The Story Of Erik Prince And Blackwater

Eric Price at Blackwater. Photo from Nathan Hale Institute for Intelligence and Military Affairs

Saga Of An American Warlord -- Stormbringer

In keeping with a military tradition that dates back to at least the Roman Empire, a grateful nation rewards a competent warrior with punishment and exile.

Consider the case of Erik Prince, founder of the world’s largest private army - now known as “Xe” but still commonly referred to as Blackwater. It is reported that Prince is considering a permanent move to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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My Comment: Men and organizations like Erik Prince and Blackwater are employed and directed by our governments to do work that they neither want to be responsible for .... or .... be accountable for if things go wrong. There is a reason why they position themselves like this .... they know damn well what organizations like Blackwater do .... and more importantly .... they know the risks and the likely probability that with the passage of time, news and publicity of mistakes and violations will become known.

So when things to go wrong .... or what they do becomes public .... recriminations and finger pointing becomes the norm followed by demands for justice and accountability. While there is probably some justification to make such calls, what I would also love to see are the same politicians and their aides who originally made the decision to employ such organizations be put into the same category and standard of accountability. If Blackwater is on the stand, so should their political masters.

Sighhh .... but that is not how things work. Like Rome 2000 years ago .... it is the soldiers who must always fall on their swords.