Erik Prince is founder and chief executive of Blackwater Worldwide, with revenue of $594 million in 2006.
Photo Credit: By Preston Keres -- The Washington Post Photo
Blackwater Is Firm On Expanding Its Training Center In The U.S. (click here)
October 14, 2007 2:39 p.m. EST
...Now the company wants to expand its training center and build a complex in San Diego County, California. According to reports, Erick Prince, 38, chief of Blackwater USA, owns a real army along with modern weapons, bomb-sniffing dogs, airstrip, aircraft, armored cars and more....
For not a whole lot of money, one can learn SWAT tactics, but, I don't really see anything special in Blackwater's qualification regarding 'specialty' in handling issues regarding students or schools. I don't know about you, but, this sort of training facility makes me nervous to realize he is turning the USA cities into Baghdad.Eric may very well be facing the firing squad himself for supplying the USA with 'private death squads' that indiscriminately kill civilians as a means of securing paths for diplomats. If they didn't know what they were doing except to fire at will at anyone because they were immune to prosecution, they shouldn't have been there. The Blackwater Company created their own 'mini' war within the greater struggle for Iraqis to survive. Frequently, Eric's defense is that his company's personnel and vehicles were fired upon. Funny, I thought it would have been the diplomats that would have been fired upon, but, currently witnesses state the USA mercenaries were never fired upon and no bullets other than ones used by Blackwater and the USA military were found in the place and in the bodies of those dead Iraqis. Is Blackwater trying to imply women and children are armed and dangerous in Iraq?
Blackwater guards 'were fired on' (click here)
Erik Prince's company has been paid more than $1bn for its servicesThe chairman of the US private security firm, Blackwater, has insisted he has proof its guards were fired upon in the fatal shooting of 17 Iraqis last month.
Erik Prince said three of his company's vehicles "had pock marks in them from incident reports that I saw", in an interview with the US TV network CBS.
Mr Prince claimed this proved "our guys were not shooting at each other".
An Iraqi government investigation has concluded the Blackwater guards fired on the civilians without provocation.
Sure, you know, mistakes can be made... But bad things don't generally happen by themselves
Erik PrinceBlackwater chairman
On Tuesday, it demanded the US government end its association with Blackwater in Iraq within six months and hand over the contractors involved in the incident on 16 September in Baghdad.
It also said the North Carolina-based contractor should pay $8m (£3.93m) compensation to each of the victims' families. Another 27 Iraqis were wounded in the shooting, according to the Iraqi police.
US officials have released few details of the incident as it is subject to an investigation by the FBI.
'Jury still out'
Mr Prince told CBS that he was glad the FBI was investigating the incident, as they would be a "neutral party".
"If there's further investigation or prosecution even needed, if someone really did wrong and meant badly, I'm all supportive," he said in an interview with the 60 Minutes programme, which will be broadcast later on Sunday....
Every vehicle in Baghdad has pock marks. The firm Blackwater USA is irresponsible and was acting out of self-righteous advantage in Baghdad. They pride themselves on proving 'safe transportation' of personnel and treasure throughout Baghdad. The problem is they did it with unfair advantage of 'making their own rules.' What firms like Blackwater USA saw as a chance for a lucrative business venture in Iraq, turned into a free for all to insure Bush's war went forward. As the Iraq invasion spun out of control the increase in revenues for these private mercenary firms went up and they were given a free hand to 'handle' security for diplomats as they saw fit.
Never were they ever out from under the umbrella of the International Courts on Human Rights Violations, but, due to the permission granted by Cheney and Bush they felt they had the right to conduct themselves as they please and above the law. That was especially true after the four men were burned and hung from a bridge in Fallujah.
It's amazing to witness the change in demeanor of 'talking head generals' that appear on 'truthiness' shows of conservative news networks, as they run for cover from their armchair quaterbacking over the public airwaves where they assisted in selling the Iraq War to the American Public, as they are flat out scared of the 'idea' Blackwater USA is now under the gaze of human rights violations and the World Courts will wondering if they are going to be named next.
I congratulate all those involved in this indictment of Blackwater USA, including the Iraqis that must have felt more than intimidated realizing if they 'complained' to loudly they could be next. The responsibility for these mercenaries are obviously linked to the failed strategy of the Bush/Cheney White House which moved to invade a sovereign country without cause. The World Courts need to take the next step and continue to exam the events of the entire of Iraq and bring to justice those responsible while the citizens of Iraq breath a sigh of relief and the world looks on for the hope of justice.
