WASHINGTON — Two former employees of Blackwater Worldwide have accused the private security company of defrauding the government for years by filing bogus receipts, double billing for the same services and charging government agencies for strippers and prostitutes, according to court documents unsealed this week.
In a December 2008 lawsuit, the former employees said top Blackwater officials had engaged in a pattern of deception as they carried out government contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The lawsuit, filed under the False Claims Act, also asserts that Blackwater officials turned a blind eye to “excessive and unjustified” force against Iraqi civilians by several Blackwater guards. The documents detailing the Davises’ accusations were unsealed after the Justice Department declined to join in the case against Blackwater, which last year changed its name to Xe Services. A Xe spokeswoman did not return a message seeking comment about the case. According to the lawsuit, Ms. Davis raised concerns about the company’s bookkeeping with her bosses in March 2006, when she was handling accounts for the company’s contracts with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. The lawsuit claims she was told to “back off,” and that she “would never win a medal for saving the government money.”
Ms. Davis also asserts that a Filipino prostitute in Afghanistan was put on the Blackwater payroll under the “Morale Welfare Recreation” category, and that the company had billed the prostitute’s plane tickets and monthly salary to the government.
Outraged yet? Do we have a President that will remedy this? Probably not.
We liberals warned you conservatives that using mercenaries to fight our wars was a really boneheaded idea.
Blow and tug are probably the least of their offences. Wholesale weapons sales to tribal faction in Iraq and Afghanistan, smuggling heroin and money laundering for the Virginians could make their franchise a little shaky.
How does one go about applying to this fine, upstanding organization?
#21. Yes, and now that you Lieberals are in power what have you done about it? Change it?
the answer is NOTHING…….
Stop blame game, fix the fucking problem.
The Romans stopped expanding its military and instead opted for military contractors (Barbarians) to protect the frontier. After awhile the Barbarians realized their position….and then proceeded to sack Rome.
this FROM A NATION THAT CANT KEEP 1% OF ITS PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY.
Aaaaah, what a refreshing change in the way things are done in Washington. I can even swear that’ the first time I see that Blackwater pic and also the first time I laugh at it.
#3 You won the Hypocrite Sheeple Award of the day.
#21 So what you’re saying is that Obama is a bonehead by continuation? I agree.
“…we’ve been more aggressive with the middle east than the past administration ever was”… Joe Biden
There you have it kids! From the horse’s mouth. Change you can believe in.
I don’t know where the irony starts & where it ends, because it’s all over!
Although I really loved when Biden said to Cheney “…one thing is criticizing and another trying to re-write history”
Golden!
#28 Pedro, what’s the rest of that quote from Biden, and in what context? Forgive me for mistrusting you, but with all due respect, I’ve seen some of your comments, and I absolutely don’t trust that you’ve accurately represented his remark. After all, we know that in the fullest sense, no one could possibly have been more aggressive in the Middle East than the prior administration that invaded a country to overthrow its government, so I’m guessing that Biden probably had a more limited scope in mind when he made that remark. For instance, if he had been talking about diplomacy, the statement would be so obviously true that it wouldn’t merit mention.
Do tell. If Biden made yet another huge gaffe, we’d love to share your chuckle, but at least we’d like to know that it’s based on an accurate quote.
Was Limbaugh or Beck laying out some Biden love this week? It seems like the usual suspects are fixated on old Joe suddenly.
#29 Just a hint for ya: diplomacy was not a part of Biden words.
How naive can you be?
#30 Suddenly? What happened is that suddenly he opened his mouth and was worse than Quayle at it.
But fear not, your support for military action in the middle east is dully noted.
#31 Pedro, your hint is virtually meaningless. I’m merely giving you the opportunity to show that you didn’t misrepresent the Vice President’s comments by excluding important contextual information. I’d hate to think that the boy who always cries “Sheeple!” isn’t actually the one trying to mislead others, but the more you evade the question, the more difficult it is to give you the benefit of the doubt.
#32 Like your master’s actions do not back-up what they’re saying. But hey, you have the right to stay on denial. Whatever gets you thru the night.
Specially since you have only 2 options to choose from, either:
Bush was right and Obama and company are following suite, or
You were bamboozled by those telling you about change.
Pick your poison.
No, you guys are definitely obsessed with Biden this week. And you really should not call yourself dull.
for the amount these BOSS’s are making at Blackwater we should be able to pay GOOD money to our military.
#34 Aaaahahahaha, what a pathetic attempt at distorting reality. Sheeple!
>> McCullough said, on February 13th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
>> Stop blame game, fix the fucking problem.
When people REALLY SCREW UP BIG TIME, they always get self-righteous and say, “stop the blame game.”
Sadly, probably the only way to deal with the Iraq mess that the conservatives made is to withdraw, despite the possible horrible aftermath.
Obama is doing that despite your claims that he is doing “absolutely nothing.”
>> pedro said, on February 14th, 2010 at 1:18 am
>> #21 So what you’re saying is that Obama is a bonehead by continuation? I agree.
Well, we agree that the Bush was boneheaded for using mercenaries. (and applauded and defended every step of the way by conservatives, it should never be forgotten)
The Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld disaster in Iraq, while wildly popular with conservatives, was a boon doggle disaster of such scope that it can’t be fixed by throwing some switch in the Whitehouse.
It can probably only be fixed by ending the whole damn occupation which Obama is trying to do in the face of formidable conservative opposition and criticism.
This charge that Bush “has done absolutely nothing” is height of illogical, conservative cynicism and cheap politics. THE CONSERVATIVES HAVE TRIED TO BLOCK EVERYTHING OBAMA DOES — and then complain that he has not done anything!
It just reveals what an empty, valueless, vision-less, un-patriotic movement conservatism has become.
cREG,
Dont ya love some of these folks..
Its like a Fireman coming out of a building, NOT carrying a hose or bringing someone to safety.. And you THINK he did nothing.
or
Looking at the GREATER in a busy store and wonder Why he isnt CHECKING, and getting people out of the store.
You would THINK, that some of these folks, Believe that a product that sold for 9.99, cost 8.99 and the ONLY profit was $1.
Or that SOME of these folks think that a sale of 25% off, is a BAD thing for a store to do.
The presidents job, is not easy.
Between the 300 idiots,
Activists(??) about 1000 groups.
Corps trying to get THEIR say in LAW..
All of this affecting who gets BOUGHT OUT..(try to prove that)..
RACIAL problems, YEP there are a BUNCH of those that dont like the pres, NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES..
TRYING to correct/fix/change/DO SOMETHING, about the last 8+ years of CRAP.
some of these people think the PRES has power enough to walk in and say..”STOP THAT, FIX IT” as a parent would in a house of Rowdy KIDS.
TRY to be a NEW principle of a high school and Announce that NO ONE can go home until Everyone raised their grade point by 1.. WATCh the kids walk off the school..
#38 So, what you’re trying to tell us is that Obama made all the troops in the middle east return already. Is that right? Because that was one of the first things he was going to do.
Remember, you still have the filibuster as a defense here too. With that threat, the repukes are making Obama fail this promise.