Blackwater Chief Welcomes Extra Oversight

Founder Erik Prince Says Blackwater Guards Came Under Fire In Controversial Shooting

(CBS)  A source close to Blackwater claims a picture, broadcast on 60 Minutes for the first time, shows bullet marks on the left side of one of the company's armored vehicles. 60 Minutes has no way of independently verifying that claim. The entire incident is still under investigation by the FBI.

"I'm glad the FBI's investigating. I am glad they can be a neutral party. And if there’s further investigation or prosecution even needed, if someone really did wrong and meant badly, I'm all supportive. Because we want this to be past us. We want justice to be done. And we want the guys to be able to clear their names, to do their job and to move forward," Prince tells Logan.

A U.S. military report on the shooting says Blackwater employees were not attacked and the killing of civilians was a criminal act.

"What's your response to a U.S. military report that says Blackwater basically were not attacked?" Logan asks.

"I think before, before the military starts releasing reports like that they should probably wait till the Justice Department completes their investigation," Prince says.

"Why do you think the U.S. military didn't find any evidence or ammunition, spent cartridges that they say would have been used the Iraqis. And they did find spent cartridges and some ammunition used by your operators?" Logan asks.

"It's a very large area to search. I doubt they did a CSI-like investigation," Prince replies.

When he testified before Congress, Prince admitted his employees have made mistakes in Iraq. 60 Minutes asked him how many times those mistakes have led to the loss of innocent life.

"That's an unknowable, it's an unknowable number," Prince says.

"The State Department report puts that figure at ten. Would you agree or disagree with that?" Logan asks.

"I haven't seen that figure. But that's entirely possible. Out of 16,000 PSD operations, our guys have resulted in any kind of firearm use less than one percent of the time," Prince says.

"You know when I was in Iraq when this incident happened I spoke to a number of different operators in different private security firms and most of the time people said to me 'Blackwater are more aggressive than us.' Why do you think that is?" Logan asks.

"Unfortunately we have to go into some of the most predictable venues again and again and again. We're protecting the most high-valued targets that the terrorists would love to kill. Nothing would look better for their camera than having dead American diplomats on the street," Prince says.

[s8junkie]

First Katie Couric and now this bimbo. She''s a disaster. How about getting Barney The Dinosaur? What''s happened to 60 Minutes?

[liamjd20]

Watching Lara Logan conduct an interview is like nails going down a blackboard...Please save us all and get rid of her.I wanted to watch the interview but could not get through the first 5 minutes.

[nicelittle]

Shame on you Ms. Logan, for helping Mr. Prince score the PR points I''m sure he was aiming for with this venue. This was a softball, patsy interview on par with Russert''s interview of Bush.

Why not ask Prince to comment on any of the other Blackwater incidents (besides the most recent) that have been detailed in various places? Shouldn''t he answer for the obvious PATTERN of ruthless and random violence from his employees demonstrated by these incidents? Can''t he comment on why outsourcing security to Blackwater has been so much more expensive, and why so much of his work has been no-bid. Why not mention in the segment the deep political ties that Prince and Blackwater have to the administration? Clearly this is a key explanation of what''s going on here, but you choose to ignore it, perhaps to maintain some misguided sense of balance and fairness.

The interview makes me question 60 minutes credibility - one of the few shows that I''ve always respected for their journalism. I''ve read Prince and Blackwater have hired on some high-powered PR firms to help calm the waters, and this interview makes me wonder whether any of that money influenced your journalism. I wonder whether he would agree to be interviewed by the BBC - where journalists do their job and ask hard questions. I suspect not - he had a sweet deal going with Ms. Logan and CBS News, so why spoil it?

[pixelslinger]

How carefully we choose how to define what a mercenary is - if we choose the second definition of the word, yes, that matches what Prince says... but the primary definition for mercenary?

"1. working or acting merely for money or other reward; venal."

mmmmm.... selectivism in presentation is such a weasles exit. Removing oneself from the regular service of the country, so that your skills can be put on a higher bracket, and without the rules governing engagement and aggression that you were bound by doing actual service -

Yes. That makes you a mercenary.

[mnandame]

I can%u2019t really remember a time when %u201C60 Minutes%u201D wasn%u2019t on the air... or when I have been disappointed by the quality of your investigative journalism... UNTIL last Sunday%u2019s mediocre report about Blackwater, which clocked in at barely 8 minutes and yet took 3 producers to create.

The use of private security forces in our war against Iraq is unprecedented in American history. The amount of money we%u2019re spending on private contractors in this war is mind-boggling, while the lack of legal accountability is shocking, destabilizing to the region, and shameful. Your piece explored none of this. Instead you basically gave Mr. Prince quality air-time to deliver unchallenged PR friendly sound-bites that promoted his company. Where was the other side of the story? Where were the critics of Blackwater? The evidence of their crimes or exonerations if indeed they exist? Where were the eyewitnesses? Where was an interview with Jeremy Scahill who has written an entire book on Blackwater? Where was the questioning about behavior in New Orleans after Katrina? I could go on and on...

Usually %u201C60 Minutes%u201D explores many permutations of a story, interviews critics, and delves deep. This piece was lacking on all fronts. I never thought I%u2019d see such a shoddy piece of journalism from your show. Ever. I can%u2019t believe anyone on your staff thought this piece met your usually high standards and was permitted to go to air. I am extremely disappointed.

[mnandame]

I can%u2019t really remember a time when %u201C60 Minutes%u201D wasn%u2019t on the air... or when I have been disappointed by the quality of your investigative journalism... UNTIL last Sunday%u2019s mediocre report about Blackwater, which clocked in at barely 8 minutes and yet took 3 producers to create.

The use of private security forces in Iraq is unprecedented in our history. The amount of money we%u2019re spending on private contractors in this war is mind-boggling, while the lack of legal accountability is shocking, destabilizing to the region, and shameful. Your piece explored none of this. Instead you gave Mr. Prince quality air-time to deliver unchallenged PR friendly sound-bites that promoted his company. Where was the other side of the story? Where were the critics of Blackwater? The evidence of their crimes or exonerations if indeed they exist? Where were the eyewitnesses? Where was an interview with Jeremy Scahill who has written an entire book on Blackwater? Where were the questions about Blackwater''s behavior in New Orleans after Katrina? I could go on and on...

Usually %u201C60 Minutes%u201D explores many permutations of a story, interviews critics, and delves deep. This piece was lacking on all fronts. I never thought I%u2019d see such a shoddy piece of journalism from your show. I am extremely disappointed.

[hausermtn]

What about the other side of the story ? Erik Prince gets to do a Public relations smooth over piece in Suport of his war proffiteering, tax dollar burning, Blackwater. No privatizing of our military. Why are we giving money to this rich recluse? "Support the troops," pay them as much as Blackwater hired guns. What about that angle 60 minutes? What about the families of those Blackwater guys killed in FAllejah? What about telling their story, and how Blackwater treated them? Where is the investigative reporting? Where is your Outrage? They do not not need your Public relation pitty platform they need to be booted from Iraq and tried for war profitteering. We do not want them in San Diego.

[hausermtn]

What about the other side of the story ? Erik Prince gets to do a Public relations smooth over piece in Suport of his war proffiteering, tax dollar burning, Blackwater. No privatizing of our military. Why are we giving money to this rich recluse? "Support the troops," pay them as much as Blackwater hired guns. What about that angle 60 minutes? What about the families of those Blackwater guys killed in FAllejah? What about telling their story, and how Blackwater treated them? Where is the investigative reporting? Where is your Outrage? They do not not need your Public relation pitty platform they need to be booted from Iraq and tried for war profitteering. We do not want them in San Diego.

[hausermtn]

What about the other side of the story ? Erik Prince gets to do a Public relations smooth over piece in Suport of his war proffiteering, tax dollar burning, Blackwater. No privatizing of our military. Why are we giving money to this rich recluse? "Support the troops," pay them as much as Blackwater hired guns. What about that angle 60 minutes? What about the families of those Blackwater guys killed in FAllejah? What about telling their story, and how Blackwater treated them? Where is the investigative reporting? Where is your Outrage? They do not not need your Public relation pitty platform they need to be booted from Iraq and tried for war profitteering. We do not want them in San Diego.

[hausermtn]

What about the other side of the story ? Erik Prince gets to do a Public relations smooth over piece in Suport of his war proffiteering, tax dollar burning, Blackwater. No privatizing of our military. Why are we giving money to this rich recluse? "Support the troops," pay them as much as Blackwater hired guns. What about that angle 60 minutes? What about the families of those Blackwater guys killed in FAllejah? What about telling their story, and how Blackwater treated them? Where is the investigative reporting? Where is your Outrage? They do not not need your Public relation pitty platform they need to be booted from Iraq and tried for war profitteering. We do not want them in San Diego.

[hausermtn]

What about the other side of the story ? Erik Prince gets to do a Public relations smooth over piece in Suport of his war proffiteering, tax dollar burning, Blackwater. No privatizing of our military. Why are we giving money to this rich recluse? "Support the troops," pay them as much as Blackwater hired guns. What about that angle 60 minutes? What about the families of those Blackwater guys killed in FAllejah? What about telling their story, and how Blackwater treated them? Where is the investigative reporting? Where is your Outrage? They do not not need your Public relation pitty platform they need to be booted from Iraq and tried for war profitteering. We do not want them in San Diego.

[hausermtn]

What about the other side of the story ? Erik Prince gets to do a Public relations smooth over piece in Suport of his war proffiteering, tax dollar burning, Blackwater. What about interviewing other people . No privatizing of our military. Why are we giving money to this rich recluse? "Support the troops," pay them as much as Blackwater hired guns. What about that angle 60 minutes? What about the families of those Blackwater guys killed in FAllejah? What about telling there story, and how Blackwater treated them? Where is the investigative reporting? Where is your Outrage? They do not not need your Public relation pitty platform they need to be booted from Iraq and tried for war profitteering. ANd they are not welcome in San Diego.

[hausermtn]

What about the other side of the story ? Erik Prince gets to do a Public relations smooth over piece in Suport of his war proffiteering, tax dollar burning, Blackwater. No privatizing of our military. Why are we giving money to this rich recluse? "Support the troops," pay them as much as Blackwater hired guns. What about that angle 60 minutes? What about the families of those Blackwater guys killed in FAllejah? What about telling their story, and how Blackwater treated them? Where is the investigative reporting? Where is your Outrage? They do not not need your Public relation pitty platform they need to be booted from Iraq and tried for war profitteering. We do not want them in San Diego.

[frankhartzell1]

What happened to all the comments on here?
Are they deleted daily? What a waste of time!
I am still appalled at the poor qualityy of this piece, pure PR for Blackwater, a one source repport that 60 Minutes should be ashamed of. he couldn''t have bought a n ad that would have given him more control

[furryrat]

I watched the hearing on CSPAN. I watched the softball lobbing on 60 minutes. I can''t believe you all rolled over and played dead on this one.

[makapueo]

60 minutes'' interview with the owner of Blackwater Mr. Prince was servile.
Mike Wallace would never start an interview with "AT THE RISK OF MAKING YOU MAD". What happened to investigative reporting? Is 60 minutes becoming a sycophant to those in power?

Don

[unakim]

Is CBS going to make any sort of apology for this piece?

[blades32]

RE: Erik Prince
How far the mighty have fallen. Ed Bradley must be rolling over in his grave.
Laura Logan? Really!
She has the gravitas of a middle school cheerleader. Her pretentious pout and vapid expressions; how did Mr. Prince maintain his composure?
Such probing questions! One can but conclude that the poor girl actually wrote her own script.
Hadly the calibre I have come to expect from 60 Minutes.
But, you already know that, don''t you?

[leah5058]

Will the oversight he mentions mean that his people will be subject to military law?

[blades32]

RE: Erik Prince
How far the mighty have fallen. Ed Bradley must be rolling over in his grave.
Laura Logan? Really!
She has the gravitas of a middle school cheerleader. Her pretentious pout and vapid expressions; how did Mr. Prince maintain his composure?
Such probing questions! One can but conclude that the poor girl actually wrote her own script.
Hadly the calibre I have come to expect from 60 Minutes.
But, you already know that, don''t you?