<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"><!-- P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} --></style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div id="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<p><br>
</p>
US Blackwater firm implicated in fracking debacle affecting Native American protesters.<br>
<br>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<hr tabindex="-1" style="display:inline-block; width:98%">
<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt"><b>From:</b> Globalfrackdown@groups.fwwatch.org <Globalfrackdown@groups.fwwatch.org> on behalf of Andy G <andy.gheorghiu_mail.de@groups.fwwatch.org><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, October 29, 2016 5:42 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Globalfrackdown@groups.fwwatch.org; 'Shale Gas List'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Globalfrackdown] Fwd: Security Firm Running Dakota Access Pipeline Intelligence Has Ties to U.S. Military Work in Iraq and Afghanistan</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div>
<p>Dear all,</p>
<p>fyi.</p>
<p>my best regards</p>
<p>Andy<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-forward-container"><br>
--------------------------------------<br>
<meta name="Title" content="">
<meta name="Keywords" content="">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered
medium)">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Lastest by Steve Horn at DeSmog</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a id="LPlnk504035" href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/10/28/private-security-firm-dakota-access-iraq-afghanistan-blackwater" previewremoved="true">http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/10/28/private-security-firm-dakota-access-iraq-afghanistan-blackwater</a>
</span></p>
<div id="LPBorder_GT_14779567613220.19734117905509207" style="width: 100%; text-indent: 0px; overflow: auto; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<table id="LPContainer_14779567613120.19461651744637387" style="width: 90%; overflow: auto; padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; border-top-color: rgb(200, 200, 200); border-bottom-color: rgb(200, 200, 200); border-top-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-style: dotted; border-bottom-style: dotted; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr valign="top" style="border-spacing: 0px;">
<td id="ImageCell_14779567613140.05306078154777927" style="width: 250px; padding-right: 20px; display: table-cell; position: relative;" colspan="1">
<div id="LPImageContainer_14779567613150.05238471213720253" style="margin: auto; width: 250px; height: 166px; display: table; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
<a id="LPImageAnchor_14779567613160.09476399793026013" style="text-align: center; display: table-cell;" href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/10/28/private-security-firm-dakota-access-iraq-afghanistan-blackwater" target="_blank"><img width="250" height="166" id="LPThumbnailImageID_14779567613160.23153590919662026" style="border-width: 0px; width: 250px; height: 166px; vertical-align: bottom; display: inline-block; max-height: 250px; max-width: 250px;" aria-label="Preview image with link selected. Double-tap to open the link." src="http://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/blogimages/15288546338_1240d57322_o.jpg"></a></div>
</td>
<td id="TextCell_14779567613170.11334704490883762" style="padding: 0px; vertical-align: top; display: table-cell; position: relative;" colspan="2">
<div id="LPRemovePreviewContainer_14779567613170.8892915220924067"></div>
<div id="LPTitle_14779567613170.6584186673009358" style="top: 0px; color: rgb(0, 120, 215); line-height: 21px; font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_light","Segoe UI Light","Segoe WP Light","Segoe UI","Segoe WP",Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: 400;">
<a id="LPUrlAnchor_14779567613190.6702970080755655" style="text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/10/28/private-security-firm-dakota-access-iraq-afghanistan-blackwater" target="_blank">Security Firm Running Dakota Access Pipeline Intelligence
Has Ties to U.S. Military Work in Iraq and Afghanistan</a></div>
<div id="LPMetadata_14779567613190.02389521518153992" style="margin: 10px 0px 16px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: 14px; font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_normal","Segoe UI","Segoe WP",Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;">
www.desmogblog.com</div>
<div id="LPDescription_14779567613210.6917657502098484" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: 20px; overflow: hidden; font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_normal","Segoe UI","Segoe WP",Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; display: block; max-height: 100px;">
TigerSwan is one of several security firms under investigation for its work guarding the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota while potentially without a permit. Besides this recent work on the Standing Rock Sioux protests in North Dakota, this company has
offices in Iraq and Afghanistan and is</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<br>
<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Security Firm Running Dakota Access Pipeline Intelligence Has Ties to U.S. Military Work in Iraq and Afghanistan</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">By <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/user/7018">Steve Horn</a> o Friday, October 28, 2016 - 12:58</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">TigerSwan is one of several security firms <a href="http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/investigators-dog-handlers-were-not-licensed-to-work-security/article_4414ac82-191b-516a-bdd7-a4d0ff635247.html" target="_blank">under
investigation</a> for its work guarding the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota while potentially without a permit. Besides this recent work on the Standing Rock Sioux protests in North Dakota, this company has offices in Iraq and Afghanistan and is run
by a special forces Army veteran.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="http://www.co.morton.nd.us/vertical/Sites/%7B90CBB59C-38EA-4D41-861A-81C9DEBD6022%7D/uploads/10-26_investigation_of_Sept._3rd.pdf" target="_blank">According to a summary of the investigation</a>,
TigerSwan "is in charge of Dakota Access intelligence and supervises the overall security."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The Morton County, North Dakota, Sheriff's Department also <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2016/10/26/morton_county_finishes_investigation_into_dogs" target="_blank">recently concluded</a> that another security
company, Frost Kennels, operated in the state while unlicensed to do so and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/26/north-dakota-pipeline-protest-guard-dogs-charges" target="_blank">could face criminal charges</a>. The firm's attack dogs bit
protesters at a <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/09/06/dakota-access-pipeline-sacred-sites-federal-judge" target="_blank">heated Labor Day weekend protest</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Law enforcement and private security at the North Dakota pipeline protests have <a href="http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1412762216" target="_blank">faced criticism</a> for maintaining
a<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2016/10/video-dakota-access-pipeline-protest-absolutely-nuts-total-war-zone" target="_blank">militarized presence</a> in the area. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and National Lawyer's Guild have <a href="https://www.nlg.org/nlg-and-aclu-submit-foia-and-open-records-requests-to-investigate-unconstitutional-surveillance-of-water-protectors-at-standing-rock/" target="_blank">filed
multiple open records requests</a> to learn more about the extent of this militarization, and <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/dapl_assault/" target="_blank">over 133,000 citizens</a> have signed a petition calling for the U.S. Department of Justice
to intervene and quell the backlash.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The Federal Aviation Administration has <a href="http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_6_7258.html#areas" target="_blank">also implemented a no-fly zone</a>, which bars anyone but law enforcement from flying
within a 4-mile radius and 3500 feet above the ground in the protest area. Dallas Goldtooth, an organizer on the scenes in North Dakota with the Indigenous Environmental Network, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dallasgoldtooth/posts/10105870218846183" target="_blank">said
on Facebook that</a> "DAPL private security planes and choppers were flying all day" within the designated no-fly zone. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Donnell Hushka, the designated public information officer for the North Dakota Tactical Operation Center, which is tasked with overseeing the no-fly zone, did not respond to repeated queries about designated
private entities allowed to fly in no-fly zone airspace.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">What is TigerSwan?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="http://www.tigerswan.com/contact/" target="_blank">TigerSwan has offices</a> in Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, India, and Latin America and has headquarters in North Carolina. In the past
year, TigerSwan won two U.S. Department of State contracts worth over $7 million to operate in Afghanistan, according to USASpending.gov.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">TigerSwan, however, claims on its website that the contract is worth $25 million, and <a href="http://www.tigerswan.com/tigerswan-wins-state-department-award/" target="_blank">said in a press release</a> that
the State Department contract called for the company to "monitor, assess, and advise current and future nation building and stability initiatives in Afghanistan." Since 2008, TigerSwan has won about <a href="https://apps.usaspending.gov/AdvancedSearch?SenderId=47516812&SPHostUrl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.usaspending.gov&SearchPageURL=%2fPages%2fAdvancedSearch.aspx&AwardSummaryPageURL=%2fTransparency%2fPages%2fAwardSummary.aspx&fromDB=false&sub=y&ST=C,G,L,O&FY=2017,2016,2015,2014,2013,2012,2011,2010,2009,2008&A=0&SS=USA&k=tigerswan&pidx=1&SB=AD&SD=DESC" target="_blank">$57.7
million</a> worth of U.S. government contracts and sub-contracts for security services.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Company founder and CEO <a href="http://www.tigerswan.com/meet-team/leadership/james-reese/" target="_blank">James Reese</a>, a veteran of the elite <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Force" target="_blank">Army
Delta Force</a>, served as the "lead advisor for Special Operations to the Director of the CIA for planning, operations and integration for the invasion of Afghanistan and Operation Enduring Freedom" in Iraq, according to his company biography. Army Delta
partakes in mostly covert and high-stakes missions and is part of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Special_Operations_Command" target="_blank">U.S. Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)</a>, the latter well known for killing Osama Bin Laden. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">One of TigerSwan's advisory board members, Charles Pittman, has direct ties to the oil and gas industry. Pittman "served as President of Amoco Egypt Oil Company, Amoco Eurasia Petroleum Company, and Regional
President BPAmoco plc. (covering the Middle East, the Caspian Sea region, Egypt, and India)," <a href="http://clients.fwv-us.com/development/tigerswan-v2/meet-team/board-advisors/charles-pittman/" target="_blank">according to his company biography</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">"Sad, But Not Surprising"</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2009/8/20/reports_private_military_firm_blackwater_was" target="_blank">told Democracy Now! in a 2009 interview</a> that TigerSwan
did some covert operations work with Blackwater USA, dubbed the "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackwater-Rise-Worlds-Powerful-Mercenary-ebook/dp/B0097CYTYA" target="_blank">world's most powerful mercenary army</a>" in his book by the same name. Blackwater
has also guarded oil pipelines in central Asia, <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=vpo5E5JagJEC&pg=PA236&lpg=PA236&dq=blackwater+usa+pipeline&source=bl&ots=dhmgUHcM3u&sig=atRA5zNDt4G0zxMUCSls4IvSiQg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbu6nnhPrPAhWIwiYKHRAxCmgQ6AEIXTAJ#v=onepage&q=blackwater%20usa%20pipeline&f=false" target="_blank">according
to Scahill's book</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="http://newsok.com/article/feed/113678" target="_blank">Reese advised Blackwater</a> and took a leave of absence from TigerSwan in 2008 in the aftermath of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisour_Square_massacre" target="_blank">Nisour
Square Massacre</a>, a shooting in Iraq conducted by Blackwater officers which saw 17 Iraqi civilians killed. TigerSwan has a<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tigerswan-announces-strategic-alliance-with-iraqi-security-company-61992847.html" target="_blank">business
relationship</a> with <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20160109141143/http:/besc.net/" target="_blank">Babylon Eagles Security Company</a>, a private security firm headquartered in Iraq which also has had <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20160127030611/http:/besc.net/clients.htm" target="_blank">business
ties with Blackwater</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">"It is sad, but not surprising, that the very security firm that sicced dogs on nonviolent crowds at Standing Rock has ties to the US interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq," Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the
women-led peace groupCODEPINK and the co-founder of the human rights group Global Exchange, told DeSmog. "It is another terrifying example of how our violent interventions abroad come home to haunt us in the form of repression and violation of our civil rights."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Private Investigation and Security Board are also<a href="http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/investigators-dog-handlers-were-not-licensed-to-work-security/article_4414ac82-191b-516a-bdd7-a4d0ff635247.html" target="_blank">conducting
parallel investigations</a> to the one recently completed by Morton County. TigerSwan did not comment on questions posed about their contract.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; color:gray"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:gray">Alison K. Grass · Senior Researcher · Water Program · Food & Water Watch · Washington, DC · (202) 683-2481 ·
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:#538135"><a href="http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/"><span style="color:#538135">www.foodandwaterwatch.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:gray"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72"></pre>
<br>
<br>
<br>
~~~----~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ <br>
Manage your Group settings: <br>
<br>
* To reply to sender (Andy G): <br>
andy.gheorghiu_mail.de@groups.fwwatch.org <br>
<br>
* To view sender's profile, click this link: <br>
(not available - person not signed in yet) <br>
<br>
* To post to entire group, send email to: <br>
Globalfrackdown@groups.fwwatch.org <br>
<br>
* To email the group moderator(s) (mschlosberg@fwwatch.org, docallaghan@fwwatch.org, gdecock@fweurope.org, dsanchez@fweurope.org, ewurth@fwwatch.org):
<br>
Globalfrackdown-moderator@groups.fwwatch.org <br>
<br>
* To UNSUBSCRIBE or change delivery settings, click this link: <br>
<a href="http://groups.fwwatch.org/p.htm?m=qs&em=annxpress@live.com&sk=o1zXkP">edit delivery settings</a>
<br>
<br>
* To UNSUBSCRIBE from this group, send email to: <br>
Globalfrackdown-unsubscribe@groups.fwwatch.org <br>
<br>
* To remove yourself from this group, send email to: <br>
Globalfrackdown-remove@groups.fwwatch.org <br>
<br>
* To visit this group on the web, click this link: <br>
<a href="http://groups.fwwatch.org/group.htm?igid=4958">view group</a> <br>
<br>
Powered by GoLightly, http://www.golightly.com/ <br>
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~~~-~--~ <br>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>