You might not be aware that Blackwater USA actually has a founder. Yes, it did not suddenly pop up like a mushroom when we entered Iraq. His name is Eric Prince, and he will be appearing today in front of a Congressional Committee today who desire to ask him a bunch of pointed questions about the numerous examples of trigger happy behavior exhibited by his underlings in Iraq over the past few years.
Lest you think that Eric Prince is an idealistic non-partisan public servant who has not the slightest vested interest in the Bush Administration here are a few facts about him.
-He is a right wing Christian fundamentalist with six kids so far at age 37.
-He is a multi millionaire who inherited most of his wealth from his dad, Edgar Prince, who ran an outfit called Prince Automotive. Edgar Prince founded the "Family Resource Council", the fundamentalist Christian political committee, with Gary Bauer.
-He is a former Navy Seal team leader. He served for 4 years from 1993 to 1996.
-He served as a White House intern in the White House of W's dad, George H. W. He campaigned in the Presidential effort of Pat Buchanan in 1992, and has been a major campaign contributor to Republican candidates.
-Prince founded Blackwater USA in 1997, and was well positioned to benefit from a massive flow of cash from the Pentagon when we invaded Iraq. It was a classic case of you scratch my back and I will scratch yours. The Bush Administration has been able to send fewer U.S. soldiers to Iraq, since Blackwater has handled the guard duties. Blackwater and its employees have been able to get rich (as they are paid ten times as much as a U.S. soldier). True, the american taxpayer has lost some bucks, but the Bush Administration feels that the money is well spent from a political viewpoint, as they have been able to create a whole new constituency of mercenary boot licker Republicans. It's a total win-win! And if the Maliki government has sometimes been outraged by the trigger happy tendencies of Blackwater (there was one instance in which a drunken Blackwater Guard killed a bodyguard of a major government guy and had to be snuck out of the country to avoid repercussions) well, we are not really there for the Iraqis are we?!
Enjoy watching the hearings, but if Eric Prince whines like a puppy about the mean spirited Dems picking on him, take it with a grain of salt. Also remember that he did not do this on his own- certain people considered him a blessing, and allowed him "room to operate" for years without so much as a harsh word.
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Comments: 11
I have tremendous respect for anyone who has the guts to fight for our Country, but when the enemy doesn't wear a uniform, I'd rather have a cold-blooded killer-for-hire who knows how to spot them, than some 18-year-old fresh off the farm. 18-year-old kids in the Middle East have been fighting and surviving since they could walk, and they are brain-washed and conscienceless.
I'm a little curious as to how the number of his children have anything to do with this?
Also, is this an endictment of all Christians? Sounds a little like saying all Muslims are terrorists.
Oops, I forgot. Liberals ... I mean "progressives" are the only ones allowed to spew hate speech.
As to Christians, well no I hope I am not indicting all Christians here. I dislike the willingness of a few right wing Christians to shape the New Testament to their world view. I suppose Jesus would have a problem with hired security staff being above the law and blowing away Iraqi civilians whenever they are judged to be driving too close to a convoy. Or maybe not? Well I like to think he would be unhappy with it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the "official" role of Blackwater in Iraq that of protecting contractors? Why are taxpayers footing the bill for this? Haliburton et al. are making enough money on these contracts to afford to pay for their own security.