SRSLY. Can anyone really be surprised when a neo-con stalwart starts a mercenary company and then together they do reprehensible things? Now let's be clear here: you can't exactly "go rogue" when you are fucking mercenaries. It is what it says on the tin. The question here is how neo-cons who thought that professional soldiering was not sufficient and decided that hiring mercenaries answerable only to their employers would be a good idea. And: How are they going to spin it to the public? They really didn't. I never really got the impression that outside of Iraq and reactionary liberal blogs like this one, there was much awareness of a) what Blackwater was b) who it consisted of c) what they did and d) Oh By The Way, mercenaries. (Wherein mercenary is perhaps not harsh enough.)
Here's a nice solid from Salon discussing the Blackwater founder, Erik Prince from sworn statements:
Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."
Fuck Prince. What a disgraceful human being. But who knows, it has yet to be proven. However, again let's be clear here, he is the founder and owner of a MERCENARY COMPANY. What is the business of mercs? It is to murderize and business is good. Apparently. As a heretic, I am, however, even more disturbed by the crusading bits. What to tart up your sociopathy Mr. Prince.
My original source seems to have disappeared. But it was here. Fortunately there are others. And having multiple sources on any topic is always important and academically sound. See also here. But I guess I have a little bit of a pause because saying bad things about what mercs do is almost like saying nothing at all. Thuggery and murder is where they live; all part of the job.
However, the charges are specific (link to the declarations made by John Doe 1 and John Doe 2) and more disturbing than the standard merc horribleness. Hopefully Blackwater and Mr. Prince will be examined thoroughly by the legal process, although I am sceptical. It seems now at least that something is being done about US Federally funded thuggery. Disturbing(er?) charges have been raised; if they are truly actionable I hope the fuckers get prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But I'm exceedingly dubious that will ever happen. Here's hoping also that Messrs. Doe and Doe don't magically disappear and/or "meet with accidents."
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