Blackwater and Beyond in Congress
The morning of October 2nd was shaping up to be a key moment in understanding the little known world of private security contractors.
Congressman Henry Waxman's Committee on Oversight and Government reform was scheduled to be in session again -the main witness was Erik Prince, former Navy Seal and billionaire founder of Blackwater USA, while not the largest, certainly the most visible private security company working in Iraq.
Erik Prince had been called on by Rep. Waxman before but this was the first time that he had agreed to testify. His company Blackwater first hit the public eye in 2004 when 4 of its employees were brutally killed in Fallujah. The company provides private security under a number of different contracts worldwide -- but the recent attention it has received primarily focuses on the September 16th incident -- where a Blackwater Private Security detail (a convoy of armored SUVs protecting a VIP) was involved in a shootout that left at least 11 Iraqis dead.
It has become apparent that there needs to be more understanding of the current level of outsourcing in warfare at the highest levels of US government. As recently as September 21st when I testified in front of the US Senate Democratic Policy committee about Blackwater and other private security companies it was clear despite the fact that the US government was dealing with a phenomenon of its own making (by entering the conflict in Iraq with vastly insufficient numbers of troops to simultaneously rebuild a country and conduct counter-insurgency operations they effectively created a boom in the private security sector) it was painfully unaware as to the extent of the phenomenon.
This past Tuesday morning was supposed to herald a change.
At long last, we all assumed, there would be a direct discussion between the lawmakers and the founder of a highly visible private military company -- and some key things would be understood.
Sadly that was not to be.
Rep. Waxman (D) started out promisingly by imploring that "facts -- not ideology -- need to guide us here" yet the hearing quickly degenerated into a political game of brinksmanship. Both sides of the house seemed more interested in scoring points and getting outrageous statements on the record than they were in getting to the truth of the matter.
Whether it was Rep. Kucinich's (D) statement that "Blackwater has killed countless innocent Iraqis" or the equally absurd invoking of Moveon.org's discrediting attack on patriotism by Rep. Issa (R) the hearing was full of polemic inaccuracies and simplifications.
Both sides of the house were woefully underprepared to have this kind of discussion. I have to assume that it wasn't the original intention of Rep. Waxman to conduct 4 hours of political theater -- if it was then I am sadly disappointed to have wasted my time listening to the entire proceeding. If it wasn't then I have to wonder how it is possible for the lawmakers of this country -- especially the esteemed members of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to squander an opportunity to better discuss the vital issue of privatization of war in more pressing detail.
Let's consider one example -- related to events like those of September 16th.
Irrespective of what Blackwater did or didn't do wrong on September 16th the political damage was done. As I stated in my opening statement of the Senate hearing -- these security contractors -- essentially civilians in a warzone -- have a demonstratable impact on US Foreign policy. When the actions of a civilian can cause a Secretary of State of one country (Condoleezza Rice) to personally phone the prime minister of another country (Nouri al-Maliki) to mediate an "incident" then that civilian is in an important position that needs to be fully understood.
So where was the question about this -- about the fact that BW employees are viewed collectively as representing Americans and therefore an aspect of Foreign Policy by proxy?
Nowhere to be found.
Erik Prince as a former decorated Navy Seal has plenty of experience in Counter Insurgency warfare doctrine. It's undisputed that Erik Prince and BW USA can keep their principal alive (as they liked to repeatedly point out) but at what cost to the mission? Did we have a question for him about the impact of aggressive security contracts that can negatively effect the counter insurgency overall mission?
Not really. Instead we got repeated rambling questions about the exact cost of manpower in the private security business and the nature of bid or no bid contracts which Erik was easily able to deal with because these questions only required him to demonstrate his understanding of the business. Not the ethical and universal considerations that should be taken into consideration globally beyond Blackwater when discussing the extensive usage of private actors in warfare.
In many instances even when Republican congressmen would nominally try to "defend" Erik Prince (as one would expect they might) they would fumble the defense with their rhetoric.
The irony of this is it left Erik Prince seeming like the most level-headed person in the entire room.
I'm not saying this to imply in any way that Erik Prince is not an intelligent man -- simply to illustrate the degree to which the congressmen allowed him to dominate the proceedings.
Did anyone add anything new and progressive to the debate from either side? Hard to tell. The urgency in my Sept. 21 opening statement was that everyone (members of Senate and the general public) really need to get a well rounded education on the subject in order to ask the right questions. This is not a simplistic debate about whether or not PMC's exist - which would allow for a clean empirical argument. We are dealing with an issue that starts with the premise that PMC's exist and are used on a regular basis in Iraq and elsewhere around the world.
The subject requires one to understand the origins, methods of use, oversight, payment and requires debaters to move beyond the simple questions to properly address the dynamic question of global management of an industry that forms a vital part of warfare but is so little understood.
One of the key reasons for the discussion was supposed to be finding out more about the events on Sept 16th. As stated at the beginning of the hearing the state department requested that the incident not be discussed in public until the investigations are completed.
So there will be more hearings -- and of Blackwater is likely to continue to dominate the news.
But it strikes me that this should not be about one company -- it is about the accountability of all of the companies and our policies on making sure that we understand what they are doing and how they are doing it. And if there is a lack of clarity in the legal frameworks under which PMCs can operate -- then surely those questions should be asked of the lawmakers and policy makers of this country -- since they determine those very laws.
Oh wait -- these are the same people who don't appear to understand the very industry and laws they are discussing.
Erik Prince will likely be called to testify again -- only next time I hope that the respective congressmen take the time to learn how modern warfare has changed and what this privatized military industry actually does. The people of this country look to their lawmakers and committees like this one to bring to light issues that concern them -- that is why they are voted into power.
One would hope that in the future we will all learn something more important than how to throw mud from one side of the house to the other.
Nick Bicanic, director/producer of Shadow Company -- an award winning documentary about Private Military Companies -- recently testified about the usage of private security companies in Iraq in front of the Senate Democratic Policy committee. Shadow Company (available now on DVD) is the only documentary that features interviews and footage of Blackwater USA employees training and operating in Iraq.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Is Erik Prince of Blackwater really the Erik Prince of Darkness we've all heard so much about?
Would seem to fit right in with the messianic megalomania of our Decider in Chief, and certainly explain the total immunity from any earthly law.
The Evil has landed, and he is not some scary, dark-skinned foreigner from abroad.
No, he is one of us.
A billionaire, a decorated former Navy Seal, son of a powerful Republican family, perfectly groomed military cut blonde hair, 38 years old, with that arrogant grin.
A self-made man, one would say, who started this private company that would represent the outsourcing of the neocon's mercenary army, accountable to no one except the very powerful, who created this perfect monster.
The Prince, Machiavelli himself, bright, shiny, confident smile, representing the new America, the one that has arrived wrapped in a flag, carrying a cross.
We have met the enemy, and he is us....
Erik the Viking, CEO, Blackwater USA, The Prince for the New American Century
STOP BLACKWATER WEST
October 6 and 7, 2007
Two day Educational Encampment
and Walk to Stop Blackwater in Potrero
(Potrero and Tecate, Mexico map http://maps.google.com/maps?f=s&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-google-gm&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google%20maps )
This will be a full weekend of activities,
culminating in the Walk on Sunday.
Join us for part or all!
http://www.prcsd.org/encampment.html
during the clinton years, blackwater was hired. clinton had the same problems with that firm. but kept out of the news. article from mother jones wrote about this. following what news I can get. My feelings on this firm is, who side are they on? Its seems they are giving the orders. dictating the rules of war.
blackwater listen to who? Sometime I wonder, like in new orleans, would I be safe in my own homeland with Blackwater. Since Blackwater is having problems controlling his soldiers
corporate american loyalty doesn't mean much today. Its seem they are writing their own contitution for america. and now have their own army. It has me worried but not that much. because we still have a military. Soldiers have something to fight for. More important than money. protecting their family and freedom from fear.
Blackwater: The Truth is NOT "Out There." The Truth is OUTSOURCED.
http://www.osborneink.com/fiction.htm
.
democrats wre handed a mandate for change..
they ran from it..
they hid from it..
cowering under the bed democrats have done nothing to stop the misery which Iraq has brought upon us..
shivering in fear democrats proclaim they are afraid as they brand themselves ineffective and stupefied..
let it go out as a warning to all..
democrats must be replaced with others.. more willing to stand up for us the American people..
this coming election vote for someone besides the incumbent democrat.. throw out all republicans.. yes, to be sure..
but do not re-elect again the same cowards who inhabit the democratic party..
if we want change we must bring it ourselves.. for clearly those we chose to do it for us..
are naught but COWARDS..
.
Blackwater is working for The Beast.
BTW, Kucinich was accurate when he said "countless innocent Iraqis" had been killed by Blackwater.
Our military isn't counting civilian casualties in Iraq, and neither is Blackwater.
When Blackwater drives by and sprays a neighborhood with 50-caliber machine-gun fire, we'll never know what happened on the other end of those bullet trajectories.
Yes-there was Nothing "absurd" about Kucinich stating that countless Iraqis have been killed. Accurate describes what he said & I think you owe Mr. Kucninich and US an apology for that remark.
Mr. Prince appeared snide and arrogant.
The only way to prevent future merchants of death from profiting
is to insure criminal penalties i.e. jail time. The possibility of real accountability might alter the attitude that money making is the highest goal, regardless of human consequences.
In fact, all corporate crime might stop if every CEO had to face the consequences of willful mismanagement.
What a name. Mr. Prince with his private mercenary army. Prince of Darkness.
No private armies! I don't want our congress to be protected by private neocon mercenaries!
this post makes good points about how woeful that congressional dog and pony show was. it completely misses yet underscores the point about just how far gone our democratic republic is.
the republic was founded as a solution to the many problems of the social contract of monarchy. one of the revolutionary notions was that a volunteer army of citizens is preferable to mercernary armies. furthermore, general george washington himself disbanded the army and most of the leading intellectuals agreed that standing armies inhibit and destroy democracies.
mercenary army = monarchy and feudalism.
citizen conscription armies = democratic republic.
standing armies = despotic tyranny
that we have had a standing army for 60+ years and military spending that has bankrupted our nation and robbed our people of its wealth in open defiance of this founding principle is bad enough. now we have mercenary soldiers, a large number of whom are foreigners from the latin-american death squads that squashed democratic peasant movements all over that continent. we have become some bizarre corporate/fascist/feudal state.
not only does jeremy scahill makes many great points. most importantly he points out that it is a lie to call any military action on a foreign country's soil a defensive action. we invaded and occupy a formerly sovereign nation. we deposed the dictator that we originally deposed.
america, the world looks at our stupidity and hypocrisy and warily laughs at our fat broke asses. this is humiliating and downright scary.
we are in serious decline. when i stop and think that almost 50% of the electorate voted for Bush in 2000, at the pinnacle of economic and imperial "prosperity", i shudder to think what our collective ignorance will choose as the shit really hits the fan. it is time to head for the exits. just like any banana republic, the elite and folks w/ the means and wits need to get out now.
Just remember to BOW DOWN before your Rightful Masters, slaves.
Don't ask WHY. Or WHAT.
Daddy knows best, little baby, now you jus' go to sleep and the sun will shine again tommorrow.
Bought and sold. Sold and slain.
God Bless America, land that I love.
goon squads FROM Chile and Serbia - sorry about that chief.
Blackwater security guards do not wear the U.S. Military uniform and do not report up the chain of command in the U.S. military so legally they are outside the Geneva Convention and could be viewed as terrorists that the U.S. has sponsored to terrorize innocent civilians in Iraq. Most of them are not even U.S. citizens.
Tough to see how we are going to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people when we have goon squads for Chile and Serbia running around shooting the people we are trying to save.
Another interesting fact is that when contractors are killed ( and they are killed at a much higher rate) their death rate does not go into the tally with the U.S. soldiers count.
Why aren't U.S. Soldiers doing security work?
Insurance for our children is too expensive and welfare for the poor is too expensive but we can hire goons at 4 times the rate of regular soldiers; there is plenty of money for that. Contractors are the new welfare mothers.
Only 4 times the rate? I thought it was closer to ten times as expensive to use private mercenaries: $150/man/day for the military vs. $1,222/man/day for Blackwater.
Maybe the powers that be believe that this is an acceptable premium to pay to avoid spending political capital or allowing accountability. But more likely, they believe that it is their right as public servants to exploit our tax dollars to obtain lucrative positions in the private sector.
It's easy to claim that neoconservatives are paranoid delusionals with a twisted morality and a superficial understanding of international relations. But I think they're simply uber-capitalists that exploit the politics of fear to expand the military-industrial complex and spread capitalism throughout the world.
Freedom is a neoconservative codeword for capitalism, an economic system that works best in combination with a political system that offers an efficient mechanism for buying influence. Democracy is a great political front-end for capitalism so long as public campaign financing is severely restricted.
"You guys are like, so wrong, man! Those Blackwater bad asses are gonna come back here and kick all your sorry asses! They'll be like all in black, man, and repelling out of helicopters and anyone who defies them gets their ass shot off! It's about time we had a bad ass government so we can kick the world's ass and if you don't like it they gonna take you out too! Man, those guys are so cool!"
-America, as run by teenage boys with groupie girlfriends
And some, so dead:
Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC et al v Nordan
Petitioners Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC and Blackwater Lodge and Training Center, Inc. petitioned for an Order directing Richard P. Nordan, as ancillary administrator for the separate estates of Stephen S. Helvenston, Mike R. Teague, Jerko Gerald Zovko, and Wesley J.K. Batalona to proceed with arbitration in accordance with the Independent Contractor Service Agreements entered into between the decedents and Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC. The lawsuit arises out of a March 31, 2004, incident in Fallujah, Iraq, in which Iraqi insurgents murdered the decedents, who were working for Blackwater Security and escorting a kitchen supply convoy.
http://news.justia.com/cases/144653/
What you were seeing that day
was the remarkable sight of
people with their fingers
caught in the cookie jar....
"Jeremy Scahill, who wrote the book Blackwater: The Rise Of The World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army, says when Bush was re-elected in 2004, one company boss sent this email to staff: "Bush Wins, Four More Years!! Hooyah!!"
One Blackwater employment policy is to hire ex-administration big-hitters into key positions. It hired Cofer Black, a former State Department co-ordinator for counter-terrorism and former head of the CIA's counter-terrorism centre, as vice-chairman. Robert Richer, a former CIA divisional head, joined Blackwater as vice-president of intelligence in 2005.
Scahill says the firm is "the front line in what the Bush administration views as the necessary revolution in military affairs" - privatisation of as many roles as possible. Senator John Warner, former head of the Senate armed services committee, once called Blackwater the "silent partner in the global war on terror".
Scahill went on to call Prince a "neo-crusader, a Christian supremacist, who has been given hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts this is a man who espouses Christian supremacy, and he has been allowed to create a private army to defend Christendom around the world. He refers to Blackwater as the FedEx of the Pentagon. He says if you really want a package to get somewhere, do you go with the postal service or do you go with FedEx? This is how these people view themselves.""
COMPLETE ARTICLE:
http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1724225.0.0.php
To realize how difficult it will be to curtail these private armies one must listen to Republican, Rep. Chris Shays (a former conscientious objector) gush passionately about this death squad. For Shay's testimony to make sense you have to ignore the employees and Iraqis Blackwater has murdered. I suppose Shays made this adjustment easily.
His Blackwater security guard told him to.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
