Nearly two years ago, todd at courage campaign and others had a series of diaries regarding the Blackwater mercenary cabal attempting to sneak a training facility into a small, quiet California town.
Tiny Portrero California, may have been among the lucky, but it was hardly the only target for Eric Prince's merry band of mercs. Coeur D'Alene Idaho fought them off back in 2005 (and please note the mention of February 2009 in that link). Mt Carroll, Illinois wasn't so fortunate, and probably still isn't being told the truth. Likewise, Otay Mesa Arizona lost a battle to keep mercs out of its community.
Now, thanks to an item recently published in a small southeastern Ohio newspaper, I'm forced to question - Is Blackwater at it again? Join me below the fold and we'll see if we can't answer that question.
This is strange. I hadn't been a member here for very long when I was asked to write a diary at the behest of our own Louisiana 1976. There was speculation going on about the presence of Blackwater in NOLA directly after Katrina. The odd thing was, while other first responders were still trying to find their shoes, Eric Prince's men were on the ground aiming at anything that moved. My speculation was, for them to have reached the area as fast as they seemed to, they almost would have had to be there before the storm. The next logical questions were - who could afford to summon them and for what purpose? I found the most likely candidate right inside NOLA.
That was a diary that never got published though. The reasons were, at the time we were still in the gaping maw of the Bush regime, and, the deeper I dug into the research the more frightening it got. I found myself swirling in sea of Christian fundamentalism that transcended speaking in tongues and waltzing with snakes. I found a group of very, very wealthy businessmen who were members of what can only be described as a Christian Militia. And Eric Prince was only one of them. So, basically I chickened out.
Now, we come to the present. This is still my first diary here. And, as luck would have it, it wound up being about Blackwater... maybe. It's gotta be fate.
Background for those living off-planet in recent years. Blackwater earned itself quite the reputation since its birth in 1997. The first most of us heard of them was when four of their "contractors" were ambushed in Fallujah, shot, and their bodies dragged through the streets before being hung over the Euphrates. There was a roar of outrage of course, but that was before people learned exactly who the unfortunate "troops" were, and what Blackwater USA really was Once the gory details got out, Blackwater found itself under heavy fire.
Now, Blackwater has not only changed their name, they're expanding their bidness model. Since getting their butts kicked out of Iraq, and the unfortunate advent of an administration less likely to buy their services - it's time to regroup and refocus. Or maybe as the above stories illustrate, this is what they've been doing all along.
Okay, we've been there and bought the T-shirt. Get to the point already.
As many of you know, I live in southern Ohio. This region of the state is a vast wooded area of hills and hollows on the western slopes of the Appalachians. It's peaceful here, if not quite as peaceful as it was ten years ago. The people are mostly down-home types who, if not outright farmers, own a little acreage in the country, tend a garden, and keep a few animals. We like our rural atmosphere, we mind our own affairs, and we mostly trust our local politicians to do the right thing by us.
But then, every once in a while something happens that stirs up the quiet pool.
'It's like we don't count,' resident says over decision to bring in training center
RICK STILLION/The Daily Jeffersonian
March 10, 2009
LORE CITY -- Several residents of Range Road in Wills Township are angered by the county commissioners' decision to sell county-owned farm land for the construction of a law enforcement and military training center.
Templar Tactical plans to operate a training facility that includes live fire ranges designed for year-round use, and residents are concerned about noise and potential safety issues at the facility.
"At a public meeting called on March 5, the principals of Templar Tactical described the facility which consists mainly of live ammunition firing ranges and everyone admitted that the noise from gunfire would be continuous for weekdays from dawn to dusk," said Robert Heinton, a resident of nearby Willow Springs Subdivision.
"Recently retired, my wife and I put our life savings in to building a new home to enjoy our remaining years. Our commissioners certainly are taking away our right to the quiet enjoyment of our homes."
Also of note is an interesting mention later in the article.
"It's not that we are against the project ... it has merit," said Heinton. "But, it's too small of an area with the proximity to residents who live in the area. A lot of things have been happening around here that we were not aware of until last Thursday. There are thousands of acres across the state for a facility like this.
"They didn't get our opinion. It's like we don't count. They are throwing us (residents) under the bus and to hell with us. They didn't even give us the courtesy of coming out and talking to us. The bottom line is this is not right."
Heinton noted work has already been done at the Range Road site including survey stakes and soil erosion fences, although no final deal has been approved to sell the property.
Yep, this was the first residents of the rest of the county knew about this proposed training range - and apparently the rest of the county still wouldn't know had those neighbors not kicked up a royal fuss. It is this author's understanding that several calls were made to those deemed in the know. Those calls were met with "no comment" or "we can't comment on that" responses. Then a reporter from the local paper was requested by the residents of Range Road to do a story and get them some answers. When no reporter was forthcoming, a follow up call was made to the paper. The caller was informed that a public official, whom I decline to name here, had called the paper's managing editor and instructed him not to send any reporter.
Okay, believe it or not - these kinds of obfuscations in themselves aren't so odd from what I know of the region. Many times things are done quietly, albeit without sinister intent, by local politicians. Most of the time there's little concern and the deals are of benefit. The entire area is chock-a-block with families who've lived here for generations. Until recently it's been isolated and large numbers of the region's populations are related through either blood or marriage (please no incest jokes, it's not like that at all). Ergo, politicians are elected to thankless jobs, once in, nobody ever runs against them. This sometimes leads them to begin running the joint like it's their own private fiefdom.
But now the cat was out of the bag, and the excreta met the rotating device.
Most of the complaints from neighbors in the immediate vicinity initially revolve around noise. The area is the longtime location of the county's nursing home. There is also a day care facility in addition to the small sub-division. All of which just might be disturbed by the sound of high-powered weapons fire "from dawn to dusk." Then there is the concern of the daycare facility's owner - Ohio law forbids the operation of a daycare in such close proximity to a place like this range. Will she be forced to close her business in favor of this uber-patriotic venture? The Township Trustee's meeting a couple days after the newspaper piece was quite the event. And, as it turned out, the residents weren't the only ones who were in the dark.
Wills Township passes measure opposing new firing ranges
March 17, 2009
OLD WASHINGTON -- Wills Township trustees met in special session last Thursday regarding the proposed "County Home Project."
Twenty-four local residents attended the meeting. Following discussion, trustees passed a resolution stating that no new firing ranges shall be established or constructed within the boundaries of Wills Township, exempting the (snip) already established in Wills Township.
(snip)
They said that because they were not informed of the planned facility on the County Home farm and had limited information, trustees signed a letter to the Guernsey County commissioners asking that they hold an open meeting. In doing so, more information can be provided to those requesting it and concerned citizens will have the opportunity to voice those concerns.
Of further note is the following snip from an article by by Denise Yost, Managing Editor, nbc4i.com, published just last Monday.
The developers have a verbal agreement to buy the property from the Guernsey County Trustees, but nearby farmers and residents are putting up a fight, saying the facility doesn’t belong in the middle of farmland.
Wait a minute... a Verbal Agreement? In other words, the sale of the land isn't final yet? Then why are there already bulldozers there pushing dirt around? Furthermore, why does Templar Tactical Law Enforcement and Military Training Center's website already have a opening date and an application form available like this deal is signed, sealed and delivered?
Does the very name Templar Tactical make anyone else a little queasy? Oh, and excuse me, but isn't the training of America's military usually carried out... by the US Military?
Who the hell are these guys?
And this is where it got interesting.
In the earliest published articles, Bill Jansen and Dennis Dechant were identified only as "former Marines." Yet in a follow up article, the picture began to get a little clearer.
Attending the meeting Monday from Templar Tactical were Bill Janson and Dennis Dechant, former U.S. Marines who came up with the concept while working as private contractors in Iraq.
Oh, private contractors. As in Blackwater USA? That kind of private contractor?
Then there's another ingredient in the soup - KLM Global. Once again, I haven't managed to learn much about them, outside of the fact that they're "an investment group" charged with "securing funding" for this training range. I was informed that they do indeed have links with Blackwater... I mean Xe, although I wasn't given any link, nor have I found it myself. I've only been at this for a couple days.
I hope you'll forgive this unworthy diarist. I don't have all the answers. At this point in time, all we seem to have here is questions. But I am struck by several similarities between what's going on in this southeastern Ohio community, and what went on in other locales. The deal was done hush-hush. The resultant questions were met with stony silence. The inevitable protest was addressed by two out-of-towners, who only then were identified as what they really were. While the level of protest involved should be fodder for the daily front page, very little is being said. Mention was made of an email and phone campaign, yet no information was listed as to where, how, or by whom. According to several reports, the deal is far from finalized, yet it's being presented by Templar Tactical and KLM Global as a done thing.
I'm posting this mainly as a heads up for all of us. Just because we're finally rid of Bush and some of his minions, obviously doesn't mean we're in the clear. If anyone here can supply pertinent info or links, they would be greatly appreciated. I know in my heart of hearts that we're talking about an offshoot, or subsidiary of Eric Prince's enterprise here, and the people of the region don't need or want them there.