Blackwater mercenaries used in New Orleans
{{date|September 15, 2005}}
{{Hurricane 2005 Infobox|Flooding caused by hurricane Katrina|Noaa-katrina-24428443.jpg}}
As of September 1, 2005, [[w:Blackwater USA|Blackwater USA]] [http://www.blackwaterusa.com/] sent equipment and security forces to the [[w:Hurricane Katrina|Hurricane Katrina]] disaster area, including a [[w:Aérospatiale Puma|SA-330J Puma helicopter]], with the stated purpose of assisting in the evacuation of citizens from flooded areas.  A later press release on Blackwater USA's web site confirms that their privately contracted forces are on the ground in [[w:New Orleans|New Orleans]], being used to secure petrochemical facilities and provide security services for the federal government.

Private citizens are also reported to be hiring Blackwater "military warriors" and bodyguards to protect them and/or their expensive homes in New Orleans, such as in the [[w:Garden District|Garden District]], despite the repeated mandatory evacuation orders of all civilians by local, state, and federal authorities.  One publication has reported that the number of soldiers for hire could be in the hundreds, as told to them by the commander of Blackwater's operations in the city.  [[w:Israel|Israeli]] mercenaries from the firm known as ISI were also seen guarding a gated community, and were wearing full military gear including bulletproof vests and M16 assault rifles.

Blackwater has a history of being employed by the U.S. government and by private contractors across Iraq over the last two years to protect civilian and military convoys and provide security and bodyguarding services.

== Related News ==

*{{wikinews|title=New Orleans officials confiscating guns|date=September 9, 2005}}

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/13/earlyshow/main837959.shtml
|title=Tale Of Two Cities In New Orleans
|author=Lee Cowan
|pub=The Early Show
|date=September 13, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.blackwaterusa.com/press/katrina2.asp
|title=BLACKWATER USA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT KATRINA DEVASTED AREAS
|author=
|pub=Blackwater USA
|date=September 13, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/katrina/story/0,16441,1567656,00.html
|title=Mercenaries guard homes of the rich in New Orleans
|author=Jamie Wilson
|pub=The Guardian
|date=September 12, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/12/1426242
|title=Overkill: Feared Blackwater Mercenaries Deploy in New Orleans (Democracy Now! Program Transcript)
|author=Democracy Now!
|pub=Democracy Now!
|date=September 12, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0910-07.htm
|title=Overkill: Feared Blackwater Mercenaries Deploy in New Orleans
|author=Jeremy Scahill and Daniela Crespo
|pub=Common Dreams
|date=September 10, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://washingtontimes.com/business/20050909-104738-8181r.htm
|title=Katrina-hit states turn to security firms
|author=Marguerite Higgins
|pub=The Washington Times
|date=September 10, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=CHI20050908&articleId=905
|title=Private Security and Mercenary Companies Patrol New Orleans
|author=Larry Chin
|pub=Global Research
|date=September 08, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/07/AR2005090702214.html
|title=Private Security Contractors Head to Gulf
|author=Griff Witte
|pub=Washington Post
|date=September 08, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.blackwaterusa.com/press/katrina.asp
|title=BLACKWATER JOINS HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF EFFORT!
|author=
|pub=Blackwater USA
|date=September 1, 2005}}

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[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:Louisiana]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Hurricane season, 2005]]
As of September 1, 2005, Blackwater USA  sent equipment and security forces to the Hurricane Katrina disaster area, including a SA-330J Puma helicopter, with the stated purpose of assisting in the evacuation of citizens from flooded areas.  A later press release on Blackwater USA's web site confirms that their privately contracted forces are on the ground in New Orleans, being used to secure petrochemical facilities and provide security services for the federal government.

Private citizens are also reported to be hiring Blackwater "military warriors" and bodyguards to protect them and/or their expensive homes in New Orleans, such as in the Garden District, despite the repeated mandatory evacuation orders of all civilians by local, state, and federal authorities.  One publication has reported that the number of soldiers for hire could be in the hundreds, as told to them by the commander of Blackwater's operations in the city.  Israeli mercenaries from the firm known as ISI were also seen guarding a gated community, and were wearing full military gear including bulletproof vests and M16 assault rifles.

Blackwater has a history of being employed by the U.S. government and by private contractors across Iraq over the last two years to protect civilian and military convoys and provide security and bodyguarding services.

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Disasters and accidents Louisiana United States North America Hurricane season, 2005