Secret Blackwater Tape Exposed

Jeremy Scahill:

Erik Prince, the reclusive owner of the Blackwater empire, rarely gives public speeches and when he does he attempts to ban journalists from attending and forbids recording or videotaping of his remarks.

...

Despite Prince's attempts to shield his speeches from public scrutiny, The Nation magazine has obtained an audio recording of a recent, private speech delivered by Prince to a friendly audience.

Read the whole story: Jeremy Scahill

Comments

[llivinginthemoment]

06:57 PM on 06/20/2010

If people were to connect the dots, they would find that these contractors are now also making money off of BP and the oil spill. No matter how much wrongdoing they are associated with, or get caught at, they are always at the next scene of the accident-- cleaning up for themselves.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2008/03/06/top_iraq_contractor_skirts_us_taxes_offshore/

And this means that the Cheney era is hardly over yet-- even if the Bush presidency has been. Cheney gamed the system so these contractors could get into the system in the first place, and even though Obama said these practices would end, they haven't.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/09/what-did-bush-tell-gonzales/7064/

http://www.theatlantic.com/murray-waas/

[TedEjr]

03:39 PM on 06/08/2010

I just skimmed through the alleged transcript from Prince from Jan 14 of this year.

I remember enough of my college psychology degree to define him in one word---Delusional.

Now it is all clear why there were so many questionable activities surrounding Blackwater\Xe. And to think that Bush\Cheney were relying so heavily on this man and his company, to provide security and intelligence for their excursions.

Dayum, this is a really scary revelation.

[Cardhu1]

08:05 AM on 05/06/2010

When one reads the transcript, it's very hard to discern fact from self-aggrandizing imagination in Mr. Prince's claims. This story demands corroboration, starting with the audience at the speaking event. Not having this corroboration is questionable journalism at best.

Witnesses from all of Mr. Prince's speaking engagements should be found and interviewed. If this representation of one of Mr. Prince's speaking engagements is correct, then we should see many audience members spreading word-of-mouth advertising about Mr. Prince and Blackwater that should not be complimentary.

Blackwater has been surrounded by controversy in questionable activities for a few years now. Of all the private contractors employed in the Middle East, Blackwater stands out as a very noticeable focus of trouble.

[maslin]

10:50 AM on 05/06/2010

I'm inclined to believe the worst of Mr Prince and his company.

Your points about sourcing and corroboration are well taken.

[Cardhu1]

12:13 PM on 05/06/2010

Re: "I'm inclined to believe the worst of Mr Prince and his company."

I am too. But that is no substitute for solid reliable facts.

A Navy captain I met once said, "Supposition does not cut it."

[shadow322]

10:34 PM on 05/04/2010

So now we have a Republican sponsored private military criticizing our country's military personnel, operating in secret and in opposition to Congress' authority whose company president acts like he's a threat to democracy and does not even believe in it. We are in a freefall and it started with the Bush Republicans. Many of our leaders have turned in to the thugs our creed states opposition to. Are we really going to allow ourselves to be represented around the world by these nut jobs who think due process is too cumbersom for a country such as ours? Due process is a cornerstone of the foundation for a country such as ours and I'll fight just as hard for that - Prince or Princess!

[TheBoohoo]

08:47 PM on 05/04/2010

I can't believe they'd let Prince work for the Assassination Program. Its bad enough that a democracy like ours feels the need to run an assassination program, but having a christian extremist like Prince in on it is just disturbing.

[yourbuffers]

04:38 PM on 05/04/2010

from what i understand , xe is transitioning to training only.

[AntiSheep13]

06:42 PM on 05/04/2010

It doesn't matter because there are plenty of other BW/Xes out there that are being used in the same exact manner. DynCorp is another one of those d.i.r.t.y companies that even O.b.@.m.a seems to think is OK to use.
All you have to do is read some of the forums that are frequented by Afgh@n and P@ki locals. They talk about these guys all of the time.

[Galen Wohnus]

12:20 AM on 05/05/2010

DynCorp just got bought out, guess we'll see if the new ownership decides to clean up their purchase or keep operating it as is. KBR is another example or course, though that's more blue/white collar crime than murder and slave trade.

[yourbuffers]

04:35 PM on 05/04/2010

i like the guy!

[AntiSheep13]

06:40 PM on 05/04/2010

Please expand on that thought.

[OlongapoEd]

04:23 PM on 05/04/2010

The only real question about Erik Prince is whether he himself wants to take over the US or whether he will be satisfied to help some other ProperChrisschunPatriot take over.

[ectoendomezo]

04:17 PM on 05/04/2010

So...apparently...if your a Billionair...its okay to be a Sociopath?

This individual...gets to go and Kill People as a by-product of his "Wealth"...what do you call that?

Thus..if Denis Rader..had been smart enouhg to start up a "Private Military Contracting" outfit...he'd now be flying to Karachi to do..well..anything he wanted..to anyone!

I wonder where th "Records" are for all those "Narcotics"? Bet you..Dollars to Doughnut Holes...that information is "Classified"!

Actually...even if it weren't..how does anyone "Know"..if the "Numbers"..are even Remotely.."True"?

How?

I mean Backwater..is...already...just...without question...as a "Corporate Citizen"..a Known.. Pathological Liar! So..whether it was to "Boost" the "Numbers"..for Any of Multiple Reasons...or to "Reduce" the "Numbers"..for Any of Multiple Reasons..How...does anyone.."Know"? Even "The Nation"....they don't really indicate the "How Do We Know The Accuracy of His Claims On 'Seized' 'Assets' In These Operations"!

He could be "Budget Boosting"..or simply "Stealing And Selling".

"Narcotics" deals..on That.."Level"...have Multiple "Payment Options".

Gold..Diamonds...Weapons...in fact..Slaves...etc...what becomes of them? In fact..look around..have you..Ever.....read of a "Drug Bust"..in which there "Wasn't" a whole slew of "Additional" items Found/Taken?

Thus. I give you.."Backwater-Xe"..the Perfect Criminal Conspiracy...this is Global Robbery Homicide..the only "Bad Actors"..are..in fact..Prince and his brown shirts..

America Uber Alles!

[icandump]

04:11 PM on 05/04/2010

More proof history repeats itself.
Germany 1933

[Galen Wohnus]

12:21 AM on 05/05/2010

Which would make the Aryan Nation Militia groups Brown Shirts.

[bluesraves]

04:07 PM on 05/04/2010

Good luck trying to ever get this guy in the slammer...a very, very powerful scary Religious nut
with a whole bunch of men and guns at his disposal

Someday someone will get him another way I'm sure

Live by the sword die by the sword

[doriath22]

04:05 PM on 05/04/2010

Mercenaries have no place in a democracy, and certainly no right to our tax money. I'd rather pay for medical care for undocumented farmworkers than give fascist bastards like Herr Prince a penny of my tax money!

[ashcom]

03:56 PM on 05/04/2010

Some things should not be privatized. Case in point.

[tbone99]

03:44 PM on 05/04/2010

Erik Prince - mercenary for God

[Coyote Longfall]

03:15 PM on 05/04/2010

previously secret Erik Prince audio tape now uncovered #Blackwater #vfp #ivaw @raymondlutz