I have a new post up on at the African Loft: The Vultures are Gathering – Mercenary Corporations look to AFRICOM for new Contracts. The IPOA, the orwellianly named International Peace Operations Association is looking to AFRICOM and Africa for their next contracts. Take a look.
July 19, 2008 at 11:15 pm
from a july 19th military times article on blackwater
As Africa Command stands up this fall, Prince said he foresees the potential for an even greater need there for his company’s aviation services.
“I think there’s less road now than there was 40 years ago in Africa,” he said. “So, being able to fly around is pretty key and being able to fly into rough places.”
Setting up Africa Command has been pretty sensitive, evidenced by the Defense Department’s inability to find an African country willing to host the new headquarters, so connecting Blackwater and its controversial reputation could add to the anxieties.
August 8, 2008 at 11:12 pm
david isenberg’s dogs of war column (reprinted @ middle east times – title @ upi.com is “Blackwater to the rescue in Darfur”)
Contractors vs. genocide?
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (UPI) — The Wall Street Journal ran an opinion piece on July 29 calling for the use of private security contractors to help transform the 9,000 or so African Union soldiers in Darfur into a more effective U.N. peacekeeping force.
The op-ed, titled “Mercenaries for Darfur,” suggested using personnel from Blackwater Worldwide.
The opinion piece was not novel. Such calls have become increasingly popular and fashionable in recent years.
…
But what was noteworthy about the Journal piece was who wrote it. The author, William McGurn, was the chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush until Feb. 8, 2008. McGurn wrote:
“(Blackwater founder) Mr. (Erik) Prince has a remedy. He believes that with 250 or so professionals, Blackwater can transform about a thousand of the African Union soldiers into an elite and highly mobile force. This force would also be equipped with helicopters and the kind of small planes that missionaries use in this part of the world. It would be cheaper than the hundreds of millions we are spending to set up a larger AU/U.N. force. And he says he’d do it at cost.”
prince has friends in low places…
August 8, 2008 at 11:13 pm
there wasn’t supposed to be an emoticon in that comment – but at least i found out that the <blockquote /> tag works in wordpress!
August 10, 2008 at 12:43 am
Thanks for the link. I looked at the article. One line I found chilling was: And he says he’d do it at cost. I don’t think Erik Prince is doing anything without profit. There are plenty of ways to make money there outside a contract. As they say, never fly empty. He has indicated he wants to focus on flying around Africa. Guns, drugs, other contraband, slavery, there are plenty of opportunities. And Prince has already shown his ambition and willingness to ditch ethics. What you said, friends in low places.