Tip O'Neill from the Grave: Blackwater is Local

Most of us accept Tip O'Neill's adage that all politics is local. Yet, most of us want to play on the big stage, push for change from the top down. Sometimes it works, but real movements for social change are very local. Think about the 1960s civil rights movement that ultimately transformed this country because one person after another sat at a whites only diner counter or was beaten by the police or marched on Washington. And the Vietnam anti-war movement that included kids on college campuses getting shot, millions standing up and saying no. Or the right wing revolution that brought millions out of their churches to take over their school boards, city councils and eventually the congress and the White House.

Nothing has changed. All politics is local. Let's look at Blackwater, now the top story on both blogs and in mainstream media. Eighteen months ago, Blackwater was invisible to most, a part of the giant war machine that Bush built. Author Jeremy Scahill, Iraq for Sale and a few others started telling the Blackwater story both directly and in the context of the larger issues around outsourcing of and profiteering from war.

For most of the mainstream media and the public, it all hit home last month when thirteen or more Iraqis were killed by Blackwater in the light of day. It was local. These were not terrorists or soldiers or insurgents or high level officials. They were just people, trying to live in a city already nearly unlivable. And they encountered a bunch of thugs on the loose, operating, as Arianna points out, as an extension of American diplomacy. America was popular with Soviet citizens at the height of the Cold War because we helped individuals to learn about the real world via radio. We were a home for artists and thinkers who wanted to be free. Our Embassy and consulates reached out to Soviet individuals for art exhibitions, concerts, talks. Even when Soviets did not like our government, they almost uniformly liked us.

It was local.

But even this "local" Blackwater event is thousands of miles away, not in our backyard, right? Think again. Sunday, two hundred or so people turned up in the high desert/ranching country of eastern San Diego County to take on Blackwater, their bully neighbor-to-be. As I've written here before, Blackwater intends to open an 824-acre base near the pristine town of Potrero. And while Blackwater says it wants to train police officials, not just mercenaries, do we really want Blackwater training the LAPD on crowd control? As the LA Times story today makes clear, the last example our police need is the shoot first and don't ask questions mentality of Blackwater.

Maybe Blackwater just wants to use that base to guard our border with Mexico. That's pretty comforting, too. I for one will sleep better at night knowing that a bunch of over muscled, steroid taking, machine-gun toting guys will be ready to start the first war we've had with Mexico since 1848.

The local residents of Potrero will have none of it. Aware that the Democratic front-runner's top advisor was paid by Blackwater, and seeing that their own Senators will not so much as comment on Blackwater's plans for California, the people are acting. They've gotten a measure on the local ballot to recall the four members of the Potrero planning group who were bamboozled by Blackwater and quietly voted to recommend that the base be built. Nine thousand people have signed Courage Campaign's petitions to Senators Boxer, Feinstein and Governor Schwarzenegger to stop Blackwater here in our state. The Sierra Club is working through the environmental review process to demonstrate that not only would Blackwater's base be a fire hazard to a tinder-dry area, but that it would damage irreparably the environment and animal and plant species that go with that destruction.

I was amazed at what I saw on Sunday. Not only was the event brilliantly organized with Congressman Bob Filner on hand to talk about legislation he wants to get passed in DC (so far without any other takers among the Democratic leadership), but the Blackwater boys were on hand. There they stood at our event and across the street at their own. Big guys. Big muscles. Big sunglasses. You get the picture. Just the neighbors you want in your own backyard.

If Blackwater is allowed to build a base in California, not only will we damage the environment, but we will aid and abet a criminal company. I do not hyperbolize. The Iraqi government wants to prosecute Blackwater. Multiple cases against Blackwater are in various stages within the American judicial system. If Blackwater opens here, we can be sure of two things: 1) they'll make more money and get stronger; and 2) people will get hurt or worse.

As with civil rights, the Vietnam War and the war in Iraq, the people are leading the fight against this mercenary army. We at the Courage Campaign will continue to support and expand the work of the local heroes in Portrero. While they have yet to hear from most of our leaders on this, friends of the people such as Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass are picking up their cause, because, as we know, all politics is local.

Comments

[research]

Blackwater is also guarding out elected representatives here in America. This will make the coup that much easier.

Blackwater is already threatening congressional investigators!

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/405387.html

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

California is ALWAYS ahead of the rest... they are innovative, courageous and doers...not talkers. I have always loved CA... and hope to move there... to surround myself with sanity and the likes of these people.

Compassion for your fellow man, concern for the environment and the courage to stand up for your rights.... it's a good thing.

Thank you CA... for being an example to all of us.

[whomung]

I've lived in SF FOR 30 YEARS.... And I love it.... Every day....

I've lived all over the states, or spent substantial time in most of them, them.... from NYC and Chicago, to Kansas City, Birmingham AL, and Dallas TX.

This is the sweet spot. I'm fortunate.

but as sweet as it is to be a San Franciscan, it's painful, to look at large chunks of the rest of the country, and realize they are 50 years behind the curve....

The cutting edge of a knife is a *very* small percentage of the whole tool....

It's also the entire reason you buy a knife to begin with, and why it's worth it to get a good one --IT STAYS REALLY SHARP, HOLDS IT'S EDGE, AND CUTS CLEANLY AND EASILY.

If it wasn't for the cutting edge of the knife, you might as well mash your food with a baseball bat... Which is Good for infants, old folks, accident victims, or folks with only 6 teeth.

--
whomung : Draft Gore

[Sundialsvc4]

Another thing that we must do now is: "keep looking up." Go straight for the top of the Washington power-chain until you have identified all of the officials who have profiteered from this war-making since the very start.

You will find them: you will find them everywhere. Not just in the White House, not just in the Senate or the House, not just in the Judiciary and the Supreme Court... but EVERYWHERE.

You will find them in both political parties. You cannot take solace in an election. You cannot take comfort in fantasies of any kind. "Waiting until someday" is an impossibility now.

And then, make life so miserably uncomfortable for the possibly-not-guilty ones (if there be any) that they can no longer say that what must be done is "off the table." Force them, peacefully (always peacefully), to introduce and to actually pursue an entire slew of impeachment proceedings. "Any civil officer" is fair game.

"Break the law = go to jail."

Raise the heat so high that "expulsion" begins to come "on the table" too: if criminals are in the Senate or the House, their colleagues throw them out.

It's called cleaning house.

It's also called ... saving this country.

[tomw8s]

What happens when we 'disband' Blackwater USA? We saw what happened in Iraq when The Decider put thousands of people who kill for a living on the street.

What a frikken mess we've managed to get ourselves into.

[AceInTheHole]

And another thing, you folks should stop spending so much time complaining and spend more time trying to come up with constructive ideas on how to best deal with these miscreants. The brain power of a couple hundred million people should outpower a few million people EVERY TIME. But if you spend all of that brain power just complaining you won't get nothing constructive done.

So stop all of the complaining, explaining, and nuance dancing and start dreaming, scheming, and praying for better ways to deal with this mess. I sense that we are dealing with evil principalities who are bent on our destruction. But even if we die our souls will survive to live again. So we need to have courage and expend rightious and positive energy to overcome the evil with good.
And remember, no matter had bad it gets, that the Lord said that the meek will inherit the earth and that the first shall be last and last shall be first and that if the Lord be for you, who can be against you. and that we are more than conquers through the Lord who strengthens us and let not our hearts be troubled for He will never leave or forsake us.

Tell the truth and shame the devil.

[AceInTheHole]

SOME OF YOU YOUNGER GUYS SHOULD SET UP A WEB SITE CALLED "PATRIOTS AGAINST BLACKWATER" AND START A CAMPAGN TO KEEP THEM OUT OF AMERICA.

JUST GET OF YOUR CANS AND DO IT!
MLK AIN'T COMING BACK AND I'M TO OLD TO DO THIS KIND OF STUFF.
SO START ACTING LIKE THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY!
AND START PULLING TOGETHER AND STOP THESE MISCREANTS FROM STEALING IT!

YOU YOUNG FOLKS NEED TO START SHOWING SOME COURAGE LIKE THE BLACK PEOPLE DID AND START STANDING UP FOR OUR COUNTRY BEFORE THEY TAKE IT FROM YOU!

[AceInTheHole]

Why aren't these people pariahs in our country just like the KKK but dressed in Black instead of white robes. Would we allow the KKK to set up bases in California or any place else. WHO IS Fienstien and those other people representing anyway? What the hell is going on, have we been infested with an occuping force of traitors in the Senate, if so, for what and at the behest of whom?

Everyone seems to be so concerned about keeping The Lord out of our Government when we should be worried about keeping the Devil and his followers out of it. Liberals need to wake up stop kicking dirt in the Lords face and start worrying about their real enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy them and is already on his JOB. John 10:10

[jazzman]

First of all, I hate to be cynical but the Democratic Leadership is a part of this privatization scheme. That's why you never see them speak out about any of it. Include, front and center, Ms. Clinton who will gladly carry on the neo-con vision of privatization when and if she gets elected.

Second of all, I'll bet you any amount of money that for all your localized grass roots efforts, the Blackwater base gets built.

Sorry, there are no politicians on your side any longer. They've all been bought...by Blackwater.

[Immokalee]

Reminds me of the private security firms hired by the early capitalists to supress the labor movement in which pitched battles were fought with the unionists. Watch your back

[WMK]

Like some sort of newfangled Pinkertons only with more firepower.

I wonder how long it will be until Blackwater mercenaries start shooting people here in the USA? (if they haven't already done so in New Orleans)

[whomung]

If you're a lib, you should go buy an assault rifle and learn to use it..... The NeoCons aren't going to just roll over after they lose the election... and if the shit hits the fan.... do you want them to be the ONLY ONES WITH GUNS?

I don't

Think BURMA

[retarius]

It's high time you Americans woke up as to what is going on in your country. The majority of you are asleep at the wheel...and your ship is going down. In 20 years America will be a corporofaschist state with a CEO Dictator in charge....imagine Dickend Cheney writing the rules limiting his own power...
The rest of the world better watch out as well, becuase as we all all know, the US has started more wars this century than any other nation on earth...they are armed to the teeth..and will invade anyone at anytime on the most spurious of reasons..to keep feeding profits to the owners of the war machine...so watch out, you have been warned!

[whomung]

retarius

I hope people are listening.... I fear it may already be too late...

But... Gotta try

--
whomung : Draft Gore

[fatmo]

The saddest part is the Democratic leaders are still letting the Republicans tell them how they will act. None of them will talk about this because Republicans will call them names. We need to get Dems in who speak for the people of this country and not the powers that be.
Keep up the good work, from a upper peninsula of michigan

[research]

Kucinich, Dodd, Richardson, Gravel. Have you sent them money? have you helped their campaigns? They do speak out, they have called for impeachment, they have called for ASAP exit from Iraq. Particularly Kucinich is and has been working for exactly what Americans want even when it wasn't popular: http://www.dehp.net/candidate/stats.php

[dora rice]

Kucinich always will get his gas for his care. But you may stick your finger up the gas pump once we out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Bin Laden will charge you 20 bux a gallon. But who cares right? you don't want to drive to your mother in law on Thanks giving anyhow , more to watch football. he he

[darker]

Americans are too spoiled, too distracted by media manipulation to pay attention to DETAILS of what's been going on.

They are confused and influenced by political publicists spewing hype 24/7.

Most Americans are sacrificing NOTHING for the Iraq Invasion "war". IT DOESN'T HURT ENOUGH for
Americans to do something about the Bush-Cheney DISASTER.

Unless there is PAIN--LOTS OF PAIN--[pain is "local" like politics] lazy and spoiled America will continue NOT TO PAY ATTENTION.

America is on the edge of disaster due to the irresponsibility of its citizens and nobody else.

[dora rice]

to stupid? tell the truth.

[TRYKER]

The amazing part of the whole Blackwater gang is that WE are paying for them.
They have contracts that WE pay for. WE're buying that land in CA for them.
And WE pay them 10 times as much (or more) as we pay our "real" military who come second in line for advanced armor, equipment etc.
And its unconstitutional for us to be funding a private mercenary force.
Clusterf**k is too weak a word for it!
Apparently this admin has NO limits...aren't we nearing ours?
Are we there yet?

[dora rice]

we we we....10 soldiers = one Blackwater american. Don't say it's not true. I know it and I am talking from the close up source.

[Ilvfredum]

Dude all the good drugs of the ear made all the hippies see God. Where were you?

[mommadona]

Old chestnut to pull out of the fire right now:

"If the people lead, the leaders will follow."

[Herrington]

We should consider a policy of containment.

We do not need more pit bulls on our streets.