US security firm runs into new trouble - and this time it's closer to home

Rural community opposes expansion by company at centre of Iraq allegations
Dan Glaister in Potrero, California
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2219612,00.html

Randel Parks pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and rocked back on the heels of his cowboy boots. "I've been here 30 years," he said, staring at the ground, "and I've spent most of my adult life working on this property, turning it into my piece of paradise. I'll be damned if I'm going to let them spoil it."

A mile away, around a bend in the mountain road that runs past Parks's property, his new neighbours spread a map out on the ground to discuss plans for the 325-hectare (800-acre) site they are in the process of buying. "There will be eight 100-yd carbine ranges here, and three 50-yd pistol ranges here. And we'll have a 10,000-sq ft armoury and a bunkhouse for 360 students over here."

Welcome to Blackwater West, the latest expansion from the company that dominates private security operations in Iraq. Last month Blackwater's chief executive, Erik Prince, appeared before Congress to defend the company's role in the alleged shootings of unarmed civilians. This week, reports alleged that it had turned a blind eye to the use of steroids among its employees.

Now the company is looking to expand domestically. So it has come to the border hamlet of Potrero, population 850. Eight miles from Mexico and 40 miles inland from San Diego, Potrero has found itself at the centre of a controversy.

fired their entire city council, who were negotiating with Blackwater and are scheduled to have a special election to fill all of the vacant city council seats. (All 5) One big problem they ran into. the fire. That was where the first fire started, right in potrero. I haven't read anything about the cause of that fire, but I found it very suspicious that a fire would start right there.

unless and until we rub their noses in it....

the aritcle contains quotes from some who don't, who see supporting Blackwater as "a matter of patriotism":

"At Barrett lake, alongside tents set up for the 17 Potrero households who lost their homes in fires, stand three Blackwater trailers. "They were the first ones here," said Brenda Wise. "Blackwater called up and gave us everything we needed. If their centre had been in place when the fire started maybe we wouldn't have had fires at all." Wise, who is standing as a pro-Blackwater candidate in the planning group election, said: "I'm sorely offended by groups hiring protesters and trying to take over the community for their own political gain."

"The protesters she referred to are the 200 or more people who attended a rally against the development held on Parks's land. Those behind the rally deny that anybody was paid to attend.

"A smaller, counter rally was held on a neighbouring property belonging to Shirley Reider and her husband. "To me it's a matter of patriotism," said Reider. "Blackwater has done a lot for our country. Every organisation, even the marines, gets a bad apple now and then, but you deal with that. We should be thankful that we have patriotic Americans who'll defend us."

with these fires.... And the location in which they occurred.. Me, being a close neighbor to Blackwater here in NC can say that YOU DO NOT WANT THEM AROUND, PERIOD!

These pricks chased me around for 3 weeks last year after I started writing articles about them and their accomplices.

Accomplices such as Borelli Consulting:
http://www.borelliconsulting.com/

Just go have a look at their banner which states "On The Front Lines At Home" which also shows the crosshairs pointing at the scales of Justice..

Once I showed this website to many people, Borelli decided that they had to come up with an explanation for their Logo:
http://www.borelliconsulting.com/bcilogo.htm

And I call Bullshit!

is going to be by mail. And then the town burned down. And according to reports, only Blackwater was allowed on the roads during the fires. It is very very scary.