What is Blackwater USA?
Scahill: BLACKWATER USA is the most rapidly growing and, arguably, the most successful mercenary firm in the world today. A few years ago, no one had ever heard of it. The company was founded by a very right-wing fundamentalist Christian and former Navy SEAL by the name of Erik Prince. Prince comes from a family that was a major bankroller of far-right-wing causes. His father was a close friend of Gary Bauer and helped him to found the Family Research Council. Blackwater started in the late 1990s as a firm that was going to train law enforcement, and supplement the work of the U.S. military. When the Bush administration took power and then September 11 happened, the company absolutely exploded–and turned into an all-out mercenary firm. Blackwater was awarded the prize contract in Iraq to provide security for the original head of the U.S. occupation, Paul Bremer. At the time, it was a $21 million contract, but more important than the money was the prestige that came with being the guys
Blackwater USA is a private military contractor based in the United States. Since 2007, it has been known as Blackwater Worldwide, reflecting the global nature of its operations, although many people know it by its previous title of “Blackwater USA.” The company provides logistical and support services to law enforcement and militaries, and it also designs technology and training programs which are designed to help law enforcement and military personnel. The company was founded in 1997 by a former Navy SEAL who wanted to provide training support to local law enforcement. It is named for the distinctively dark groundwater near its headquarters in North Carolina. Erik Price, the company’s founder, quickly expanded the scope of the organization, and by 2008, Blackwater was training 40,000 people annually, and sending employees all over the world. Blackwater’s training includes a wide scope of potential situations. Blackwater personnel can fly planes, captain ships, provide law enforcement
