My Conversation with Blackwater's Erik Prince

I had a conversation with Erik Prince, Chairman and Founder of Blackwater USA.

We discussed the duty of Blackwater agents in Iraq. Here is a part of what he said:

He also talked about peacekeeping missions and the capabilities of a company like Blackwater.

Here is a part of what he said:

You can watch the entire conversation on the Charlie Rose website.

Comments

[JFWilliam]

U.S. Colonel: Blackwater "Actually Drew Their Weapons On U.S. Soldiers." / Newsweek's Oct. 15, 2007 issue / The colonel was furious. He was describing a 2006 car accident, in which an SUV full of Blackwater operatives had crashed into a U.S. Army Humvee on a street in Baghdad's Green Zone. Blackwater guards disarmed the U.S. Army soldiers and made them lie on the ground at gunpoint until they could disentangle the SUV.

[NABNYC]

Respondeat superior: the employer is liable for damages caused by the employee so long as the employee was engaged in the employer's business at the time the damage was caused.

In other words, Blackwater hired mercenaries, gave them arms, sent them to Iraq to go out among the civilians. Anyone killed or harmed by those mercenaries has a claim not just against the individual, but also against the employer.

There should be an action filed against Blackwater and an attachment of all their assets to be used to compensate the people of Iraq who have suffered because of the wrongful destruction and/or wrongful death. Including the survivors of those killed. Including the bystanders who witnessed the killing and were terrorized by the conduct.


Take all the money. Put them out of business. Send the message that mercenaries and other war profiteers will not ultimately gain from their murder-for-hire businesses.

[Dansden]

iIF THE MONEY THAT PAYS BOTH AMERICAN TROOPS AND BLACKWATER THUGS COME OUT OF THE AMERICAN TREASURY, WHY SHOULDN'T OUR AMERICAN TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES GET AS MUCH MONEY AS DO THE BLACKWATER MERCENARY THUGS???!!?

[Balzac]

No kidding!

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

You simply can't judge Mr. Prince based on how well he gives "talking head."

This is the same man who has stonewalled the families of the four "contractors" irresponsibly sent into Fallujah to their deaths by Blackwater -- stonewalled to the point where they had to SUE just to find out the circumstances of their loved ones' deaths. But that's just the warm-up.

Worse, Blackwater is now COUNTERSUING the families! For $10 million. Yep, you read that right.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/6/8/23153/72497

Disgusting, self-righteous, war-for-pr­ofit-AND-p­olitical-i­nfluence, mercenary.

[SamThornton]

One of the definitional requirements of a sovereign state is that the state have a monopoly on the use of force.

Allowing the existence of organizations like Blackwater poses a direct challenge to our government since they are not a part of government yet have the capacity to mount armed operations. In practice, they are no different than the few right wing paramilitary organizations that advocate the violent overthrow of the government, and most certainly have greater capabilities.

Blackwater and all similar companies should be outlawed and disbanded immediately in the interests of American sovereignty.

[der Alte]

blackwater follows the money. basic rule #1. when the shooting dies down, they return to the US to 'help' maintain security at the polls in '08.

[tbone99]

Lindasmarts referral to the video( below) on Blackwater revealed that the the families of the contracters who were killed in Fallujah attempted to sue Blackwater to shed more light on the deaths of their loved ones.That suit has been forced into arbitration so no public records will be available .Additionally these 4 families have been hit with countersuits of $10 million dollars from Blackwater , the same company which sent their families to death without proper equipment.To donate to their defense and more about the case, see-
http://blackwatervictims.com/

[RufusFender]

Erik doesn't know how much money his company has made nor does he know whether his company pays social securty/medicare tax on his employees? And, he's the owner and CEO! Blatant lies. P.S.
You can bet the farm that his boys are "independent contractors" so Erik doesn't have to pay the taxes.

[tbone99]

Is Blackwater protecting the Iraqi government and other diplomats or holding guns on them to stay on the script Bush has given them.?

[Driver125]

Why do I keep thinking about Reinhard Hydrich whenever I see this guy. And what makes me think his loyalties lie less with America and more with whoever pays him. And what makes me believe that the Republicans have hired themselves a private army, much like the SA or the SS of Hitler's times. The problem of creeping fascism seems less abstract with every passing day.

[nowaterboardUSA]

I've got a proposition for Congress (that would get a veto I'm sure if it was ever drafted into law or sent up for a vote): All private security forces are to paid EXACTLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY as Unites States Army Non-Commisioned Officers, i.e, Sargeants, Corporals, Privates. I guarantee most of these guys would quit Blackwater and other outfits like it in a hurry! Or they'd relocate out of the US and probably not work for the US considering the comparatively low pay.

[Dansden]

nowaterboardUSA:

A few weeks ago I suggested just the opposite as a 'sure-fire' way to end the war in Iraq:

Have Congress pass a bill that American TROOPS receive the SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT BLACKWATER THUGS RECEIVE! Repubs would have cardiacs, would vote against it, thereby voting against our American troops and Americans would see who really is in favor of supporting our American troops with hazard pay they deserve in being forced into fighting for BUSH's BIG OIL deal for Exxon!!!!

[sugarmoes]

so... some for profit company in the u.s. is the world police? or at least wants to be?

[richstue]

why have the spineless Democratic leadership allowed this to happen?

[research]

Blackwater guards Dems too.

[EvereaderinSC]

I don't know if any of you caught Erik's lovefest on 60 Minutes last night too. Where is Mike Wallace when you need him?!
The lady who interviewed Prince asked him softball questions, in my opinion & did her darndest to squeeze some remorse from this guy, but it was clear that he was the one in charge of the interview.
Wallace would have nailed him with questions on his Bush/evangelical connections & probably made him squirm/sweat at least a bit more than happened in what was basically a fluff piece. I know it's supposed to be "impolite" to ask questions on religion. But in this case there is enough of a bearing on the issue of his slaughtering innocent people as is the fact that GOD told Bush to go to war in Iraq.
The interviewer completely bypassed these issues. My guess is he made it clear upfront that those things were not to be brought up. Instead we were treated to a guy, as he mentioned, who is "an American doing the work of America..." I truly wonder what's behind the cutesy sloganeering...

[freespeach]

Glad you brought this up EvereaderinSC.

I was ready to puke, watching the extreme lightweight Lara Logan with this mercenary on 60 minutes.

As mass media news shows have fallen like domino's over the past several years, 60Minutes had held on to some journalistic integrity. But the corporate whores at CBS took down Dan Rather. Then they put in Katie (the unit measurement for shit) Couric and gradually destroyed the entire news division at CBS.

Last night's interview is an extreme example of proof that CBS is now a worthless entity as far as news is concerned.

Lara Logan and 60 minutes, more whores/shills for all that is wrong with America.

[WaterRat]

Black Water - one of the many corporate reasons not to leave Iraq.
In a War Zone it's usually the military that takes care of the VIPs.
But, this is a different "War."
The longer it continues, the more money Black Water and other corporate interests acrue.
Nancy should pull the plug and not put any more Iraq "War" funding bills on the table, and settle this rotten mess.
We've had enough.
So have the troops, their families, and our country with its crumbling infrastructure.
If we really want Bin Laden, now that we've decimated our troop strength, why not get the special ops boys to take him out at his lair in Parkistan?