Blackwater Chief Welcomes Extra Oversight

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

(CBS)  Prince has seen his own dead employees treated like trophies by terrorists. Four of them were killed, burned, mutilated and hanged in Fallujah in 2004. They've been honored with other fallen Blackwater personnel in a memorial garden inside the North Carolina facility.

"We lost 27 in Iraq and three in Afghanistan. We've had well over 100 wounded and ten seriously wounded," he tells Logan.

Asked how many diplomats and other people under the protection of Blackwater have been lost, Prince tells Logan, "No one under our care has been killed or injured."

Despite that achievement, Blackwater is in trouble. Iraqi authorities want the company booted out of their country and its employees to stand trial in Iraq. The State Department has responded to Iraqi pressure by tightening control over the company, a move Prince says he welcomes.

"We absolutely want more oversight. We welcome the accountability. We want a good name for this industry because we think it plays an important role for what the U.S. policies are going forward," Prince says.

Meanwhile Prince says his security teams will keep doing what they’ve done in thousands of missions -- protect American diplomats -- and at times go beyond their contractual obligations to help others, as they did earlier this month when the Polish ambassador's convoy was bombed.

"Once again, our guys answered the call that was put out," Prince says. "And I was mighty proud watching that video. Because they put a helicopter in the street with power lines on one side and light poles on the other, again, above and beyond the scope of our contract. But the guys take personal risk themselves to help somebody that's in need. And we're darned honored to be able to do that."

But in Iraq the company is not honored, it's hated. Many believe Blackwater just doesn't value Iraqi life.

"I know you said the loss of innocent life is a tragedy. Do you regret it, do you wish it never happened?" Logan asks.

"Absolutely, but I wish there were no major insurgency in Iraq. I regret that more. I regret the poor Iraqi family that is trying to send their kids to school and worried about them getting blown up while they are walking. Or the suicide bomber that blows up the market while the wife is getting groceries," Prince says.

"People want to know from you, they know about the terrorist bombs, they know about the loss of huge civilian casualties, Iraqis have lived through all of that. When I talk to them they want to know from you, from Blackwater, that you wish those people had not been killed that you wish innocent people didn’t have to die as a result of anything that you’re involved in," Logan says.

"It is absolutely not our wish that any innocent civilians should ever die," 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?