[Vision2020] Blackwater Rumored to be Coming to Idaho

[Tom Hansen]

Note to Reps. Tom Trail and Shirley Ringo:  Is there some way to prevent 
Blackwater from becoming an Idaho reality?

"Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson said Blackwater has a reputation of 
attaching itself to local law enforcement in an effort "to fast-track" 
permits for facilities by making it look like such a partnership would 
benefit public safety.

But Watson said such a partnership could damage the image of his deputies 
because of Blackwater's reputation elsewhere in the world, including in 
Iraq where Blackwater employees are accused of shooting civilians."

>From today's (June 29, 2008) Spokesman Review -

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Blackwater rumored to be coming to Idaho 
Sara Leaming 
Staff writer
June 29, 2008

If controversial security contractor Blackwater USA wants to build a 
training facility in North Idaho, it likely will find a way, despite 
opposition from local law enforcement officials to any kind of partnership 
with the private company. 

That's according to citizens and at least one legislator in San Diego, who 
say the company – rumored to be in negotiations for land between Coeur 
d'Alene and Worley for a $20 million training facility – was able to 
secure permits in California for a similar facility with very little 
community oversight.
 
"They were using these phony names to evade scrutiny by activist groups 
like ours watching their every move," said Raymond Lutz, a San Diego 
resident working to oust Blackwater from California.

Blackwater officials denied using deceit to gain permits for the use of a 
warehouse in Otay Mesa, a small town not far from the Mexican border. The 
officials also deny that the company is negotiating for land in North 
Idaho, though they have talked about a training partnership with police 
officials in Idaho.

"We haven't found a site for this nor have we even looked for one," said 
Anne Tyrell, Blackwater spokeswoman. San Diego permits were secured by 
Raven Development Group, a recognized real estate arm of the Moyock, N.C.-
based company, she said. 

In addition to its San Diego training facility, Blackwater has training 
operations in Moyock and Mt. Carroll, Ill., according to its Web site. In 
recent years, the company also acquired a Coeur d'Alene company, the 
Backup Training Corp., and operates it as a "digital learning center." 

Blackwater is being investigated by the FBI and a federal grand jury for 
human rights violations in the Middle East. On Thursday, federal agents 
raided its North Carolina headquarters in an investigation of a deal that 
allowed a sheriff's office there to store high-powered assault rifles at 
the company's headquarters. Blackwater denies any wrongdoing.

While Kootenai County planners said they haven't seen any permit requests 
from Blackwater or any known affiliates for a training center, law 
enforcement officials were surprised earlier this month to learn that the 
director of Idaho's law enforcement academy had signed a letter of intent 
to work with Blackwater. The partnership would call for police officer 
training at a Blackwater facility that Jeff Black, executive director of 
the Idaho Peace Office Standards and Training (POST) council, said was 
planned for North Idaho. Law enforcement officials in North Idaho had 
pitched a separate proposal to POST for police training at North Idaho 
College.

Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson said Blackwater has a reputation of 
attaching itself to local law enforcement in an effort "to fast-track" 
permits for facilities by making it look like such a partnership would 
benefit public safety.

But Watson said such a partnership could damage the image of his deputies 
because of Blackwater's reputation elsewhere in the world, including in 
Iraq where Blackwater employees are accused of shooting civilians.

"It doesn't matter whether they did those things or not, it taints us," 
Watson said.

In San Diego, a fight is under way by a coalition of environmentalists and 
property owners in an attempt to retract permits issued to Blackwater to 
convert a warehouse into a firearms training facility.

Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego, said an "incredible coalition of local 
people" was able to stop a Blackwater facility from being built in 
Portreo, Calif., another small town about 10 miles from the Mexican 
border. "They felt (Blackwater) was violating their lifestyle and peaceful 
community, who understand that mercenary soldiers are not what a democracy 
ought to be encouraging," Filner said Friday.

He helped write proposed legislation that would make it illegal 
for "mercenary" military training to be done anywhere but on a military 
base. 

Lutz, the San Diego activist, said his group was able to lead the 
successful recall of the board of an entire planning commission that 
approved the initial permits for the site in Portreo. If Blackwater moves 
forward in North Idaho, the California coalition hopes to make contact 
with groups opposing the facility, he said. 

Lutz and others testified before the San Diego City Council this week, 
attempting to have the Otay Mesa permits quashed. A federal judge ordered 
San Diego this month to allow final building permits already approved for 
the site, claiming the city only suspended them because they feared 
political backlash.

"They are misusing the system here and giving the citizens here the same 
foul taste in their mouth the people in Iraq have had for the last few 
years," Lutz said.

Staff writer Erica Curless and the Associated Press contributed to this 
report.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college 
students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)


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