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Title: Opposition to Blackwater USA's Plans for New Private Military Base Near Potrero a Tiny Rural Town East of San Diego Heats Up...
Source:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org
URL Source: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/21858
Published: Apr 28, 2007
Author: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org
Post Date: 2007-04-28 18:44:01 by robin
Keywords: None
Views: 188
Comments: 10
Local Democratic Club Joined by Their Congressman Takes Fight Statewide Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Potrero Residents, Environmentalists, and Peace Activists SAN DIEGO, CA – - The controversial private security firm Blackwater USA is planning to build a new private military training base on an 824-acre ranch near Potrero, a tiny rural town east of San Diego near the US-Mexico border. The project, known as "Blackwater West," is coming under increasing fire by a growing coalition of local residents, environmentalists, peace activists, and recently joined by their Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA). Raymond Lutz, President of the East County Democratic Club, will submit a resolution to the California Democratic Party State Convention to make private military bases, such as Blackwater West, illegal in California and more generally, to make any paramilitary, mercenary or similar boot camps illegal unless they are placed in safer, government-controlled locations. WHAT: News Conference outside California Democratic Party State Convention in support of resolution blocking ‘Blackwater West’ WHEN: Saturday, April 28th, 8:30AM WHERE: Convention Center Trolley Stop, North end of the San Diego Convention Center (Near the corner of Harbor Drive and First Street.) There is a large metal sculpture where we will gather. WHO: Raymond Lutz, President, East County Democratic Club and StopBlackwater.net organizer Congressman Bob Filner, 51st Congressional District Jan Hedlun, Potrero Planning Group Member, and opponent of the project. Jeanette Hartman, Chair, Land Use Committee, San Diego Chapter of the Sierra Club Carol Jahnkow, Peace activist, San Diego Peace Resource Center Other Potrero Residents “We are exploring every avenue to put a stop to this private mercenary boot camp that threatens the very foundations of our civil liberties in this country,” said Raymond Lutz, President of the East County Democratic Club. “It will ruin a remarkable mountain valley, a public asset of all citizens." To read full text of the Resolution Opposing Blackwater West and Mercenary Training in California go to: www.StopBlackwater.net Plans for the new Blackwater site includes multiple firing ranges, training towers, an armory, a helipad, an urban simulation training area and a driving track. The project won preliminary approval from the local planning board in December, but since then more than half the registered voters of Potrero have signed a petition opposing it. The residents are being joined by a growing coalition of environmentalists and peace activists. Local residents battle against Blackwater’s plans for the area was sparked by the New York Times Bestseller ‘Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army’ (www.blackwaterbook.com) by award-winning journalist and author Jeremy Scahill. Scahill’s exposure of the presence of Blackwater mercenaries in New Orleans post-Katrina and his reporting led to a Congressional inquiry and an internal Department of Homeland Security investigation. Packed audiences are expected when Jeremy Scahill speaks in Oakland, on Saturday, April 28, 7:30PM First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison; in Los Angeles on Monday, April 30th, 7:30PM at the Nativity Episcopal Church, 7:30PM, 6700 West 83rd St. Westchester; and in San Diego area on Tuesday, May 1st, 7PM at the Unitarian Church, 4190 Front St. and Wednesday, May, 2nd, 7PM at La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Dr. BLACKWATER WEST IN THE NEWS: Comment period extended on training camp A private army for California? Tiny Potrero Battles County and Blackwater USA ********** CONTACT: Poster Comment: private military companies (PMCs)
Announces They Will Submit Resolution to Stop ‘Blackwater West’
at California Democratic Party State Convention This Weekend
to Speak Out in Support of Measure Outside Convention Saturday, April 28th at 8:30AM
May 28 is deadline on Blackwater plan
By Anne Krueger April 26, 2007
San Diego Union-Tribune
www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070426-9999-2m26black.html
by Robert Salladay April 17, 2007
Los Angeles Times Political Muscle Blog
latimesblogs.latimes.com/politicalmuscle/2007/04/a_private_army_.html
By Don Bauder February 22, 2007
San Diego Reader
www.sdreader.com/php/cityshow.php?id=1566
Raymond Lutz
President of East County Democratic Club
raylutz@eastcountydemocraticclub.org
www.StopBlackwater.net
619-820-5321
posted 4 days ago by robin
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#1. To: All, *Mercenaries* (#0)
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." — Albert Einstein
Congress should shut off all money being used to pay contractors and shut down this hideous black mark on our history. Blackwater and all the shops like it will run out of work fast when the federal money stops. That could be done with immense popular support in America. They could stiff arm the presidentical and he couldn't even say "they're not funding the troops."
Intriguing. If I formed a militia training base in the woods on private property, I'd soon be in a firefight with the SS.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Congress should cut off ALL money to contractors like Black Water, and investigate them for violations of US law. Let them roll on their overlords.
AmeriKans will never have the organization of popular support to heal this dieing nation. Liberty left town years ago and Justice has been raped. All that is left are zombies worried only about day to day survival who have no time for revolution regardless of the encroaching PoliceState and the revocation of their Freedom to travel, to speak as they wish, to read what they wish, or to carry firearms to name only a few. AmeriKa is dead. I am here to make sure someone goes down fighting and takes a helluva lot of SS with them when we go. It's the least we can do.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition I don't know if they decide how the money is allocated.
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." — Albert Einstein
The congress can specify in its bills that no money authorized be spent on Mercs, and can make it a felony for any US govt official to violate that law. Congress can cut off funding to mercs any time it chooses, and can do so without altering their support of funds for the actual American troops.
Then all Private Military Companies (PMC) should be cut off at the knees.
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." — Albert Einstein
I agree. It's the best way to cut the Iraq war down, and stop Bush from this nonsense. He has almost as many mercs as soldiers in the country, and the only reason either are there is to support Bush's BUSINESS agenda. Take out the mercs, and all those projects STOP. Stop the projects, and the reason for being there ends.
Take out the mercs, and all those projects STOP. Stop the projects, and the reason for being there ends. bingo!
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." — Albert Einstein
#2. To: robin (#0)
#3. To: robin (#0)
The controversial private security firm Blackwater USA is planning to build a new private military training base on an 824-acre ranch near Potrero, a tiny rural town east of San Diego near the US-Mexico border. The project, known as "Blackwater West," is coming under increasing fire by a growing coalition of local residents, environmentalists, peace activists, and recently joined by their Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA).
#4. To: robin (#0)
#5. To: Paul Revere, jethro tull (#2)
(Edited)
That could be done with immense popular support in America
#6. To: Paul Revere (#4)
Congress should cut off ALL money to contractors like Black Water, and investigate them for violations of US law. Let them roll on their overlords.
#7. To: robin (#6)
#8. To: Paul Revere (#7)
#9. To: robin (#8)
#10. To: Paul Revere (#9)
to support Bush's BUSINESS agenda.
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