A Deeper Look Into Blackwater

Bob Orr Examines The Workings Of The Controversial Security Company

(CBS)  Blackwater's version of coming attractions is shown in an action-packed promotional tape that makes it clear Blackwater has the guns and grit to tackle the toughest problems.

The North Carolina-based private security firm makes millions training police swat teams and military sharpshooters with courses like "Tactical Pistol II," "Extreme Officer Survival” and "Helicopter Sniper.”

But it's the war in Iraq that has been Blackwater's biggest bonanza, CBS News correspondent Bob Orr reports.

Since 2003, U.S. taxpayers have paid Blackwater more than $1 billion in protection money - most of it to guard diplomats, ambassadors, and dignitaries in Iraq.

Blackwater boss, former Navy seal Erik Prince, points to his company's perfect protection record. No client has ever been killed.

"We have never had anyone seriously injured," he said.

But, Blackwater, made up primarily of ex-military commandos, has lost 27 of its own, and now faces multiple investigations into last month's killings of 17 Iraqi civilians.

Prince's critics paint him as a profiteering mercenary, who's landed lucrative no-bid contracts from political cronies inside the Bush Administration.

He was a White House intern during the Presidency of the first George Bush, and since he founded Blackwater a decade ago, he's donated $222,000 to political causes - all but $5,000 to Republicans.

“Blackwater is not a partisan company; we haven't done any, you know, we execute the mission given us,” Prince said.

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Couric & Co. Blog: Who Are These Guys?

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Some on Capitol Hill want Blackwater to be reined in. But, Jeremy Scahill, who wrote a book on the rise of Blackwater, says it's doing the jobs an already-stretched military can't handle.

"It's become one of the most powerful private actors in the so-called war on terror," Scahill said.

As one private security source put it, Blackwater, despite any misdeeds, seems to be untouchable - a controversial protection force that may be impossible to replace.

[annd2302]

Posted by oldman1459
"Blackwater is partly owned by Bushes relatives."

1459, Authenticate your knowledge of this. Accusation as this only fuels a fire and serves no purpose.

[kpokey]

The only reason we are in Iraq in the first place is to make Blackwater and all of Bush''s oil buddies billions of dollars on the backs of US taxpayers. Bush admitted it had nothing to do with Sept. 11. It''s nothing but fascism. Now we have thousands of our soldiers dead, 1 million Iraqis dead, our country''s national debt is completely out of control and all those billions have gone to Bush''s friends. That is fascism. Those 17 Blackwater employees were probably Americans too.

[annd2302]

kpokey
"NONE of it benefits us. It only benefits corporations Bush wants it to. That''''s fascism."

What about the 17 employees Blackwater has lost in this effort? Those individuals could have easily been our American soldiers. What say you now, Mr. Uninformed?


And now for this jerk:

"JAIL Cheney and Bush, the murderous thugs.
Posted by mh4cbs1 "

Do you know it is a punishable crime to slander the President? Well, it is. If you want a reference, let me know and I will provide it, otherwise, clean up your act, and act like an adult with adult comments.

[jmberry]

Weenie REALLY is one he thinks people like Blackwater are responsible for aiding the cause of anyone''s liberty.
The people, banded together as armys and navies defeated forces of mercenaries throughout history in the cause of freedom. In the 1400''s even kings had enough intelligence to ban private armies as the threat that they are.
Blackwater is partly owned by Bushes relatives. Our army is underfunded to pay blackwater and make a profit for the politicians. If our Military got the funds that are being misdirected to private firms, we would have finished this war and had a lot less of our boys and girls dead.
Sure Prince was at one time in the U.S. Navy. At that time he was trained to fight for america. Then he took it private. Until now, America has not used private forces in foriegn wars, or for internal security at government posts. Now with the Republicans trying to privatize everything, In the future, Blackwater might BE the U.S. Army.

[lgmomrn]

you all need to contact iraqforsale.org; Blackwater is the least of the greedy contractors. Get a copy of their dvd. Those poor soldiers over there, fighting for our freedom (yeah, right; tell me where it says in the constitution you can invade other countries, even ''for their own good''). ALL politicians are to blame, because they all make money on wars, if not now, then after they''re out of office. Seeing is believing...I used to be a proud Republican; not anymore. Just watch Iraq For Sale. btw, America has herself to blame for the whole terrorist mess; read ''All the Shah''s Men'', how we overthrew a democratically elected government in 1953...the beginning of the end.

[kpokey]

Erik Prince interned under the first Bush and learned there is a ton of money to be made in war when we invaded Iraq the first time. Then he started Blackwater and gave tons of money to get Bush 2 elected and now he gets billions in no bid contracts to wage war in Iraq. Bush gets his oil for his corporate friends and he gets to give his campaigne friends no bid contracts to "secure" Iraq. All of this comes from US tax money and NONE of it benefits us. It only benefits corporations Bush wants it to. That''s fascism.

[wolfchef]

I find the comments to the Blackwater incident(s) interesting. When will irag insist that the car bombers be put on trial?...the insurgents planting roadside bombs? Many of their ''civilians'' ARE insurgents. when will katie courics'' minions demand that hamas'' murder (suicide) bombers in Israel be investigated and put on trial? I suggest that the USA start having ''tri-lingual'' education and directional signs...English, arabic and spanish. that will surely make liberals happy!

[mh4cbs1]

We need to STOP FUNDING TERRORISTS. There is no reason that our tax dollars should go to $1,200 a day to pay for Blackwater Civilian-Killers. They have been roaming around and shooting up civilians since the Invasion began. They are unaccountable to anyone - effectively they have a license to kill and they know it and they use it.

STOP this NeoCon Nightmare. VOTE OUT the spineless sleazy complicit Democrats who whine then rubber stamp the Bush madness.

JAIL Cheney and Bush, the murderous thugs.

[moosbrth]

patmahweenie

you''re an idiot!

[ubrew12]

Blackwater is just another part of the Cheney/Rumsfeld doctrine of conducting war on the cheap.

With a ''capitalist'' attachment toward effecting change through war, Cheney/Rumsfeld saw a way to shoe-horn the US military into several international ''engagements'' at a time, supplemented by ''soldiers-for-hire''.

As with everything Cheney/Rumsfeld touched, this too turned to sh*t. War is a highly emotional (ie mathematically nonlinear) engagement.

''Managing'' war is as useless as managing a Hurricane or a grass fire.

Grass fire''s make their OWN weather...