[Peace] Fwd: Blackwater

[Belden Fields]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Belden Fields <a-fields at uiuc.edu>
> Date: August 23, 2007 1:00:09 PM CDT
> To: katehi at uiuc.edu, UPEexcom <EXCOMM at prairienet.org>
> Cc: rhh at uiuc.edu
> Subject: Blackwater
>
> Dear Richard and Linda,
>
> 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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