Is it true?

James Mc

I saw this on the Guardian website, might be intresting if it's true!

Has anyone heard anything?

Blackwater to leave security business following problems in Iraq | World news | guardian.co.uk

Legioner

Seems to be true don't heard about but yet but never give up LOL.
Does it means there will be more free places for other coy's and operators if its true?

aimhigh

hay guys

this is a link regarding BW via asis and assoc press

The Associated Press: Blackwater brand shift: Security to take back seat

AD

Carl Dowd

I think that I am right in saying that Blackwater MAY be among many US companies that are facing US civil Law suits?

James Mc

To be honest Carl, it will be intresting if there are any legal reprecussions, as it will affect the whole industry, i would of thought.

As it is, there are enough livey livered, liberal minded oxygen thieves in the Govt trying to destroy this industry without the Brits possibly being tarred with the same brush as the Americans.

annie

i believe.... if the press is correct that BW were being investigated by the FBI for their slight ahem indescretion in Iraq sometime ago, and apparantly one of the fathers of the deceased has demanded a public apology for the loss of his child.

If you go onto the BBC News website and look in the Middle East part there is quite a bit about the progression of the incident and subsequent aftermath from the incident.

Carl Dowd

I think James...and it seems (and I use that word because I am not certain or privvy to the facts) that several US families of those who have been tragically killed in Iraq are in the process of sueing the employers. Under what status? I am not sure.

But you know James this goes back to what I have talked about on this site before about individuals understanding the 'contractual terms' that an operator is entering into and whether or not those terms and indeed the contract has any legitimate basis within UK or Europe?

Anyway digressing a little there Bro....

praetorian550

The original article by AP


Blackwater plans shift from security business
By MATT APUZZO and MIKE BAKER - Associated Press
Tuesday, July 20, 2008, 12:43


Blackwater Worldwide said Monday that it planned a shift away from the security contracting business that earned it millions of dollars and made it a flash point in the debate over the use of security contractors in war zones.
"The experience we've had would certainly be a disincentive to any other companies that want to step in and put their entire business at risk," company founder and CEO Erik Prince told The Associated Press during a daylong visit to the company's North Carolina compound.
Blackwater executives say they have unfairly become a symbol for all contractors in Iraq and thus the company is a target for those opposed to the war. It will continue guarding U.S. officials in Iraq but its future will be focused on training, aviation and logistics.
"Security was not part of the master plan, ever," company president Gary Jackson said.
The company has made hundreds of millions of dollars defending U.S. diplomats in Iraq, one of several government contracts that earned Blackwater more than $1 billion since 2001.
The company has been under intense scrutiny since September when its security contractors opened fire in a crowded Baghdad intersection while responding to a car bombing. Seventeen Iraqis were killed, prompting congressional hearings and an FBI investigation.
In 2005 and 2006, security jobs, including protecting diplomats and helping secure New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, represented more than 50 percent of the company's business.
In the past year, Jackson said, the name Blackwater has become synonymous with security contractors. "It's been like Coca-Cola," he said. "Blackwater: Security contractors."
The security business is down to about 30 percent of Blackwater revenue now and Jackson said it will go much lower.
"If I could get it down to 2 percent or 1 percent, I would go there," he said, adding that the media have falsely portrayed much about that aspect of the company. "If you could get it right, we might stay in the business."

Samson

if Tim Spicer Tim Spicer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia can allegedly break UN arms embargos when he was Diretor of Sandline(PMC) back in the days, then make a nifty profit from Aegis, its fine example that despite BW supposedly ajusting to a more training role, BW will probably demonstrate they are here to stay ,hey they might even change their company name too.

RMPUSA

Personally I think its all smoke and mirrors, after all the bad press BW have been getting, they have been engaged in a considerable internal and external PR exercise, and have been busy purging their ranks.

On another issue, for those of you who are interested in the machine behind the PMC world, this is a good reference website:

International Peace Operations Association - Current IPOA Corporate Membership List

All the main players are here, and exert large amounts of political muscle here in the US.

I hope to be attending their conference later in the year. IPOA Annual Summit 2008 - Washington, D.C. - Home