Banana Republic

Banana Republic

This has to be the oddest story of a very odd time; "Chiquita pleaded guilty to paying 1.7 million dollars to one of Colombia's most notorious paramilitary groups". Combine that with news of Blackwater employees killing 8 Iraqis in a fire fight and suddenly Naomi Klein's term, "Corporatism" seems fittingly evil. In fact, even saying "Blackwater employees in a fire fight", is a pretty good indicator that these "employees" weren't working in the laundromat or filing requisition forms. I get the feeling that if Chiquita had hired Blackwater to protect their bananas, they wouldn't have been fined 25 million dollars. Conveniently, the guilty plea and fine ensure Chiquita Brands International executives are off the hook from further charges.