Dogs of War: Mercenaries are in the eye of the beholder
Feb 20, 2009 Commentary, David Isenberg
Published: Feb. 20, 2009
By DAVID ISENBERG
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (UPI) — Last Sunday The New York Times reported the American military will begin recruiting skilled immigrants who are living in the United States with temporary visas, offering them the chance to become U.S. citizens in as little as six months.
While immigrants who are permanent residents with green cards have long been eligible to enlist, this move, for the first time since the Vietnam War, will open the armed forces to temporary immigrants if they have lived in the United States for a minimum of two years.
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Blackwater laying off staff as it adopts new name
Feb 20, 2009 Industry News
Associated Press
MOYOCK, N.C. (AP) — Blackwater Worldwide’s reorganization under the new brand name Xe (zee) includes layoffs designed to make the company leaner.
Xe spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said Thursday the reorganization “has unfortunately required some staff reductions.”
Tyrrell declined to provide numbers on how many people were laid off and where they worked within the privately-held company.
The North Carolina-based security contractor also said in November that it had laid off employees after failing to win a government contract for its Grizzly armored vehicle to replace the Humvee.
The company announced last week that it was changing its name from Blackwater Worldwide to Xe as part of a rebranding and reorganization.
