Nigerian Times

6 Dec 2007 01:24 Africa/Lagos Blackwater Statement Regarding Private Security Companies in Iraq MOYOCK, N.C., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blackwater fully supports the memorandum of agreement signed today by the Department of State and the Department of Defense regarding private security companies operating in Iraq on behalf of the US Government. Blackwater has always supported the identification of contractor standards and clear rules of accountability. Increased coordination and constant review of procedures will provide even better value to the Government. Blackwater looks forward to complying with new rules as we continue to serve the United States Government. Source: Blackwater CONTACT: Anne Tyrrell, +1-703-852-4320, atyrrell@blackwaterusa.com, of Blackwater Web site: http://www.blackwaterusa.com/

NEWSWEEK PHOTO: The Sunni Civil War. 3 Dec 2007 21:13 Africa/Lagos NEWSWEEK: International Editions: Highlights and Exclusives, December 10, 2007 Issue COVER: Inside Putin's Circle. (Atlantic and Latin America editions). Moscow Bureau Chief Owen Matthews and Special Correspondent Anna Nemtsova report that Russia's real politics happens in and around the Kremlin, and it's a ruthless battle for money and influence. As Vladimir Putin prepares to step down (as he's constitutionally obliged to do), the clans that control the power of the Russian state are maneuvering frantically to protect their business empires-and, in some cases, their lives. Matthews and Nemtsova also report that the battle also involves ideological disagreements on economic and foreign policy, disagreements that will determine whether Russia emerges as a more or less autocratic, more or less open to free markets and Western influence. http://www.newsweek.com/id/73233 (Photo: http://www.newsco...

Time for a Kitchen Table Conversation: Iraq War Funding Bill Costs $500 per U.S. Family WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congress returns to work this week under pressure from the Administration and congressional Republicans to provide more funding for the Iraq war. One of the things Americans should consider: The bill to fund further operations in Iraq would cost a little over $500 per U.S. family, according to WashingtonWatch.com. "American families should have a kitchen table conversation about the Iraq war," said WashingtonWatch.com webmaster Jim Harper. "It may be hard for families to assess our strategy in Iraq, but it's easy to grasp what it means for the government to spend $500 of their money. This is one of the things Americans should weigh on the Iraq issue." WashingtonWatch.com uses government predictions about the costs or savings from proposed laws to calculate the significance to average Americans - in dollars and cents - of proposed ...

Blackwater is guilty of the brutal murder of innocent Iraqis. The FBI said that 14 of the 17 Iraqis Blackwater killed last September in Baghdad were murdered in cold blood without cause.