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sabra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 11:41 AM
Original message
Layoffs at Xe (formally known as Blackwater Worldwide)
Source: WIRED News

More trouble at Xe, the newly rebranded incarnation of Blackwater Worldwide: The company has just undergone a round of layoffs as part of a larger reorganization of its business.

In an e-mail to DANGER ROOM, Xe spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said: "The company's ongoing reorganization has unfortunately required some staff reductions. These actions, while difficult, are part of a continuing effort to ensure the best value to our customers, and improve the company's efficiency."

While Tyrrell did not provide specific numbers, this is not the first time the company has been forced to downsize. Last year, the company laid off an undisclosed number of workers after the company failed to make the cut in the Pentagon's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle contest. The former Blackwater had plans to break into the manufacturing business as part of a strategy to diversify its business and reduce its dependence on controversial, high-end close protection contracts. The company recently announced plans to train pro athletes in self defense; it also continues to do less-known work, like low-cost, low altitude airdrops to supply U.S. troops on the ground in Afghanistan (pictured here).

Xe was dealt another blow after the Iraqi government declined to renew the company's operating license. The company had a major task order in Iraq to protect U.S. diplomatic personnel as part of the State Department's Worldwide Personal Protective Services contract; it now looks as if the State Department may be hiring more in-house security guards.

Read more: http://blog.wired.com/defense/2009/02/more-trouble-at.html
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notadmblnd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 11:44 AM
Response to Original message
1. Why would manufacturing need hired killers?
To protect the idiots that ran the companies into the ground from those whose livelihoods and lives they have destroyed?

The sooner this company files chapter 13, the better.
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formercia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 12:11 PM
Response to Reply #1
6. They need Xe to deal with whistleblowers and other troublemakers.
Corporations and wealthy individuals have been doing this for a long time. The Pinkertons are a good example of 19th Century 'Security.'
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LiberalFighter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 12:54 PM
Response to Reply #6
12. Like Pinkerton use to.
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alarimer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 02:00 PM
Response to Reply #6
17. And this is one of the reasons people are afraid to join unions.
Corporations send their hired thugs.
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fujiyama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 01:06 PM
Response to Reply #1
13. Wouldn't Chapter 7 be even better?
Edited on Thu Feb-19-09 01:07 PM by fujiyama
Then it would be liquidated. Or maybe I'm getting the two mixed up.
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notadmblnd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 01:31 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. Chapter 7 is just reorg isn't it. Chapter 13 would dissolving the company. No?
I could have it backwards.
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jmowreader Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 09:57 PM
Response to Reply #15
21. You have it backwards
Chapter 7 is liquidation, Chapter 11 is wage-earner reorganization, Chapter 13 is corporate reorganization.

I've heard of companies liquidating in Chapter 13, but if you file Chapter 7 you have to.
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notadmblnd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 11:55 PM
Response to Reply #21
24. I can be dyslexic that way. Sorry.
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happyslug Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-20-09 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #21
26. Chapter 11 is Corporation reorganization, Chapter 13 is Wage earner Reorganization
TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY
How Current is This?
# CHAPTER 1—GENERAL PROVISIONS
# CHAPTER 3—CASE ADMINISTRATION
# CHAPTER 5—CREDITORS, THE DEBTOR, AND THE ESTATE
# CHAPTER 7—LIQUIDATION
# CHAPTER 9—ADJUSTMENT OF DEBTS OF A MUNICIPALITY
# CHAPTER 11—REORGANIZATION
# CHAPTER 12—ADJUSTMENT OF DEBTS OF A FAMILY FARMER OR FISHERMAN WITH REGULAR ANNUAL INCOME
# CHAPTER 13—ADJUSTMENT OF DEBTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH REGULAR INCOME
# CHAPTER 15—ANCILLARY AND OTHER CROSS-BORDER CASES

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode11/usc_sup_01_11.html

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stubtoe Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 11:51 AM
Response to Original message
2. Oh great. More loose mercenaries running around.
I'd be happy to see the company go away completely though.
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pattmarty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 11:53 AM
Response to Reply #2
4. I'd second that thought.
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Brother Buzz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 02:34 PM
Response to Reply #2
19. Time on their hand, blood money stuffed in pockets, and an attitude that may jibe with society
These boys will make the 6 and 11 o'clock news.
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DCKit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 11:52 AM
Response to Original message
3. With the Republics out of power, their revenue stream is drying up.
:nopity:
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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 12:05 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. Let's hope KBR and Halliburton suffer the same fate.
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wroberts189 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 12:24 PM
Response to Reply #3
9. Yes..this is some good news nt
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Blue_Tires Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 12:12 PM
Response to Original message
7. they are nothing without the pentagon $$$$ backing them up...
just a bunch of rednecks, psychos, and wayward criminals....

maybe they will get into piracy as a new venture
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HopeHoops Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 12:18 PM
Response to Original message
8. This Xe thing reminds me of what happened with a certain performer's name change...
He went from a one word name to being described as "The artist formerly known as Prince who subsequently changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol". I guess filing his tax returns was getting to be a bother because he goes by Prince again now.

So, now we have news from "The corrupt war profiteering company formerly known as Blackwater which subsequently changed its name to what sounds like a video game console model". Same stinking pile of dog shit.



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DCKit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 12:36 PM
Response to Reply #8
10. No, it's "Christ-y", like Xmas. n/t
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xiamiam Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 12:42 PM
Response to Original message
11. bullcrap...they protect the elite who stole the money...this is suspicious..nt
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KamaAina Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 01:12 PM
Response to Original message
14. Quick! Fly your stealth jets up to DC and ask for a bailout!
:sarcasm:
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Javaman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 01:53 PM
Response to Original message
16. So what happens to out of work mercs?
:scared:
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nc4bo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 02:05 PM
Response to Reply #16
18. oh I'm sure they'll become poster children for some WS group
Edited on Thu Feb-19-09 02:05 PM by nc4bo
I hear they're looking for a few good'uns w/prior military experience.

:scared:
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sarcasmo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 02:52 PM
Response to Original message
20. Good!
Edited on Thu Feb-19-09 02:52 PM by sarcasmo
Thanks to the person who gave me my heart, :).
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jmowreader Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 10:13 PM
Response to Original message
22. Check out Blackwater's JLTV
http://www.tactical-life.com/online/news/blackwaters-new-jltv/

I saw the Blackwater MRAP, the Grizzly. It didn't look so hot.
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 11:26 PM
Original message
It's "formerly", not "formally"
Formally, they're still known as "Xe"
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-19-09 11:26 PM
Response to Original message
23. It's "formerly", not "formally"
Formally, they're still known as "Xe"
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cap Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-20-09 10:42 AM
Response to Original message
25. the key thing is to shut down the training
Xe trains a lot of folks -- US Military, State and local cops, military all over the world, private security types.


Too much influence.
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