Blackwater Plans to Back Away From Security Biz

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Posted on Jul 22, 2008

Wiki Commons

Stung by lawsuits, protests, government audits, criminal charges and negative media attention, executives from the mercenary firm Blackwater Worldwide say providing security in Iraq and elsewhere has become a drain on the company’s future and will be gradually all but phased out. However, while Defense Secretary Robert Gates released a letter Monday questioning the extensive use of private contractors by the military, there are no immediate plans to end Blackwater’s Iraq contract, renewed last year despite a deadly Baghdad shooting spree by the company’s agents.

Associated Press:
That decision to scale back future security business reflects not only the difficult year Blackwater has had but also the fact that there’s probably not as much growth opportunity.

The growth in Backwater’s aviation and international training sectors could also buffer the company against other changes in military policy. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is looking into the use of contractors for combat and security training.

“Why have we come to rely on private contractors to provide combat or combat-related security training for our forces?” Gates wrote in a July 10 memo to the Pentagon’s top military officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen.

The memo was released Monday to The Associated Press by the office of Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. Webb raised concerns about the role of private contractors and specifically Blackwater, which opened a new counterterrorism training center in San Diego last month over the opposition of city officials.

Webb had been blocking Senate consideration of four civilian Defense Department nominees while waiting for answers. On Monday, Webb told Gates he was lifting his opposition to the nominees.

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TAGS: afghanistan baghdad blackwater blackwater worldwide iraq mercenary robert gates security webb

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By samosamo, July 23, 2008 at 4:53 pm #

Then the question is:
What is blackwater going to do with 100,000+ steroid monkeys?
If they are laid off, what are 100,000+ steroid monkeys going to do?

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By Jim Yell, July 23, 2008 at 9:09 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

A large group of armed bank robbers killed hundreds of bank customers and stole millions of dollars in cash. The leader of the group now says bank robbing is causing him too much negative publicity and legal problems.

He is investing his stolen money and winding down his bank robbing, except for a few small scale efforts and has declared his stolen money not to be stolen.

More later!

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By purplewolf, July 23, 2008 at 2:16 am #

Now that they have sucked off the monies that this illegal war has wrought, they tell us they are going to fade off into the sunset so to speak? Are they afraid that the next president, if the election actually does take place, may not be so beholden to the famous “Blackwater” paid killers and they may have to seek employment elsewhere under a false name or business spin-off?

Eric Prince-of-darkness didn’t invest all this time and effort to let it go so easily.

Snowbunny sounds fluffy and soft, cute and cuddly-something these guys are not. Flutterbys-an off take of butterflies, might work also, as it looks like these guys may take a powder, flight maybe. But they are still a bunch of rabid mad-dogs in my eyes.

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By cynner, July 22, 2008 at 7:59 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Does this mean the Iraq war is over?  If there were money left to be made, these guys would stay in the biz.

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By Fadel Abdallah, July 22, 2008 at 7:36 pm #

Good riddance! I would say first.

But even though that one mercenary group is forced to downscaling its merchants of death business is not going to totally improve the situation, it’s nevertheless a step in the right direction towards making this world a little more peaceful! Or so I hope!

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By samosamo, July 22, 2008 at 7:13 pm #

Another possible light breaking through though knowing how tricky neocons and their cabal which includes private contractors are look for something quite opposite from what they are saying and don’t stop paying attention because that could be the main reason behind their claim of backing or ending their security sevices, to make everyone loose interest in their endeavors. Especially look for them around our borders where they could relocate. I will still trust that our border security can handle it.
But I am glad to hear that they may be having a lot of issues from their deployment with our military and surprise that Gates is questioning their role.
And I guess I better pick up Scahill’s book, ‘Blackwater’.

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By amunaor, July 22, 2008 at 5:31 pm #

Machiavelli, in his ‘Art of War’, issued the following warning: ‘I say…that…governments should fear those persons who make war their only business…And if a prince has not enough power over his occupations when a war is over, he is on the road to being ruined. For no infantry can be so dangerous as that which is composed of men who make war their only calling, because a prince either must keep them continually engaged in war, or must constantly keep them paid in peacetime, or must run the risk of their stripping him of his kingdom. But it is impossible to keep them forever engaged in war, or forever paid when war is over; therefore, a prince must run no small risk of losing his kingdom.

When the Cold War ended, many of officers became unemployed or in fear of becoming so. Defeated or unemployed military officers represent a dangerous phenomenon in any society, and today this problem is compounded by the issue of a mercenary (or all-volunteer) force. Machiavelli wrote about precisely this in 1521, warning that unemployed mercenaries and professional soldiers would inevitably stir up coups and conflicts in order to procure jobs and glory for themselves.

Stay alert and don’t be deceived!

Peace, Best Wishes and Hope

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By BlueEagle, July 22, 2008 at 4:57 pm #

Ha ha ha… yeah right. I’m looking for Blackwater to change their name to something softer like Snowbunny. How can you be angry with a company like Snowbunny. Besides Blackwater is just one in a long list of security companies, such as Triple Canopy, Dyncorp, Erinys and Aegis.

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