- US mercenaries accused of plot to put 'boots on the ground' ahead of Bolivia's crucial elections Archived Message
Posted by sashimi
on October 19, 2020, 12:02 am
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By Steve Sweeney (quote) Security operatives with links to the notorious Blackwater firm have been accused of recruiting about 1,500 mercenaries to provide "boots on the ground" in Bolivia ahead of today's elections. Details leaked to the Morning Star appeared to reveal a clandestine plot to recruit law enforcement, medics and private security contractors to take part in a "unique mission" surrounding the elections. An email seen by the Star, which appears to have been sent by Texas-based security specialist Joe Milligan, indicated that he was in charge of recruitment for the Bolivian operation. "This project is very sensitive right now and I don't want to see anyone talking about it on Facebook," it warns recipients. "There is a lot of moving parts to this and we don't want to jam up the other guys that are working on the ground to make this happen," the email says. It asks for those involved to send details of their passports and other relevant documents to David Shearman, a former police official who runs the website Viper One Six - his call sign while he was operating in Afghanistan. According to sources, those taking part in the operation are being paid between $150,000 to $250,000 (£118,000 to £194,000) for contracts of between two and seven months. It was believed that the entire contract is worth some £300 million, although it was not clear who is funding the mission. An intelligence specialist told the Star that US government contacts had been unaware of the operation. The specialist said that the CIA was also unlikely to be behind it as those allegedly running the contract appeared "too stupid" to have been trusted. But he said that the motivation would almost certainly be to gain access to Bolivia's vast lithium deposits. Ousted president Evo Morales has suggested that this was the motivation behind last year's coup against his government. A follow-up email sent under the name of Mr Shearman calls for "throwbots [spy devices which transmit audio and video to a remote control unit], drone pilots ... and technical surveillance software personnel who can support the maintenance of drones." It advises participants to maintain a low profile and to wear clothes which blend in with the local population, such as jeans and "long and short-sleeved shirts capable of concealed carry" of weapons. The date of the mission "revolves around politics there," the email said. The election was delayed four times to yield today's date. The Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) appears to be identified as "the main foe." The email tells "Guerilla Group," which sources say could be operatives that were already in Bolivia: "MSA [sic] the main foe down there." WhatsApp messages seen by the Star make references to training bases inside Bolivia and name associates who appear to have a military background. (/quote) -- Cont'd at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/w/notorious-us-mercenary-firm-accused-of-putting-boot-on-the-ground-ahead-of-bolivia-crucial-elections |
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