Democracy Won; Blackwater Zero

A tiny town in the pristine high wilderness of eastern San Diego County made history tonight with the nation's first-ever up or down vote on Blackwater, the infamous, private mercenary army. The people spoke and the answer was clear: no to Blackwater. And a resounding yes to democracy. Would that our politicians could act as decisively.

I'm here at the San Diego registrar of voter's headquarters, an enormous one story warehouse-style building that very much resembles a major post office facility. Those of us who came to watch the votes being counted were escorted to the back of the office portion of the building where twenty or so people sat in a small conference room. Extra chairs were brought in so that we all had seats to watch seven election officials sitting around the big conference table, counting ballots one at a time with meticulous care.

As Julia Rosen says, the counting took over five hours, even though only 280 or so ballots were cast.
The ballot is complicated. Voters decide whether or not to recall each of five members of the Potrero Community Planning Group. And then they vote for a replacement. It's the same principle behind the recall of Governor Davis, except in this case five incumbents were tossed out, all by people power without the "help" of expensive consultants, like Chris Lehane, whose "assistance" to Gray Davis brought us Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Expect Lehane to take on Blackwater as a client any day now.)

As trite as it sounds, it really is a David and Goliath story. The David in this case is personified by Carl Meyer, a farmer who used democracy to hit Blackwater between the eyes by leading the recall effort. The Courage Campaign, which has been organizing against Blackwater's attempt to invade California since last April, produced a two and a half minute video introducing Carl. We waited until after the election to release it. (Thanks to producer/directors Shaun Kadlec and Deb Tullman for a terrific job.)

The vote count is clear and stunning: of just over 280 votes cast, (59% turnout) each of the incumbents was recalled with at least 63% in favor and each of the anti-Blackwater (pro-Potrero) candidates received no less than 71% of the votes. The new members will take their office upon certification of the results; the registrar told us that certification would occur not later than Thursday morning. With the next meeting of the Planning Group scheduled for Thursday night, we should have a 100% anti-Blackwater (pro-Potrero) panel set to take action.

Unfortunately, the biblical comparison ends here. Goliath was one giant, felled by a sling shot precisely placed between his eyes. Blackwater is more of a hydra, with new heads popping up every day in the strangest damned places. With billions of dollars of your tax payer dollars engorging its coffers, the company is far from finished in San Diego. After all, who cares if the neighbors say no? Blackwater will say, "This was all about politics, not about the truth. We'll wait to hear what the county supervisors say."

And why not? The fight only began tonight. Over the next year, Blackwater will use its considerable war chest to convince at least three of the five Republican supervisors in San Diego County to overrule the voters and approve its 824 acre mercenary training facility. We have our work cut out for us, but Carl Meyer said it best tonight: "The same recall mechanism works for county supervisors as for the Potrero planning group."

Blackwater wants desperately to open up shop in Potrero because they'd be only a few miles from the Mexican border. With its mercenaries facing indictment for the murder of seventeen Iraqi civilians in September, business overseas may soon decline. Here's Tuesday's New York Times:

"Mr. Strong (Blackwater's vice president for communications) said that the high-altitude blimp would be ideal for border surveillance operations or drug interdiction. He said the company wanted to win more Homeland Security contracts focused on border security training, and in choosing the location here, just eight miles from the border, Blackwater was banking on an increase in the number of border guards."

Blackwater's founder, Erik Prince, is one of the largest donors to right wing causes including the Republican Party. That's how he got so many no-bid contracts in Iraq. Undoubtedly, he plans the same strategy for domestic mercenary work.

Mr. Prince and his steroid-enhanced shooters never expected democracy in a small town to derail their merry ride to building a domestic private militia. Thanks to Carl Meyer and his stalwarts, Blackwater just hit a speed bump. Maybe now that it's safe, our elected officials will join Congressman Bob Filner and the people of Potrero in saying no to Blackwater.

We at the Courage Campaign today launched blockblackwater.com just to be sure they do.

Comments

[socal55]

This not the most violent incident involving a Blackwater thug, but given all the investigations swirling around this rouge corporation I think it is very troubling. It involves our brave military men. You know the same ones Eric Prince just wants to support.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/03/airforce_blackwater_article32_070323w/

[Berettasskeeter]

Wow, you folks are as uninformed about the makeup of security companies as possible. Blackwater is no different from Wackenhut, or from the local security company that guards local business, banks, and offices. Their training is superb because of who their officers are and who they hire, namely former military infantry and special forces. These men and women are absolutely no different from your neighbors, cousins, Fathers and Mothers. They love America no less than you, and have the training and mindset to do a job you could not and would not. They are vetted very strictly. Psychopaths and sociopaths are not hired, any more than the military hires them. You folks need to get a grip and stop drinking the Lefts koolaid.
Semper fi

[Notorious Nuno]

Start taking out these politicians, before they take you, and your families out. You put a stop to them, or torture them a little with fear, and they'll back off/stop funding these terrorists groups like Blackwater.

[mbaty]

War is such big business for these cronies. Why wouldn't they want to move into California--they're just trying to make a buck and protect you too, really. Does anyone notice that the entire country's economy is tanking and these no-bid /contractor/ defense companies are the only ones profiting? Tell me how anyone is profiting from this war, anyone except the military industry/ oil industry. Are we gaining anything? Only these companies are coming out ahead, only the military and oil corporations have huge surpluses. This may not be a war for just oil, but it is a war for military/ defense contractors/ oil tycoons and politicians that want the power over your civil liberties.

[politicky]

Of course Blackwater isn't finished in San Diego!

Creatures who crawled out of the Great Dismal Swamp and a majority of local San Diego politicians---match made in heaven----

[wrabbitt]

This is the future we have carved out for our children. Merks controlled by big business. they are there just to protect their bottom line. Just because they fight the same way as "the enemy" does, don't make them bad. Money, can buy protection, or aggression .

[Bob Egan]

Blackwater has a domestic contract to asst in the case of civil unrest! They already used Blackwater in New Orleans in the wake of Katrina!

The time for this country to wake up is way overdue!

[Johnz52]

Having come from San Diego's east county this is a major change in the politics for an area that once boasted a large Klan Kontingent and burned down the only head shop in town back in 1968. Bravo to the people of Potrero for standing up to a fascist corporation that would put a standing mercenary force on the streets of our cities. Unfortunately once Hillary gets into office she will undoubtedly make Blackwater her official Praetorian Guard and spreed her own brand of fascism throughout the U.S.

[deegee99]

Blackwater is indeed scary. I fear they will start showing up to beat Americans that dare protest their government's policies. They remind me of the Praetorian Guard of ancient Imperial Rome and the German Brownshirts in WWII.

[tomsthumb]

It's really scary that some people want these mercenaries running around our streets with their body armor and machine guns. They want to get in on the War on Drugs? That should be very telling of the true evil behind the War on Drugs.

[tomsthumb]

It's really scary that some people want these mercenaries running around our streets with their body armor and machine guns. They want to get into the War on Drugs? That should be very telling of the true evil intent behind the war on drugs.

[ljsfolly]

Hey People this is far from won or a done deal. Diane Jacobs has not come out as a person willing to block blackwater and since she represents the area she is a key player. This training center is just another name for foreign military base. That is what is will be if we cannot block it. Many of those who make up the group are from all over the world and they are doing what they do for money and to be able to hurt, terrorize and kill people with immunity. Makes for good neighbors like when they handed out stuff after the last fire without telling people where it came from then shouting out to the world what good guys they were for being there for us. These guys are openly militias willing to fight and train all those who want it or to take the place of our own government in training border patrol guards/police/military. The idea to privitize this training scares me as does the foreign base in the backyard. Until we change administrations there is no guarentee we can win this battle and even then the next president has to see through what they are doing under bush/cheney.

[tumblewind]

It's going to be impossible to remove the taint Blackwater has left on this country! Our reputation is in taters world wide thanks to them and people like them. I certainly don't want that bunch of Storm Troopers anywhere near me. The idea of using hired thugs to protect our diplomats is disgusting enough. But, roaming the streets and borders of this country needs to stop. We are creating a monster that is going to devour us alive.

[TheLar]

GREAT POST! Well done to all. I just listened to a Naomi Wolf lecture where she talked about the necessity of a mercenary army to shut down American democracy. What a great counter-punch!

I can't agree enough regarding the danger that paid-to-kill warriors pose to a free society.

Larry Nocella
http://www.LarryNocella.com/

[Purple Girl]

They are in the wrong country we do not support terrorist, Hitmen, nor assassins.
Find a nice thrid world country- maybe Binny has some camps he can lease you.
Enough of trying to privatize everything.
We learned long ago that "out sourcing" means WE end up taking it in the shorts (ask Manufacturing workers about 'out sourcing')
They should be on the same list as AQ, The Red Army and Hamas.
They are Gov't approved and supported Terrorists
If our national Guard wasn't in a foreign country- we have plenty of protection without their help.
The Cheney plan is too decimate the Armed Services to force the use of these Corporationist.
Note to the idiots who felt comfortable killing off our 'Volunteer' troops....
If it's volunteer then they should be able to Quit anytime they like without retribution.
More accurate term is 'enlisted', once you sign on the dotted line- you are committed for the deginated time. that's not a Volunteer type situation.Both do not mean you are their property to abuse .
Most these kids just wanted to get a college education, a trade, since our Gov't spends more on toilet seats then educating it's citizens.
Blackwater et al are Militias with unknown allegiences- just as Kiresh or Jones. Who'll be hiring them against US? they are Whores with weapons stockpiles.