| From The Editor May 22 2006 |
"Mom,the children have no shoes!"In several emails to his mother JoAnne, SPC Eric Burri from the 82nd Airborne, expressed his anguish at the sight of Iraqi children without shoes. Eric was killed in action on June 7, 2005 after a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle. Remembering her son's wishes to help the children of Iraq who made him smile so often, JoAnne Burri and her family have decided to collect shoes for the children of Iraq in memory of Eric. The collection began on May 9th and continues through May 30th. Eric's family is hoping to collect as many pairs of new or gently used shoes as they can to send to Iraq.Blackwater is proud to support the Burri family as they continue the legacy of commitment and dedication that SPC Eric Burri demonstrated every day as a Soldier in the U. S. Army. We will collect new and gently used shoes from the Northeast North Carolina and Hampton Roads, Virginia areas until May 30, 2006. Blackwater will then deliver the shoes that both we and the Burri family have collected to Iraq where we will deliver some to Eric's unit for distribution. The remaining shoes will go to Iraqi orphanages throughout the country. Iraqi children are the future of a free and democratic Iraq. We just think they should have something on their feet as they march into that new future. Please send your new or gently used shoes to: Shoes for Iraqi Children Blackwater USA P. O. Box 1029 Moyock, NC 27958 For inquiries, please call (252) 435-2488 and ask for Chris Taylor or Ana Bundy. New Greatest Generation I like this because I think/hope that there is a "new greatest generation" emerging in America today..which will only become apparent in about 20 or 30 years -- if they are successful.. This new generation of leaders is emerging not just in the military, but also in politics and business..there is a continuity in spirit with our forebearers..this slide show tells some of that story. http://www.coastalwebdesign.com/WeSupportU.htm Gary Jackson President Blackwater |
 |
QUOTE OF THE WEEK |
| The proper means of increasing the love we bear our native country is to reside some time in a foreign one.
William Shenstone |
|
PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES, EDITORIALS AND OPINIONS |
In Afghan Poppy Heartland, New Crops, Growing DangerMahmad Naim's cucumber patch is a speck of defiance in a vast landscape of opium poppy fields whose bright green bulbs, bursting with toxic sap, will bring nearly $1 billion into Helmand province this year. Naim is one of a few thousand farmers in Helmand, the country's major opium-producing region, who have signed on to a U.S.-sponsored program aimed at proving that legal crops, such as eggplants and tomatoes, can bring a healthy income for those who switch from poppy.http://terrorism.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=WarReports&file=index&view=1162 Welcome to America—Terrorists, Drug Traffickers and Open BordersBy: Ron ChepesiukIn the wake of 9-11, U.S. officials working to fight the international drug trade have warned that al-Qaida and other Islamic terrorists may be trying to forge links with the powerful drug traffickers in Colombia and Mexico. In March 2004, Harold Wankel, the assistant administrator for intelligence at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), told a panel discussion hosted by ABC News in New York that “if al Qaida comes to South America and (if) they need to get something done in the United States that requires movement, they need ,to go to the people who are professionals, the people that are the best at it, and that is the Colombian-Mexican organized criminal groups that are closely aligned these days.” http://www.swatdigest.com/archives/swmag_apr_terborder.html School Resource Officers' Next MillenniumA few decades back, School Resource Officers didn't even have such a name. They were generally cops assigned to a High School to assist the school faculty and staff with maintaining the peace among sometimes hot-headed and rowdy teenagers. Across the years the School Resource Officers (SROs) found their duties expanding to cover drug enforcement in the school environment (with attention to the special conditions that exist in an educational facility full of minors), crowd control at games and assemblies, and more. As we're about half-way through our seventh year of the new millennium, SROs have to face the reality of their duties expanding again - and this time in a way that potentially presents a larger threat to the school, economy and country than they've ever dealt with before: terrorist acts.http://www.borelliconsulting.com/articles/sroduty.htm |
|
BREAKING NEWS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
Gunman Captured After Killing 5 in La.A man opened fire Sunday morning at a church, fatally wounding four people before abducting his wife, whom he later shot to death at another location, authorities said.The suspect, Anthony Bell, 25, of Baton Rouge, was captured at an apartment complex near the church. The couple's small child, who was abducted along with the wife, was not harmed. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1987554 Attorney Gen.: Reporters Can Be ProsecutedAttorney General Alberto Gonzales said Sunday he believes journalists can be prosecuted for publishing classified information, citing an obligation to national security.The nation's top law enforcer also said the government will not hesitate to track telephone calls made by reporters as part of a criminal leak investigation, but officials would not do so routinely and randomly. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/05/21/D8HO7PM80.html Olmert: Iran Close to Atomic Bomb Know-HowIran is just a few months away from acquiring the technological know- how that will allow it to build an atomic bomb, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in an interview broadcast Sunday.Olmert flew to Washington on Sunday for his first meeting as prime minister with President Bush. The two leaders are expected to discuss Iran's nuclear ambitions. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/05/21/D8HO8FD82.html Feds Bust Teen. Again.A teenager who was charged last year with threatening the lives of President George W. Bush and other federal officials has again been arrested, this time for manufacturing bogus U.S Secret Service credentials. Acting on an anonymous telephone tip, federal agents yesterday arrested Peter Bonfiglio, 19, at the New York City residence he shares with his grandparents.http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0519062ss1.html |
|
JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
| TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND SUBMIT YOUR RESUME AND DD-214 CLICK HERE |
|
SECURITY FOR THE PROFESSIONAL |
Palestinians Foil 2nd Assassination EffortPalestinian security foiled the second attempt in two days to kill top commanders loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas in what officials in his Fatah party said Sunday was a "clear conspiracy" against their leaders. Fatah officials stopped short of openly accusing the rival Hamas militant group, which controls the Palestinian government. But the latest bout of Palestinian infighting, mainly over control of the security forces, has raised fears of civil warhttp://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ISRAEL_PALESTINIANS?SITE=INLAF&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Firefights Kill 1 French, 16 Afghan TroopsOne French and 16 Afghan soldiers were killed and about 40 other troops were wounded in two firefights in southern Afghanistan, coalition and Afghan officials said Sunday. In one battle in Helmand province, 13 Afghan soldiers were killed and 15 injured in an eight-hour firefight Saturday, said Gen. Zahir Azimi, the Defense Ministry spokesman. He said at least nine Taliban militants were killed in the battle in Sangin districthttp://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AFGHAN_SOLDIERS_KILLED?SITE=TXHAR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Iraqi Prime Minister Vows to End ViolenceIraq's new prime minister promised Sunday to use "maximum force" if necessary to end the brutal insurgent and sectarian violence wracking the country, while a suicide bomber killed more than a dozen people at a restaurant in downtown Baghdad. Although he focused on the need tohttp://apnews.myway.com/article/20060521/D8HOCNJ81.html Tensions Between Hamas and Fatah EscalatePalestinian police thwarted an attack Sunday on a security commander - the second ally of President Mahmoud Abbas targeted in two days - as the rivalry between his moderate Fatah Party and the Hamas militant group threatened to explode. Abbas called on both sides to dohttp://apnews.myway.com/article/20060521/D8HOCKJO0.html |
|
FRANKS REVIEW |
Service Equipment ReviewArmaLite AR-10T .308Several years back I had the privilege of attending sniper school at Blackwater under the auspices of Col. Norm Chandler. It was quite educational. One thing we were taught was that semi-automatic rifles could never be as inherently accurate as bolt action rifles due to the repeated movement and necessary tolerances in the recoil-powered bolt system of the semi-auto. Awhile after that, I came into possession of an ArmaLite AR-10T: a semi-automatic .308 caliber rifle with an 18" barrel (think M16 on steroids). Now much conversation had been had in the sniper course about whether or not a long barrel was necessary on a sniper weapon. In fact, I took the class with a weapon that had a 20" barrel built by Iron Brigade Armory (Col. Chandler's company).The AR-10T I had was specifically built for use as an "urban" sniper weapon. It didn't even have a magnified scope on it: it had an EOTech reflex sight instead. Today that very same gun is being used by a police sniper (all he did was add a bipod) and he reports consistently shooting 1/2" groups - meaning this weapon habitually performs at 1/2 MOA or better. The rest of the story: http://www.borelliconsulting.com/evals/guns/armalitear10t.htm Recreational Equipment ReviewBlackHawk Blades Folding CrucibleIn the year 2000 I was tasked with testing several folding lockblade knives for an article I was asked to write for a police periodical. One of those knives was the Dieter CQD being made by Masters of Defese. Since that time, Masters of Defense has become a part of the BlackHawk Products Group (BlackHawk "family") and has continued to produce fine knives. Leveraging the knowledge and skills of Masters of Defense, but wanting to produce more reasonably priced knives, BlackHawk introduced their own line of knives: BlackHawk Blades.The Crucible is one of the relatively new BlackHawk Blades, and is available in both a fixed blade model and a folding blade model. For the purposes of this review, I tested the Crucible folder, but we'll look at the stats and info on the fixed model as well. The rest of the story: http://www.borelliconsulting.com/recevals/toolknife/bhcrucible.htm |
|
CHAPLAINS CORNER |
| Fame is
a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wing, and only character endures. -Horace Greeley Walking beat duty... late Friday night... resort strip, Atlantic Ave. and 21st Street... A neat appearing young man walks up to me and begins conversation. I am a chaplain wearing a recognizable uniform and collar... I was standing about ten feet from a street preacher who was getting much attention and difficult, loud attention from a young woman... My purpose was to watch and listen to make sure that peace was maintained. Both the street preacher and the young woman had a right to be there and make the comments they had made so far... The neat appearing young man told me he was an F-18 pilot currently... but had some time back been assigned with ground troops in Iraq... during that duty he had experienced one of those times of duty that demands decision and action... and that decision and action pursues him still today... He had to kill a child carrying a large amount of explosives strapped to his young body who was intent upon getting to our troops and detonating the explosives. The vision of that child in his sights and the following explosion is burned indelibly into his memory... and for him it will not go away... For the rest of the story go here: http://www.blackwaterusa.com/btw2006/article/052206chaplain.html |
|
BUMPER STICKER |
|
|
LEGAL NOTICE |
| Blackwater USA (the "Company"), provides this Newsletter as a source of diverse information to its readers. The Company does not warrant or endorse the products or services advertised in or reviewed in the Newsletter. The views and statements of the reviewers and commentators presented in the Newsletter are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Company or its affiliates. The Company does not monitor or warrant the accuracy or reliability of the material provided in this Newsletter or presented at any of the third-party websites to which links are provided in this Newsletter. WARNING: Use of certain of the products and services discussed or reviewed in this Newsletter can lead to personal injury or death. It is critical to follow manufacturers' instructions in using such products or services. The Company will not accept any liability for damages, injuries, or death resulting from the use or misuse of any such products or services. |
 |
|
  |
|
  |
|
 
  
Want to Advertise - click here! |
|
