Two men who worked for Blackwater allege in a federal lawsuit that Blackwater founder Erik Prince or his agents murdered one or more people who were planning to provide information to federal authorities about criminal conduct by the company and its operatives in Iraq.
The two are identified in court papers only as “John Doe #1” and “John Doe #2” because, they say, they fear violent retaliation themselves for making the allegations.
“John Doe #1” identifies himself as an honorably discharged U.S. Marine who joined Blackwater, the Moyock, N.C.-based private military company now known as Xe, and deployed to Iraq to guard State Department and other American government personnel.
In his sworn statement, he says he observed “multiple incidents of Blackwater personnel intentionally using unnecessary, excessive and unjustified deadly force.”
“John Doe #2” identifies himself as an American citizen who worked for Blackwater and affiliated companies for four years.
“On several occasions after my departure from Mr. Prince’s employ,” he says, “Mr. Prince’s management has personally threatened me with death and violence.
“In addition, based on information provided to me by former colleagues, 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.”
In his statement, he says Prince “views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe.
“To that end, 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. Many of these men used call signs based on the Knights of the Templar, the warriors who fought the Crusades.”
Going to Iraq to shoot and kill Iraqis was viewed as a sport or game, “John Doe #2” says, adding that Prince’s employees openly used racist terms for Iraqis and other Arabs such as “ragheads” and “hajiis.”
For example, he says, Blackwater executives would speak of going to Iraq to “lay hajiis out on cardboard.”
He also alleges that Prince and his top managers gave orders to destroy incriminating videotapes, e-mails and other documents.
Both informants say they previously made the same allegations in grand jury proceedings convened by the Justice Department.
The Justice Department is prosecuting six former Blackwater contractors on manslaughter charges in connection with a Sept. 16, 2007, shooting incident in a Baghdad traffic square that left 17 Iraqis dead.
Blackwater lost its lucrative diplomatic security contract with the State Department in the wake of that incident.
The new allegations by the two anonymous informants were filed late Monday in connection with five consolidated lawsuits in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. The suits were filed by a Washington law firm on behalf of some 60 Iraqis or their estates, including some of those shot in the 2007 incident.
A Xe spokeswoman did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the latest allegations. In the past, the company has denied other allegations made in the same series of lawsuits.
Bill Sizemore, (757) 446-2276, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com
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MILITARY "MIGHT-IE" MICE CONSERVATIVE COSTS SO FAR
U.S. military fatalities in Afghanistan (since 2001) = 736; Obama as a carbon copy of Bushbaby, gives up 30,000 fresh bodies for "over there, over there, send the word/send the word over there" = don't miss our upcoming detractions! Afghan civilian casualties (since 2001) = 7,589. Israeli fatalities (since Sep 2000) = 1,182. Palestinian fatalities (since Sep 2000) = 5,365. U.S. Iraq military fatalities (since 2001) = 4,328. Iraqi civilian casualties (since 2001) = 697,523. U.S. led Iraq war cost = $244,700,000,000 (per American household cost = $2,250.00. Reconstruction allocation = $18,000,000,000 (per U.S. household) = $165.000. COST THUS FAR: $262,700,000,000 (per U.S. household) = $2,415.00. Projected add'tl costs for 3 year occupation = $216,000,000,000 (per U.S. household = $1,985.29) based on $6 billion per month cost. Iraq reconstruction =$1,600,000,000 (U.S. household) = $29.00. Projected subtotal cost = $1,217,600,000 (U.S. household) = $2,014.29. TOTAL COST: $480,300,000,000 (per household) = $4,429.29.
This post hasn't taken before...I'll see if it will now..
I'm sure the usual suspects, including the always objective Pilot, would love to try this in the media, but reading from the article itself, there's plenty to scratch one's head at.
"...allege in a federal lawsuit that Blackwater founder Erik Prince OR his agents murdered one or more people.....". Was it him or not?
“In addition, based on information PROVIDED TO ME by former colleagues, it appears that Mr. Prince and his employees murdered, or had murdered, one or more persons....". Umm, to a layman, this may qualify as hearsay. But that's why we have courts to decide...
Lastly, there are allegations that racist terms were used. Well, they may have them there. Nobody serving in a war zone ever used derogatory language about the enemy, now have they? And I'm sure the enemy never uses such terms about our people, 'ya think? The shame of it is is that in these politically correct times, THAT last allegation will probably be the one acted on!
More of the same..
Until this gets to court, this is just more of the ame as far as what to expect from those who oppose what this company stands for.
Concerning Blackwater
I still say if I had to go to Iraq I would want Blackwater's protection.
So one of the accusers thinks Mr. Prince wants to eliminate all Muslims, even if it were true how is that different from Muslims wanting to eliminate all Christians?
Does anyone have a way for these guys to distinguish between harmless civillians and armed civillians?
Protection
You'd want their protection...that is, until they turn on you. That's the problem with these types of "services"...they do the bidding of the highest bidder. What if there existed a Blackwater type of organization that did the bidding for far left wing ideologies instead of right wing ones? Would you still be so gung ho for them? What if Erik Prince was buddy-buddy with Pelosi and Reid and Obama instead of with Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld? Would they still be admired by you? Whether you are for or against Blackwater, you have to admit that their "industry" has been severely under-regulated (some would say they are not regulated at all) with very little oversight. That kind of situation does nothing but invite abuse. It should be no surprise that these types of abuses occurred. What is surprising is that it took so long for them to see the light of day.
I'm with You Bornfree.
I too did the USMC thing. VietNam 1968-69-70. These days I'm a cop. This wimp comment sounds like it is coming from a pencil armed twerp with a Conan the Barbarian wanna be mentality.
As I have said before!
When your family is being attacked and war in on your door step you wimps will be begging for people like us to protect your sorry butts. I have news for you I will be to busy taking care of my loved ones to worry about you.
A wimp responds
USMC 24 years: Vietnam to Gulf War I. I don't need a lecture on protecting people's butts, sorry or otherwise. The cold-blooded killing of innocent civilians is murder whether it happens in My Lai or the streets of Baghdad. And let's not forget that these trigger-happy cowboys were not warfighters but overpaid body guards.
After reading your past comments
I can tell where your are coming from Mr. bornfree and taxtodeath and loving it. How do you like your new President?
Uhmmm...
I didn't ask for your help!
please.
Spare us your paranoid militaristic Xe fantasies. I'll put my faith in the US armed forces - not that group of murderers and fascists.
I wonder?
No further comment needed.
Random House Dictionary definition
jihad: a holy war undertaken as a sacred duty
Am I missing something?
An Arabic dictionary?
When not used as a propaganda tool jihad means: "struggle".
Yes, an Arabic dictionary
According to the Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, third edition, edited by J.M. Cowan, jihad means "fight, battle; jihad, holy war (against the infidels, as a religious duty)" (page 142)
This dictionary is not a propaganda tool. The Hans Wehr is the standard dictionary used by students of Arabic.
Really
OK - how long must this go on? This really is Jeremy Schahill pushing his book sales and speaking fees. It's the same stuff over and over again but NOTHING has been PROVEN in court. Oh-wait! The only indictments that have been handed down were for N-square. This is after three years of investigation by the ATF! Two years of investigation by the FBI! If any of this were true, wouldn't it be turned over to a grand jury somewhere? Why does "innocent until proven guilty" not apply to the press?
serious accusations
Should prove to be an interesting soap opera, complete with lies, distortions, half-truths, and political finger-pointing. And that's just on the Pilot's message boards.
Seriously, I hope that these accusations are given the seriousness they deserve. Just once I'd like to see a story like this play out based soley on facts. But I'm not holding my breath.
Finally, the truth about Blackwater is revealed.
Blackwater thought they could escape from public scrutiny unscathed by taking such measures as changing their "focus" and "mission," as well as their name (to Xe). It's not surprising to hear of the allegations of murder and death threats against potential witnesses. Well, the days of the crusading cowboy are over. Those responsible for the death of 17 Iraqi civilians as well as countless others will face the consequences (against the grimy shower wall in prison assisted by several larger inmates). The Good Ol' Boy Network, Prince's close golfing buddies and ex-Navy Seals, conservative GOP supporters, fraternity brothers, CBN alumni and the like will immediately cry afoul, claiming the accusations are part of a conspiracy theory and should be dismissed. To those who believe Blackwater are innocent and deserve no prosecution, you are seriously misguided. Don't allow the guise of Christian fundamentals and conservative values fool you for one second. This was a moneymaking operation worth over 1 billion dollars.
Blackwater
Why are privatized armies allowed to run unchecked for in foreign nations? This just opens the doors for horrendous conduct such as this that is now coming to revelation. There is no doubt in my mind that the type of prejudice outlined in this article does exist. Whatever they call themselves "Xe" or "Blackwater" it is still the same group of highly paid radicals given a free card to run amock enforcing thier own version of law upon a suppressed group of people. After Cheney , Bush and Rumsfield are brought in for thier war crimes to an international tribunal these thugs should be next in line and should recieve no less than they coldly gave out. Thank-you.
Erik Prince
Erik Prince is dangerous. Blackwater is getting blacker by the minute. I don't think they are in the right state of mind to do us any good at all. It's organizations like this that give us a bad bad name. He calls himself a Christian crusader?
Definition of crusade-any of the medieval military expeditions undertaken by European Christians to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims.
Note the keyword....medieval!?!?!?! What century is he living in??? This alone questions his accountability. He is living a fantasy. Wake up dude!!!