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Campaign 2008
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MCCAIN HIRED PEOPLE WHO PAL AROUND WITH TERRORIST!
Who Is Charlie Black?
Code Name: Mr. Black Current Job: Chief Advisor to John McCain Previous Job: Lobbyist for corporate criminals and violent dictators There has been growing buzz about a guy named Charlie Black, a former top Washington Lobbyist at the helm of BKSH and Associates and a current chief advisor to John McCain. Most recently, Black made headlines for telling Fortune Magazine that another terrorist attack on American Soil would be "a big advantage for him McCain." Black's comments were immediately slammed by Change to Win's executive director, Greg Tarpinian, who led a growing chorus of calls for McCain to fire the former lobbyist. But the bigger question behind this scandal remains, Who is Charlie Black? Mr. Black sounds like the name of an evil genius from a James Bond movie but, surprisingly enough, the similarities don't stop there. Black and his firm, BKSH, have represented a host of questionable clients, including violent dictators, corporate criminals and even a suspected Iranian spy. Here's some background on the work experience that qualifies Black to direct John McCain's presidential ambitions. Client List Ferdinand Marcos: Former President of the Philippines As President, Marcos authorized the arrest of political opponents, executed his own citizens and plundered his country's resources. When he died in 1989 the New York Times wrote the following in his obituary: "Mr. Marcos, an autocratic leader who imposed martial law in his homeland from 1972 to 1981, died without facing trial on United States criminal charges that he plundered the Philippine Treasury of more than $100 million in his two decades in power." Mobutu Sese Seko: Former president of Zaire (now known as the Congo) The New York Times once called him, "the very model of an African dictator -- dirty with corruption as his country collapsed around him." Mobuto was known for publicly executing and mercilessly torturing his political opponents to maintain power. Mobutu also siphoned public funds to create a personal fortune that was almost equivalent to his country's foreign debt. Ahmed Chalabi: Head of the Iraqi National Congress Ahmed Chalabi was originally a favorite of the Bush administration and a major advocate for the United States invasion of Iraq. However, in 2004, Iraqi police supported by U.S. soldiers raided his offices and residence, taking documents and computers. It was later reported that Chalabi gave U.S. state secrets to Iran. Erik Prince: Founder and head of Blackwater Worldwide Blackwater Worldwide provides private security services in Iraq and has been under scrutiny since a Congressional Report indicated the company engaged in nearly 200 shootings in Iraq since 2005. As reported in the New York Times, "a vast majority of cases firing their weapons from moving vehicles without stopping to count the dead or assist the wounded." When Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, was called to testify for congress about Blackwater's questionable practices, he hired Charlie Black to help him prepare. Critics consider Blackwater's self-description as a private military company to be a euphemism for mercenary activities. When asked about BKSH's clients, Black said, "I'm not ashamed of anything the firm did." Honest to a fault perhaps, but it begs the question, does John McCain feel the same way?- TAGS:
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