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Blackwater Responds to Murder Allegations
Two ex-Blackwater employees (or individuals claiming to be) say the company and its enigmatic founder, Erik Prince, murdered—or arranged for the murders—of people cooperating with federal authorities investigating the controversial security firm. Blackwater, which renamed itself Xe earlier this year, says it "questions the judgement of anyone who relies upon" the anonymous declarations filed Monday in connection with a series of civil suits brought on behalf of Iraqi civilians. It calls the accusations—which also include charges of weapons smuggling, money laundering, and a "wife-swapping and sex ring" run out of the company's Moyock, North Carolina headquarters—"unsubstantiated," "offensive," and slanderous.
Earlier today, Blackwater/Xe spokeswoman Stacy DeLuke emailed me the company's statement on the allegations. I've updated my post from yesterday with the company's comments. Given the nature of the charges, I'm reprinting them again here (typos and all).
The proper place for this case to be litigated is in the Court, and we will respond fully in our reply brief (which will be filed on August 17) to the anonymous unsubstantiated and offensive assertions put forward by the plaintiffs. Because the plaintiffs have chosen inappropriately to argue their case in the media, however, we will also say this:
- The brief filed by Plaintiff includes two anonymous affidavits state that their "information" has been provided to the Justice Department -- we can gauge the credence given to those statements -- which hold no water. When the indictments were announced, the United States Attorney the United States Attorney made a point of stating that "[t]he indictment does not charge or implicate Blackwater Worldwide"; "[i]t charges only the actions of certain employees for their roles in the September 16 shooting." He emphasized that the indictment was "very narrow in its allegations": "Six individual Blackwater guards have been charged with unjustified shootings . . . not the entire Blackwater organization in Baghdad. There were 19 Blackwater guards on the . . . team that day . . . . Most acted professionally, responsibly and honorably. Indeed, this indictment should not be read as accusation against any of those brave men and women who risk their lives as Blackwater security contractors."
- It is obvious that Plaintiffs have chosen to slander Mr. Prince rather than raise legal arguments or actual facts that will be considered by a court of law. We are happy to engage them there.
-We question the judgment of anyone who relies upon and reiterate anonymous declarations.
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Did Erik Prince Have Informants Whacked?
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Blackwater/Xe Sued For War Crimes
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Blackwater's World of Warcraft
Need a private-label armored vehicle? A detachment of Chilean infantrymen? A special forces "engagement team"? Erik Prince's expanding global private army is at your service—and the war in Iraq was just the beginning.
What makes it inappropriate?
To prosecute their case in the media? If they're guilty of slander they can be prosecuted themselves, in the media and the courts?
{The former employee also
{The former employee also alleges [in a sworn affidavit] 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." }
DeLuke's reply letter is so pristinely crafted as a "new media" PR blast, with the imposed nature of the casual web2.0 instant blog, "OMG forgive my typos, but this is serious people!" Too bad it's BS. The company is run by an elitist crew with an elitist agenda, allowed by the U.S.A.'s former President, George W. Bush, in his own crusade.
Blackwater is private contractual military defense. This should be illegal in the U.S.A. Not only should Erik Prince be implicated, but also former Pres. G.W. Bush and former VP Dick Cheney, as well as key defense people (read: Don Rummy).
Not just the GOP to blame here.
Not only should Erik Prince be implicated, but also former Pres. G.W. Bush and former VP Dick Cheney, as well as key defense people (read: Don Rummy).
As well as the huge number of Democrats in the Congress who supported and authorized the use of private military contractors.
This is not by any means a Republican thing, it is totally bipartisan, and anyone who thinks Obama is not using Xe and Aegis and other private military contractors... well, that person is engaged in wishful thinking. Corruption owns both parties, not just the Elephants.
Blackwater
The nurturing of corporate fascism, like National Socialism, requires corporate brownshirts, or in this case, blackshirts. As private persons acting under a US corporate charter there is extremely limited liability for any and all crimes committed in fulfillment of the BLackwater's ongoing contracts in Iraq, after Katrina destroyed New Orleans and many places we know little or nothing about. These contracts were all singed by officials in the the Bush Administration and Rummy's rum DOD. The whole thing is to limit civilian control of "defense" tax dollars. You cannot break a egg, or lots of eggs, without owning the chicken.
Exempt
Blackwater is exempt from prosecution for any and all crimes committed while under contract with the government. I'm sure Obama will use the state secrets defense to stop any action against Prince if it gets that far. These people are, like our Executive branch, above the law. Besides, we can't continue to kill people without Blackwater's assistance. No Blackwater, no wars. No wars, no profit. No profit, no campaign cash. No campaign cash, no job. No job, no power. Trust me, this case will prove once and for all that we live under the tyranny of a Unitary Executive who can stop the justice system with a wave of his hand. Once he exempts Prince from prosecution, it will all become clear.
Blackwater
Keep and eye on this. Prince has been hauled up before Congress before. His company was allowed to use the government as an ATM for construction to private military operations.
It will be interesting to see how it turns out.
I know a Blackwater guard
I know a Blackwater guard who substantiates everything said in the indictment. All the way down to the use of steroids by guards. Not only that but the smuggling of weapons in and out of Iraq and the use of certain attorneys to defraud the U.S. tax system.
This needs to be stopped. Erick Prince needs to be stopped and disband this privatized army and all others like it.
Eliminate Private Militias
tagged as:- solution
There is no place for private militias in a Constitutional Republic. Only Congress has the constitutional power to raise armies. Bottom line, private militias are no more than latent terrorist organizations, think Quantrill's Raiders and Hitler's Brown Shirts. These private militias should be hunted down and destroyed by true patriots.
Make Me Laugh
All the liberal fools that rant and rave on here about BW are simply frustrated idealists, or as I like to call them, doushbags. Just like Jeremy Scahill, this is polticially motivated BS that liberals eat up. I know the people at Blackwater, I know Eric Prince. They, and 99% of their contractors are top of the line operators that conduct themselves professionally. The reality is that most of the people posting negative comments on here about them have no concept of what they do, how they do it, and likely have never spent one day in harms way. If you did, perhaps you would have some credibility. Long live the folks at BW and to hell with all of you that simply don't know any better.....
NOTHING BUT LOVE FOR BW
I just want to add that I hope all of you are visited by black helicopters in your sleep tonight. You people are fear mongering idiots that live in some Liberal fantasy land. People are trying to find new ways to KILL US EVERY DAY. And all you can do is whine about crap like this...Perhaps you should all appreciate what people do to keep you safe and stop whining away like children. Love Blackwater, Love em! I hope they continue helping with the fight for another hundred years...you will all be safer for it.