RE: "Don't Blame Blackwater" (10/17)
To The Editor
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Op-Ed
- Page 1 of 1
By Jamie S. Georgia, Faculty Assistant, KSG Center for Business and Government
Dear Sir:
In "Don't Blame Blackwater" (10/17), Chris Taylor derides congressional investigations into Blackwater's alleged unscrupulous behavior and war-profiteering as a "partisan sideshow." I'd like to take a moment to deride the Citizen for its seeming lack of journalistic integrity. I read through the article, which makes some fair points, only to learn at the very end in small print that Mr. Taylor is a former vice-president of, surprise, Blackwater. While this should not prevent Mr. Taylor from speaking his mind about this issue or any other, I do think good faith would dictate that such a disclaimer be located at the beginning of the article, and be appended to include any ongoing ties the author might still have with the company, such as stock options or a standing rehire offer. It would have also been informative to mention that Mr. Taylor is a former chairman of the International Peace Operations Initiative, a Washington trade association that lobbies on behalf of numerous for-profit mercenary groups.
I look forward to the national discussion Mr. Taylor implores us to have regarding the use of mercenary forces during wartime, but I think this discussion will be greatly
benefited by everyone being upfront about their own stakes in the outcome.
Dear Sir:
In "Don't Blame Blackwater" (10/17), Chris Taylor derides congressional investigations into Blackwater's alleged unscrupulous behavior and war-profiteering as a "partisan sideshow." I'd like to take a moment to deride the Citizen for its seeming lack of journalistic integrity. I read through the article, which makes some fair points, only to learn at the very end in small print that Mr. Taylor is a former vice-president of, surprise, Blackwater. While this should not prevent Mr. Taylor from speaking his mind about this issue or any other, I do think good faith would dictate that such a disclaimer be located at the beginning of the article, and be appended to include any ongoing ties the author might still have with the company, such as stock options or a standing rehire offer. It would have also been informative to mention that Mr. Taylor is a former chairman of the International Peace Operations Initiative, a Washington trade association that lobbies on behalf of numerous for-profit mercenary groups.
I look forward to the national discussion Mr. Taylor implores us to have regarding the use of mercenary forces during wartime, but I think this discussion will be greatly
benefited by everyone being upfront about their own stakes in the outcome.
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