Blackwater (Xe Services LLC )

Blackwater a private military company providing services to the Unites States Federal Government was founded as Blackwater Usa in 1997 by Erik Prince and Al Clark. Blackwater was hired by the US government on a no-bid contract basis basically meaning they have no competitors to apply to a particular contract.
Many people have no idea whether these types of companies exist at all, but definitely they do and basically when they are out there in the thick of things they usually do not follow any rules and they think that they are above the law. These mercenaries have to be reigned in, but either intentionally or unintentionally they do not face the music of justice. These companies are always making a profit as they have nothing to do with the economy going up or down, as they are hired by the governments irrespective of war or peace. They are also not liable to face any consequences for their action as they provide major funding to the Republican parties and donate very handsomely so as to procure these very profitablecontracts.
Facts and controversies
- Blackwater Worldwide in 2003 received 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.
- Blackwater had 20,000 - 30,000 armed security personnel posted in Iraq. (conflicting reports of 100,000 armed personnel).
- Blackwater received $1 billion 5 year contract from the State Department.
- Blackwater has confirmed that Bosnians, Filipinos, and Chileans "have also been hired for tasks ranging from airport security to protecting Diplomats"
- On March 31, 2004, Iraqi insurgents in Fallujah attacked a convoy containing four American private military contractors Scott Helvenston, Jerry Zovko, Wesley Batalona and Michael Teague, from Blackwater USA. They were attacked and killed with grenades and small arms fire, and their bodies were hung from a bridge crossing the Euphrates. This event was one of the causes of the U.S. military attack on the city in the First Battle of Fallujah. In the fall of 2007, a congressional report by the House Oversight Committee found that Blackwater intentionally "delayed and impeded" investigations into the contractors' deaths.
- In 2005 Blackwater escorting a US convoy fired 70 bullets into an Iraqi national driven car, where Blackwater operatives claimed that they were threatened by the approaching car.
- In 2006 Blackwater were involved in a car accident which occurred in the Baghdad Green Zone.
- Christmas eve massacre of the guard of Iraqi vice president Adel Abdul Mahdi was shot dead while on duty in the compound. The Iraqi government has accused Andrew J. Moonen of being drunk at the time.
- A sniper employed by Blackwater Worldwide opened fire from the roof of the Iraqi Justice Ministry, killing three guards working for the state- funded Iraqi Media Network in 2006.
- Blackwater license was revoked by the State Department but were given back their license within months of revoking it.
- Blackwater are paid almost 7 times the amount that a normal US army soldier gets in salaries.
- An Iraqi politician, Ayham al-Samarie, escaped from a prison in Iraq, where he was awaiting trial for 12 criminal corruption cases. Blackwater, which he had hired for protection before his arrest, allegedly helped him escape.
famous quote: 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. "That sergeant doesn't show up naked and untrained", Prince stated.
Triple Canopy, Inc. has replaced Xe/Blackwater with regards to the State department contract to operate in Iraq but it is claimed that Blackwater still would benefit as the subcontracts which are going to be awarded by Triple Canopy Inc. indirectly would land into the lap of Blackwater.