Custom Search

Blackwater Worldwide formerly known as Blackwater USA is a security and training corporation that has fallen into the spotlight as a by product of the Iraq War.  Blackwater was founded in 1997 to support the training needs of the United States military and law enforcement communities. Since then, Blackwater has trained more than 100,000 local police officers, SWAT team members, homeland security professionals, military personnel and others to help prepare them to serve and protect U.S. citizens at home and abroad.  In addition to their roles as protectors, instructors and peacekeepers, Blackwater personnel have developed training programs and technology that save lives. Blackwater and its affiliates have developed armored vehicles that protect against the advanced threats that are a reality today. They have developed a remotely-piloted airship designed to enhance surveillance and information-gathering abilities. They operate a fleet of aircraft equipped to move cargo and people from anywhere in the world. .And they have an extensive testing, training and certification process for canines employed to detect both explosives and narcotics

When I first heard of Blackwater USA, now known as Blackwater Worldwide, I was alarmed.  Many news reports portrayed the U.S. government hired security contractor as a group of mercenaries that were cutting any Iraqi's insurgent or civilian that got in their path into sawdust with their bullet fire. As dramatic as that narrative of the media portrayals were at the height of the criticism of the company, the truth is that the job this company does around the world is not much less incredible.  Blackwater was awarded its first federal government contract during the Clinton Administration, which advocated contracting out services. Blackwater’s government work grew year-by-year as a result of the nation’s well-documented defense drawdown and the continuing importance of contracting out services.

First however, we have to talk a little about why members of Blackwater are in the news currently.  In the past few days five Blackwater Worldwide security guards indicted in Washington for the 2007 shooting of Iraqi civilians have surrender to the federal authorities.  The case already is shaping up to be a series of contentious legal battles before the guards can even go to trial. By surrendering in Utah, the home state of one of the guards, the men could argue the case should be heard in a far more conservative, pro-gun venue than Washington is.  The five guards were indicted on manslaughter charges on Thursday, December 4, 2008 for their roles in a 2007 shooting in Baghdad that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead. A sixth guard reached a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid a mandatory 30-year prison sentence.  The shooting at the heart of the case involved a convoy of  vehicles responding to a car bombing in downtown Baghdad. Entering a busy traffic circle, the convoy opened fire. Witnesses said Blackwater was unprovoked. The company says its guards were ambushed.  "Donald Ball committed no crime," McCool said. "We are confident that any jury will see this for what it is: a politically motivated prosecution to appease the Iraqi government."  The other guards indicted are Dustin Heard, a former Marine from Knoxville, Tenn.; Evan Liberty, a former Marine from Rochester, N.H.; Nick Slatten, a former Army sergeant from Sparta, Tenn.; and Paul Slough, an Army veteran from Keller, Texas. The Blackwater guards, hired by the U.S. to protect State Department diplomats in Iraq, carry automatic weapons and drive heavily armored vehicles equipped with turret guns.  These guys are far from boy scouts.  They are actually ex-special forces and other highly trained military that are regarded as some of the most professional, brave and extremely indispensable assets to the United States government.  Are they incapable of committing a crime such as the slaughter described above?  Of course not.  A bad apple or in this case a bad situation can happen.  No system created by man can be perfect in a place of war.  Bad things, no I mean horrible things happen.  There is always a flaw or a breakdown.  The thing to remember is that regardless of the outcome of this trial Blackwater Worldwide is not one of the bad guys.  They do a job that is beyond the grasp of 99.9 % of the American population.  Being a cop in some of the most violent cities in America does not hold a candle to the stress and danger that these guys face. Blackwater has lost 30 personnel in the Iraqi conflict but at the same time not a single person under their protection has been killed.  Blackwater Worldwide fills the void that otherwise would overstretch the fulltime resources at the disposal of the U.S. military.  The following is a group of quotes by individuals that have been protected by the Blackwater personnel in dangerous environment as well as others that have investigated the organization for the media.

“They provide the protection when you travel outside of the Green Zone, they often provide the protection when you travel in cities outside of Baghdad. They provide armored vehicles, and security professionals who are trained to protect diplomats. It’s necessary for diplomats and reconstruction advisors to get out and to meet with Iraqis. Were contractors, security contractors not to be there, the U.S. military would have to take over those responsibilities, which would require even more U.S. soldiers to be in country.” - David Tafuri, former State Department rule of law coordinator PBS.org’s Online NewsHour, October 30, 2008

“…American rapid reaction forces appeared at the scene of the attack before 15 minutes was up. If it were not for such a quick reaction of the Blackwater team, which arrived in a helicopter, it could have ended tragically for us.” - Polish Ambassador to Iraq Gen. Edward Pietrzyk As quoted in an interview with the Polish press after presenting honors to members of a Blackwater team who rescued him when his convoy came under attack in Baghdad Nasz Dziennik, February 16, 2008

“In the 19 times I've been [to Iraq], I've been protected, I think, primarily by Blackwater. These were former Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine military personnel. These are people who then have to be trained differently to do the kind of work they do. They would take a bullet for any of the people that they are protecting. And as it relates to Blackwater, they have lost 30 people. Thirty Americans, former military personnel, were killed protecting their charges. And they have not lost one of their charges.” - Rep. Christopher Shays, (R-CT) Human Rights First press conference, January 16, 2008

“…I can assure you these are dedicated men, professionals who know how to help people in times like this.” - Dean VanderMey, whose daughters were trapped in Kenya amidst post-election violence and were rescued by a team from Blackwater The Washington Times, January 10, 2008

“Blackwater's 1,000 contractors protect key State Department diplomats — prized targets for insurgents. They have never lost a single person they were assigned to protect, yet 30 Blackwater contractors have given their lives in executing their mission. Hundreds more have been seriously injured. . . . Contractors serve a vital purpose in Iraq. Most are either military veterans or former law enforcement professionals who have made great personal sacrifices in our mission. There are simply too many of them serving in critical roles — and far too few service members to take their place — to take the misguided push for expulsion seriously.” - LTC Steve Russell USA (Ret.), Chairman, Vets for Victory Stars & Stripes, October 13, 2007

“Most contractors aren't outlaws or cowboys. Even Peter Singer of the Brookings Institution, a critic of the industry, concedes that ‘most are highly talented ex-soldiers.’ Though they get paid more than their active-duty counterparts, they have less job security and lack the medical, retirement and other benefits. Of course they're in Iraq to make money, but the vast majority wouldn't accept a paycheck from just anyone. Most are willing to put their lives on the line only because they are helping the American war effort. And in many cases, they have performed heroically. “In 2004, for instance, an eight-man Blackwater team held off Muqtada Sadr's gunmen, who were besieging a Coalition Provisional Authority office in Najaf. A Marine who fought alongside the Blackwater team (and was evacuated for medical treatment by a Blackwater helicopter) received a Silver Star; if the contractors had been wearing U.S. uniforms, they undoubtedly would have received decorations too.” - Max Boot, columnist Los Angeles Times, October 3, 2007

“They're the Cadillac of training services… You've got the best of the best teaching close-quarter-combat tactics.” - J. Adler, national executive vice president, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Washington Post, October 13, 2007

Blackwater conducts it's business in the most hostile environments on the planet.  Blackwater’s only role in Iraq is to provide defensive security. Blackwater’s team of expertly trained former military and law enforcement personnel protects U.S. officials so the military can focus on its mission. Blackwater Worldwide independent contractors do not engage in offensive or military missions, and Blackwater has no Department of Defense contracts in Iraq according to the company.  Blackwater has less than 1,000 contractors in Iraq.  There have been occasions when Blackwater contractors have come to the aid of U.S. troops. The company is proud to help our men and women in uniform and they will continue to do so whenever they are asked.

No individual protected by Blackwater in Iraq on its more than 17,000 missions has ever been killed or seriously injured, despite the fact that Blackwater protects some of the insurgents’ top targets – U.S. government officials, including Members of Congress and visiting diplomats

Blackwater operates under detailed contracts with the U.S. government that provide intensive government oversight, direction and control. Security contractors are accountable under the U.S. Constitution, international treaties, U.S. regulations, defense trade controls acts and numerous U.S. statutes.
Specifically, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) applies to contractors accompanying the total force and the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) creates jurisdiction for federal court trials.

Over the past few years Blackwater has been under the microscope for more than just the incidents in which Iraqi civilians have been killed or shaken in the crossfire. Blackwater turned over two employees to federal authorities after suspecting them of stealing and illegally shipping weapons in the company's custody to factions in Iraq.  The company says that it has reported every known case of weapons theft to the authorities, but did not know about this particular incident where a bushmaster weapon was recovered from a U.S. raid on an insurgent group in Iraq.  The weapon was actually returned to Blackwater.. ABC cited documents that reinforce Blackwater's claim that it didn't know the weapon was missing from its inventory.

In the end the company remains under the watchful eyes of the U.S. government and the media but at this point only isolated incidents of improper actions have been reported and the corporation has worked with investigations and assisted law enforcement personnel in their investigations.  As stated above, when your business is conducted in the environment that Blackwater operates in, there are going to be incidents by a few.  The few however are not carrying out the policy of the company when these activities occur.  Blackwater Worldwide will continue to service contracts for the American Government because quite simply they are the best at what they do.