Washington, August 07: Two former Blackwater security contractors are accusing the notorious security firm of orchestrating a crusade to kill Muslims and undermine their faith, reported.
(Eric Prince) views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe, one contractor, identifyied anonymously as John Doe 2, said in a sworn affidavit lodged at Virginia court, referring to Blackwater founder.
Blackwater Nightmare for Peshawaris Blackwater Peacekeeping Mercenaries The contractor, a former marine who worked for Blackwater for four years, cited the behaviour of Blackwater guards in Iraq as an example. 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, he stressed.
Many of these men used call signs based on the Knights of the Templar, the warriors who fought the Crusades.
Established 10 years ago by Prince, a former Navy SEAL, the South Carolina-based security firm has grown into what US investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill describes as the “world’s most powerful mercenary army.”
The company was the most prominent of private security companies employed by the Pentagon and State Department to protect military convoys and guard US diplomats in Iraq.
It has reportedly established a presence in Pakistan to help track down Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants and protect USAID projects.
Sporting black gaggles and carrying sophisticated assault rifles, its guards move freely in Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), and its adjoining districts.
They are often seen in their black-colored armored vehicles carrying diplomatic number plates.
Kill Iraqis
John Doe 2 said Prince and other executives encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life.
Going to Iraq to shoot and kill Iraqis was viewed as a sport or game, added the former marine.
He accused Prince of smuggling illegal weapons to Iraq on his private aircraft and allowing his guards to use illegal exploding bullets to inflict maximum damage on Iraqis.
Another contractor, identified as John Doe 1, recounts incidents where Blackwater guards needlessly killed Iraqi civilians.
In one incident, their convoy stopped to fix a flat tyre. As a civilian car drove by, reckless Blackwater contractors began opening fire.
From my vantage point, it was clear that XXX was clearly injuring and likely killing the passenger and likely injuring the driver as well.
The affidavits are part of a motion lodged by lawyers representing 60 Iraqi civilians who are suing Blackwater for crimes perpetrated against them.
Many of Blackwater’s trigger-happy guards have been involved in killing innocent civilians.
The company lost its multimillion-dollar State Department contract in May months after Baghdad revoked its license.
A US congressional report has blamed Blackwater of involvement in 195 shooting incidents since 2005, mostly unprovoked.
On several occasions after my departure from Mr Prince’s employ, Mr Prince’s management has personally threatened me with death or violence, said John Doe 2.
The affidavits accuse the Blackwater chief of killing those who dared to unveil information about the behaviour of his guards.
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.
-Agencies