[Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] Fwd: Blackwater

[Karen Medina]

Dear Peace Discuss,

With regards to the local Blackwater issue, I think we are ready for a working group meeting. 

Even though the University is not going to continue the contract because of conflict of interest reasons, we still need to have the discussions and educate the communities. 

Anyone interested? Then email me with your availability for the following times: 
 Friday evening, 7pm 
 Saturday evening, 7pm (Sweet Corn festival 11am-11pm)
 Sunday evening, 7pm 
 Monday evening, 7pm (anti-raids vigil at 9pm)
 Tuesday evening, 7pm (Town Hall against Tim Johnson)

Suggestions for a coffee shop for the meeting are also welcome.

The working group needs to meet before next Wednesday so that we can have suggestions for the AWARE Presents meeting. 

-karen medina
>     In reading the article on the Blackwater agreement
>     in the News-Gazette, it seemed to me that the
>     remarks of Robin Kaler suggested that perhaps if
>     the proper procedures had been followed the
>     university would not have a problem contracting
>     with Blackwater.  I hope that this is not the
>     case.  Blackwater, like other private security
>     corporations  working in the international arena,
>     are a disaster from a human rights point of
>     view.  They are not accountable to the Uniform
>     Code of Military Justice as U.S. military
>     personnel are.  In Iraq, the U.S. authorities
>     have extended them immunity from prosecution by
>     the Iraqi government.  Because they are not
>     regarded as  state agents, they escape any
>     accountability based on international law,
>     including human rights treaties.
>     Firms  like Blackwater and Canopy are not
>     advancing any ideal other than profit.  In the
>     new corporate guise, they are nothing more than a
>     mercenary force.  They will employ anyone who has
>     fought on any side in the past, such as
>     experienced white South African mercenaries,
>     regardless of what these people fought for or whom
>     they fought against.
>     There used to be a principle in political theory
>     that the state was a unique entity in that it, and
>     it alone, legitimately held the right to use
>     violence.  The privatization of this right has
>     severe implications for accountability and the
>     respect for human rights.  The fact that
>     Blackwater is involved in domestic policing as
>     well as international operations, is doubly
>     alarming.  I certainly hope that the University
>     of Illinois will not have any relationship  with
>     Blackwater or like "security" firms.
>     Sincerely,
>     Belden Fields
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