‘Prince’ of War Going Down?
It’s easy to see today’s news of Erik Prince being accused of murder as nothing short of cathartic. If the charges are true — they come from sworn affidavits by two former Blackwater Worldwide employees testifying in a federal lawsuit against Blackwater (now known as Xe) –it means the golden Blackwater boy has finally been unsheathed of his golden shield and will finally stand accountable for the many crimes his guards have been accused of perpetuating throughout the six years of war in Iraq.
Jeremy Scahill, the indomitable reporter who has been all over Blackwater like a tick on a dog, writing the must-read Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army, and keeping close tabs in general on the military industrial complex for The Nation and his own blog, RebelReports.com, broke the story this morning.
Prince’s former employees say he:
– “may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company.”
– “turned a profit by transporting ‘illegal’ or ‘unlawful’ weapons into the country on Prince’s private planes”
– “destroyed incriminating videos, emails and other documents” with fellow employees, who also “intentionally deceived the U.S. State Department and other federal agencies.” This would include “hotwashing” videos depicting incidents in which Blackwater guards showed “excessive force” against Iraqi civilians. Several Blackwater guards are now on trial, and facing the above-mentioned civil suit, for their role in the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians in Nisoor Square in September 2007.
– “ignored the advice and pleas from certain employees, who sought to stop the unnecessary killing of innocent Iraqis.” Prince allegedly returned employees back to Iraq knowing they had been initially sent home because other staff found them unfit for duty because, aside from exhibiting mental instability, these men had been “making statements about wanting to deploy to Iraq to ‘kill ragheads’ or achieve ‘kills’ or ‘body counts,’” as well as “excessive drinking” and “steroid use.”
– “views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe”
These charges are indeed explosive. The last statement, if authentic, makes an already unattractive man and personal story that much more repulsive. Especially since his now-tainted multimillion dollar successes have come straight from his silver-spooned pedigree and Christian Evangelical political connections. Son of wealthy businessman Edgar Prince, who co-founded the Family Research Council with Gary Bauer, Prince worked for President George H.W Bush and has since been a bigtime donor to rightwing Christian groups and Republican causes and candidates. Later on, to cash in on the best post-9/11 security contracts available, Prince started Blackwater and called on his Republican friends, including the now-defunct and disgraced Alexander Strategies Group (Jack Abramoff’s lobbyist pals), to get the job done. And it worked. According to reports, Blackwater raked in $1 billion in profits from 9/11 to 2007.
According to this new damning testimony, Prince mixed his religion with his politics with his business. Somewhere along the line, according to the affidavits against him, his faith became a hate-fueled mutation of Jesus’s teachings. But his business soared, mostly because his politics — enjoined by the mighty but ill-fated Republican galaxy that was Washington under President George W. Bush — ensured that he won the contracts and shielded him from the real probing by congressional investigators that he and his company deserved (even though every single violent deed perpetuated against innocent Iraqis put our troops in harm’s way and further delegitimated the shaky U.S occupation there).
It should be pointed out that despite numerous attempts for comment by Prince and/or officials at his numerous holdings, Scahill did not get a response to the released affidavits.
Hopefully, these lawsuits will conclude Prince’s fall from favor. Unfortunately, for now, Xe rolls on and its lucrative federal, state and private contracts, too.
UPDATE: To show that I’m not all about the “far left agitprop,” here’s Xe (Blackwater’s) response, posted by lefty MoJo:
The proper place for this case to be litigated is in the Court, and we will respond fully in our reply brief (which will be filed on August 17) to the anonymous unsubstantiated and offensive assertions put forward by the plaintiffs. Because the plaintiffs have chosen inappropriately to argue their case in the media, however, we will also say this:
- The brief filed by Plaintiff includes two anonymous affidavits state that their “information” has been provided to the Justice Department — we can gauge the credence given to those statements – which hold no water. When the indictments were announced, the United States Attorney the United States Attorney made a point of stating that “[t]he indictment does not charge or implicate Blackwater Worldwide”; “[i]t charges only the actions of certain employees for their roles in the September 16 shooting.” He emphasized that the indictment was “very narrow in its allegations”: “Six individual Blackwater guards have been charged with unjustified shootings . . . not the entire Blackwater organization in Baghdad. There were 19 Blackwater guards on the . . . team that day . . . . Most acted professionally, responsibly and honorably. Indeed, this indictment should not be read as accusation against any of those brave men and women who risk their lives as Blackwater security contractors.”
- It is obvious that Plaintiffs have chosen to slander Mr. Prince rather than raise legal arguments or actual facts that will be considered by a court of law. We are happy to engage them there.
-We question the judgment of anyone who relies upon and reiterate anonymous declarations.
[...] Kelley Vlahos in TAC: These charges are indeed explosive. The last statement, if authentic, makes an already unattractive man and personal story that much more repulsive. Especially since his now-tainted multimillion dollar successes have come straight from his silver-spooned pedigree and Christian Evangelical political connections. Son of wealthy businessman Edgar Prince, who co-founded the Family Research Council with Gary Bauer, Prince worked for President George H.W Bush and has since been a bigtime donor to rightwing Christian groups and Republican causes and candidates. Later on, to cash in on the best post-9/11 security contracts available, Prince started Blackwater and called on his Republican friends, including the now-defunct and disgraced Alexander Strategies Group (Jack Abramoff’s lobbyist pals), to get the job done. And it worked. According to reports, Blackwater raked in $1 billion in profits from 9/11 to 2007. [...]
But his business soared, mostly because his politics — enjoined by the mighty but ill-fated Republican galaxy that was Washington under President George W. Bush — ensured that he won the contracts and shielded him from the real probing by congressional investigators that he and his company deserved…
While I don’t doubt that partisan politicking helped Blackwater gain a foothold, I’m still not entirely sure that this is true. It seems as if the contractors may have jockeyed politically for roles, but that the fact that roles existed for them says more about the Pentagon and military realities than it does about that jockeying.
It seems to me that contracting is attractive because contractors are cheaper to send, simpler to manage, and easier to deny responsibility for than their military counterparts would be.
The military is a big, socialist program, so in one sense it makes a lot of sense to introduce competition into the market. Of course, the competitors are playing by a different, less humane set of rules and are harder to control, so it isn’t a win in any sense other than the financial, but the financial is hard to overlook.
Prince sounds like a dreadful villain, but remember that it wasn’t his idea to send American soldiers to the Middle East and stretch their forces dangerously, often fatally, thin to prove an ideological point. That was what Bush’s administration and the think-tank ghouls who advised it did, and no matter where one chooses to direct their legitimate loathing, there is only one true place to direct the blame.
KV,
Hope you are doing well, thanks for the post. Something about this article (which I first learned about by watching Countdown a few nights ago) got my BS detector going a bit….
Doe #2 states: “Using his various companies, [Prince] procured and distributed various weapons, including unlawful weapons such as sawed off semi-automatic machine guns with silencers, through unlawful channels of distribution.” Blackwater “was not abiding by the terms of the contract with the State Department and was deceiving the State Department,” according to Doe #1.
“Sawed off semi automatic machine guns”? Well I dunno. Also the breathless quality of the whole thing (both Olbermann and the article). Just wait and see I guess, could be another “Curveball”. Take care
Testing to see if my ID has been banned from posting… curious
The Bush Administration required Christian credentials for political jobs in the Justice Department, why not a private Christian army? Like everyone else who works for the Bush Crime Family, he’ll be thrown away when he’s no longer useful. The sons of Bush Sr. and Prince Sr. sure screwed things up badly. Real Conservatives should keep religion far away from government
Kelley, Scahill won his first Polk Award for claiming that Shevron Corp assassinated people in Nigeria and his second for claiming that Blackwater Assassinated people in Iraq. His next will be for proving that Walmart is assassinating people in Nebraska. Try to be a bit more worldly.
As a former law enforcement officer I’m just not impressed by the charges you cite. They sound like defamatory statements in a civil suit. Most of them are about Blackwater failing to be an enthusiastic prosecutor of itself. And exactly what is it about Prince’s self described Christian crusader mentality that is criminally actionable? Is being a member of the Christian Right a crime in your mind?
In our desire to repudiate Bush, the Neo-cons and the Empire, we still need to avoid playing useful idiots in far left agitprop like this.
Willie Buck Merle, “Sawed off semi automatic machine guns” Yes, a weapon can be semi-automatic or it can be a machine gun. It cannot be both. So this is a contradiction in terms. I’ve never heard of a silanced shotgun. It’s possible I suppose but in a war zone I’m not sure what good it would be. Thanks for pointing these things out.
Why is this guy not in jail and why does the government still deal with this company. there is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588
Mr. Meehan,
I disagree with the implication that Ms. Vlahos is somehow doing bad reporting by relaying these allegations to all of us here at @TAC. As I understand it, and I’m no expert, admittedly, a journalist who blogs about what other journalists have alleged in print is purporting to give information about the allegation, not about the person.
As I see it, problems only arise when the allegations are so absurd that no reasonable person could believe them, and I don’t see how that applies here.
I could see your outrage if this were a blogpost about how Eric Prince and Queen Elizabeth had conspired to bury Barack Obama’s original birth certificate beneath the Mesopotamian Sand, but I don’t think it’s particularly shocking to suggest that the head of a mercenary organization might pull some strings to make an enemy turn up dead, employ personnel standards lower than those of the regular military, cut through red tape in the transfer of weapons and cast his life’s work in religious terms.
Are some people on the left prone to hysterics that limit their ability to investigate gun crime? Do they demonize Christians unfairly at times? Will they cast corporate behavior in the worst possible light? Yes, yes, and yes. None of that, however changes the fact that mercenaries operate under less oversight than regular soldiers, and that this is likely to make an already tense circumstance (wartime) even worse.
Matt, Kelly’s piece clearly supports in a shockingly uncritical manner, the writing of a left-wing hack. Scahill graduated from writing for The Catholic Worker to writing conspiracy nonsense with Amy Goodman. He’s one of Bill Moyer’s pet quests. Just how unbelievable does he need to be, before we disassociate with his propaganda.
Mercenaries are problematic. But they have there uses. The US government used them in the past and we will probably have to use them in future. Perhaps we should debate there use. But understand that while we deplore the Iraq war, we will at some point be involved in a necessary war. When that day comes, Scahill, Goodman and Moyers will be as opposed to our legitimate efforts, as they now attack our misguided ones in Iraq. I suggest we decline their off to serve as useful idiots in this business.
Mr. Meehan is spot on. One doesn’t have to travel with the neocons and Iraq warmongers to recognize the nonsense in these allegations.
The “explosive” allegation of murder consist of two people who say that they have heard RUMORS from OTHER people that various UNIDENTIFIED informants have died mysteriously and that it SEEMS that Mr. Prince must have had something to do with their deaths.
Such gibberish wouldn’t get past the hearsay rule, even if there were evidence of actual dead people, which of course there isn’t. The sole purpose of these “explosive” affidavits is to gin up media coverage about what a monster Mr. Prince is. Sorry to see you play the fool and fall for it.
Mr. Meehan — I more than welcome a debate on the use of mercenaries like Blackwater — which has a well-documented record of fraud and abuse outside of what you call the left-wing hackery of Mr. Scahill. Unfortunately, it seems as though you are resigned to maligning the messenger, in this case, Mr. Scahill, rather than keeping to topic. Scahill is far from the only reporter who has been following the exploits of Mr. Prince and Co., and a quick Google search will more than sustain that. If it weren’t Scahill, some other writer would have surely reported the existence of these sworn affidavits. The explosive charges are the story, Erik Prince is the story. Scahill is not the story. And I am not a useful idiot.
Ms. Vlahos, It may be that Blackwater did violate US law. As an old Contra supporter I have the feeling that we have been here before. The Contras did some bad things and the focus of “The Story” was always on our transgressions rather than the enormities of the Sandinista government.
I don’t know how a contractor could operate in the anarchic mess we made out of Iraqi cities without shooting the wrong people at least some of the time. But they were there a long while and the government that paid them continued to do so. Considering the way the Federal Government pays for service, I think fiddling with the books may be the only way to keep operations flowing smoothly. Personally, I’d like to see the war profiteers in the Bush Administration and they’re pals in Neo-con think tanks under investigation. Going after people we pay to go in harms way on our behalf is ultimately self defeating.
The United States has used mercenary assistance for a long while. The first time I’m aware of was against the Barbary Pirates. If we want to use mercenaries in the future, we need to recruit foreign nationals, who will serve overseas exclusively.
Ms. Vlahos,
Mr. Scahill may not be the story, but the credibility of the “explosive” allegations contained in these anonymous affidavits is.
These anonymous affiants allege that they have heard from other, unnamed sources, that various unnamed people may have died under mysterious circumstances and that various unnamed people think Mr. Prince and his gang must have had something to do with it.
To a journalist, that may sound like a juicy story. To a lawyer, it’s a joke. When you accuse someone of murder, you need at least some evidence. Beginning, perhaps, with evidence that someone actually died.
And yes, I realize the affidavits contain other, damning allegations besides the totally unsubstantiated murder conspiracy stuff. But without the murder nonsense, this wouldn’t be a news story at all.
I oppose the Iraq War and the expansion of the national security state. But a conservative should do so without falling for all the logical fallacies and emotive rubbish that is so characteristic of the Left.
Hope this criminal rots in hell.
Anyone who puts their allegiance to the “conservative” or “patriotic” cause above basic morality, like Mr. Meehan, is a human failure.
Dominic, one would think that “basic morality” entails both patriotism and conservative values. You seem to be speaking from the point of view of your own, rather precious morality. An it seems odd to express the hope for someones eternal damnation while spouting off about morality. Moral people express their desire for justice in this world. God doesn’t need your help in deciding who is or is not to be damned.
Mr Meehan – please cite some instances of official US use of mercenaries before the administration of Bush II.
Argument by association – I don’t like this guy, therefore whatever he says is wrong – is so dull. Preaching to the choir.
mrmetrowest, here are few off the top of my head.
Revolutionary War – Maritime operations carried out by privateers serving under letters of Marque, thus mercenary.
1804 – Greek mercenaries (about 500) employed by US navy in battle of Derne. on the coast of Tunis.
1862 – 1890 – Indian Scouts serve as mercenaries in most indian wars, these include the Seminole Scouts who are organized and paid separatley from regular forces. Also White scouts and guides are hired while not actually members of the US Army but take part in operations against hostile tribes.
1940 – US allows serving pilots of the Navy and Air Corps to serve as mercinary pilots for the Republic of China (Flying Tigers)
WWII – US forces employ the Karens and other Burmese tribes against the Japanese in South East Asia
Vietnam – US hires Chinese troops called Nungs for both base security and for clandestine operations.
Vietnam – Montanyards/Hmong paid to support operations against Ho Chi Minh trail.
Contemporary – Drug war in Columbia fought with contractors from private contractors such as Dyncorp and Military Professional Resources.
I suspect that this is not a complete list. Our French and British allies hired quite a few more mercenaries than we did.
“As an old Contra supporter, I have the feeling…” – Thomas O. Meehan, 2009
Enough said. So many people would be afraid of associating themselves with death squads. At least Mr. Meehan is unbridled by such fear and is willing to honestly and vigourously support the international terrorism that was perpetrated by the US government. These are important issues, and it would be very helpful if more people were courageous and honest and, like Mr. Meehan, willing to forego the niceties of polite company and actually discuss the world that exists and the people who inhabit it.
Mr. Prince *may* have killed a few people “illegally” and done some other things that were, strictly speaking, beyond the scope of the already extensive writ he was granted by King George W. But this is neither surprising nor unprecedented.
So, can we please just drop the pretense that Blackwater is somehow unrepresentative of the traditions of the US? A mercenary was hired and asked to do things that we wouldn’t ask our children to do. He took a few liberties.
For those who disagree with me and are aghast about Blackwater’s alleged misdeeds — please state whether you think the problem is the personal, moral/ethical failings of Mr. Prince, or the violent imperialism for which the US, from time time, employs mercenaries to do the dirty work?
VP Cosmicum, While I appreciate your depiction of me as candid, I must disassociate myself with some of the characterizations you employ.
The Contras were no more a big “Death Squad,” than the French Resistance was. They were the military arm of a coalition of factions who opposed the communist takeover of their revolution. This resistance movement existed well before US involvement. Of course, when the US did get involved, it became the senior partner and major source of funding and expertise. The Contra fighters were composed mainly of “Country Boys,” fighting a regime that confiscated their land, and defiled their religion. They did nothing more than what French resistance did. If this and giving assistance to the Mujudhideen (sp?) in Afghanistan is terrorism in your view, then FDR was surely a terrorist supported in supporting the Resistance in Europe against the Nazis.
I appreciate your realism about Blackwater. But Blackwater was never assigned to do “dirty work.” The “dirty work” of engaging with, and killing our opponents in Iraq was assigned to the regular military. Blackwater and other security firms were retained to guard people and things. The Iraq invasion and occupation was a folly of immense proportions. People died unnecessarily and to no end. Blackwater and the others were there because proud fools in Washington insisted on carrying on this war with far too few actual troops.
I’ve never confused “polite company” with that of the merely squeamish and hypocritical.
Thomas – I apologize if my characterization of the Contras as “Death Squads” seemed perjorative. In fact, all armed groups who use lethal force could be so described. Granted, the mid 1980s Central American vintage of “lethally armed groups” are remembered as being particularly disposed to scorched earth techniques (phrases like “The El Salvador Option” still have resonance), but I’m willing to concede that depiction as propaganda.
My point is that people tend to do bad things to other people when they can, and mercenaries in Iraq in the first 5 years of that war were virtually unconstrained in what they were allowed to do.
Anyway, last night I found The War Nerd’s take on the subject, and he has stated the case much better than I could hope to, so I’ll just let him speak on the subject and be done with it:
http://exiledonline.com/blackwater-stop-acting-surprised/
Actually, on further reflection I see that much of what I originally wrote could be taken to be a perjorative description of mercenaries, deaths squads, Contras, etc. Please note that I was using phrases like “international terrorism” to point out that they are too subjecttive to be used in rational debate.
Yes, the Contras were “international terrorists” and the US backing of them was illegal in the eyes of the International Court of Justice (and, as evidenced by the conspiracies used to fund them, also in the eyes of the Reagan administration and the other branches of the US government). But so what? As you point out, the same logic could apply to US support for the anti-Nazi resistance in WW2.
All war is terrorism. Humans make war. Thus, humans are terrorists.
I really just wish we could drop all of the false debate. It’s not “good vs. evil”, it’s “us against them”. We hire mercenaries to kill Iraqis. If the Iraqis were in our shoes, they would probably do equally horrible things to us.