Erik Prince (pictured at left), founder of the private mercenary firm Blackwater USA and son of major donors to far right anti-gay organizations, is accused in a newly filed lawsuit of murdered one or more people who were planning to provide information to federal authorities about criminal conduct by the company and its operatives in Iraq. If the allegations prove true, it would be all too typical of the far right Christianists who proclaim their religious devotion while trashing the very principles of the Gospel and the ruthless treatment they are willing to dish out against those who do not subscribe to their extremist beliefs. The new allegations by the two anonymous informants were filed late Monday in connection with five consolidated lawsuits in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. Blackwater, now known as Xe because of the negative baggage of the Blackwater name is based in nearby Moyock, North Carolina. Here are some highlights from the Virginian Pilot:*
Two men who worked for Blackwater allege in a federal lawsuit that Blackwater founder Erik Prince or his agents murdered one or more people who were planning to provide information to federal authorities about criminal conduct by the company and its operatives in Iraq. The two are identified in court papers only as “John Doe #1” and “John Doe #2” because, they say, they fear violent retaliation themselves for making the allegations.
*
“On several occasions after my departure from Mr. Prince’s employ,” he says, “Mr. Prince’s management has personally threatened me with death and violence. “In addition, based on information provided to me by former colleagues, it appears that Mr. Prince and his employees murdered, or had murdered, one or more persons who have provided information, or who were planning to provide information, to the federal authorities about the ongoing criminal conduct.” In his statement, he says Prince “views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe.
*
“To that end, Mr. Prince intentionally deployed to Iraq certain men who shared his vision of Christian supremacy, knowing and wanting these men to take every available opportunity to murder Iraqis. Many of these men used call signs based on the Knights of the Templar, the warriors who fought the Crusades.” Going to Iraq to shoot and kill Iraqis was viewed as a sport or game, “John Doe #2” says, adding that Prince’s employees openly used racist terms for Iraqis and other Arabs such as “ragheads” and “hajiis.”
*
He also alleges that Prince and his top managers gave orders to destroy incriminating videotapes, e-mails and other documents. Both informants say they previously made the same allegations in grand jury proceedings convened by the Justice Department.
*
A Xe spokeswoman did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the latest allegations. In the past, the company has denied other allegations made in the same series of lawsuits.
*
Personally, I find it very creepy having Balckwater, k/n/a Xe located only about 25 miles away from Norfolk.
No comments:
Post a Comment