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U.S. firm offers 'private armies' for low-intensity conflicts
World Tribune ^ | March 29, 2006

Posted on 03/29/2006 1:29:35 PM PST by RWR8189

AMMAN — A leading U.S. security firm has offered to provide forces for any counter-insurgency mission around the world.

J. Cofer Black, vice chairman of Blackwater USA told the Special Operations Forces Exhibition (Sofex-2006), that his company could supply private soldiers to any country. Black, a former U.S. State Department counter-terrorism coordinator, said Blackwater has been marketing the concept of private armies for low-intensity conflicts.

"About a year ago, we realized we could do it," Black said.

Blackwater has been a leading private security firm in Iraq. The company provides thousands of foreign and Iraqi personnel for government and private security missions.

In his presentation in Amman, Jordan, on March 27, Black said Blackwater could supply peace-keeping forces. He said the company was capable of providing a brigade-sized force on alert.

One option, Black said, was for Blackwater to provide forces for Sudan's Darfour province. He said the company could bolster existing peace-keeping forces from the African Union.

"I believe there is a contribution to be made by a small force," Black said. "The issue is who's going to let us play on their team?"

Black said Blackwater would not participate in conventional military operations. He said he has discussed his concept with the United States and NATO.

"There is clear potential to conduct security operations at a fraction of the coast of NATO operations," Black said. "It's unusual and that's why I'm raising it. This is not what you do if your objective is more money."


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: insurgency; mercenaries; privatearmy
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Private army firms can be very effective.

Much to the chigrin of liberals throughout the world, a small contigent of the South African company Executive Outcomes was able for the most part to quell a civil war in Angola in the mid 90s in a short time period.

1 posted on 03/29/2006 1:29:37 PM PST by RWR8189
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To: RWR8189

I guess mercenaries are going mainstream now.


2 posted on 03/29/2006 1:30:46 PM PST by Centurion2000 (Islam's true face: http://makeashorterlink.com/?J169127BC)
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To: Centurion2000

The Dogs of War was a great movie.


3 posted on 03/29/2006 1:31:45 PM PST by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: RWR8189

Soldier of Fortune, lives again.


4 posted on 03/29/2006 1:31:56 PM PST by jw777
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To: RWR8189

That's what Blackwater does for a living. They are 100% legal and don't hide it. So what's the issue?


5 posted on 03/29/2006 1:31:57 PM PST by markomalley (Vivat Iesus!)
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To: RWR8189

And btw, to add, they've been doing this business for years...and are pretty good at it.


6 posted on 03/29/2006 1:33:01 PM PST by markomalley (Vivat Iesus!)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: markomalley
So what's the issue?

They're effective. The UN is impotent and worthless.

This angers the commie pinko freaks.

8 posted on 03/29/2006 1:33:44 PM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: RWR8189

Executive outcomes was considered and considered and considered by the UN for rescues in Rwanda but eventually the UN decided it was better to simply look the other way.


9 posted on 03/29/2006 1:34:37 PM PST by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
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To: RWR8189

It is a good and useful idea, but just like elite army units or city policeman there has to be constant pressure not to drift away in a direction that is not helpful.


10 posted on 03/29/2006 1:34:38 PM PST by ansel12
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To: Centurion2000

Blackwater sure got a lot of its people killed in Iraq not too long ago. Bit of a lottery, though, more than anything they did.

Being in the oil business, I've actually been "protected" by them (or a similiar outfit) before, as I was a kidnap target. 99% were just-out-service US soldiers and/or cops.

It was interesting, being recently ex-Army myself at the time.

The problem I saw was not a lot of chain-of-command discipline and they hadn't had much time to train together as a unit.


11 posted on 03/29/2006 1:34:40 PM PST by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: RWR8189

A few weeks ago, I went shooting at a nearby indoor shooting range. Next to me was a shooter, with a variety of pistols, wearing a neat-looking Blackwater shirt. He was a much better shot than me.


12 posted on 03/29/2006 1:36:53 PM PST by JoeGar
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To: Centurion2000

Coming soon to a planet near you - Hammers' Slammers!


13 posted on 03/29/2006 1:37:11 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: RWR8189
""About a year ago, we realized we could do it," Black said.
14 posted on 03/29/2006 1:38:20 PM PST by Toby06 (Thank you.)
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To: RWR8189
""About a year ago, we realized we could do it," Black said.

HAH! They have been doing it a hell of a lot friggin longer than that! Maybe not as an "official" contractor for combat, but...

15 posted on 03/29/2006 1:39:13 PM PST by Toby06 (Thank you.)
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To: Spktyr

These guys are a bit more like Falkenberg's Legion ...


16 posted on 03/29/2006 1:40:08 PM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: RWR8189
For suppression
Of aggression
Hire a Hessian
It's our profession

We Deliver!

Leni

17 posted on 03/29/2006 1:40:14 PM PST by MinuteGal (Sail the Bounding Main to the Balmy, Palmy Caribbean on FReeps Ahoy 4. Register Now!)
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To: RWR8189

Someday, I want my own private army and independent Republic. Maybe I should do a mini-William Walker and declare my own Republic in Central America.


18 posted on 03/29/2006 1:41:35 PM PST by Clemenza (I Just Wasn't Made for These Times)
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To: RWR8189

Didn't they participate in gun-grabbing in New Orleans?


19 posted on 03/29/2006 1:43:06 PM PST by Firefigher NC (You light ‘em, we fight ‘em!)
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To: RWR8189
Do these guys have any ethical stipulations about what they are hired to do? For example, would they help a dictator suppress a democratic uprising?
20 posted on 03/29/2006 1:46:15 PM PST by Northeastern_Realist
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