Blackwater Founder Erik Prince Implicated in Murder

thenation.com:

A former Blackwater employee and an ex-US Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company have made a series of explosive allegations in sworn statements filed on August 3 in federal court in Virginia. The two men claim that the company's owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."

In their testimony, both men also allege that Blackwater was smuggling weapons into Iraq. One of the men alleges that Prince turned a profit by transporting "illegal" or "unlawful" weapons into the country on Prince's private planes. They also charge that Prince and other Blackwater executives destroyed incriminating videos, emails and other documents and have intentionally deceived the US State Department and other federal agencies. The identities of the two individuals were sealed out of concerns for their safety.

Read the whole story: thenation.com

Comments

[BuickBoy57]

Those eyes, those bangs, the strong, square manly jaw.

They'll love him in Leavenworth!

[CarbonCreditSeller]

Erik and Blackwater were originally contracted with by the Clinton administration in order to avoid the high cost of benefits for government employees and the US military. If you don't like Blackwater, look to slick Willie.

[whiteboyblues]

So why didn't Bush stop it? No bid contracts, fraud, Bush went along too.

[protagonia]

Sadly true.

[nicole473]

I truly hope that no one is surprised by this. Blackwater/Xe needs to be shut down.

[mmaza]

Good for that faux Navy Seal.

[blisster]

I agree kjlowry, their "end of days" type speak is disturbing and warrants immediate action. I say let's get the info needed from these traitors,then hand them over to the terrorists and let them mete out some good Old Testament "eye for an eye" justice.

[jrbw 2749]

Yes, there's a huge conspiracy between BW, the C street mafia, Sesame Street and the Moppets! Kermit and Miss Piggy are the true traitors in the bunch! lol

[kjlowryTX]

We need to know if this guy (blackwater's Prince) is connected to the C street "family" in any way. The way he talks about the "work" his mercenaries do in the world, it sounds like they are most likely in agreement with the ideas of the C street mafia. "We are special and if we do these things that others would call criminal...it is not really criminal because WE ARE ABOVE the laws governing the rest of humanity"

[Akat1973]

this is disgusting,and why is it so buried????? come on this should be front page everywhere
knowledge is power

[Marlyn]

The worst thing about this is that Obama and Hillary are still employing Blackwater (aka Xe) in Iraq.

[lw1899]

I don't understand how these people manage to retain their contracts. Xe is such an appropriate name given their xenophobia.

[Paula Ann]

lol, xe for xenophobia­......cute

Perhaps the contract was extended until another security can be found (Secret Service, Marines). Or (and I am going to feel very betrayed) .......meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

[jrbw 2749]

Maybe because we did such a good job protecting them both in Iraq and Afghanistan? Just thinking out loud...

[snesich]

This is truly astounding. Why isn't the Blackwater story front page news everywhere?

This is like a script for a truly incredible Harrison Ford type of film. Except it is real.

So, Congress, do your job, hold hearings, get information to the Department of Justice and find out what these Blackwater mercenaries did in our name, with our tax dollars!

[Telemachus]

Lots of interesting back-and-forth on this site about the relative credibility of John Does #1 and #2 vis-a-vis their knowledge of State Department procedures and the details and designations of various weapons.

As any trial lawyer will tell you, the credibility of witnesses is an issue to be resolved by the jury, and the weight that their testimony receives will be reflected in the verdict.

Also, a defendant is innocent until proven guilty.

Also, the cost of hiring a defense attorney is considered a cost of doing business, which it seems Mr. Prince will be well able to afford.

I look forward to the indictment and trial of Mr. Prince.

[MikeRdg]

Their names were sealed, because it was alleged two others who were going to testify, died under questionable circumstances.

Seeing our court systems in work, it is a wonder any justice is had at all. Ours is a circus, the judges and attorneys making a mockery of laws, and out and out using deceptions and false statements.

[hmmmmmer]

It is all about how much money you have and this creep has a lot, he should be able to buy his way out of it.

[respectingothers]

"The identities of the two individuals were sealed out of concerns for their safety. "

Two very brave souls! hopefully Blackwater hasn't destroyed all the evidence and that Prince and his buds get put away for a very long time. I'll bet the two brave souls have had to give up any chance at having a normal life by coming forward with their testimony. Heroes!

[jrbw 2749]

LOL, I wouldn't bet my money on the fact that these two have credibility or that they're "heroes". I will have a copy of their claims shortly and will cover their inaccuracies piece by piece. Stay tuned!

[respectingothers]

wow 32 of your 33 posts since joining in oct 08 are about this one Blackwater piece. guess that tells us everything we need to know!

[respectingothers]

yes and you're so credible. posting anonymously!

[jrbw 2749]

Alleged excerpt from John Doe #1's declaration. Obtained from ABC news at:
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=8258915&page=1

Describing a shooting John Doe #1 supposedly "heard" of over the radio, he makes the following statement on the declaration:
14. A "saw" is an M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon that is not authorized for use by the State Department or any other authority. Any shots fired on behalf of the State Department in Iraq are supposed to come from either an M4 or a pistol. XXXXXXXX's (name withheld by this poster) unjustified and excessive force, and use of a prohibited weapon, killed or seriously injured those in the car"
Ok folks. Beginning with the very first class of students deployed to the WPPS (State Department mission in Iraq), qualification with the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon described by John Doe #1 was a mandated necessity. Failure to qualify with this weapon system would prevent someone from successfully passing the WPPS selection course. The M-249 SAW was ISSUED by the State Department, has a serial number recorded by the State Department and is part of a team's weapons system. It was deployed and used with the full knowledge of the U.S. State Department. The statement made on this declaration is FALSE. So the M-249 WAS authorized, it was NOT a prohibited weapon and it was authorized to be used in use of force situations when necessary.

[jrbw 2749]

Con't ....declaration of John Doe #1

John Doe #1 states in his declaration that some of the incidents he describes are based not on personal observation but from things he "heard" from other "colleagues" (not named in the declaration). He makes claims that he witnessed weapons coming out of dog food bags illegally brought into Iraq. Yet he fails to describe what type of weapon, how many weapons he supposedly saw removed or any other facts that would lend credibility to his claims. He simply draws the conclusion that "Blackwater was smuggling weapons into Iraq".
This claim would not hold true to my personal experience. Many of us waited months for weapons to arrive through the proper channels and when we asked about the delay in receiving weapons we were informed that they had to go through proper State Department channels.
There are other inaccuracies in both declarations (John Doe 1&2) but it would take more space than allotted here to discuss them all.
I question the credibility of these John Doe's based on my personal experience and observations.

[Collielady]

I already have a copy and they're heroes and Pr!nce is in trouble.

Place your bets, folks. LOL

[Lavafalls]

The problem stems from the fact that a mercenary force is not accountable to the people, and Blackwater/XE IS A MERCENARY FORCE.

There is no getting around what they are.

[jrbw 2749]

From "Lavafalls": You work for a company that has not conducted itself with dignity and honor, which leaves you somewhat lacking in those departments.

You are a mercenary, and many of us do not believe that to be an honorable profession

1. You would not know a real mercenary if you met one
2. By your reasoning any doctor working at a hospital is lacking in dignity and honor. Ever see how the corporate schmucks who run hospitals behave? Ever read up on how deep in cahoots they are with the insurance companies and the fleecing of our health care system? Ever research how much they overcharge for surgeries and care?
Does that mean the doctors who work in these hospitals are lacking in dignity and honor?

Please enlighten us with what "honorable" profession you work in. I'm curious because obviously your profession must be above reproach since you are so quick to judge. People like you are the same ones who complain about the job performance of police officers until you're screaming "help" on the 911 phone line.

[respectingothers]

just reading your posts back & forth with paula and paulita. she(?) has made some great points. get any sleep? 2am, 4am?

[Rollingballafire]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
I'll say no more.

[Akat1973]

thank you,I have made my feelings known.

[SmolderingRuin]

.Another proud legacy of the sickening cheneybush war crimes administration. Will they all get away with it? My guess is yes.

[einstein10]

Mercenaries:

A US Army Strategic Studies Institute study into DynCorp's training of the Liberian Armed Forces found that US-trained soldiers were at the core of "[every] armed group that plundered Liberia over the past 25 years".

[jrbw 2749]

Hmmm, that would mean Bill Clinton bears a part of the responsibility for training these soldiers. The same Bill Clinton who was responsible for the first wide scale use of Private Contractors to support the U.S. Military. Hmmm, wonder how that fact that sits with the far left liberals on this site attacking Blackwater?

[Paula Ann]

Perhaps the PC's weren't as deranged then. BTW, I am conservative on some issues and progressive on others. Don't paint with such a broad brush.