Four Blackwater-affiliated contractors fired on a civilian vehicle in Afghanistan earlier this month, injuring two Afghans, according to the company and the U.S. military.
The contractors were trainers working for Paravant, a subsidiary of the Moyock, N.C.-based private military company formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide, The Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site Friday. The company recently renamed itself Xe.
The off-duty contractors were involved in a car accident in Kabul around 9 p.m. May 5 and fired on the approaching vehicle, which they perceived to be a threat, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command. The military is investigating the incident.
The Journal quoted a person familiar with the incident as saying that at least some of the men had been drinking.
Paravant has terminated its contracts with the four men for "failure to comply with the terms of their contract," Xe spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said.
The company is ramping up work in Afghanistan after losing a diplomatic security contract in Iraq in the wake of a 2007 shooting incident in Baghdad that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead.
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There was a follow up...
to this story in today's Pilot. A spokesman for the contractor said that Xe is responsible for the shooting, that now has a dead civilian, because Xe issued the guns to the personnel involved! Sounds like the ol' 'blame the gun manufacturuer for the use of a gun in a crime' assertion! The only thing one can take from that is the contractor itself didn't believe these employees of theirs are able to handle weapons, or are smart enough to know how and/or when to employ them. Afghanistan is a dangerous place, and anyone approaching you there has to be instantly evaluated, and a determination made as to whether any action may be warranted...or not.
Have to agree with Dennis.
Have to agree with Dennis. Where are the facts and where's the testimonies from the witnesses? I used to believe in the media and what it stood for but now all I see are ways to get ratings higher no matter if there is truth in a story or not.
Also, why does everyone assume that these contractors are completely evil people? Anyone remember what happened with that hostage situation off the Horn of Africa with the pirates? Navy seals went in, and the "Sniper" took a shot and ended the situation. Hero's, absolute hero's. Now what if the roles were switched with a contractor in that situation? I'm sure the last thing he would be called is a hero. I'm sure the media would put in their little twist on how there was a baby on board and the "murderous thug contractors" kicked it overboard because they were all drunk.
If they are guilty, truly guilty, then they will get whats coming to them.
The story..
says they're "Blackwater affiliated contractors", not Blackwater, or Xe, or whoever...employees. Evidiently there was enough concerning their actions to get them fired. The company has reported this. It looks like end of story, unless there is a follow on to the people injured (a lawsuit perhaps, or a settlement).
Paravant?????
Now hold on just a second. Just how many "subsidiaries" does this company operate? I have never heard of "Paravant". After a while, even Blackwater's supporters have to start thinking, "You know, there is something a little shady about that company." Let's see there was Raven Development, the Prince Group, Greystone, Total Intelligence Solutions, Presidential Airways, Blackwater, Xe, Western Training, now Paravant? It's like Blackwater has tentacles or something!!
Different name, different country...same old, same old
The level of arrogance that saturates 'the company', top to bottom, has clouded the judgement of everyone from Erik Prince to the operators in country.
Hold on, now...
At this point, there is no longer any reasonable defending of this company. Their field personnel have repeatedly proven themselves to be lawless, murderous thugs.
not so fast my friend
Not defending mercenaries or contractors, but as we've seen numerous times, the real, complete story will probably unfold in time. Just the other day they reported of the young man in Bayview who was shot & carried to the hospital w/ "non-life threatening" injuries. The poor guy died later that day.
The Pilot is famous for jumping the gun, quoting "unnamed" sources (reread the part on whom made the allegation on the drinking) and not bothering to know or adequately research their "stuff." I clearly remember reading their 'Military' reporter some time back writing of Navy A-6 "Fighters" (they are strictly Attack {as in bombers - that's what the "A" signifies} as any 8 year old who builds models knows).
Ramping Up Work?
This company (let's just call it that from now on) gets fired from a multi-billion dollar job for murdering innocent civilians, then changes their name so they can "ramp up work" by getting drunk and - let me get this straight - shooting innocent civilians?