Called the Impact Training Center, it’s still in operation and works with law enforcement agencies throughout the Midwestern US. On a separate front, he oversaw recruitment for private military companies, such as Executive Outcomes which is a former South African private military firm that gained fame when they were hired by several African governments during the 1990s to defeat violent rebellions in addition to protecting oil and diamond reserves. Six of my Blackwater brethren contractors are on the helicopter going to Tikrit. Then in January 2011, Prince began training ~2,000 Somalis for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. On Sept. 16, 2007, a convoy of Blackwater contractors guarding State Department employees entered a crowded square near the Mansour district in Baghdad, Iraq. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, United States House of Representatives, This page was last edited on 19 March 2021, at 12:56. [148] The legal status of Blackwater and other security firms in Iraq was a subject of contention. [7], In 2014, Academi became a division of Constellis Group along with Triple Canopy and other security companies that were part of the Constellis Group as the result of an acquisition.[8][9]. In November 2006 Blackwater USA announced it acquired an 80-acre (32 ha) facility 150 miles (240 km) west of Chicago, in Mount Carroll, Illinois, to be called Blackwater North. The first incident occurred when a Blackwater-protected convoy was ambushed in downtown Baghdad. Erik Prince currently heads a private equity firm called Frontier Resource Group (FRG) and is chairman of Frontier Services Group Ltd (FSG Ltd), a Bermuda-incorporated logistics and transport company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. [34][35] In response, Brian Bonfiglio, project manager for Blackwater West, said: "There will be no explosives training and no tracer ammunition. MacHale; Black Water, a 1992 novella by Joyce Carol Oates; Blackwater or Händelser vid vatten, a 1993 novel by Kerstin Ekman; Blackwater, a 2005 thriller novelette by Conn Iggulden; Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army, a 2007 book by Jeremy Scahill; Blackwater, a 1983 serial horror novel by Michael McDowell [61], By 2003, the ground war in Iraq changed into a diplomatic mission, demanding hundreds of diplomats and State Department employees. We are proud of our success – no-one under our protection has been killed or even seriously wounded."[156]. The report cited an unnamed source who has worked on covert US military programs, who revealed that senior members of the Obama administration may not be aware that Blackwater is operating under a US contract in Pakistan. Londono, Ernesto and Qais Mizher, "Iraq To Deny New License To Blackwater Security Firm". Reviews from Blackwater Protection employees about Blackwater Protection culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. [9], In 2015 six Colombian mercenaries reported by local media to be employed by Academi were killed in Yemen. [20] The company consisted of nine divisions and a subsidiary, Blackwater Vehicles. Xe was bought by a group of investors who built a new company, Academi, and then in 2014 merged with another firm to form Constellis Holdings. [12] The training facility comprises several ranges: indoor, outdoor, urban reproductions; an artificial lake; and a driving track in Camden and Currituck counties. The statements claimed that one of the Blackwater vehicles had been hit by insurgent gunfire, but the investigation concluded that one of the Blackwater guards had actually fired into his own vehicle by accident. There are several firms that were there right alongside them, but the incident that brought all of these questions to the surface was one that involved Blackwater. "[98], Blackwater Worldwide played a substantial role during the Iraq War as a contractor for the United States government. Armored Division. Sought Blackwater's Help in Plan to Kill Jihadists", Blackwater USA: Building the 'Largest Private Army in the World', "U.S. Security Contractors Open Fire in Baghdad", "Additional Information about Blackwater USA", "US contractor recruits guards for Iraq in Chile", U.S. suspends diplomatic convoys throughout Iraq – CNN.com, "U.S. Looks for Blackwater Replacement in Iraq", "No forensic match for ammo in Blackwater shooting", "Residents hang slain Americans' bodies from bridge", "Report: Blackwater 'impeded' probe into contractor deaths", "Navy SEALS tragedy in Afghanistan chronicled in new film, "Lone Survivors, "Private Guards Repel Attack on U.S. Headquarters", How Blackwater Sniper Fire Felled 3 Iraqi Guards", "Blackwater Is Soaked: An arrogant attitude only adds fuel to the criticism", "Ex-Paratrooper Is Suspect in a Blackwater Killing", "The Perils of the Punctilious PMSC Prosecution", "Iraq reveals $100 million purchase of Chinese arms", "Contractor involved in Iraq shooting got job in Kuwait", "Suicide Bombing Kills 7 North of Baghdad", "Contractors accused of firing on civilians, GIs", "Growing Use of Contractors Added to Iraq War's Chaos – Iraq War Logs – WikiLeaks Documents", "Copter shot down in Iraq; six Blackwater U.S. contractors among 11 dead", "Feds probe Blackwater links to arms smuggling", "Before Shooting in Iraq, a Warning on Blackwater", Testimony of Erik D. Prince, Chairman and CEO, Blackwater For The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, October 2, 2007, "Blackwater Hires PR Giant in Image Seige", "www.burson-marsteller.com/Integrated_fecal", "Iraq security firm denies trigger-happy charge", "The man From Blackwater, shooting from the lip", "Former Seal Calls Allegations Against Employees 'Baseless'", House Passes Bill That Would Hike Penalties for U.S. Security Contractors in Iraq, Blackwater Case Highlights Legal Uncertainties, COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ORDER NUMBER 17 (REVISED), "State Dept. Omega Security Solutions; Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika. The mercenaries were being led by an Australian commander believed to have been hired by the United Arab Emirates to fight the Houthi insurgency. That facility has been operational since April 2007 and serves law enforcement agencies throughout the Midwest. It also purchased a 183-foot (56 m) vessel, McArthur, which has been outfitted for disaster response and training. As supplies and ammunition ran low, a team of Blackwater contractors 70 miles (113 km) away flew to the compound to resupply and bring an injured U.S. Marine back to safety outside of the city. [58] According to Blackwater USA, it features "state of the art navigation systems, full GMDSS communications, SEATEL Broadband, dedicated command and control bays, helicopter decks, hospital and multiple support vessel capabilities. [129], Documents obtained from the Iraq War documents leak of 2010 argue that Blackwater employees committed serious abuses in Iraq, including killing civilians. However, in the aftermath of 9/11, civilian security teams were needed by the United States Military. [citation needed], Blackwater tried to open an 824-acre (3.33 km2) training facility three miles north of Potrero, a small town in rural east San Diego County, California, located 45 miles (72 km) east of San Diego, for military and law enforcement training. The author is seen at 1:04 in the video. [100][101] Of the State Department's dependence on private contractors like Blackwater for security purposes, U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker told the U.S. Senate: "There is simply no way at all that the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security could ever have enough full-time personnel to staff the security function in Iraq. [159] Immediately afterwards, the Iraqi government approved a draft law to end any and all immunity for foreign military contractors in Iraq, to overturn Order 17. The shooting incident that followed has been described by some as a "watershed" moment, and a factor which contributed to Iraq's later decision to refuse to allow US troops to stay beyond 2011. Many Iraqis at the scene said that the guards had not fired on the Justice Ministry. This did not sit well with the Iraqis or citizens of the Middle East generally and led to a lot of problems that otherwise could have been avoided. Blackwater's founder, Erik Prince, says that "not one State Department employee was killed while we were protecting them. © 2018 by Blackwater Security . [36] On March 7, 2008, Blackwater withdrew its application to set up a facility in San Diego County. 3D Global Solutions; Academi (gegründet 1996 als Blackwater Worldwide, 2009 umbenannt in XE-Services, 2011 umbenannt in Academi, 2014 von Constellis übernommen) U.S. Training Center Inc. (bis Februar 2009 Blackwater Training Center Inc.) Blackwater Ammunition The Iraqi government has accused Andrew J. Moonen, a Blackwater employee at the time, of killing him while drunk. We provide training to set up roadblocks, identify where drug lords are, and act so as not to impact the community. ", "Constellis Holdings, Inc. Acquires Constellis Group, Inc", "HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION", Role of security companies likely to become more visible, "Private Security Company Creates Stir in New Orleans", "Private Security Contractors in Iraq: Background, Legal Status, and Other Issues", "MEMORANDUM Re: Additional Information about Blackwater USA", "blackwaterusa.com - blackwaterusa Resources and Information", "Inter Press Service – News and Views from the Global South", "BLACKWATER MERCS IN IRAQ – Video Dailymotion", "Locals Against Training Camp In East County", "Exclusive Interview: Blackwater USA's President Gary Jackson", "Tiny Potrero Battles County and Blackwater USA", "Blackwater Plans for New Military Facility Near San Diego Draws Fire From Residents, Peace Activists and Local Congressmember", "Blackwater's San Diego-Area Plan Spurs Protest", "Blackwater delivers supplies to wildfire victims in California", "Blackwater withdraws plans for camp in Potrero", "Blackwater Softens Its Logo From Macho to Corporate", "Blackwater brand shift: Security to take back seat", "Prince Quits as CEO of Blackwater-Turned-Xe", "Blackwater Founder Resigns As Chief Executive", Former Blackwater Security Firm Gets New Leaders in Image Makeover, "Contractor Tries to Shed Blackwater Past", "Jack Quinn to Become Independent Director of Xe Services", "Company Once Known as Blackwater Names New CEO", "Xe Services names its first compliance chief", Corporate Compliance Category Winner: ACADEMI LLC, "Australian mercenary reportedly killed in Yemen clashes", "Blackwater's US Colonel Killed, Saudi Apache Helicopters Destroyed in Yemen's Tochka Missile Attacks in Lahij", "Academi – About Us – Board of Directors", "Xe Hired to do Afghanistan Drug War Intel Work", Blackwater showing off new training ship at Nauticus | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com, Private Security Contractors in Iraq: Background, Legal Status, and Other Issues, Blackwater USA Completes Acquisition of Aviation Worldwide Services, "Blackwater Reveals Underpinnings of 'Private Security' Industry", http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2005-10-27/news/err-america/, Think Progress » Pentagon Issues Blackwater New $92 million Contract, "Blackwater Bulks Up Air Power Using Little-Known Company", "ERROR 404: Sorry the page you are looking for no longer exists", Sun.Star Manila – Senator to look into mercenary list-up, exercises in Subic, ARTICLE: Blackwater employees create a stir in New Orleans (The Virginian-Pilot – HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com), Blackwater Blues for Dead Contractors' Families, Five to vie for counter-narcoterrorism work, "The Terrifying Background of the Man Who Ran a CIA Assassination Unit", "Blackwater: Japan's Missile Defense Force", "Blackwater USA says it can supply forces for conflicts", "Inside America's private army" (continued), "C.I.A. [38], On July 21, 2008, Blackwater Worldwide stated that it would shift resources away from security contracting because of the extensive risks in that sector. Tasks can be from very small scale up major operations to "facilitate large scale stability operations requiring large numbers of people to assist in securing a region". [166] In 2012 the Department of Justice closed the investigation without filing any charges. [120], In 2006, a car accident occurred in the Baghdad Green Zone when an SUV driven by Blackwater USA contractors crashed into a U.S. Army Humvee. The license was reinstated by the American government in April 2008, but in early 2009 the Iraqis announced that they had refused to extend that license. [146][147], In the wake of Prince's testimony before Congress, the US House passed the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act in October 2007 that subsequently led to the prosecution by U.S. courts of some US military contractors, but only for incidents involving attacks on US nationals. [106], The Iraqi Government revoked Blackwater's license to operate in Iraq on September 17, 2007, after a massacre in Nisour Square, Baghdad in which Blackwater contractors were later convicted of killing 17 Iraqi civilians. [56] Academi's facilities include a man-made lake, with stacked containers simulating the hull and deck of a ship for maritime assaults. One of the things it added is an ethics program. [133] In June 2014, a New York Times investigation reported that it had secured an internal State Department memo stating this. Company literature says that it is the largest training facility in the country. Frontier Services Group is backed by China’s state-owned CITIC Group and Hong Kong-based investor Chun Shun Ko. They also offer courses in tactical driving, hand to hand combat, and precision rifle marksmanship. [17], Before 2001, tier-one contractors, or former members of elite, special forces units, were hired from a small pool of applicants. [99] Since June 2004, Blackwater has been paid more than $320 million out of a $1 billion, five-year State Department budget for the Worldwide Personal Protective Service, which protects U.S. officials and some foreign officials in conflict zones. Share; 1 Comments Liu. Many of the shootings occurred after drivers in vehicles failed to stop when ordered by Blackwater guards. In 2013, Academi subsidiary International Development Solutions received an approximately $92 million contract for State Department security guards. The government traditionally handles its own security, but it lacked the staff for high-risk protection details. Copyright 2021 © Silent Professionals. Three soldiers and three civilian crew members aboard the plane were killed. [167], In the March 2004 court case Helvenston et al. In 2014, four Blackwater employees were tried and convicted in U.S. federal court; one of murder… v. Blackwater Security, Blackwater was sued by the families of four contractors killed in Fallujah. 1st and 3rd person views of Blackwater commandos in Najaf, Iraq. Under this contract, Blackwater was authorized to have 1,020 staff in Iraq. Kidnap and Ransom Insurance: What Is It and Who Needs It? [83], According to a company press release, Blackwater provided airlift, security, logistics, and transportation services, as well as humanitarian support. [161] A number of Iraqi families took Blackwater to court over alleged "random killings committed by private Blackwater guards". Three insurgents claimed to be responsible for shooting down the helicopter, although this has not been confirmed by the United States. The next month, founder and CEO Erik Prince stepped down and in December of that same year, he stopped any involvement in day to day operations. [122] The DOJ investigated and announced in 2010 that they were declining to prosecute Moonen, citing a likely affirmative defense of self-defense and high standards for initiating such a prosecution. ][19] Overall, the company received over US$1 billion in U.S. government contracts. This facility has been operational since April 2007 and serves law enforcement agencies throughout the Midwest. It adopted the name Academi in December 2011 and in 2014 was incorporated into a new company called Constellis Holdings. [126][127], In late May 2007, Blackwater contractors opened fire on the streets of Baghdad twice in two days, one of the incidents provoking a standoff between the security contractors and Iraqi Interior Ministry commandos, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials. Erst nach „9/11“ mutierte sie zu einer Firma, die selbst Sicherheitsdienstleistungen anbot. The footage is on repeat on CNN. During this time, they also moved employees who were already under federal contract into the area to protect government buildings and charged the government $240,000 daily. [128] Following the incident, the Iraqi government allowed Blackwater to provide security by operating within the streets of Iraq. Transitioning from the Military [177][178] The lawsuit was ultimately settled confidentially in 2010, with plaintiffs accepting cash payments from the company. After working with SEAL and SWAT teams, Blackwater USA received its first government contract following the bombing of USS Cole off of the coast of Yemen in October 2000. Office of Personnel Management. Naval Base, but those plans were later abandoned. California Private Patrol Branch 6510 [111], Regardless of these developments, Xe defended its work in Iraq. East India Company 2.0, The next generation solution for failed state stabilization. If true, he would have served as a security contractor in Iraq between 2005 and 2008. [75], STI Aviation focuses on aircraft maintenance, and is a FAA/Joint Aviation Authorities 145 repair station. v. Prince, et al. The State Department will also install video surveillance equipment in all Blackwater armored vehicles, and will keep recordings of all radio communications between Blackwater convoys in Iraq and the military and civilian agencies that supervise their activities. Erik Prince was brought back into the limelight in 2017 when he wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal and suggested that the Trump administration privatize the war in Afghanistan. Employees claimed they were attacked first while other witnesses say that the contractors opened fire because the car would not get out of the way of the convoy. Prosecution under civilian law would be through the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, which allows the extension of federal law to civilians supporting military operations; however, according to the deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's criminal division, Robert Litt, trying a criminal case in federal court would require a secure chain of evidence, with police securing the crime scene immediately, while evidence gathered by Iraqi investigators would be regarded as suspect. To be clear, the issues and questions that arose regarding the use of private forces in Iraq and the cost both morally and financially of doing business this way is not limited to Blackwater. [165], On January 31, 2010, three current and former U.S. government officials confirmed the Justice Department is investigating whether officials of Blackwater Worldwide tried to bribe Iraqi government officials in hopes of retaining the firm's security work in Iraq after the shooting in Nisour Square in Baghdad, which left 17 Iraqis dead and stoked bitter resentment against the United States. BLACKWATER divisions have their own form of authority and structure of wherre they stand. [87] "Blackwater is involved on DoD side" of the counter-narcotics program in Afghanistan says Jeff Gibson, vice president for international training at Blackwater. Thank you for selecting Blackwater Security, Partners with the Community. Blackwater-Nachfolger zahlt Millionen für Vergleich. Opposition focused on a potential for wildfire increases, the proposed facility's proximity to the Cleveland National Forest, noise pollution, and opposition to the actions of Blackwater in Iraq. One pleaded guilty to a lesser offense in exchange for his testimony for the prosecution. The Obama administration awarded Academi a $250 million contract to work for the U.S. State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency in Afghanistan. Timeline: Blackwater and Security Regulations The Defense Authorization Bill, with a provision to tighten regulations on security contractors abroad, has … had planned to use the contractors to actually capture or kill Al Qaeda operatives, or just to help with training and surveillance in the program. Manzetti's sources, which tied the program to Blackwater, declined to have their names made public. The ship is home-ported in Norfolk, Virginia.[59]. Was lesen und sehen wir uns an. After the September 11 attacks, Cofer Black, the former head of counter terrorism at the CIA, requested that the federal government hire more contractors to operate overseas. Under the new guidelines, State Department security agents will accompany all Blackwater units operating in and around Baghdad. In pardoning the former Blackwater contractors, President Trump stated, “these veterans were working in Iraq in 2007 as security contractors responsible for securing the safety of United States personnel.”]. [152] On October 5, 2007, the State Department announced new rules for Blackwater's armed guards operating in Iraq. Our services are specifically tailored to meet our clients demands and requirements. Private security is tasked with guarding people or places, not following the government’s plan to win a war. SUBSCRIBE. The following incident occurred when an Iraqi vehicle drove too close to a convoy. [UPDATE: On December 22, 2020, President Trump pardoned the four Blackwater contractors involved in the 2007 Nisour Square incident (Nicholas Slatten who was convicted and serving a life sentence for first degree murder; in addition to Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard who were convicted and serving 12-15 years in prison for manslaughter). On September 23, 2007, the Iraqi government said that it expects to refer criminal charges to its courts in connection with the Blackwater shootings. repel on top of building to fight insurgents (Part-1). Presidential Airways holds a Secret Facility Clearance from the U.S. Department of Defense. In the book, Scahill contends that Blackwater exists as a mercenary force, and argues that Blackwater's rise is a consequence of the demobilization of the US military following the Cold War and its overextension in Iraq and Afghanistan . Subsequently, it reorganized its business units, added a corporate governance and ethics program, and established an independent committee of outside experts to supervise compliance structures. [186][187], "Academi" redirects here. All Rights Reserved |, Security Detail for UHNWI – Northern Idaho, Executive Protection Detail – Manila, Philippines, Executive Protection Agent – Menlo Park, California, Residential Security & Executive Protection – Poland. Join America's #1 Home Alarm Provider Today! When they did release a statement, it was brief, targeted for only the US, and stuck to their story that they were initially fired upon by armed enemies. [109] In 2009, FBI investigators were unable to match the bullets from the shooting to those guns carried by Blackwater contractors, leaving open the possibility that insurgents also fired at the victims. As of January 2008, STI Aviation appears to have been folded into AWS, along with Air Quest. "The colonel ... said the Blackwater guards disarmed the soldiers and forced them to lie on the ground at gunpoint until they could disentangle their vehicles. [168] In January 2011, U.S. district judge James C. Fox dismissed the suit. They refused any interviews and took their website offline. "[17], Academi's primary public contract is from the U.S. State Department under the Bureau of Diplomatic Security's Worldwide Personal Protective Services (WPPS) and WPPS II umbrella contracts, along with DynCorp International and Triple Canopy, Inc., for protective services in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Israel. Blackwater - security & protection, Hägendorf (Hägendorf, Switzerland). The news shows the helicopter falling to the ground as it burns. [143][144] When the term "mercenaries" was used to describe Blackwater employees, Prince objected, characterizing them as "loyal Americans. In August 2010, the company agreed to pay a $42 million fine to settle allegations that it unlawfully provided armaments and military equipment overseas. Lead bullets don't start fires." Hiring Private Security Consultant Firms. I speak Arabic (Iraqi Dialect) and English. "[95] Newly appointed CIA director Leon Panetta had recently acknowledged a planned secret targeted killing program, one withheld from Congressional oversight. Blackwater Security offers a variety of security and investigative services for both business and residential needs.
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