Iraq and Beyond: Oh, Blackwater, Keep on Killing?

The 2003 Iraq War may be yesterday's headline news, but the repercussions continue.
On Monday, the trial of Erik Prince,the former boss of Blackwater, the private security company that left its mark on Iraq with allegations of corruption, violence, and murder,
finallly began.

Accusations against Prince, made by two former employees, include manslaughter; the murder of employees co-operating with federal authorities; destruction and hiding of incriminating videos, e-mails, and documents from officials; authorisation of the use of mind-altering drugs and steroids; authorisation to use child prostitutes; smuggling of illegal weapons into Iraq on his private aircraft; permission to use illegal exploding bullets “to inflict maximum damage on Iraqis"; racketeering and tax evasion.

All these acts, according to the former employees, were underpinned Prince's imposition of a "crusade mentality" in which he encouraged Blackwater personnel to wipe out Muslims in Iraq, One of the affidavits states:

Prince views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe. Mr. Prince intentionally deployed to Iraq certain men who shared his vision of Christian supremacy, knowing and wanting these men to take every available opportunity to murder Iraqis. Mr. Prince operated his companies in a manner that encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life. For example, Mr. Prince’s executives would openly speak about going over to Iraq to “lay Hajiis out on cardboard”. Going to Iraq to shoot and kill Iraqis was viewed as a sport or game.

The former employee continued, “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”.

The affidavits of two former employees are a part of an action started by lawyers representing 60 Iraqi civilians who are suing Blackwater for alleged crimes. Farid Walid, who was shot in Nisour Square two years ago during a massacre that killed 17 Iraqis in September 2007, told The Times of London: “Everybody here knows of cases where Blackwater guards shot innocent people without a second thought... They are a symbol of the occupation. Nobody will forget but Iraqis might think at least a little differently of America if the killers are put in prison.”

A statement from Blackwater responded: “It is obvious that plaintiffs have chosen to slander Mr. Prince rather than raise legal arguments or actual facts that will be considered by a court of law. We are happy to engage them there. We question the judgment of anyone who relies upon and [reiterates] anonymous declarations.”

The affidavits and motion can be found on the website of the Center for Constitutional Rights.