Blackwater Worldwide, the North Carolina-based private military contractor, is facing a multimillion-dollar fine from the State Department for shipping hundreds of automatic weapons to Iraq without the required permits.But that hasn't stopped the controversial company from recruiting mercenaries for its newest service: protecting merchant ships from pirates operating off the coast of Africa.
"Billions of dollars of goods move through the Gulf of Aden each year," Bill Matthews, the company's executive vice president, said in a recent statement [pdf]. "We have been contacted by ship owners who say they need our help in making sure those goods get to their destination safely."
Blackwater plans to use its specially modified 183-foot ship, the McArthur, for the task. The company says having its ship and helicopters escort vessels is a safer option than arming merchant crews.
Earlier this month, McClatchy Newspapers reported that the State Department is preparing to levy a fine on Blackwater for illegally shipping hundreds of automatic weapons to Iraq, where some of the arms are believed to have ended up on the black market.
Also this month, U.S. officials informed 172 private firms providing security in Iraq -- including Blackwater -- that their personnel will lose immunity from prosecution under a new U.S.-Iraq security agreement set to take effect in January. There has been a growing push by Iraqis to life immunity since an incident last September in which Blackwater guards escorting a diplomatic convoy through Baghdad opened fire, killing 17 Iraqi civilians. A civil lawsuit has been filed over that incident by the Center for Constitutional Rights.
Blackwater is the State Department's largest personal security contractor and has received $1.2 billion in federal contracts, according to the website fedspending.org.
On September 16, 2007, Blackwater guards shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians in Nisour Square, Baghdad. More than a year later, no one has been charged or prosecuted for the murders. Blackwater, a private army and mercenary headquartered in Moyock, NC with over $1 billion in federal contracts (primarily no-bid) since 2001, operates with impunity, not subject to either military or civilian law. Blackwater is associated with tax evasion, gun running, weapons stockpiling, recruiting death squad paramilitary personnel from Latin America and defrauding US taxpayers. Blackwater operates without oversight, transparency or accountability. Thanks to lobbyists retained by Blackwater, like Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, Blackwater’s contract with the US State Department was renewed this past April. This despite the Iraqi government having ordered Blackwater out of its country and the stonewalled investigation into the Nisour Square massacre. Despite press reports to the contrary, Blackwater has confirmed that it has no intention of leaving the security contracting business. Blackwater is expert at using influence peddling professionals like Womble Carlyle and its connections with the White House administration to remain free from harm and open for business. A Bush administration appointed federal judge recently forced the city of San Diego to allow a shell company created by Blackwater to open a training facility inside the city limits, within a mile of the Mexican border. The Bush administration has hinted at militarizing our border with Mexico and Blackwater is positioning itself for future federal contracts to provide border security.
To learn more visit Blackwater Watch
November 26, 2008 3:53 AM | Reply
These criminals are also responsible for Organized Harassment/AKA Gang Stalking through the use of illegal wiretap, electronic transmission tampering, illegal surveillance, vandalism... etc. Private army for hire through private investigators, private parties for the sole purpose of destroying their adversaries(regular citizen; divorce disputes, mistress protection, trutee disputes, business frauds.
These criminals have no respect for any law including the Constitution.
March 4, 2009 9:21 AM | Reply