WTF // Current

^#81

The stimulus swindle.

The con is on!

SHAWN_RITTIMAN
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Los Angeles mansion vacant since 1959 murder-suicide

Interesting story about a mansion in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles where a doctor killed his wife and himself in 1959.... more

hammernails
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CIA station chief in Algeria accused of rapes

Spy Boss Allegedly Drugged Muslim Women, Made Secret Sex Videos

jtolbert
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'Cows' far more responsible than C02 from cars in global warming

Who do you think is the world’s top destroyer of the environment? Emissions from Car or the planes or George Bush. However,... more

interditx
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WOOFERS | By Paul Treacy | Category: Pets

Please vote for this book. $3000 up for grabs in Blurb Best Books Contest. Referring to the 1st edition of Woofers in 2006:... more

paultreacy
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Ex President of Honduras Manuel Zelaya During his Era as a Guerrilla

Manuel Zelaya, the ousted ex president of Honduras never thought this picture would ever come back to hunt him. This is the... more

Zurama
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Drunk woman falls into Boston train track

Lucky lucky escape...

kirstie
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Blackwater Approved Bribes to Iraqi Officials After Shootings

WASHINGTON — Top executives at Blackwater Worldwide authorized secret payments of about $1 million to Iraqi officials that were intended to silence their criticism and buy their support after a September 2007 episode in which Blackwater security guards fatally shot 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad, according to former company officials.

Blackwater approved the cash payments in December 2007, the officials said, as protests over the deadly shootings in Nisour Square stoked long-simmering anger inside Iraq about reckless practices by the security company’s employees. American and Iraqi investigators had already concluded that the shootings were unjustified, top Iraqi officials were calling for Blackwater’s ouster from the country and company officials feared that Blackwater might be refused an operating license it would need to retain its contracts with the State Department and private clients, worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Four former Blackwater executives said in interviews that Gary Jackson, who was then the company’s president, had approved the bribes, and the money was sent from Amman, Jordan, where Blackwater maintains an operations hub, to a top manager in Iraq. The executives, though, said they did not know whether the cash was delivered to Iraqi officials or the identities of the potential recipients.

Blackwater’s strategy of buying off the government officials, which would have been illegal under American law, created a deep rift inside the company, according to the former executives. They said that Cofer Black, who was then the company’s vice chairman and a former top C.I.A. and State Department official, learned of the plan from another Blackwater manager while he was in Baghdad discussing compensation for families of the shooting victims with United States Embassy officials.

Alarmed about the secret payments, Mr. Black cut short his talks and left Iraq. Soon after returning to the United States, he confronted Erik Prince, the company’s chairman and founder, who did not dispute that there was a bribery plan, according to a former Blackwater executive familiar with the meeting. Mr. Black resigned the following year.

Stacy DeLuke, a company spokeswoman, dismissed the allegations as “baseless” and said the company would not comment about former employees. Mr. Black did not respond to telephone calls and e-mail messages seeking comment.

Reached by phone, Mr. Jackson, who resigned as president of Blackwater early this year, criticized The New York Times and said, “I don’t care what you write.”

The four former Blackwater executives, who had held high-ranking posts at the company, would speak only on condition of anonymity. Two of them said they took part in talks about the payments; the two others said they had been told by several Blackwater officials about the discussions. In agreeing to describe those conversations, the four officials said that they were troubled by a pattern of questionable conduct by Blackwater, which had led them to leave the company.

Blackwater continued operating as the prime contractor providing security for the United States Embassy in Baghdad until spring, when the Iraqi government said it would deny the company an operating license. The State Department replaced Blackwater with a rival company in May, but Blackwater still does some work for the department in Iraq on a temporary basis.

Five Blackwater guards involved in the shooting are facing federal manslaughter charges and their trial is scheduled to start in February in Washington. A sixth guard pleaded guilty in December. Blackwater, now known as Xe Services, has never faced criminal charges in the case, although the Iraqi victims brought a civil lawsuit in federal court against the company and Mr. Prince.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/world/middleeast/11blackwater.html?_r=1&emc=naWASHINGTON — Top executives at Blackwater Worldwide authorized secret payments of about $1 million to Iraqi officials that... more

Nettle
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14 comments

21 days ago

^#89

Atheists use Obama to promote secularism

The American Humanist Association will be using Obama to promote the virtues of secular family life. The AHA will use Obama's... more

unimatrix0
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59 comments

10 months ago

^#90

Toddler Chokes To Death On Lolly

A TODDLER choked to death in front of his horrified family after a lollipop came off its stick and became wedged in his throat. Little Francis Dean, two, started struggling for breath after being given the lolly as a treat for eating his dinner.

His brother Michael, 13, took hold of the stick but it suddenly came away in his hand — leaving Francis gasping for air. Family and friends frantically tried to save the youngster but he died before reaching hospital.

Last night his anguished parents David and Dawn warned other parents to be extra careful with lollipops. And they urged manufacturers Swizzels Matlow to make the warnings on sweets clearer.

The sweet was part of Swizzels Matlow's 'lots of lollies' pack which carries a warning saying, 'Lollipops are a potential choking hazard. Not suitable for children under 36 months'. But the cellophane wrapper on the actual lollipop does not carry any warning.

Dawn, of Newton Heath, Manchester, added: "Kids love sweets and lollipops and this could have been any sweet given to any child. We would urge the manufacturers to put warnings on each individual lolly or to make them smaller. I'd just say to other parents, you can never be too cautious. We would never have thought this could harm our child."

"We had two-and-a-half wonderful years with him. He was full of life. He loved playing with his toys, his Power Rangers and cars. He liked football and had his own little cricket set to play with his brother. They were very close - he was close to all his family."

"He was a very, very happy chap. He loved nursery and had some wonderful friends who are devastated. We want to thank everyone, all our lovely friends and family and neighbours, for their comforting words and everything they've done for him and us."

A spokesman for Swizzels Matlow said: "All at Swizzels Matlow were devastated to hear of the tragic death of this baby boy. Most of us are parents and we can only imagine the pain and anguish that the little boy's parents are facing."

"As soon as we are furnished with more details we will mount a full investigation."

http://www.bigredkev.com/2009/11/toddler-chokes-to-death-on-lolly.htmlA TODDLER choked to death in front of his horrified family after a lollipop came off its stick and became wedged in his throat.... more