Ever Want to Know the Real Story About Blackwater?

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Democracy Now - May 4, 2010

Secret Recording of Erik Prince Reveals Previously Undisclosed Blackwater Ops

Investigative journalist and Democracy Now! correspondent Jeremy Scahill obtains a rare audio recording of a recent, private speech delivered by Erik Prince, the owner of Blackwater, to a friendly audience in January. The speech, which Prince attempted to keep from public consumption, provides a stunning glimpse into his views and future plans and reveals details of previously undisclosed activities of Blackwater. In a Democracy Now! exclusive broadcast we play excerpts of the recording and speak with Scahill about the revelations. link

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The Economy, War, Immigration, and Obama

It is a common story that the economic stimulus plan for the Great Depression was World War II.  Is that why Obama is intensifying our involvement in Afghanistan?  

This all fits with the U.S. Military announcing that immigrant soldiers will be able to get a fast track to citizenship.  For those that didn't read the fine print of the article -- this opportunity is only for those who already have green cards based on their employment.  THIS IS NOT FOR DREAMers - at least not at this time.

The bright side of this is that maybe this ruling will help the nation ease into the DREAM Act.  But we won't know that until the DREAM Act bill comes up in Congress.  I'm sure there is lots going on at this time, but us everyday people generally don't know what happens in the secret negotiations among our Representatives and Senators.

Either way, it seems that our immigrant soldiers will be paying the cost of our military stimilus program by going to Afghanistan and fighting a war against a group (or groups) of people that have never been defeated.  Just ask the Russians and the British.  The place is a disaster for war.  The U.S. didn't help this by the involvement of previous administrations who assisted the Taliban in developing its poppy fields (see the book Good Muslim, Bad Muslim)

The money the country can make from going to war might have been enough to salvage the economy.  But the situation is so bad now, its hard to say what will work. 

link to map

One more Houston Marine dies in Afghanistan

Son of Mexican immigrants dies in Afghanistan. He had been a Marine for 10 years.

The reporter mentions in the first paragraph of the article that Heredia's parents were "legal" immigrants from Mexico. Why was this necessary? Was it so that the immigrant haters wouldn't bash the Chronicle in the commentary section? What difference does it make how Edgar's parents got here?

Our deepest respect for Heredia's family. But we believe that the Chronicle insults those fallen soldiers whose families came to the U.S. by other means by specifying if their parents had papers or not when they arrived.

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July 2, 2008, 12:16AM
Fallen Marine wanted to give back to U.S.
The son of parents from Mexico, he felt America had been good to his family

By Rosanna Ruiz
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
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As the son of legal residents from Mexico, Edgar A. Heredia wanted to give back to the country that had been so good to his family.

Last Thursday, Edgar Heredia, ...28-year-old staff sergeant gave his life in Afghanistan.

Heredia died in combat in the western province of Farah during a combat mission in what had been a particularly deadly month for coalition forces there, according to the Department of Defense.

More coalition troops have been killed in Afghanistan than in Iraq for the second straight month, according to The Associated Press.

At least 44 international troops died there last month, compared to about 30 in Iraq.

Heredia had served a tour in Iraq during his 10 years in the Marines.

He was assigned to the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Brother Sam Heredia and father Alejandro Heredia were at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Tuesday, where the Marine's remains were sent.

A Marine Corps honor guard will meet the family at noon today when they arrive at Hobby Airport.

Heredia enlisted in the Marines after graduating from Taylor High School, in the Alief Independent School District, in 1998.

He planned to make it a career, Sam Heredia said...

rosanna.ruiz@chron.com

for complete Houston Chronicle article click here

thanks to A.P. for passing this along