Three insurgents claimed to be responsible for shooting down the helicopter, although this has not been confirmed by the United States. Blackwater - security & protection, Hägendorf (Hägendorf, Switzerland). "[142] Later he stated that the company could provide it at a future date if questions were submitted in writing. This team was then trained and deployed on a Top Secret project to provide protection for CIA personnel and facilities in Afghanistan. The company eventually withdrew the application for this facility in 2008. The news shows the helicopter falling to the ground as it burns. February 2013, the majority of the remaining charges were dropped when it was shown that, in many cases, the Blackwater employees had been acting under the orders of the US government. [112] Local residents hung the charred bodies above a bridge across the Euphrates. [134], On October 2, 2007, Erik Prince attended a congressional hearing conducted by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform following the controversy related to Blackwater's conduct in Iraq and Afghanistan. Questions arose as to whether these contractors have helped or hurt the country’s standing and mission in Iraq and whether the US should be relying on private firms to fight and win wars. Lead bullets don't start fires." [152] On October 5, 2007, the State Department announced new rules for Blackwater's armed guards operating in Iraq. Some 260 staff are affected with about 50 losing their jobs, beginning at the end of February. Log in to Reply. [87] "Blackwater is involved on DoD side" of the counter-narcotics program in Afghanistan says Jeff Gibson, vice president for international training at Blackwater. This facility has been operational since April 2007 and serves law enforcement agencies throughout the Midwest. Richter later returned from Iraq to the US and wrote a scathing review of the lax standards to which Blackwater was held accountable, only two weeks before a serious Blackwater incident in which 17 Iraqi civilians were shot and killed by Blackwater employees under questionable circumstances. Blackwater was also hired during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by the United States Department of Homeland Security to protect government facilities, as well as by private clients, including communications, petrochemical, and insurance companies.[why? [101] On May 30, 2007, Blackwater employees shot an Iraqi civilian said to have been "driving too close" to a State Department convoy that was being escorted by Blackwater contractors. Prosecution under civilian law would be through the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, which allows the extension of federal law to civilians supporting military operations; however, according to the deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's criminal division, Robert Litt, trying a criminal case in federal court would require a secure chain of evidence, with police securing the crime scene immediately, while evidence gathered by Iraqi investigators would be regarded as suspect. Blackwater was contracted by the State Department to solely provide diplomatic security in Iraq. [25], In May 2006, the U.S. State Department awarded WPPS II, the successor to its previous diplomatic security contract. [45], In May 2011, Academi named Ted Wright as CEO. "We interdict. Blackwater USA began in 1997 by Al Clark and Erik Prince. The State Department will also install video surveillance equipment in all Blackwater armored vehicles, and will keep recordings of all radio communications between Blackwater convoys in Iraq and the military and civilian agencies that supervise their activities. [146] During his testimony on Capitol Hill, Erik Prince disputed this figure, saying that it costs money for the government to train a soldier, to house and feed them, they don't just come prepared to fight. The two then deployed to the Pakistani border as a two-man element providing security assistance in one of the most dangerous places in the country at the time. [132] No charges were filed. Entrepreneurship and leadership: The rise and political demise of defense contractor Blackwater. The Obama administration awarded Academi a $250 million contract to work for the U.S. State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency in Afghanistan. On August 21, 2007, Blackwater Manager Daniel Carroll threatened to kill Jean Richter, a U.S. State Department Investigator, in Iraq. However, according to incident testimony, the Blackwater guards tried to wave off the driver, shouted, fired a warning shot into the car's radiator, finally shooting into the car's windshield. [140], In his testimony before Congress, Prince said his company has a lack of remedies to deal with employee misdeeds. [34][35] In response, Brian Bonfiglio, project manager for Blackwater West, said: "There will be no explosives training and no tracer ammunition. Danielle Esposito was named the new chief operating officer and executive vice president. Employees claimed they were attacked first while other witnesses say that the contractors opened fire because the car would not get out of the way of the convoy. The contract is worth up to $15 billion. [22] The contract applied for two years and expired on June 6, 2006. The pardons do not establish innocence; however, they were criticised, both in the USA and in Iraq, as condoning killing of innocent civilians. Bekannt wurde die US-Sicherheitsfirma unter dem Namen Blackwater - wegen der Tötung von Zivilisten im Irak und anderer illegaler Machenschaften. [49], A merger between Triple Canopy and Academi, along with other companies that were part of the Constellis Group package, are now all gathered under the Constellis Holdings, Inc. Im Jahr 2014 wurde Academi mit Triple Canopy und sechs weiteren Militärdienstleistern aufgekauft und unter Constellis Holdings, Inc. One of the things it added is an ethics program. [citation needed], Blackwater tried to open an 824-acre (3.33 km2) training facility three miles north of Potrero, a small town in rural east San Diego County, California, located 45 miles (72 km) east of San Diego, for military and law enforcement training. The company says it is the largest training facility in the country. [186][187], "Academi" redirects here. [18], The company was started to help train SEALS for combat. California Private Patrol Branch 6510 In August 2003, Blackwater received its first Iraq contract, a $21 million contract for a Personal Security Detachment and two helicopters for Paul Bremer, head of the U.S. occupation in Iraq. As supplies and ammunition ran low, a team of Blackwater contractors 70 miles (113 km) away flew to the compound to resupply and bring an injured U.S. Marine back to safety outside of the city. [58] According to Blackwater USA, it features "state of the art navigation systems, full GMDSS communications, SEATEL Broadband, dedicated command and control bays, helicopter decks, hospital and multiple support vessel capabilities. This program was funded by several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates and was backed by the United States. External Investigations Division. I have to say that Blackwater has done a very good job. Call 855-497-8573 for Your Risk-Free Quote! Executive Office. [111] Prince argued in September 2007 that there was a "rush to judgment" about Blackwater, due to "inaccurate information.”, On March 31, 2004, Iraqi insurgents in Fallujah ambushed two SUVs, killing the four armed Blackwater contractors inside. At this time, because it was a privately owned company, little was known about the internal affairs of the business. The families of the four men, led by Scott Helvenston's mother Katy Helvenston-Wettengel and Donna Zovko, Jerry Zovko's mother, filed suit against Blackwater with … In 2003, Blackwater attained its first high-profile contract when it received a $21 million no-bid contract for guarding the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, L. Paul Bremer. Eventually, the CIA realized that a large number of civilian contractors would be needed overseas to accomplish its broad goals. The statements claimed that one of the Blackwater vehicles had been hit by insurgent gunfire, but the investigation concluded that one of the Blackwater guards had actually fired into his own vehicle by accident. A company is the sum of its parts. A sheriff investigating shootings at Atlanta-area massage parlors has been linked to Blackwater, the infamous security firm whose contractors … The company views the aviation division as a growth opportunity. In explaining Blackwater's purpose, Prince stated: "We are trying to do for the national security apparatus what FedEx did for the Postal Service". [57] "[104] Between 2005 and September 2007, Blackwater security staff were involved in 195 shooting incidents; in 163 of those cases, Blackwater personnel fired first. Erst nach „9/11“ mutierte sie zu einer Firma, die selbst Sicherheitsdienstleistungen anbot. The report cited an unnamed source who has worked on covert US military programs, who revealed that senior members of the Obama administration may not be aware that Blackwater is operating under a US contract in Pakistan. Since 2007, it has been known as Blackwater Worldwide, reflecting the global nature of its operations, although many people know it by its previous title of “Blackwater USA.” "[184], After the Nisour Square killings of 17 Iraqi civilians and the injury of 20 more by Blackwater convoy guards in a Baghdad traffic circle in September 2007, charges were brought against five guards. [13], The Blackwater Lodge and Training Center officially opened on May 15, 1998 with a 6,000-acre, $6.5 million facility. [40][dubious – discuss], Prince announced his resignation as CEO on March 2, 2009. [44] Quinn and Ashcroft were independent directors, without other affiliations to Academi. [92], In March 2006, Cofer Black, vice chairman of Blackwater USA, allegedly suggested at an international conference in Amman, Jordan, that the company was ready to move towards providing security professionals up to brigade size (3,000–5,000) for humanitarian efforts and low-intensity conflicts. Kidnap and Ransom Insurance: What Is It and Who Needs It? In the past, it has trained Greek security forces for the 2004 Olympics, Azerbaijan Naval Sea Commandos, and Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior. In 2011, the Pentagon contracted USTC to provide "intelligence analyst support and material procurement" for NATO in the ongoing Afghan drug war. [17] Jamie Smith and his deputy David Phillips recruited, vetted and hired a 21-man team. [12] The training facility comprises several ranges: indoor, outdoor, urban reproductions; an artificial lake; and a driving track in Camden and Currituck counties. [56] Academi's facilities include a man-made lake, with stacked containers simulating the hull and deck of a ship for maritime assaults. Joseph Yorio was named as the new president and CEO, replacing Gary Jackson as president and Prince as CEO. Academi (Ex-Blackwater), die mächtigste Armee der Welt, meldet verkauft worden zu sein, ohne weder den Namen des Käufers noch den Verkaufsbetrag anzugeben. Prince had planned to build a diesel refinery in South Sudan but the operation was suspended, even though $10 million (USD) had already been invested in the project. [113] In response, U.S. Marines attacked the city in Operation Vigilant Resolve,[114] which became the first Battle of Fallujah. In all, 20 Iraqi civilians were reported killed. > Read more. 3D Global Solutions; Academi (gegründet 1996 als Blackwater Worldwide, 2009 umbenannt in XE-Services, 2011 umbenannt in Academi, 2014 von Constellis übernommen) U.S. Training Center Inc. (bis Februar 2009 Blackwater Training Center Inc.) Blackwater Ammunition [50], In 2016, Ali al-Houthi, former President of the Revolutionary Committee, a body formed by Houthi militants, reported that a Tochka missile hit on a Saudi-led command center in Ma'rib resulting in the death of over 120 mercenaries, including 55 Saudi (9 officers), 11 UAE and 11 foreign commanders of Blackwater on January 17 as well as other material losses. [12] There, he created his private training facility and his contracting company, Blackwater, which he named for the peat-colored water of the swamp. [28][29], In November 2006, Blackwater USA announced that it had acquired an 80-acre (32 ha) facility 120 miles (190 km) west of Chicago in Mount Carroll, Illinois, called Impact Training Center. The killings outraged Iraqis and strained relations between Iraq and the United States. They asked that Blackwater be held accountable for future negligence of employees' lives, and that federal legislation be drawn up to govern contracts between the Department of Defense and defense contractors. [106], The Iraqi Government revoked Blackwater's license to operate in Iraq on September 17, 2007, after a massacre in Nisour Square, Baghdad in which Blackwater contractors were later convicted of killing 17 Iraqi civilians. "[95] Newly appointed CIA director Leon Panetta had recently acknowledged a planned secret targeted killing program, one withheld from Congressional oversight. He was quickly evacuated from the country. They started out as a private security firm providing training support to law enforcement, the justice department, and military organizations and received their first contract from the United States government in 2000 after the bombing of the USS Cole.In 1998, the private security firm bought a training facility on a dark swamp in North Carolina and officially adopted their name, whi… [55], Academi offers tactical training for maritime force protection units. [154], On January 30, 2009, the State Department told Blackwater Worldwide that it will not renew its contract in Iraq. Wählen Sie aus erstklassigen Inhalten zum Thema Blackwater Security in … Many of the shootings occurred after drivers in vehicles failed to stop when ordered by Blackwater guards. John Frese, the U.S. embassy in Iraq's top security official, declined to punish Blackwater or the security guards because he believed any disciplinary actions would lower the morale of the Blackwater contractors. He was hired by the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and moved to Abu Dhabi in 2010. You also have access to review any past incidents/vehicles at the property for any issues or concerns that arise. Blackwater's founder, Erik Prince, says that "not one State Department employee was killed while we were protecting them. After the September 11 attacks, Cofer Black, the former head of counter terrorism at the CIA, requested that the federal government hire more contractors to operate overseas. LISTEN: Stars & Stripes “Force for Hire” Podcast Feature – Soldier turned contractor talks Blackwater training, Iraq mission. Blackwater Security Consulting (BSC) was formed as a Delaware LLC in December 2001 and was the brainchild of Jamie Smith, a former CIA officer who was the Founding Director as well as acting Vice President of Blackwater USA. 1st and 3rd person views of Blackwater commandos in Najaf, Iraq. [67], Presidential Airways (PAW) is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulations Part 135 charter cargo and passenger airline based at Orlando Melbourne International Airport. [122] The DOJ investigated and announced in 2010 that they were declining to prosecute Moonen, citing a likely affirmative defense of self-defense and high standards for initiating such a prosecution. Blackwater USA was formed in 1997, by Al Clark and Erik Prince in North Carolina, to provide training support to military and law enforcement organizations. On Christmas Eve 2006, a drunken Blackwater employee got into an argument with an Iraqi guard and shot him dead. [130], On April 21, 2005, six Blackwater USA independent contractors were killed in Iraq when their Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopter was shot down. [74][172][173], On October 11, 2007, the Center for Constitutional Rights filed suit against Blackwater under the Alien Tort Claims Act on behalf of an injured Iraqi and the families of three of the 17 Iraqis killed by Blackwater employees during the September 16, 2007, Blackwater Baghdad shootings. "That sergeant doesn't show up naked and untrained," Prince stated. [61], By 2003, the ground war in Iraq changed into a diplomatic mission, demanding hundreds of diplomats and State Department employees. Erik Prince was brought back into the limelight in 2017 when he wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal and suggested that the Trump administration privatize the war in Afghanistan. Frontier Services Group owns two of the modified Thrush 510Gs, but since executives learned the craft had been weaponized by Prince, the company has declined to sell or use the aircraft to avoid violating U.S. export controls. "[95] Jeremy Scahill reported in The Nation in November 2009 that Blackwater operated alongside the CIA in Pakistan in "snatch and grab" operations targeting senior members of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. This incident sparked a national interest in the number of private forces being used in Iraq and brought up issues of legality, accountability, and oversight. Iraqi police and other Blackwater forces also got involved in the gunfight. [155] However, in 2010 it was awarded a $100 million contract from the CIA. The government traditionally handles its own security, but it lacked the staff for high-risk protection details. [100], In 2006, Blackwater was awarded a contract to protect diplomats for the U.S. embassy in Iraq, the largest American embassy in the world. [14], Jeremy Scahill has claimed that Blackwater Security Company (BSC) was the brainchild of Jamie Smith, a former CIA officer who became Vice President of Blackwater USA and the Founding Director of Blackwater Security Company, holding both positions simultaneously. [157] The settlement and fine conclude a U.S. State Department investigation that began in 2007. USTC's primary training facility, located on 7,000 acres (28 km2) in northeastern North Carolina, comprises several ranges, indoor, outdoor, urban reproductions, a man-made lake, and a driving track in Camden and Currituck counties. It was reported that the company also acted as law enforcement in the disaster-stricken areas, for example securing neighborhoods and confronting criminals. With its approximately 40,000 staff, including more than 35,000 highly trained law enforcement officers, the Federal Police is an extremely effective police service which plays an important role in maintaining internal security in the Federal Republic of Germany and Europe. [177][178] The lawsuit was ultimately settled confidentially in 2010, with plaintiffs accepting cash payments from the company. The CIA was acting on a 2001 presidential legal pronouncement, known as a finding, which authorized the CIA to pursue such efforts. Pelton, Robert Young: "Licensed to kill, hired guns in the war on terror," Crown, August 29, 2006. The DEA and DoD counternarcotics program is supported by Blackwater Worldwide in Afghanistan as well. The company trains canines to work in patrol capacities as war dogs, explosives and drug detection, and various other roles for military and law enforcement duties. The book details the rise of Blackwater USA, a private military company, and the growth of security contracting in the Iraq War and the War on Terrorism. ][19] Overall, the company received over US$1 billion in U.S. government contracts. The next month, founder and CEO Erik Prince stepped down and in December of that same year, he stopped any involvement in day to day operations. Blackwater USA began in 1997 by Al Clark and Erik Prince. One of their main concerns was Blackwater’s involvement in the Iraq War. The Rise of Private Security Contractors Academi, voorheen bekend als Blackwater Worldwide, Blackwater USA en Xe Services (uitspraak: ), is een controversiële particuliere militaire uitvoerder die onder andere beveiliging en andere taken voor het (Amerikaanse) leger uitvoert. Blackwater USA was formed in 1997, by Al Clark[10] and Erik Prince in North Carolina, to provide training support to military and law enforcement organizations. Mary McMahon Date: February 23, 2021 Blackwater USA is a private security firm with ties to the Iraq War.. Blackwater USA is a private military contractor based in the United States. New jobs are posted daily – sign up for custom job notifications to be sent directly to your inbox. Incidents like this are not rare and, because they’re not military, they don’t face the same consequences, if any at all. The report also acknowledges that members of the now-defunct Iraqi Civil Defense Corps "led the team into the ambush, facilitated blocking positions to prevent the team's escape, and then disappeared. Force Protection Inc in early 2005 provided the first Cougar Security Vehicle (SV) to Blackwater USA for use as a transport vehicle for U.S. [27], Cofer Black, the company's vice-chairman from 2006 through 2008, was director of the CIA's Counterterrorist Center (CTC) at the time of the September 11 attacks in 2001. To be clear, the issues and questions that arose regarding the use of private forces in Iraq and the cost both morally and financially of doing business this way is not limited to Blackwater. Blackwater Security offers a variety of security and investigative services for both business and residential needs. However, in the aftermath of 9/11, civilian security teams were needed by the United States Military. [167], In the March 2004 court case Helvenston et al. Our Security Officers are trained to accomodate the Clients needs and to, above all, maintian their well being. [citation needed], A private security service, Greystone is registered in Barbados, and employs soldiers for off-shore security work through its affiliate Satelles Solutions, Inc.[81] Their web site advertises their ability to provide "personnel from the best militaries throughout the world" for worldwide deployment.
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