Clinton took a donation from Blackwater?

[LittleBlue]

Former President Bill Clinton laid out a list of big-ticket donors to his foundation Thursday that is heavy with foreign governments and business interests sure to have a stake in the policies that Hillary Rodham Clinton carries out as secretary of state.

Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments gave at least $46 million, while corporate donors included the Blackwater security firm that protects U.S. diplomats in Iraq.

The contributions went to the William J. Clinton Foundation, a nonprofit created by the former president to finance his library in Little Rock, Ark., and charitable efforts to reduce poverty and treat AIDS. President-elect Barack Obama made Hillary Clinton's nomination as secretary of state contingent on her husband revealing the foundation's contributors, to avoid questions about potential conflicts of interest.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave $10 million to $25 million to the foundation, and other government donors included Norway, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Italy and Jamaica. The Dutch national lottery gave $5 million to $10 million.

The Blackwater Training Center donated $10,001 to $25,000. The State Department will have to decide next year whether to renew Blackwater Worldwide's contract to protect U.S. diplomats in Iraq. Five Blackwater guards have been indicted by a U.S. grand jury on manslaughter and weapons charges stemming from a September 2007 firefight in Baghdad's Nisoor Square in which 17 Iraqis died.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/18/clinton-foundation-donor_n_152046.html

You've got to be kidding me. The mercenary/torture organization was a Clinton donor. The Saudis too. When she pleas for civil rights in a country, you know what the response will be.

[leftstreet]

1. It's just 'reaching across the aisle' n/t

[DJ13]

2. Thats not reaching across the aisle

Its a reach around.

[leftstreet]

5. snap

I thought of that!

:o

[LittleBlue]

3. I guess it's the aisle that divides democracies and dictatorships/torturers. n/t

:(

[Dennis Donovan]

4. Why not just take a donation from al Qaeda?

Both Blackwater and al Qaeda seem to not have an issue with killing innocents.:thumbsdown:

Shame on the Big Dog.:thumbsdown:

[nichomachus]

6. Well, they also worked hand in hand with Rick Warren on Prop H8

Blackwater was a huge donor, along with Norman Ahmanson, and the Mormon Church.

[Dennis Donovan]

7. The Prince family are dominionist freaks...

...so their support of Prop H8 doesn't surprise me.

[TheWraith]

8. Doesn't really surprise me. Hillary's strategist is Blackwater's PR man. nt

[Unsane]

9. Bill Clinton's never seen a political donation he didn't like.

It's like McDonald's food to him. He just eats it up.
yum yum

[babylonsister]

10. Blackwater donation may pose conflict for SoS Clinton

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/12/blackwater_donation_may_pose_c.php

Blackwater donation may pose conflict for Clinton

Blackwater donation to Clinton foundation could pose conflict over security contract renewal

Staff
AP News

Dec 18, 2008 12:19 EST

The future of security contractor Blackwater Worldwide just got a little more politically sensitive.

Newly released records show the largest security contractor in Iraq donated between $10,000 and $25,000 to former President Bill Clinton's foundation. Assuming Hillary Rodham Clinton is confirmed as Secretary of State, she will have final say on whether Blackwater will keep its contract despite a deadly shooting last year.

Five Blackwater guards are under indictment and a sixth has pleaded guilty for their roles in the shooting, which left 17 Iraqis dead. Prosecutors say the guards unleashed grenades and machine gun fire on innocent civilians.

That could cost Blackwater its contract to protect U.S. diplomats. The next secretary of state will make that call.