Blackwater’s ‘Roid Rage
A lawsuit against embattled Private security contractor Blackwater is raising another shady allegation: rampant steroid use. [Raw Story]
The plaintiffs allege that Blackwater does not give drug tests to their guards, and estimate that one quarter of them regularly use �steroids or other judgment altering substances.�
The lawsuit claims the security firm �did not conduct drug-testing of any of its shooters before sending them equipped with heavy weapons into the streets of Baghdad.�
Who�s bringing the lawsuit? The families of five Iraqis killed and two injured in the now-notorious September 16th shootings where Blackwater employees allegedly �opened fire at police and civilian vehicles,� killing 17 people. [CNN]
What are they asking for? The lead attorney for the families, Susan L. Burke, says that â��Weâ��re looking for compensatory (damages) because the people who were killed were the breadwinners in their families… And weâ��re looking for punitive in a manner that suffices to change the corporationâ��s conduct. We have a real interest in holding them accountable for what were completely avoidable deaths.â��
For continuing coverage of Blackwater�s misdeeds and the problems with private security firms: [MicCheck] [American Progress]
Made in America: Memorial Day
New Rules for Student-Aid Programs? Here’s What You Need to Know
Dear Columbia Graduate School of Journalism,