2009.08.05
Was Blackwater even more out of control than previously thought?
If these sworn affidavits are true, Blackwater's founder, Eric Prince "may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company," according to The Nation.
The affidavits, part of a lawsuit against Blackwater brought by Iraqi civilians, allege that "Prince 'views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe,' and that Prince's companies 'encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life.' "
One of the affidavits says:
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.
Mr. Prince operated his companies in a manner that encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life. For example, Mr. Prince's executives would openly speak about going over to Iraq to "lay Hajiis out on cardboard." Going to Iraq to shoot and kill Iraqis was viewed as a sport or game. Mr. Prince's employees openly and consistently used racist and derogatory terms for Iraqis and other Arabs, such as "ragheads" or "hajiis."
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This could be an interesting story.
Though I did find "sawed-off semi-automatic machine guns with silencers" amusing.
Comment by Ed S. — August 5, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
"sawed-off semi-automatic machine guns with silencers"
That kind of shoddy writing makes the whole story sound like the rambling fantasy of an anti-Christian zealot who watches too much television. I'm surprised he didn't accuse Mr Prince of killing Professor Dumbledore with a Avada Kadava hex.
Comment by Henry — August 5, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
Is it that slow a news day that we get snippets from "The Nation" ? Can the National enquirer be that far behind ?
Comment by John Kemp — August 5, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
OK, explain the joke to the un-gun culture please? Thanks.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — August 5, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
You would not saw the barrel of a rifle. You only saw off shotgun barrels. Sawing a rifle barrel just makes it less accurate. A semi-automatic machine gun is a mutually exclusive concept. If you hold the trigger on a semi-automatic, it shoots one time. If you hold the trigger on a machine gun, it shoots until it runs out of bullets.
Comment by Henry — August 5, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
There's no such thing as a "semi-automatic machine gun".
Comment by Patrick — August 5, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
C'mon John. This was featured on Olbermann or Maddow last night. Gauranteed.
Comment by Uptheriver — August 5, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
Gotcha, thanks for the info.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — August 5, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
Also, the term "silencer" is usually employed with a nefarious connotation, particularly by journalists. Technically they are "suppresors", it is very hard ,to say the least to silence an automatic battle rifle, even if you employ sub-sonic ammunition, which I have not seen in the 5.56 and 7.62x51 calibres that modern battle/assault style weapons are chambered in (although the SEALs might have it). Submachine guns however, are another story, it is realtively easy to find commercial sub sonic pistol ammo.
Comment by John Kemp — August 5, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
"it is very hard ,to say the least to silence an automatic battle rifle, even if you employ sub-sonic ammunition, which I have not seen in the 5.56 and 7.62x51 calibres that modern battle/assault style weapons are chambered in (although the SEALs might have it)."
As I understand it, when the SEALs or other Special Forces units need a truly silent weapon, they use a Ruger Mark III with a suppressor and subsonic .22lr ammunition. Supposedly, this combination is quieter than most air rifles.
"the term "silencer" is usually employed with a nefarious connotation, particularly by journalists."
Personally, I would apply Hanlon's Razor* to use of the term "silencer" by most media sources. It's a common term even among those experienced with firearms.
* Hanlon's Razor: "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence." The Jargon File
Comment by Jake — August 5, 2009 @ 3:24 pm
"Is it that slow a news day that we get snippets from "The Nation" ? Can the National enquirer be that far behind?"
At least readers of the Nation were better informed vis-a-vis the relationship between Saddam and al Qaeda than the watchers of
Comment by painless — August 5, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
This no doubt explains why the administration wants to increase the use of private security forces in Afghanistan.
Comment by C Ramsey — August 5, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
Blackwater will be a black eye for a long time. I have not heard "the administration wants to increase the use of private security forces in Afghanistan" and if this is what they mean, I sincerely hope not on the one hand and think that if the military paid what these guys get, the "private security forces" would not be needed on the other. Between the pay and the lawless attitude this is a dangerous situation ready to erupt IMO. Funny how the story was mostly ignored in favor of dissing the gun vernacular errors and the source, WEIN?
Comment by Sandi Saunders — August 6, 2009 @ 4:25 pm