre Alfredo. Fearful that making deals with the rebels will only encourage more kidnappings - as has been the case in the past - U.S. and Colombian officials have taken a hard line and refuse to negotiate.
http://schema-root.org/military/mercenaries/marc_gonsalves/
all 3 employed here Northrop Grumman gets $20.8M Air Force deal Tuesday July 1, 11:22 am ET Northrop Grumman gets $20.8 million Air Force deal for technology work on B-52
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A division of Northrop Grumman Corp. received a $20.8 million contract from the Air Force to develop technology needed on the B-52 aircraft, the Pentagon said late Monday.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080701/northrop_grumman_air_force_contract.html?.v=1
ComputerWire Staff Computer Business Online - 1 hour 23 minutes ago Northrop Grumman has won a 56-month $240m subcontract from Lockheed Martin to provide critical technologies for the Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station (AMF) Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS).
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/cwire/20080704/ttc-northrop-grumman-wins-240m-dod-subco-78e70a2.html
Although officials said everyone directly involved in the rescue were Colombians, U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield said there was "close cooperation" from the Americans that included "exchange of intelligence" as well as "exchange of equipment, training advice and experiences of other operations. I will not enter into details." Breaking into tears, Betancourt appealed to the FARC to release the remaining hostages and make peace.
She thanked Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, against whom she was running when she was kidnapped, and said he "has been a very good president."
However, she said, "I continue to aspire to serve Colombia as president."
For now, she added, "I'm just one more soldier."
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/FARC.ingrid.betancourt.2.762285.html
A previous story from Greg Palast;
"$300 MILLION FROM CHAVEZ TO FARC A FAKE"
http://www4.gregpalast.com/300-million-from-chavez-to-farc-a-fake/
Chavez was interfering in the U.S. Prop machine?????
http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/07/04/afx5184293.html
FARC leaders were paid millions to free hostages: Swiss radio 04 Jul 2008 Leaders of the Colombian FARC rebel movement were paid millions of dollars to free Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages, Swiss radio said on Friday, quoting 'a reliable source'. The 15 hostages released on Wednesday by the Colombian army 'were in reality ransomed for a high price, and the whole operation afterwards was a set-up,' the radio's French-language channel said. Saying the United States, which had three of its citizens among those freed, was behind the deal, it put the price of the ransom at some $20 million. The radio said its source was 'close to the events, reliable and tested many times in recent years.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1031937/Freed-hostage-Betancourt-returns-France-amid-claims-Colombian-rebels-paid-10-million-ransom.html
Freed hostage returns to France amid claims Colombian rebels were paid a £10 million ransom
04 Jul 2008 After six years of being held hostage in the Colombian jungle, the former Colombian presidential candidate and French citizen, Ingrid Betancourt, flew back to France... But her return came amid claims she was released together with three Americans after a £10million ransom was paid. Columbia had said the hostages were released after a daring raid on a rebel compound.
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