Erik Prince of Blackwater accused of murder

[guartz]

Ex-guards' statements implicate Blackwater founder in Iraq crimes - CNN.com

"First, he views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe. ... Second, Mr. Prince is motivated by greed," says John Doe No. 2. "He sought every opportunity to deploy men to Iraq in order to earn more money from the United States government."

He refers to another incident when he "first arrived in Baghdad" in which he saw fellow employees pulling weapons out of a shipment of dog food -- the allegation being smuggling.

John Doe No. 1 describes witnessing one incident in Baquba, where a Blackwater employee allegedly fired into a passing single-passenger vehicle without provocation. He says he's heard of similar instances of excessive or deadly force from other Blackwater employees.

So I'm not even sure why America needed mercenaries in the first place, but since they are on taxpayer payroll, how about some accountability?

[BRP]

Fucking blackwater. Fucking blackwater.

[_chuchu]

Spoiler: show

http://www.imagebeast.net/images/e9qhfvk7i1h6qvg5t.jpg

Well, sort of.

Spoiler: show

yes his hand is away from his hip a little

[Kiro]

Yeah.. Blackwater is pretty fucking shady. Not surprised at all.

[Qalbert]

War has changed. It's not about nations, or ideologies. It's not even about profit, resources, or ethnicity. It's an endless series of proxy battles, fought by mercenaries and machines. War, and its vast consumption of human life, has become a rational, well-oiled business transaction.
War has changed. ID-tagged soldiers carry ID-tagged weapons, use ID-tagged gear. Nanomachines inside their bodies enhance and regulate their actions. Genetic control. Information control. Emotion control. Battlefield control. Everything is monitored and kept under control. The age of deterrence is now the age of control, averting catastrophe from weapons of mass destruction. And he who controls the battlefield, controls history.
War has changed.

[Kiro]

War isn't about profit? WHAT?

WHAT?












WHAT?!

[guartz]

No, war...


War never changes.

[Qalbert]

No, war...


War never changes.

I BEG TO DIFFER.

[Elvis]

Snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake

[guartz]

I BEG TO DIFFER.

YouTube - War. War Never Changes. (Fallout 2)

[Qalbert]

[guartz]

HOLY SHIT. it's the same guy doing the voice!

[Correction]

Wait where does it say charges of murder were brought against Erik Prince? I'm no fan of blackwater but the op's title is incredibly misleading.

[Qalbert]

pretty sure David Hayter =/= Ron Perlman

[guartz]

Wait where does it say charges of murder were brought against Erik Prince? I'm no fan of blackwater but the op's title is incredibly misleading.

Actually the two guys testimonies implicates him of murder. CNN article is horrible, though, linked it for credibility. It's all over the web though.

So accused/implicated = charges brought?

[Beckwin]

I'm not even sure why America needed mercenaries in the first place

competition, duh. and freedom 'n stuff

[Correction]

Actually the two guys testimonies implicates him of murder. CNN article is horrible, though, linked it for credibility. It's all over the web though.

So accused/implicated = charges brought?

I'm just wondering which murder they're specifically tying Prince to, firsthand or otherwise. You can't just say his company killed civillians and presto, he's a murderer because that won't hold in a court of law. If they're trying to bring down a man as well connected and financed as Erik Prince I'd prefer if they did things properly rather than casually throw words like 'crusader' (their word and unfortunately, not against the law) or 'murder' (your word) around. It makes the grievances sound personal and not criminal without more specific corroboration.

[guartz]

This is from the sworn testimonies;

Nation reporter Jeremy Scahill, who has focused much of his attention on Blackwater (now Xe) previously, writes that writes that in sworn statements filed with a Virginia court last night, a former Marine and a former Blackwater employee both claim that the company’s founder and former CEO, Erik Prince, "may have murdered or facilitated the murder" of people who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company.

and

John Doe #2 worked for Blackwater and affiliated companies for four years. He states:

“On several occasions after my departure from Mr. Prince’s employ, Mr. Prince’s management has personally threatened me with death and violence.

“In addition, based on information provided to me by former colleagues, it appears that Mr. Prince and his employees murdered, or had murdered, one or more persons who have provided information, or who were planning to provide information, to the federal authorities about the ongoing criminal conduct.”

Blackwater Founder Erik Prince Implicated in Murder | HULIQ

[Khamsin]

So I'm not even sure why America needed mercenaries in the first place, but since they are on taxpayer payroll, how about some accountability?

I thought that was what made mercenaries an option, for when you want something done you can't do yourself... for accountability purposes.

If you insist on applying accountability to mercenaries, there's no point to using them anymore.

But in general, whenever you slip some non-involved independent guy some money and ask him to do you a favor, its for something you couldn't have your guys associated with.

[Correction]

They murdered their own people to slience them? What a tweest. I own the Scahill book, I'll go over it again tomorrow to see if Blackwater had a habit of 'disappearing' their ex-contractors. It's the first I've heard of such shenanigans.