Saturday, October 6, 2018

CENTCOM Commander Votel 'Kills' Erik Prince’s Plan For Afghanistan

U.S. Army General Joseph Votel, commander of the U.S. Central Command, arrives to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

Task & Purpose: CENTCOM Commander: Erik Prince’s Plan For Afghanistan Isn’t Happening

Neither the Afghan government nor the U.S. military believes in Erik Prince’s plan to privatize the war in Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. Central Command said on Thursday.

Erik Prince, founder of the company that used to be known as “Blackwater,” has argued that 3,600 private security contractors could do a better job than U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Moreover, Prince claims that his private army could completely change the strategic situation in Afghanistan in six months.

But Army Gen. Joseph Votel told reporters on Thursday that he doesn’t buy Prince’s sales pitch. Citing Defense Secretary Mattis’ previous comments on the subject, Votel said it would not be a good strategy to turn over U.S. national interest to contractors.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The CENTCOM Commander may say Erik Prince's plan is dead, but it is not stopping him .... As Afghanistan Frays, Blackwater Founder Erik Prince Is Everywhere (The New York Times). More here .... Erik Prince, in Kabul, pushes privatization of the Afghan war (Washington Post).

Update: The Afghan government also has no appetite for Erik Prince's plans .... Afghan government rejects proposals to privatize war (Reuters).

2 comments:

Roger Smith said...


What does Mr. Prince have of his own in the game? Nothing of which I am aware.
Until he puts something other than talk into the game, ignore him.

Anonymous said...

Roger,

That sounds good, but Mr. Prince can do nothing without asking "Mother May I."

He has the skill set, the people, and the money, but if he went into territory governed by a nation without permission and just about all land on earth is by some nation, he would be in a lot of trouble.