Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army (87 page)
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Authors: Jeremy Scahill
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89
Ibid.
Ibid.
90
Ibid.
Ibid.
91
Author copy of guest list.
Author copy of guest list.
92
Author copy of brochure.
Author copy of brochure.
93
Author copy of invitation.
Author copy of invitation.
94
Author copy of video.
Author copy of video.
95
Nathan Hodge, “Washington Urged to Save Money by Raising Private Military ‘Contractor Brigade,’”
Financial Times,
February 10, 2005.
Nathan Hodge, “Washington Urged to Save Money by Raising Private Military ‘Contractor Brigade,’”
Financial Times,
February 10, 2005.
96
West 2006 Web site,
www.afcea.org/events/west/2006/intro.html
, accessed December 7, 2006.
West 2006 Web site,
www.afcea.org/events/west/2006/intro.html
, accessed December 7, 2006.
97
Author copy of Erik Prince’s speech at West 2006.
Author copy of Erik Prince’s speech at West 2006.
98
Stephen Daggett and Amy Belasco, “Defense Budget for FY2003: Data Summary,” Congressional Research Service, March 29, 2002.
Stephen Daggett and Amy Belasco, “Defense Budget for FY2003: Data Summary,” Congressional Research Service, March 29, 2002.
99
P. W. Singer,
Corporate Warriors
, p. 15.
P. W. Singer,
Corporate Warriors
, p. 15.
100
Ibid., p. 16.
Ibid., p. 16.
101
Ian Traynor, “The Privatisation of War,” the
Guardian,
December 10, 2003.
Ian Traynor, “The Privatisation of War,” the
Guardian,
December 10, 2003.
102
Paul Krugman, “Battlefield of Dreams,”
New York Times,
May 4, 2004.
Paul Krugman, “Battlefield of Dreams,”
New York Times,
May 4, 2004.
103
Bill Sizemore, “The Layered Look: On Multi-level Contracts, Everyone Gets a Cut,”
Virginian-Pilot,
July 28, 2006.
Bill Sizemore, “The Layered Look: On Multi-level Contracts, Everyone Gets a Cut,”
Virginian-Pilot,
July 28, 2006.
104
“Rebuilding Iraq,” Government Accountability Office, June 2006.
“Rebuilding Iraq,” Government Accountability Office, June 2006.
105
Ibid.
Ibid.
106
Ibid.
Ibid.
108
Peter W. Singer, “Peacekeepers, Inc.”
Policy Review,
June 2003.
Peter W. Singer, “Peacekeepers, Inc.”
Policy Review,
June 2003.
109
Gary Stoller, “Homeland security generates multibillion dollar business,”
USA Today,
September 10, 2006.
Gary Stoller, “Homeland security generates multibillion dollar business,”
USA Today,
September 10, 2006.
110
Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.
Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.
111
Ibid.
Ibid.
112
Mark Hemingway, “Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the Rise of Private Military Contractors,”
The Weekly Standard,
December 18, 2006.
Mark Hemingway, “Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the Rise of Private Military Contractors,”
The Weekly Standard,
December 18, 2006.
113
David Lerman and Stephanie Heinatz, “War in Iraq: For Contractors, War Is a Job, Not an Adventure,”
Daily Press
(Newport News, Virginia), April 4, 2004.
David Lerman and Stephanie Heinatz, “War in Iraq: For Contractors, War Is a Job, Not an Adventure,”
Daily Press
(Newport News, Virginia), April 4, 2004.
114
Author copy of Erik Prince’s speech at West 2006.
Author copy of Erik Prince’s speech at West 2006.
115
Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.
Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.
116
Quadrennial Defense Review report, February 6, 2006.
Quadrennial Defense Review report, February 6, 2006.
117
Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.
Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.
118
Quadrennial Defense Review report, February 6, 2006.
Quadrennial Defense Review report, February 6, 2006.
119
Mark Hemingway, “Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the Rise of Private Military Contractors,”
The Weekly Standard,
December 18, 2006.
Mark Hemingway, “Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the Rise of Private Military Contractors,”
The Weekly Standard,
December 18, 2006.
120
Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.
Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.
121
Ibid.
Ibid.
EPILOGUE
1
Federal Procurement Data System records.
Federal Procurement Data System records.
2
Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’”
Virginian-Pilot
, October 28, 2007.
Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’”
Virginian-Pilot
, October 28, 2007.
3
Ibid.
Ibid.
4
Ibid.
Ibid.
5
August Cole, “Blackwater Vies for Jobs Beyond Security,”
Wall Street Journal
, October 15, 2007.
August Cole, “Blackwater Vies for Jobs Beyond Security,”
Wall Street Journal
, October 15, 2007.
6
Ibid.
Ibid.
7
Paul Richfield, “$15B Narcoterrorism War to be Outsourced,”
Army Times
, September 14, 2007.
Paul Richfield, “$15B Narcoterrorism War to be Outsourced,”
Army Times
, September 14, 2007.
8
Ibid.
Ibid.
9
Solomon Moore, “Disputed in Iraq, Blackwater Now Splits California Town,”
New York Times
, December 11, 2007.
Solomon Moore, “Disputed in Iraq, Blackwater Now Splits California Town,”
New York Times
, December 11, 2007.
10
Toby Muse, “U.S. Contractors Get Half of Aid to Colombia,”
USA Today
, June 15, 2007.
Toby Muse, “U.S. Contractors Get Half of Aid to Colombia,”
USA Today
, June 15, 2007.
11
John Ross, “Full Spectrum Mercenaries,”
CounterPunch.org
, November 9, 2007.
John Ross, “Full Spectrum Mercenaries,”
CounterPunch.org
, November 9, 2007.
12
Solomon Moore, “Disputed in Iraq, Blackwater Now Splits California Town,”
New York Times
, December 11, 2007.
Solomon Moore, “Disputed in Iraq, Blackwater Now Splits California Town,”
New York Times
, December 11, 2007.
13
United Nations, “Report of the Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Violating Human Rights and Impeding the Exercise of the Right of People to Self-Determination,” January 8, 2008.
United Nations, “Report of the Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Violating Human Rights and Impeding the Exercise of the Right of People to Self-Determination,” January 8, 2008.
14
Solomon Moore, “Disputed in Iraq, Blackwater Now Splits California Town,”
New York Times
, December 11, 2007.
Solomon Moore, “Disputed in Iraq, Blackwater Now Splits California Town,”
New York Times
, December 11, 2007.
15
Anne Krueger, “Blackwater Pulls Application for Potrero Training Center,”
San Diego Union-Tribune
, March 7, 2008.
Anne Krueger, “Blackwater Pulls Application for Potrero Training Center,”
San Diego Union-Tribune
, March 7, 2008.
16
August Cole, “Blackwater Vies for Jobs Beyond Security,”
Wall Street Journal
, October 15, 2007.
August Cole, “Blackwater Vies for Jobs Beyond Security,”
Wall Street Journal
, October 15, 2007.
17
Teri Weaver, “Tiny Base Assimilates Into Japanese Town,”
Stars and Stripes
, October 8, 2007.
Teri Weaver, “Tiny Base Assimilates Into Japanese Town,”
Stars and Stripes
, October 8, 2007.
18
Wendell Minnick, “Blackwater Training Taiwanese,”
Defense News
, February 12, 2008.
Wendell Minnick, “Blackwater Training Taiwanese,”
Defense News
, February 12, 2008.
19
“Life-and-Death Repercussions of Blackwater Trashing,”
Serviam
, January/February 2008 issue.
“Life-and-Death Repercussions of Blackwater Trashing,”
Serviam
, January/February 2008 issue.
20
“ARES Systems Group Armor Applique Gets Thumbs Up From Army Aberdeen Test Center,” Market Wire, March 3, 2008.
“ARES Systems Group Armor Applique Gets Thumbs Up From Army Aberdeen Test Center,” Market Wire, March 3, 2008.
21
Kris Osborn, “Six Companies Compete for DoD MRAP II Contract,”
Navy Times
, November 5, 2007.
Kris Osborn, “Six Companies Compete for DoD MRAP II Contract,”
Navy Times
, November 5, 2007.
22
David Macaulay, “Blackwater USA Hires Ford Workers to Build New APC,”
Daily Advance
, February 20, 2007.
David Macaulay, “Blackwater USA Hires Ford Workers to Build New APC,”
Daily Advance
, February 20, 2007.
23
Kris Osborn, “Six Companies Compete for DoD MRAP II Contract,”
Navy Times
, November 5, 2007.
Kris Osborn, “Six Companies Compete for DoD MRAP II Contract,”
Navy Times
, November 5, 2007.
24
David Macaulay, “Blackwater USA Hires Ford Workers to Build New APC,”
Daily Advance
, February 20, 2007.
David Macaulay, “Blackwater USA Hires Ford Workers to Build New APC,”
Daily Advance
, February 20, 2007.
25
“Blackwater USA President Outlines Firm’s Future Plans,” Associated Press, July 31, 2007.
“Blackwater USA President Outlines Firm’s Future Plans,” Associated Press, July 31, 2007.
26
David Macaulay, “Blackwater USA Hires Ford Workers to Build New APC,”
Daily Advance
, February 20, 2007.
David Macaulay, “Blackwater USA Hires Ford Workers to Build New APC,”
Daily Advance
, February 20, 2007.
27
Jon W. Glass, “Off the Ground,”
Virginian-Pilot
, November 23, 2007.
Jon W. Glass, “Off the Ground,”
Virginian-Pilot
, November 23, 2007.
28
Ibid.
Ibid.
29
Ibid.
Ibid.
30
Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’”
Virginian-Pilot
, October 28, 2007.
Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’”
Virginian-Pilot
, October 28, 2007.
31
R.J. Hillhouse, “Exclusive Interview: Blackwater USA’s President Gary Jackson,”
TheSpyWhoBilledMe.com
, April 26, 2007.
R.J. Hillhouse, “Exclusive Interview: Blackwater USA’s President Gary Jackson,”
TheSpyWhoBilledMe.com
, April 26, 2007.
32
Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’”
Virginian-Pilot
, October 28, 2007.
Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’”
Virginian-Pilot
, October 28, 2007.
33
United Nations, “Report of the Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Violating Human Rights and Impeding the Exercise of the Right of People to Self-Determination,” January 8, 2008.
United Nations, “Report of the Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Violating Human Rights and Impeding the Exercise of the Right of People to Self-Determination,” January 8, 2008.
34
Interview, July 2007.
Interview, July 2007.
35
Total Intelligence Solutions Press Release, “Former CIA and Counterterrorism Experts Respond to Security and Intelligence Demands of the Private Sector,” February 20, 2006.
Total Intelligence Solutions Press Release, “Former CIA and Counterterrorism Experts Respond to Security and Intelligence Demands of the Private Sector,” February 20, 2006.
36
www.totalintel.com
, accessed March 17, 2008.
www.totalintel.com
, accessed March 17, 2008.
37
Interview, July 2007.
Interview, July 2007.
38
R.J. Hillhouse, “The ODNI’s Wal-Mart Approach to Intel,”
TheSpyWhoBilledMe.com
, June 18, 2007.
R.J. Hillhouse, “The ODNI’s Wal-Mart Approach to Intel,”
TheSpyWhoBilledMe.com
, June 18, 2007.
39
R.J. Hillhouse, “Corporate Content and the President’s Daily Brief,” TheSpyWhoBilledMe. com, July 23, 2007.
R.J. Hillhouse, “Corporate Content and the President’s Daily Brief,” TheSpyWhoBilledMe. com, July 23, 2007.
40
Ben Hammer, “Blackwater Boss, Former CIA Execs Create New Firm,”
Washington Business Journal
, March 12, 2007.
Ben Hammer, “Blackwater Boss, Former CIA Execs Create New Firm,”
Washington Business Journal
, March 12, 2007.
41
Richer’s biographical details are drawn from multiple sources, including: Richer’s official Total Intelligence biography; Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,”
Harper’s
online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006; Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007; Ben Van Heuvelen, “The Bush Administration’s Ties to Blackwater,”
Salon
, October 2, 2007.
Richer’s biographical details are drawn from multiple sources, including: Richer’s official Total Intelligence biography; Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,”
Harper’s
online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006; Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007; Ben Van Heuvelen, “The Bush Administration’s Ties to Blackwater,”
Salon
, October 2, 2007.
42
Prado’s Total Intelligence bio.
Prado’s Total Intelligence bio.
43
Ibid.
Ibid.
44
Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,”
Harper’s
online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006.
Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,”
Harper’s
online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006.
45
Mark Mazzetti and Scott Shane, “Tape Inquiry: Ex-Spymaster in the Middle,”
New York Times
, February 20, 2008.
Mark Mazzetti and Scott Shane, “Tape Inquiry: Ex-Spymaster in the Middle,”
New York Times
, February 20, 2008.
46
Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,”
Harper’s
online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006.
Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,”
Harper’s
online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006.
47
Total Intelligence bios.
Total Intelligence bios.
48
Ibid.
Ibid.
49
Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007.
Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007.
50
www.totalintel.com/dsp_gfc.php
, accessed March 17, 2008.
www.totalintel.com/dsp_gfc.php
, accessed March 17, 2008.
51
Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007.
Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007.
52
Ben Hammer, “Blackwater Boss, Former CIA Execs Create New Firm,”
Washington Business Journal
, March 12, 2007; Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007.
Ben Hammer, “Blackwater Boss, Former CIA Execs Create New Firm,”
Washington Business Journal
, March 12, 2007; Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007.
53
Total Intelligence Solutions Press Release, “Former CIA and Counterterrorism Experts Respond to Security and Intelligence Demands of the Private Sector,” February 20, 2006.
Total Intelligence Solutions Press Release, “Former CIA and Counterterrorism Experts Respond to Security and Intelligence Demands of the Private Sector,” February 20, 2006.
54
Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007.
Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007.
55
Ibid.
Ibid.
56
Ibid.
Ibid.
57
Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,”
Harper’s
online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006.
Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,”
Harper’s
online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006.
58
Kudlow & Company, “Ambassador Cofer Black Discusses Investing in Jordan,” CNBC transcript, July 9, 2007.
Kudlow & Company, “Ambassador Cofer Black Discusses Investing in Jordan,” CNBC transcript, July 9, 2007.
59
Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007.
Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,”
Washington Post
, November 3, 2007.
60
Ibid.
Ibid.
61
John McCain speech in Derry, New Hampshire, January 3, 2008.
John McCain speech in Derry, New Hampshire, January 3, 2008.
62
Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’”
Virginian-Pilot
, October 28, 2007.
Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’”
Virginian-Pilot
, October 28, 2007.
63
Peter Grier and Gordon Lubold, “Private Security in Iraq: Whose Rules?”
Christian Science Monitor
, September 20, 2007.
Peter Grier and Gordon Lubold, “Private Security in Iraq: Whose Rules?”
Christian Science Monitor
, September 20, 2007.
64
Barrack Obama Press Release, “Obama Statement on Supplemental Bill That Sets a Target Redeployment Date,” April 26, 2007.
Barrack Obama Press Release, “Obama Statement on Supplemental Bill That Sets a Target Redeployment Date,” April 26, 2007.
65
Erik Leaver, “Iraq Supplemental Analysis,” Institute for Policy Studies, March 14, 2007.
Erik Leaver, “Iraq Supplemental Analysis,” Institute for Policy Studies, March 14, 2007.
66
Interview, March 2007.
Interview, March 2007.
67
Transcript of Gen. David Petraeus’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, January 24, 2007.
Transcript of Gen. David Petraeus’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, January 24, 2007.
68
Steve Fainaru, “Iraq Contractors Face Growing Parallel War,”
Washington Post
, June 16, 2007.
Steve Fainaru, “Iraq Contractors Face Growing Parallel War,”
Washington Post
, June 16, 2007.
69
Interview, March 2007.
Interview, March 2007.
70
T. Christian Miller, “Private Contractors Outnumber US Troops in Iraq,”
Los Angeles Times
, July 4, 2007.
T. Christian Miller, “Private Contractors Outnumber US Troops in Iraq,”
Los Angeles Times
, July 4, 2007.
71
Government Accountability Office, “Report to the Committee on Armed Services, US Senate,” March 2008.
Government Accountability Office, “Report to the Committee on Armed Services, US Senate,” March 2008.
72
Jeremy Scahill, “
All
Cowboys Out Now,”
The Nation
, November 26, 2007.
Jeremy Scahill, “
All
Cowboys Out Now,”
The Nation
, November 26, 2007.
73
See Jeremy Scahill, “Bush’s Shadow Army,”
The Nation
, April 2, 2007.
See Jeremy Scahill, “Bush’s Shadow Army,”
The Nation
, April 2, 2007.
74
Jeremy Scahill, “
All
Cowboys Out Now,”
The Nation
, November 26, 2007.
Jeremy Scahill, “
All
Cowboys Out Now,”
The Nation
, November 26, 2007.
75
Transcript, hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.
Transcript, hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.
76
Ibid.
Ibid.
77
John H. Broder and David Rohde, “State Department Use of Contractors Leaps in 4 Years,”
New York Times
, October 24, 2007.
John H. Broder and David Rohde, “State Department Use of Contractors Leaps in 4 Years,”
New York Times
, October 24, 2007.
78
Jeremy Scahill, “Obama’s Mercenary Position,”
The Nation
, March 17, 2008.
Jeremy Scahill, “Obama’s Mercenary Position,”
The Nation
, March 17, 2008.
79
Hillary Clinton Press Release, “Senator Clinton Cosponsors Legislation to Ban Use of Private Security Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan,” February 28, 2008.
Hillary Clinton Press Release, “Senator Clinton Cosponsors Legislation to Ban Use of Private Security Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan,” February 28, 2008.
80
Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’”
Virginian-Pilot
, October 28, 2007.
Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’”
Virginian-Pilot
, October 28, 2007.
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