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Blackwater Security ServicesBlackwater USA is a private military contractor offering "tactical training," firing range and target systems, and security consulting under the company's subdivisions: Blackwater Training Center, Blackwater Target Systems, Blackwater Security Consulting and Blackwater Canine. According to its website, Blackwater provides "a spectrum of support to military, government agencies, law enforcement and civilian entities in training, targets and range operations as a solution provider." Their slogan is: "Providing a new generation of capability, skills, and people to solve the spectrum of needs in the world of security." Blackwater USA has a 6,000 acre (24 km²) training facility as part of its headquarters, in North Carolina. The firm has additional offices in Baghdad, Iraq and Kuwait City, Kuwait. Blackwater - and private military contractors in general - came under increased public scrutiny following the public killing and mutilation of four employees in Fallujah, Iraq on March 31, 2004. This increased scrutiny led the firm to hire the Alexander Strategy Group for crisis management, public and media relations. According to Russel Mokhiber and Robert Weissman, a few days after the Fallujah killings, "Blackwater Security Consulting engaged in full-scale battle in Najaf, with the company flying its own helicopters amidst an intense firefight to resupply its own commandos." Blackwater and other U.S.-based private military contractors not only recruit Americans; according to Jonathan Franklin, former commandos from Chile are an increasing presence among private military troops in Iraq. Gary Jackson, president of Blackwater, told the British newspaper The Guardian that former Chilean commandos, "many of who had trained under the military government of Augusto Pinochet," will be sent to Iraq for a year and a half, to guard oil wells from saboteurs. "We scour the ends of the earth to find professionals - the Chilean commandos are very, very professional and they fit within the Blackwater system," said Jackson. And the private military melting pot doesn't stop there: "Squads of Bosnians, Filipinos and Americans with special forces experience have been hired for tasks ranging from airport security to protecting Paul Bremer, the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority." External links - Blackwater Security's website
- http://thehill.com/news/041404/blackwater.aspx
- The Guardian interview
- Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman, "The Rising Corporate Military Monster", Counterpunch, April 23, 2004.
- Robert Fisk and Patrick Cockburn, "Deaths of scores of mercenaries hidden from view"
- "Blackwater aids military with armed support", CNN, March 31, 2004.
- "Blackwater USA Completes Acquisition of Aviation Worldwide Services", company press release, May 3, 2003.
- Bill Berkowitz, "Mercenaries 'R' Us", AlterNet.org, March 24, 2004.
- The Associated Press, "Four civilians killed in Iraq worked for N.C. security firm", USA Today, March 31, 2004.
- Jonathan E. Kaplan, "Private army seeking political advice in D.C.," The Hill, April 14, 2004.
This article was adapted from GFDL content originally published in Disinfopedia
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