enhanced_deficit
09-18-2019, 05:53 PM
From T&P:
Don't Let Erik Prince Anywhere Near The War In Afghanistan
Jared Keller
August 20, 2018 at 12:00 PM
Blackwater USA founder Erik Prince is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, prior to testifying before the House Oversight Committee hearing examining the mission and performance of the private military contractor Blackwater in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Associated Press/T&P
With more than $700 billion spent (https://taskandpurpose.com/war-afghanistan-us-spending-cost/) (and at least $15.5 billion outright wasted (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/watchdog-says-u-s-wasted-more-15-billion-past-11-n894701)) on America's long war in Afghanistan, it's easy to understand why President Donald Trump might pursue unusual options to finally bring the 17-year-old conflict to a close.
Allowing Erik Prince to take over the war effort should not be one of them.
NBC News reported (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/officials-worry-trump-may-back-erik-prince-plan-privatize-war-n901401) on Friday that Prince, founder of notorious private security company Blackwater and brother of current Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, is once again pushing to effectively privatize the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan.
Prince's plan to take over the Forever War isn't new. In July 2017, the New York Times reported (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/10/world/asia/trump-afghanistan-policy-erik-prince-stephen-feinberg.html) that Prince originally developed a proposal alongside defense contractor DynCorp International CEO Stephen Feinberg for the Pentagon to rely exclusively on private contractors "at the behest" of erstwhile Trump consigliere Stephen Bannon and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
https://taskandpurpose.com/erik-prince-afghanistan-war-plan
Related
Erik Prince acknowledges attending 2016 Trump Tower meeting 'to talk about Iran policy'
By Brooke Seipel - 03/08/19
https://thehill.com/policy/national-...eeting-to-talk (https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/433311-erik-prince-acknowledges-attending-2016-trump-tower-meeting-to-talk)
April 18, 2019
Trump backer Erik Prince's account of Russian banker contact differs from Mueller report
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKCN1RV03F (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-prince/trump-backer-erik-princes-account-of-russian-banker-contact-differs-from-mueller-report-idUSKCN1RV03F)
Officials worry Trump may back Erik Prince plan to privatize war in Afghanistan
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/militar...ze-war-n901401 (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/officials-worry-trump-may-back-erik-prince-plan-privatize-war-n901401)
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/images/icons/icon13.png Coulter: 'Prince Harry is also appalled by the Trump family nepotism.' (https://twitter.com/AnnCoulter/status/1136295587723259904)
New Trump NSA pick had impressed son-in-law Jared Kushner with his work on rapper Rocky A$AP's release from Sweden (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?539329-Trump-Just-Hired-the-Guy-He-Sent-to-Free-A-AP-Rocky-as-His-New-National-Security-Adviser&p=6862672&viewfull=1#post6862672)
Kushner Personally Negotiated MIC/Saud Arms Deal (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?510775-Kushner-Personally-Negotiated-MIC-Saud-Arms-Deal&)
Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson describes Jared Kushner’s secret diplomacy
In one embarrassing episode, Tillerson said he didn’t even know his Mexican counterpart was in Washington until he walked into a restaurant and discovered Luis Videgaray dining with Kushner. It came during a delicate time in U.S.-Mexican relations, when Videgaray often went around the State Department to capitalize on his friendship with Kushner.
“I walked back,” Tillerson said. “I could see the color go out of the face of the foreign secretary of Mexico.
“I smiled big, and I said: ‘Welcome to Washington.’ And I said: ‘I don’t want to interrupt what y’all are doing.’ I said: ‘Give me a call next time you’re coming to town.’ And I left it at that.”
Tillerson said the foreign minister later said he was shocked that the issues that Kushner raised with him had not already been cleared at the State Department.
Tillerson, a former CEO of ExxonMobil, said then-Defense Secretary James N. Mattis was also often cut out of policy discussions, with former advisor Stephen K. Bannon acting alongside Kushner.
In another meeting concealed from the secretary of State, Kushner and Bannon at a private dinner in May 2017 discussed with leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates their plans to place a blockade on neighboring Qatar.
Tillerson, surprised when Saudi Arabia and the UAE announced the blockade some time later, indicated the U.S. would remain neutral, since Qatar is also an important ally. Barely had Tillerson spoken when Trump threw his full support behind Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The tense Persian Gulf standoff continues to this day.
(https://news.sky.com/story/trumps-son-in-law-jared-kushner-questioned-over-115bn-mortgage-11159915)Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner questioned over $1.15bn mortgage (https://news.sky.com/story/trumps-son-in-law-jared-kushner-questioned-over-115bn-mortgage-11159915)
Charles Kushner — Jared's father and the head of Kushner Companies, the family firm of which Jared remains a part-owner — discussed the refinancing of 666 Fifth Avenue with Qatari Finance Minister Ali Sharif Al Emadi about a month before the “diplomatic assault” started. They couldn’t reach an agreement.
the failure to broker the deal would be followed only a month later by a Middle Eastern diplomatic row in which Jared Kushner provided critical support to Qatar's neighbors. Led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a group of Middle Eastern countries, with Kushner's backing, led a diplomatic assault that culminated in a blockade of Qatar.
Robert Weissman, president of the watchdog group Public Citizen, thinks that Jared shouldn’t be allowed to use the US government to “negotiate” a better deal for personal gain:
Kushner, Ivanka Trump made at least $82 million in outside income while serving in White House (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?527606-Kushner-Ivanka-Trump-made-at-least-82-million-in-outside-income-while-serving-in-White-House&)
Two American billionaires and their shady deals with Israeli intelligence
9 Aug 2019
Sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and mercenary Erik Prince enjoy strong ties to the Israeli intelligence industry, while cutting sensitive business deals with Russia, China and the US
Ties between the United States and Israel are set to experience deep turbulence as a recently jailed figure face suspicions for working with Israeli intelligence.
The last time this took place, Jonathan Pollard, former US intelligence analyst, was found guilty (https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/21/fbi-arrests-jonathan-pollard-1985-1000480) of spying for Israel and providing it with top-secret information, leading to a life sentence under the Espionage Act.
Jeffery Epstein was arrested (https://www.vox.com/2019/7/7/20685023/billionaire-jeffrey-epstein-arrested-minor-sex-trafficking-charges)on July 6 for the sex trafficking of minors within the US.
The billionaire shared the same personal network that included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, infamous Blackwater founder Erik Prince, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed, Donald Trump and Bill Clinton.
US President Donald Trump previously referred (https://www.vox.com/2019/7/9/20686347/jeffrey-epstein-trump-bill-clinton) to Epstein as a “terrific guy”.
But this isn’t the first time Epstein has been charged for underage sex crimes.
Between 2002 and 2005, according to a federal indictment, Epstein paid dozens of girls and young women to take part in sex acts with him at his residences in New York and Florida.
In 2007 and 2008, the FBI readied a 53-page indictment to bring him down on sex charges, which was brought to a standstill when he was offered a plea deal (https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/alex-acosta-had-to-resign-but-the-epstein-scandal-goes-well-beyond-his-role) with US Attorney Alexander Acosta.
The deal, which remains a state secret, put Epstein in jail for 13 months, but left him able to leave six days a week, for up to 12 hours a day, to work.
Acosta would later be named labour secretary by Trump; and has since resigned his position.
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/tw...lligence-28819 (https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/two-american-billionaires-and-their-shady-deals-with-israeli-intelligence-28819)
Don't Let Erik Prince Anywhere Near The War In Afghanistan
Jared Keller
August 20, 2018 at 12:00 PM
Blackwater USA founder Erik Prince is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, prior to testifying before the House Oversight Committee hearing examining the mission and performance of the private military contractor Blackwater in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Associated Press/T&P
With more than $700 billion spent (https://taskandpurpose.com/war-afghanistan-us-spending-cost/) (and at least $15.5 billion outright wasted (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/watchdog-says-u-s-wasted-more-15-billion-past-11-n894701)) on America's long war in Afghanistan, it's easy to understand why President Donald Trump might pursue unusual options to finally bring the 17-year-old conflict to a close.
Allowing Erik Prince to take over the war effort should not be one of them.
NBC News reported (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/officials-worry-trump-may-back-erik-prince-plan-privatize-war-n901401) on Friday that Prince, founder of notorious private security company Blackwater and brother of current Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, is once again pushing to effectively privatize the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan.
Prince's plan to take over the Forever War isn't new. In July 2017, the New York Times reported (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/10/world/asia/trump-afghanistan-policy-erik-prince-stephen-feinberg.html) that Prince originally developed a proposal alongside defense contractor DynCorp International CEO Stephen Feinberg for the Pentagon to rely exclusively on private contractors "at the behest" of erstwhile Trump consigliere Stephen Bannon and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
https://taskandpurpose.com/erik-prince-afghanistan-war-plan
Related
Erik Prince acknowledges attending 2016 Trump Tower meeting 'to talk about Iran policy'
By Brooke Seipel - 03/08/19
https://thehill.com/policy/national-...eeting-to-talk (https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/433311-erik-prince-acknowledges-attending-2016-trump-tower-meeting-to-talk)
April 18, 2019
Trump backer Erik Prince's account of Russian banker contact differs from Mueller report
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKCN1RV03F (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-prince/trump-backer-erik-princes-account-of-russian-banker-contact-differs-from-mueller-report-idUSKCN1RV03F)
Officials worry Trump may back Erik Prince plan to privatize war in Afghanistan
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/militar...ze-war-n901401 (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/officials-worry-trump-may-back-erik-prince-plan-privatize-war-n901401)
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/images/icons/icon13.png Coulter: 'Prince Harry is also appalled by the Trump family nepotism.' (https://twitter.com/AnnCoulter/status/1136295587723259904)
New Trump NSA pick had impressed son-in-law Jared Kushner with his work on rapper Rocky A$AP's release from Sweden (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?539329-Trump-Just-Hired-the-Guy-He-Sent-to-Free-A-AP-Rocky-as-His-New-National-Security-Adviser&p=6862672&viewfull=1#post6862672)
Kushner Personally Negotiated MIC/Saud Arms Deal (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?510775-Kushner-Personally-Negotiated-MIC-Saud-Arms-Deal&)
Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson describes Jared Kushner’s secret diplomacy
In one embarrassing episode, Tillerson said he didn’t even know his Mexican counterpart was in Washington until he walked into a restaurant and discovered Luis Videgaray dining with Kushner. It came during a delicate time in U.S.-Mexican relations, when Videgaray often went around the State Department to capitalize on his friendship with Kushner.
“I walked back,” Tillerson said. “I could see the color go out of the face of the foreign secretary of Mexico.
“I smiled big, and I said: ‘Welcome to Washington.’ And I said: ‘I don’t want to interrupt what y’all are doing.’ I said: ‘Give me a call next time you’re coming to town.’ And I left it at that.”
Tillerson said the foreign minister later said he was shocked that the issues that Kushner raised with him had not already been cleared at the State Department.
Tillerson, a former CEO of ExxonMobil, said then-Defense Secretary James N. Mattis was also often cut out of policy discussions, with former advisor Stephen K. Bannon acting alongside Kushner.
In another meeting concealed from the secretary of State, Kushner and Bannon at a private dinner in May 2017 discussed with leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates their plans to place a blockade on neighboring Qatar.
Tillerson, surprised when Saudi Arabia and the UAE announced the blockade some time later, indicated the U.S. would remain neutral, since Qatar is also an important ally. Barely had Tillerson spoken when Trump threw his full support behind Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The tense Persian Gulf standoff continues to this day.
(https://news.sky.com/story/trumps-son-in-law-jared-kushner-questioned-over-115bn-mortgage-11159915)Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner questioned over $1.15bn mortgage (https://news.sky.com/story/trumps-son-in-law-jared-kushner-questioned-over-115bn-mortgage-11159915)
Charles Kushner — Jared's father and the head of Kushner Companies, the family firm of which Jared remains a part-owner — discussed the refinancing of 666 Fifth Avenue with Qatari Finance Minister Ali Sharif Al Emadi about a month before the “diplomatic assault” started. They couldn’t reach an agreement.
the failure to broker the deal would be followed only a month later by a Middle Eastern diplomatic row in which Jared Kushner provided critical support to Qatar's neighbors. Led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a group of Middle Eastern countries, with Kushner's backing, led a diplomatic assault that culminated in a blockade of Qatar.
Robert Weissman, president of the watchdog group Public Citizen, thinks that Jared shouldn’t be allowed to use the US government to “negotiate” a better deal for personal gain:
Kushner, Ivanka Trump made at least $82 million in outside income while serving in White House (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?527606-Kushner-Ivanka-Trump-made-at-least-82-million-in-outside-income-while-serving-in-White-House&)
Two American billionaires and their shady deals with Israeli intelligence
9 Aug 2019
Sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and mercenary Erik Prince enjoy strong ties to the Israeli intelligence industry, while cutting sensitive business deals with Russia, China and the US
Ties between the United States and Israel are set to experience deep turbulence as a recently jailed figure face suspicions for working with Israeli intelligence.
The last time this took place, Jonathan Pollard, former US intelligence analyst, was found guilty (https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/21/fbi-arrests-jonathan-pollard-1985-1000480) of spying for Israel and providing it with top-secret information, leading to a life sentence under the Espionage Act.
Jeffery Epstein was arrested (https://www.vox.com/2019/7/7/20685023/billionaire-jeffrey-epstein-arrested-minor-sex-trafficking-charges)on July 6 for the sex trafficking of minors within the US.
The billionaire shared the same personal network that included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, infamous Blackwater founder Erik Prince, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed, Donald Trump and Bill Clinton.
US President Donald Trump previously referred (https://www.vox.com/2019/7/9/20686347/jeffrey-epstein-trump-bill-clinton) to Epstein as a “terrific guy”.
But this isn’t the first time Epstein has been charged for underage sex crimes.
Between 2002 and 2005, according to a federal indictment, Epstein paid dozens of girls and young women to take part in sex acts with him at his residences in New York and Florida.
In 2007 and 2008, the FBI readied a 53-page indictment to bring him down on sex charges, which was brought to a standstill when he was offered a plea deal (https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/alex-acosta-had-to-resign-but-the-epstein-scandal-goes-well-beyond-his-role) with US Attorney Alexander Acosta.
The deal, which remains a state secret, put Epstein in jail for 13 months, but left him able to leave six days a week, for up to 12 hours a day, to work.
Acosta would later be named labour secretary by Trump; and has since resigned his position.
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/tw...lligence-28819 (https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/two-american-billionaires-and-their-shady-deals-with-israeli-intelligence-28819)