While Blackwater's Erik Prince tries to downplay the mess his private army of mercenaries has created with their shoot first and ask questions later mentality, it is interesting that behind the scene - or not as behind the scenes as Blackwwater might have thought - efforts were under way to attempt to rally political support for the beleaguered "security contractor" as evidenced by highlights from this piece on Slate Magazine (http://www.slate.com/id/2176727/entry/0/):Blackwater Worldwide has snagged lucrative State Department contracts to guard diplomats in Iraq. Its chairman, Erik Prince, enjoys stellar political connections. Its high-priced attorneys can whisk wrongful death claims from open court into arbitration behind closed doors. Even so, the private security firm has lately been experiencing a few difficulties.
In response to this sudden surge of ill fortune, Blackwater sent an e-mail (above) to employees, alumni, suppliers, political allies, and fellow security contractors soliciting supportive "letters, e-mails and calls to your elected Congressional representatives." The direct-mail plea helpfully offers talking points for recipients who (understandably) can't imagine what to say in Blackwater's defense.
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