Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army

INTRODUCTION

1 Steven R. Hurst and Qassim Abdul-Zahra, “Pieces Emerge in Blackwater Shooting,” Associated Press, October 8, 2007.

2 Sudarsan Raghavan, “Tracing the Paths of 5 Who Died in a Storm of Gunfire,” Washington Post, October 4, 2007.

3 Jennifer Daskal, “Blackwater in Baghdad: ‘It Was a Horror Movie,’” Salon, December 14, 2007.

4 Videotaped interview with Ali Khalaf Salman.

5 Ibid.

6 Ibid.; Jennifer Daskal, “Blackwater in Baghdad,” Salon, December 14, 2007.

7 James Glanz and Alissa J. Rubin, “From Errand to Fatal Shot to Hail of Fire to 17 Deaths,” New York Times, October 3, 2007.

8 Videotaped interview with Ali Khalaf Salman; Jennifer Daskal, “Blackwater in Baghdad,” Salon, December 14, 2007.

9 Ibid.

10 James Glanz and Alissa J. Rubin, “From Errand to Fatal Shot to Hail of Fire to 17 Deaths,” New York Times, October 3, 2007.

11 Sudarsan Raghavan, “Tracing the Paths of 5 Who Died in a Storm of Gunfire,” Washington Post, October 4, 2007.

12 Sudarsan Raghavan and Josh White, “Blackwater Guards Fired at Fleeing Cars, Soldiers Say,” Washington Post, October 12, 2007.

13 James Glanz and Alissa J. Rubin, “From Errand to Fatal Shot to Hail of Fire to 17 Deaths,” New York Times, October 3, 2007.

14 Steven R. Hurst and Qassim Abdul-Zahra, “Pieces Emerge in Blackwater Shooting,” Associated Press, October 8, 2007.

15 Videotaped interview with Ali Khalaf Salman.

16 Ibid.

17 Jomana Karadsheh and Alan Duke, “Blackwater Incident Witness: ‘It Was Hell,’” CNN.com, October 2, 2007.

18 Videotaped interview with Ali Khalaf Salman.

19 Jomana Karadsheh and Alan Duke, “Blackwater Incident Witness: ‘It Was Hell,’” CNN.com, October 2, 2007.

20 Sabrina Tavernise and James Glanz, “Guards’ Shots Not Provoked, Iraq Concludes,” New York Times, September 21, 2007.

21 Videotaped interview with Ali Khalaf Salman.

22 Ibid.

23 Sudarsan Raghavan, “Tracing the Paths of 5 Who Died in a Storm of Gunfire,” Washington Post, October 4, 2007.

24 Ibid.

25 Videotaped interview with Jawad al-Rubaie.

26 James Glanz and Alissa J. Rubin, “From Errand to Fatal Shot to Hail of Fire to 17 Deaths,” New York Times, October 3, 2007.

27 Steven R. Hurst and Qassim Abdul-Zahra, “Pieces Emerge in Blackwater Shooting,” Associated Press, October 8, 2007.

28 Ibid.

29 Videotaped interview with Ali Khalaf Salman; Jennifer Daskal, “Blackwater in Baghdad,” Salon, December 14, 2007.

30 Sudarsan Raghavan, “Tracing the Paths of 5 Who Died in a Storm of Gunfire,” Washington Post, October 4, 2007.

31 Ibid.

32 Kim Sengupta, “The Real Story of Baghdad’s Bloody Sunday,” The Independent (London), September 21, 2007.

33 Ibid.

34 Steven R. Hurst and Qassim Abdul-Zahra, “Pieces Emerge in Blackwater Shooting,” Associated Press, October 8, 2007.

35 Jomana Karadsheh and Alan Duke, “Blackwater Incident Witness: ‘It Was Hell,’” CNN.com, October 2, 2007.

36 Steven R. Hurst and Qassim Abdul-Zahra, “Pieces Emerge in Blackwater Shooting,” Associated Press, October 8, 2007.

37 Ibid.

38 Jomana Karadsheh and Alan Duke, “Blackwater Incident Witness: ‘It Was Hell,’” CNN.com, October 2, 2007.

39 Steven R. Hurst and Qassim Abdul-Zahra, “Pieces Emerge in Blackwater Shooting,” Associated Press, October 8, 2007.

40 Richard Engel, “Blackwater’s Ugly Americans,” MSNBC World Blog http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/09/28/385833.aspx, September 28, 2007.

41 Sabrina Tavernise, “US Contractor Banned by Iraq Over Shooting,” New York Times, September 18, 2007.

42 James Glanz and Sabrina Tavernise, “Blackwater Shooting Scene Was Chaotic,” New York Times, September 28, 2007.

43 Ibid.

44 Richard Engel, “Blackwater’s Ugly Americans,” MSNBC World Blog, September 28, 2007.

45 James Glanz and Alissa J. Rubin, “From Errand to Fatal Shot to Hail of Fire to 17 Deaths,” New York Times, October 3, 2007.

46 Jennifer Daskal, “Blackwater in Baghdad,” Salon, December 14, 2007.

47 Steven R. Hurst and Qassim Abdul-Zahra, “Pieces Emerge in Blackwater Shooting,” Associated Press, October 8, 2007.

48 Ned Parker, “Iraq Bans U.S. Security Firm After Deadly Incident,” Los Angeles Times, September 18, 2007.

49 James Glanz and Alissa J. Rubin, “Blackwater Shootings ‘Deliberate Murder,’ Iraq Says,” New York Times, October 8, 2007.

50 Sabrina Tavernise, “US Contractor Banned by Iraq Over Shooting,” New York Times, September 18, 2007.

51 Ibid.

52 Jeremy Scahill, “Making a Killing,” The Nation, October 15, 2007.

53 Steve Fainaru, “Four Hired Guns in an Armored Truck, Bullets Flying, and a Pickup and a Taxi Brought to a Halt. Who Did the Shooting and Why?,” Washington Post, April 15, 2007.

54 Ibid.

55 John M. Broder, “Ex-Paratrooper Is Suspect in Drunken Killing of Iraqi,” New York Times, October 4, 2007.

56 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.

57 John M. Broder, “Ex-Paratrooper Is Suspect in Drunken Killing of Iraqi,” New York Times, October 4, 2007.

58 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.

59 Transcript, Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, February 7, 2007.

60 Bill Sizemore, “Blackwater Supports Inquiry into Fatal Shooting,” Virginian-Pilot, July 25, 2007.

61 Transcript, Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.

62 John M. Broder, “State Dept. Plans Tighter Control of Security Firm,” New York Times, October 6, 2007.

63 Transcript, Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, February 7, 2007.

64 Bill Sizemore, “Blackwater Supports Inquiry into Fatal Shooting,” Virginian-Pilot, July 25, 2007.

65 Steve Fainaru, “How Blackwater Sniper Fire Felled 3 Iraqi Guards,” Washington Post, November 8, 2007.

66 Ibid.

67 Ibid.

68 Ibid.

69 Steve Fainaru and Saad al-Izzi, “U.S. Security Contractors Open Fire in Baghdad,” Washington Post, May 27, 2007.

70 Ibid.

71 “U.S. Ambassador Calls Blackwater Shooting Horrific, but Still Feels High Regard for Guards,” Associated Press, October 25, 2007.

72 Steve Fainaru, “Warnings Unheeded on Guards in Iraq,” Washington Post, December 24, 2007.

73 Sudarsan Raghavan and Steve Fainaru, “U.S. Repeatedly Rebuffed Iraq on Blackwater Complaints,” Washington Post, September 23, 2007.

74 Steve Fainaru, “How Blackwater Sniper Fire Felled 3 Iraqi Guards,” Washington Post, November 8, 2007.

75 Jeremy Scahill, “Making a Killing,” The Nation, October 15, 2007.

76 “Iraq Makes U-turn on Blackwater,” Al Jazeera, September 23, 2007.

77 “Iraq Official: Blackwater Exit Would Leave ‘Vacuum,’” Associated Press, September 23, 2007.

78 Sudarsan Raghavan and Steve Fainaru, “U.S. Repeatedly Rebuffed Iraq on Blackwater Complaints,” Washington Post, September 23, 2007.

79 Author interview, September 2007.

80 Steve Fainaru, “Where Military Rules Don’t Apply,” Washington Post, September 20, 2007.

81 Steve Fainaru, “Warnings Unheeded on Guards in Iraq,” Washington Post, December 24, 2007.

82 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, State Department Press Conference, September 21, 2007.

83 Jeremy Scahill, “Making a Killing,” The Nation, October 15, 2007.

84 Alissa J. Rubin and Andrew E. Kramer, “Iraqi Premier Says Blackwater Shootings Challenge His Nation’s Sovereignty,” New York Times, September 24, 2007.

85 James Glanz and Sabrina Tavernise, “Security Firm Faces Criminal Charges in Iraq,” New York Times, September 23, 2007.

86 Ibid.

87 Ibid.

88 Jeremy Scahill, “Making a Killing,” The Nation, October 15, 2007.

89 For more on this, see Chapter Four.

90 Author interview, September 2007.

91 Steve Fainaru, “Where Military Rules Don’t Apply,” Washington Post, September 20, 2007.

92 Ibid.

93 “U.S. Ambassador Calls Blackwater Shooting Horrific, but Still Feels High Regard for Guards,” Associated Press, October 25, 2007.

94 Transcript, Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.

95 Ibid.

96 Matthew Lee, “Security Firm Is in Smuggling Probe; Blackwater May Be Charged for Bringing Weapons Into Iraq,” Associated Press, September 22, 2007.

97 Author copy, letter from Representative Henry Waxman to Howard Krongard, September 18, 2007.

98 Ibid.

99 Jeremy Scahill, “Blackwater’s Brothers,” The Nation, November 15, 2007.

100 Warren P. Strobel, “Inspector General Krongard Resigns,” McClatchy Newspapers, December 8, 2007.

101 Joseph Neff, “U.S. Probes Blackwater Weapons Shipments,” Raleigh News and Observer, September 22, 2007.

102 Author copy, letter from the State Department to Blackwater, September 20, 2007.

103 Author copy, letter from Representative Henry Waxman to Condoleezza Rice, September 25, 2007.

104 Author copy, letter from the State Department to Blackwater USA, September 25, 2007.

105 Author interview, March 2007.

106 John Negroponte’s statement before the Senate Appropriations Committee, September 26, 2007.

107 Jomana Karadsheh and Alan Duke, “Blackwater Incident Witness: ‘It Was Hell,’” CNN.com, October 2, 2007.

108 “‘They Protect People’s Lives’—One Month After Baghdad Killings, Bush Defends Blackwater USA,” Democracy Now!, October 18, 2007.

109 Unless otherwise noted, the description and quotes relating to Erik Prince’s Congressional testimony on October 2, 2007, are drawn from the author’s firsthand observations or the official transcript of the proceedings provided by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

110 “Edwards Points to a Link,” Washington Post, October 6, 2007.

111 Charles R. Black, Jr. biography, BKSH & Associates.

112 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.

113 Steve Fainaru, “Guards in Iraq Cite Frequent Shootings,” Washington Post, October 3, 2007.

114 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.

115 Ibid.

116 Ibid.

117 Transcript, Bill Moyers Journal, February 1, 2008.

118 Dena Bunis, “Rohrabacher Stands Behind Blackwater Chief,” Orange County Register, October 9, 2007.

119 Author copy.

120 “Blackwater Most Often Shoots First, Congressional Report Says,” CNN.com, October 2, 2007.

121 David M. Herszenhorn, “House’s Iraq Bill Applies U.S. Laws to Contractors,” New York Times, October 5, 2007.

122 James Gordon Meek, “Blackwater to Guard FBI Team Probing It,” New York Daily News, October 3, 2007.

123 Karen DeYoung, “Federal Guards to Protect Agents in Blackwater Investigation,” Washington Post, October 4, 2007.

124 Author interview, September 2007.

125 James Risen and David Johnston, “Justice Department Briefed Congress on Legal Obstacles in Blackwater Case,” New York Times, January 16, 2008.

126 Jonathan Karl and Kirit Radia, “ABC News Obtains Text of Blackwater Immunity Deal,” ABCNews.go.com, October 30, 2007.

127 Author interview, October 2007.

128 Author interview, October 2007.

129 Ned Parker, “‘Wall of Silence’ Protects Security Contractor in Iraq,” Los Angeles Times, September 21, 2007.

130 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.

131 Transcript, Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.

132 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.

133 Ibid.

134 Transcript, Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.

135 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.

136 Transcript, Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.

137 Steve Fainaru, “How Blackwater Sniper Fire Felled 3 Iraqi Guards,” Washington Post, November 8, 2007.

138 Jennifer Daskal, “Blackwater in Baghdad,” Salon, December 14, 2007.

139 Ibid.

140 Jomana Karadsheh and Alan Duke, “Blackwater Incident Witness: ‘It Was Hell,’” CNN.com, October 2, 2007.

141 Sudarsan Raghavan, “U.S. Offers Cash to Victims in Blackwater Incident,” Washington Post, October 25, 2007.

142 Ibid; Jennifer Daskal, “Blackwater in Baghdad,” Salon, December 14, 2007.

143 Sudarsan Raghavan, “U.S. Offers Cash to Victims in Blackwater Incident,” Washington Post, October 25, 2007.

144 Karen DeYoung, “Immunity Jeopardizes Iraq Probe,” Washington Post, October 30, 2007.

145 David Johnston and John M. Broder, “F.B.I. Says Guards Killed 14 Iraqis Without Cause,” New York Times, November 14, 2007.

146 Lara Jakes Jordan, “FBI Finds Blackwater Trucks Patched,” Associated Press, January 12, 2008.

147 Author copy of the report.

148 Lara Jakes Jordan, “FBI Finds Blackwater Trucks Patched,” Associated Press, January 12, 2008.

149 Ibid.

150 Max Boot, “Accept the Blackwater Mercenaries,” Los Angeles Times, October 3, 2007.

151 Prepared Statement of Erik D. Prince for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, October 2, 2007.

152 Sworn statement of “Paul,” September 18, 2007; Ginger Thompson, “From Texas to Iraq, and Center of Blackwater Case,” New York Times, January 19, 2008.

153 Sworn statement of “Paul,” September 18, 2007.

154 Sudarsan Raghavan and Josh White, “Blackwater Guards Fired at Fleeing Cars, Soldiers Say,” Washington Post, October 12, 2007.

155 Sworn statement of “Paul,” September 18, 2007.

156 Prepared Statement of Erik D. Prince for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, October 2, 2007.

157 Steve Fainaru and Sudarsan Raghavan, “Blackwater Faced Bedlam, Embassy Finds,” Washington Post, September 28, 2007.

158 Sudarsan Raghavan and Josh White, “Blackwater Guards Fired at Fleeing Cars, Soldiers Say,” Washington Post, October 12, 2007.

159 Transcript, interview with Erik Prince, The Charlie Rose Show, PBS, October 15, 2007.

160 David Johnston and John M. Broder, “F.B.I. Says Guards Killed 14 Iraqis Without Cause,” New York Times, November 14, 2007.

161 Sudarsan Raghavan and Josh White, “Blackwater Guards Fired at Fleeing Cars, Soldiers Say,” Washington Post, October 12, 2007.

162 Peter Spiegel, “Gates: U.S., Guards Are at Odds in Iraq,” Los Angeles Times, October 19, 2007.

163 Karen DeYoung, “Security Firms in Iraq Face New Rules,” Washington Post, October 24, 2007.

164 James Risen and David Johnston, “Justice Department Briefed Congress on Legal Obstacles in Blackwater Case,” New York Times, January 16, 2008.

165 Executive Office of the President, “Statement of Administration Policy,” October 3, 2007.

166 Author interview, January 2008.

167 Press Release from Representative Jan Schakowsky, “Schakowsky Condemns State Department for Offering Blackwater Immunity,” October 30, 2007.

168 “Family Members of Slain Iraqis Sue Blackwater USA for Deadly Baghdad Shooting,” Democracy Now!, October 11, 2007.

169 Author copy of the complaint.

170 Author interview, October 2007.

171 Transcript, The Thom Hartmann Show, Air America, January 29, 2008.

172 “Iraqi Shooting Victims’ Families Sue Blackwater,” Virginian-Pilot, October 12, 2007.

173 Transcript, interview with Erik Prince, Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer, CNN, October 14, 2007.

174 J. Michael Waller, “Lawyers for Terror,” New York Post, October 17, 2007.

175 Author interview, January 2008.

176 Author copy of the complaint.

177 “Blackwater Sued Again for Sept. 9th Attack, Five Iraqis Dead, Ten Wounded,” Democracy Now!, December 19, 2007.

178 Eric Schmitt and Paul von Zielbauer, “Accord Tightens Control of Security Contractors in Iraq,” New York Times, December 5, 2007.

179 R.J. Hillhouse, “Blackwater Expanding State Department Contract,” TheSpyWhoBilledMe. com, December 4, 2007.

180 Jeremy Scahill, “Blackwater’s Business,” The Nation, December 24, 2007.

181 Ibid.

182 Ibid.

183 August Cole, “Blackwater Vies for Jobs Beyond Guard Duty,” Wall Street Journal, October 15, 2007.

184 Transcript, Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.

185 August Cole, “Blackwater Vies for Jobs Beyond Guard Duty,” Wall Street Journal, October 15, 2007.

186 Ibid.

187 Jeremy Scahill, “Blackwater’s Business,” The Nation, December 24, 2007.

188 Senate Lobbying Records. 189. Author interview, February 2008.

190 Donald Bartlett and James Steele, “Washington’s $8 Billion Shadow,” Vanity Fair, March 2007.

191 Naomi Klein, “Outsourcing Government,” Los Angeles Times, October 20, 2007.

192 Author interview, July 2007.

193 Jeremy Scahill, “All Cowboys Out Now,” The Nation, November 26, 2007.

194 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.

195 Jennifer Parker, “Iraq Disputes Blackwater’s Account of Baghdad Killings,” ABC News, September 19, 2007.

196 T. Christian Miller, “Private Contractors Outnumber US Troops in Iraq,” Los Angeles Times, July 4, 2007.

197 Ibid. and Jeremy Scahill, “A Very Private War,” The Guardian, August 1, 2007.

198 Thom Shanker and Steven Lee Myers, “U.S. Asking Iraq for Wider Rights in Fighting War,” New York Times, January 25, 2008.

199 White House Press Release, “President Bush Signs H.R. 4986, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 into Law,” January 28, 2008.

200 Jeremy Scahill, “All Cowboys Out Now,” The Nation, November 26, 2007.

201 Transcript, interview with Erik Prince, The Charlie Rose Show, PBS, October 15, 2007.

202 Author interview, October 2007.

203 Interview in Private Armies, Journeyman Pictures.

CHAPTER 1

1 Transcript, “Remarks as Delivered by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld,” The Pentagon, September 10, 2001.

2 Donald H. Rumsfeld, “Transforming the Military,” Foreign Affairs, May/June, 2002.

3 Erik Prince on The O’Reilly Factor, September 27, 2001.

4 Both Cheney and Rumsfeld were original signers of PNAC’s “Statement of Principles,” www.newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm, June 3, 1997.

5 Rebuilding America’s Defenses: Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century, The Project for the New American Century, September 2000.

6 Ibid.

7 Renae Merle, “Census Counts 100,000 Contractors in Iraq,” Washington Post, December 5, 2006.

8 Quadrennial Defense Review Report, Department of Defense, February 6, 2006.

9 Erik Prince speaking at West 2006 conference, January 11, 2006.

10 John Helyar, “Fortunes of War,” Fortune, July 26, 2004, as posted at http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/07/26/377180/index.htm.

11 James Hider, “Soldiers of Fortune Rush to Cash in on Unrest in Baghdad,” The Times of London, March 31, 2004.

12 Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 17, signed by L. Paul Bremer, June 27, 2004.

13 Transcript, “Hearing of the National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee,” June 13, 2006.

14 Blackwater appellate brief, filed October 31, 2005.

15 Erik Prince speaking at West 2006 conference, January 11, 2006.

16 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007.

17 Report to Congressional Committees, “Military Operations: High-Level DOD Action Needed to Address Long-standing Problems with Management and Oversight of Contractors Supporting Deployed Forces,” Government Accountability Office, December 2006.

18 Transcript, Face the Nation, CBS, December 17, 2006.

19 Nathan Hodge, “Washington Urged to Save Money by Raising Private Military ‘Contractor Brigade,’ “ Financial Times, February 10, 2005.

20 Author copy of Prince Group memo from Erik Prince dated September 16, 2005.

21 Author copy, Central Contractor registration documents for Greystone Limited.

22 Jonathan Franklin, “US Contractor Recruits Guards for Iraq in Chile,” Guardian (London), March 5, 2004.

23 E-mail to author, January 2007.

24 Author copy of contracts and government pay records.

25 Joanne Kimberlin and Bill Sizemore, “Blackwater: On American Soil,” Virginian-Pilot, July 27, 2006.

26 Ibid.

27 See Chapter 1.

28 Joseph E. Schmitz official biography, Department of Defense, February 10, 2005.

29 As stated on the website of the Order of Malta Federal Association, USA, www.smom.org/worldwide-history.php, captured December 4, 2006.

30 Ibid.

CHAPTER 2

1 “The Early History of Holland,” www.holland.org/index.pl?paID=6, accessed November 14, 2006.

2 “Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte Papers,” hope.edu/jointarchives/collections/registers/wts/vanraalt.html, accessed November 14, 2006.

3 Ibid.

4 “The Early History of Holland,” www.holland.org/index.pl?paID=6, accessed November 14, 2006.

5 Peter Prince obituary, Holland area newspaper, May 21, 1943.

6 Michael Lozon, Vision on Main Street: Downtown Holland’s Resurgence as the Heart of the Community , Lumir Corporation, 1994, p. 59.

7 Peter Prince obituary.

8 Michael Lozon, Vision on Main Street: Downtown Holland’s Resurgence as the Heart of the Community , Lumir Corporation, 1994, p. 59.

9 Jim Timmerman, “Holland’s Home-Grown Prince Corp. Has Big Role in Community,” Holland Sentinel, July 19, 1996.

10 “Prince Manufacturing Co. Builds Diecast Machines,” Holland Sentinel, June 5, 1969.

11 Ibid.

12 “Prince Corp. Constantly Expanding,” Holland Sentinel, May 16, 1973.

13 Caroline Vernia, “Prince’s Jewel: Production of Illuminated Visors,” Holland Sentinel, January 26, 1980.

14 Letter from Family Research Council president Gary Bauer, April 13, 1995.

15 Ibid.

16 Caroline Vernia, “Prince’s Jewel: Production of Illuminated Visors,” Holland Sentinel, January 26, 1980.

17 Ibid.

18 “Blackwater’s Founder on the Record,” Virginian-Pilot, July 24, 2006.

19 Ibid.

20 Prince Corporation brochure, undated.

21 Katherine Sanderson, “Prince Expanding, Building New Office,” Holland and Golden Sentinel, January 29, 1983.

22 Diane Carmony, “Prince Corp. Plans Functional, Aesthetically Pleasing Facilities,” Grand Rapids Press, August 31, 1987.

23 Ibid.

24 “Edgar Prince: Spirit of Giving Defined a Giant,” Grand Rapids Press, March 3, 1995.

25 Katherine Sanderson, “Prince Expanding, Building New Office,” Holland and Gold Sentinel, January 23, 1983.

26 Robert Young Pelton, Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror, Crown, New York, 2006, p. 3.

27 Letter from Family Research Council president Gary Bauer, April 13, 1995.

28 “Orlando Magic, NBA Team Valuations,” Forbes, www.forbes.com/lists/2005/32/324583.html, accessed November 30, 2006.

29 Rachel Burstein and Kerry Lauerman, “She Did It Amway,” Mother Jones, September/ October 1996.

30 Ibid.

31 Ibid.

32 Ibid.

33 Ibid.

34 Author copy of Holland, Michigan, Polk directories.

35 Letter from Family Research Council president Gary Bauer, April 13, 1995.

36 Ibid.

37 Rachel Burstein and Kerry Lauerman, “She Did It Amway,” Mother Jones, September/October 1996.

38 Ibid.

39 June Kronholz, “Big Test: In Michigan, Vouchers Get Money and Savvy and a Broad Coalition—Amway Chief and Wife Give Program Higher Profile, Better Shot at Success,” Wall Street Journal, October 25, 2000; “Biographical Information About Betsy DeVos,” Associated Press, October 21, 2006.

40 Ward Harkavy, “The Bush-Cheney Gazillions Tour,” The Village Voice, October 22, 2003.

41 Gordon Trowbridge, Charlie Cain, and Mark Hornbeck, “Granholm Wins Second Term,” Detroit News, November 8, 2006.

42 Ted Roelofs, “(Mostly) Conservative to the Core; Dutch Values Made Us This Way, But a Large Group Has Never Fit the Mold,” Grand Rapids Press, October 31, 2004.

43 Russ Bellant, The Religious Right in Michigan Politics, Americans for Religious Liberty, Silver Spring, Maryland, 1996, pp. 52-55, 63.

44 Ibid., p. 61.

45 Ibid., p. 33.

46 Ibid., p. 32.

47 Ibid., pp. 34-35.

48 Ibid., p. 35.

49 “Elsa Prince, DeVos Give Calvin College $10 Million Each,” Holland Sentinel, July 27, 1998; author copy of Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation records.

50 Michael Lozon, Vision on Main Street: Downtown Holland’s Resurgence as the Heart of the Community , Lumir Corporation, 1994, pp. 101-115, 136-140.

51 Ibid., pp. 102-103.

52 Ibid., pp. 86-87.

53 Ibid.

54 Letter from Family Research Council president Gary Bauer, April 13, 1995.

55 Ibid.

56 “Major Auto Suppliers in West Michigan,” Grand Rapids Business Journal, May 26, 1992.

57 “The Prince Legacy,” Grand Rapids Press, March 3, 1995.

58 Michael Lozon, Vision on Main Street, p. 101; “Edgar Prince: Spirit of Giving Defined a Giant,” Grand Rapids Press, March 3, 1995.

59 “Edgar Prince: Spirit of Giving Defined a Giant,” Grand Rapids Press, March 3, 1995; Jim Harger, “Prince Corp. Will Continue to Prosper,” Grand Rapids Press, March 4, 1995.

60 Jim Harger, “Prince Corp. Will Continue to Prosper,” Grand Rapids Press, March 4, 1995.

61 “Edgar Prince: Spirit of Giving Defined a Giant,” Grand Rapids Press, March 3, 1995.

62 Ibid.

63 Jim Harger, “Prince Corp. Will Continue to Prosper,” Grand Rapids Press, March 4, 1995.

64 Ibid.

65 John Agar and John Burdick, “Eulogies Focus on Religious Side of Prince,” Holland Sentinel, March 6, 1995; Letter from Family Research Council president Gary Bauer, April 13, 1995.

66 John Agar and John Burdick, “Eulogies Focus on Religious Side of Prince,” Holland Sentinel, March 6, 1995.

67 “A Christian Man; Holland Philanthropist, Industrialist Edgar D. Prince Leaves Many Hometown Legacies,” Grand Rapids Press (Lakeshore supplement), March 3, 1995.

68 John Burdick, “Bil Mar Cofounder, Downtown Supporter Honored,” Holland Sentinel, October 19, 2002.

69 “Blackwater’s Founder on the Record,” Virginian-Pilot, July 24, 2006.

70 John Agar, “Family Says He Always Put Them First,” Holland Sentinel, March 3, 1995.

71 John Agar and John Burdick, “Eulogies Focus on Religious Side of Prince,” Holland Sentinel, March 6, 1995.

72 John Agar, “Family Says He Always Put Them First,” Holland Sentinel, March 3, 1995.

73 Ibid.

74 Letter from Family Research Council president Gary Bauer, April 13, 1995.

75 Joseph Neff and Jay Price, “A Business Gets a Start,” News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), July 29, 2004.

76 Ibid.

77 Author copy of Federal Election Commission records.

78 Ibid.

79 Erik Prince’s official Prince Manufacturing biography.

80 Ted Roelofs, “Neither Party Well Off Here as Primary Nears,” Grand Rapids Press, February 23, 1992.

81 Ibid.

82 Author copy of Erik Prince’s military records; Interviews 2006.

83 Interviews 2006.

84 Michael Lozon, “New Era Begins at Prince,” Holland Sentinel, October 2, 1996.

85 Ibid.

86 Ibid.

87 Richard Harrold, “City Officials Talked With Governor About Job Loss,” Holland Sentinel, March 31, 2004.

88 Mark Sanchez, “A Prince, by Any Other Name,” Holland Sentinel, October 16, 1998; Patrick Revere, “Analysts: Area Hit Hardest by JCI,” Holland Sentinel, June 2, 2006.

89 Ted Roelofs, “(Mostly) Conservative to the Core; Dutch Values Made Us This Way, But a Large Group Has Never Fit the Mold,” Grand Rapids Press, October 31, 2004.

90 John Burdick, “Bil Mar Cofounder, Downtown Supporter Honored,” Holland Sentinel, October 19, 2002; Russ Bellant, The Religious Right in Michigan Politics, p. 13.

91 John Burdick, “Bil Mar Cofounder, Downtown Supporter Honored,” Holland Sentinel, October 19, 2002.

92 Federal campaign records.

93 June Kronholz, “Big Test: In Michigan, Vouchers Get Money and Savvy and a Broad Coalition—Amway Chief and Wife Give Program Higher Profile, Better Shot at Success,” Wall Street Journal, October 25, 2000.

94 “Kerry Candaele’s interview with Robert Pelton,” www.iraqforsale.org/ robert_pelton.php, accessed November 28, 2006.

95 Joan Nicole Prince obituary from Herrick District Library obituary file; Obituary, Albany Times Union, June 24, 2003.

96 Amazon.com page for Christian Fatherhood, www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/0965858227, accessed November 30, 2006.

97 “Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics,” Catholic Answers Action, San Diego, 2006.

98 Ibid.

99 Karl Keating, “Karl Keating’s E-Letter,” April 29, 2003.

100 Author copy of Freiheit Foundation records.

101 Ibid.

102 David D. Kirkpatrick, “Club of the Most Powerful Gathers in Strictest Privacy,” New York Times, August 28, 2004.

103 Ibid.

104 Ibid.

105 Ibid.

106 Ibid.

107 Ibid.

108 Ibid.

109 Ibid.

110 Ibid.

111 Russ Bellant, The Religious Right in Michigan Politics, p. 13.

112 Ibid., p. 63.

113 Author copy of Freiheit Foundation records.

114 Ibid.

115 See Prison Fellowship Web site: www.prisonfellowship.org.

116 Joseph Loconte, “God’s Warden; How Charles Colson Went From Watergate Villain to Christian Hero,” The Weekly Standard, October 17, 2005.

117 David Plotz, “Charles Colson,” Slate magazine, March 11, 2000.

118 Morton H. Halperin, “Bush Is No Nixon—He’s Worse,” Los Angeles Times, July 16, 2006.

119 David Plotz, “Charles Colson,” Slate magazine, March 11, 2000.

120 Ibid.

121 Prison Fellowship Web site, www.prisonfellowship.org/generic.asp?ID=138, accessed December 4, 2006.

122 Ibid.

123 Transcript, “America’s Compassion in Action: Remarks by the President at the First White House National Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the Washington Hilton and Towers,” www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040601-10.html, June 1, 2004.

124 Ibid.

125 Gary Emerling, “Inmate Aid Project Grows,” Washington Times, March 20, 2005.

126 Charles Colson, “How Now Shall We Live,” Journal of Markets and Morality, Spring 2002.

127 Chuck Colson, “What’s Hidden in the Shadows: Radical Islam and U.S. Prisons,” Town-Hall. com, September 26, 2006.

128 Ibid.

129 Ibid.

130 “Honoring Chuck Colson,” www.acton.org/dinner/, accessed November 27, 2006.

131 Author copy of Freiheit Foundation records.

132 Acton Institute Board of Directors, www.acton.org/about/board/, accessed November 27, 2006; Joan Nicole Prince obituary from Herrick District Library obituary file.

133 Author copy of recording of Charles Colson’s speech “War of the Worlds” at the Acton Annual Dinner, October 26, 2006.

134 “Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium,” First Things, May 1994.

135 Damon Linker, The Theocons: Secular America Under Siege, Doubleday, New York, 2006.

136 “Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium,” First Things, May 1994.

137 Ibid.

138 Ibid.

139 Damon Linker, The Theocons, p. 7.

140 “Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium,” First Things, May 1994.

141 Ibid.

142 Ibid.

143 Ibid.

144 Ibid.

145 Ibid.

146 Damon Linker, The Theocons, pp. 85-86.

147 Charles Colson, “How Now Shall We Live,” Journal of Markets and Morality, Spring 2002.

148 Nathan Hodge, “Blackwater CEO Touts Private Peacekeeping Model,” Defense Daily, February 23, 2005.

149 Freiheit Foundation and Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation records.

150 “Milestone Man,” www.haggai-institute.com/News/NewsItem.asp?ItemID=990, accessed November 27, 2006.

151 “Where Christians are Persecuted Today,” Christian Freedom International, www.christianfreedom.org/program_detail.aspx?id=77, accessed November 27, 2006.

152 Hans S. Nichols, “Jacobson Converts Faith Into Action,” Insight Magazine, August 12, 2002.

153 “Christians Face Uncertain Future in Iraq, Says Christian Freedom International,” U.S. Newswire, August 2, 2004; “Losing the Christian Right?” The Hotline, March 31, 2006; Hans S. Nichols, “Jacobson Converts Faith into Action,” Insight Magazine, August 12, 2002.

154 “Christian Freedom International Urges Military Action to Protect the World’s Persecuted Christians and Others,” PR Newswire, October 8, 2001.

155 Christian Freedom International records; David R. Sands, “VOA Director Was Undermined by Doubts; ‘Principled Conservative’ Driven Out,” Washington Times, September 5, 2002; Mark Schapiro and Eric Burnand, “Keeping Faith,” The Nation, January 17, 1987; Walter Pincus, “Army’s Iraq Media Plan Criticized,” Washington Post, October 16, 2003.

156 June Kronholz, “Big Test: In Michigan, Vouchers Get Money and Savvy and a Broad Coalition—Amway Chief and Wife Give Program Higher Profile, Better Shot at Success,” Wall Street Journal, October 25, 2000.

157 Ibid.

158 Transcript, “Remarks by the President Upon Arrival at the South Lawn,” www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010916-2.html, September 16, 2001.

CHAPTER 3

1 Interview, July 2006.

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid.

4 Author copy, Erik D. Prince military records.

5 Interview, July 2006.

6 “Blackwater’s Founder on the Record,” Virginian-Pilot, July 24, 2006.

7 “Wife of Prince Founder Disappointed by Layoffs,” Holland Sentinel, April 1, 2004.

8 “Blackwater’s Founder on the Record,” Virginian-Pilot, July 24, 2006.

9 Blackwater USA Web site, www.blackwaterusa.com/about/, accessed 11/14/2006.

10 “Blackwater’s Founder on the Record,” Virginian-Pilot, July 24, 2006.

11 Interview, August 2006.

12 Dan Briody, The Halliburton Agenda: The Politics of Oil and Money, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey, 2004, p. 195-196.

13 Ibid., p. 184.

14 Ibid.

15 Ibid., p. 196.

16 Interview, July 2006.

17 Interview, July 2006.

18 Jon Frank, “Best of the Best Arms Training Site Aims to Lure Gun Enthusiasts, Soldiers,” Virginian-Pilot, September 27, 1998.

19 “The End of Democracy?” First Things, November 1996.

20 Ibid.

21 Ibid.

22 Ibid.

23 Charles W. Colson, “Kingdoms in Conflict,” First Things, November 1996.

24 James C. Dobson, “The End of Democracy? A Discussion Continued,” First Things, January 1997.

25 “The End of Democracy?” First Things, November 1996.

26 Freiheit Foundation and Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation records.

27 Erik D. Prince military records.

28 Delaware incorporation records.

29 Jon Frank, “Best of the Best Arms Training Site Aims to Lure Gun Enthusiasts, Soldiers,” Virginian-Pilot, September 27, 1998.

30 Blackwater USA Web site, captured April 5, 2004.

31 US Census.

32 Anna Saita, “Hearing Set on Beach Man’s Plan for Shooting Range in Moyock,” Virginian-Pilot, December 5, 1996.

33 Ibid.

34 Anna Saita, “Currituck Rejects Outdoor Firing Range: An Ordinance Change Was Needed to Pave the Way for the Project,” Virginian-Pilot, January 8, 1997.

35 Ibid.

36 Ibid.

37 Ibid.

38 Ibid.

39 Jon Frank, “Best of the Best Arms Training Site Aims to Lure Gun Enthusiasts, Soldiers,” Virginian-Pilot, September 27, 1998.

40 Interview, July 2006.

41 Interview, July 2006.

42 www.navstanorva.navy.mil/history.htm, November 14, 2006.

43 Interview, July 2006.

44 Ibid.

45 Jon Frank, “Best of the Best Arms Training Site Aims to Lure Gun Enthusiasts, Soldiers,” Virginian-Pilot, September 27, 1998.

46 Ibid.

47 Interview, July 2006.

48 Steve Waterman, “Blackwater Lodge,” http://williambowles.info/guests/blackwater.html, accessed June 23, 2006.

49 Ibid.

50 Kathy Scruggs, “Class Is In for SWAT Teams; North Carolina Facility Provides Realistic Setting to Train Officers for the Latest Type of Domestic Terrorism,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 24, 1999.

51 Jon Frank, “Training Program Simulates a School Under Assault; Blackwater Lodge in Moyock Is Run by Former SEALs,” Virginian-Pilot, September 23, 1999.

52 Ibid.

53 Ibid.

54 Interview, July 2006.

55 Kathy Scruggs, “Class Is In for SWAT Teams,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 24, 1999.

56 Jon Frank, “Training Program Simulates a School Under Assault,” Virginian-Pilot, September 23, 1999.

57 September 19, 2006 e-mail from General Services Administration spokesman Jon Anderson.

58 www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS07F0149K/GS07F0149K_online.htm; www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/ElibMain/ContractorInfo?contractNumber=GS-07F-0149K&contractorName=BLACKWATER+LODGE+AND+TRAINING+CE&executeQuery=YES; accessed November 14, 2006.

59 Interview, August 2006.

60 Department of Defense records.

61 Federal Election Commission records.

62 September 19, 2006 e-mail.

63 Ibid.

64 Ibid.

65 Interview, July 2006.

66 Ibid.

67 FedBizOps Web site, www.fbo.gov/servlet/Documents/R/450249, accessed July 25, 2006.

68 Adm. Vern Clark testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, May 3, 2001.

69 1998 Department of the Navy Posture Statement, chapter 7: “Efficiency: Exploiting the Revolution in Business Affairs.”

70 Ibid.

71 Barry Yeoman, “Soldiers of Good Fortune,” Mother Jones, May/June 2003.

72 Bill Sizemore and Joanne Kimberlin, “Profitable Patriotism,” Virginian-Pilot, July 24, 2006.

73 Chris Taylor speech at George Washington University Law School, January 28, 2005.

74 “Defense Contracts,” Defense Daily, September 18, 2002.

75 Ibid.

76 Matthew Dolan, “Tough Duty: The Terror Watch; Protecting Their Own,” Virginian-Pilot, December 15, 2002.

77 Erik Prince on The O’Reilly Factor, September 27, 2001.

78 Federal Procurement Data System records.

79 Ibid.

80 Regent University Web site, www.regent.edu, accessed November 17, 2006.

81 Interview, August 2006.

82 Ibid.

83 Author copy, Delaware Department of State corporation records.

84 Interviews, August 2006; Robert Young Pelton, Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror, Crown, New York, 2006, pp. 36-41.

85 Ibid.

86 “Former Alex.Brown Exec Becomes CIA’s No. 3 Man,” Associated Press, March 16, 2001.

87 Anita Raghavan, “Bankers Trust’s Vice Chairman Resigns to Become Counselor to CIA Director,” Wall Street Journal, January 21, 1998.

88 Evan Thomas, “A James Bond Wanna-be? Buzzy Krongard Plans to Shake Up the Troubled CIA,” Newsweek, May 28, 2001.

89 Ibid.

90 Ibid.

91 Ibid.

92 Chris Blackhurst, “Mystery of terror ‘insider dealers,’” Independent on Sunday (UK), October 14, 2001.

93 Evan Thomas, “A James Bond Wanna-be? Buzzy Krongard Plans to Shake Up the Troubled CIA,” Newsweek, May 28, 2001.

94 David Ignatius, “The CIA as Venture Capitalist,” Washington Post, September 29, 1999.

95 “It’s Not Going to Be Pretty, CIA Says,” (Hobart) Mercury, October 20, 2001.

96 Tony Allen-Mills, “Let Bin Laden Stay Free, Says CIA Man,” Sunday Times (UK), January 9, 2005.

97 Ibid.

98 Pelton, Licensed to Kill, p. 37.

99 Interview, August 2006.

100 Ibid.

101 Interviews, August 2006; Pelton, Licensed to Kill, pp. 36-41.

102 Interview, August 2006.

103 Interviews, August 2006. Pelton, Licensed to Kill, pp. 36-37.

104 Interview, August 2006.

105 Ibid.

106 Ibid.

107 Pelton, Licensed to Kill, p. 38.

108 Ibid., pp. 36-41.

109 Ibid., pp. 38-41.

110 Ibid.

111 Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,” Harper’s Magazine online, September 12, 2006.

112 Ibid.

113 Interview, August 2006.

114 Barry Yeoman, “Soldiers of Good Fortune,” Mother Jones, May/June 2003.

CHAPTER 4

1 Anthony Shadid, Night Draws Near: Iraq’s People in the Shadow of America’s War, Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2005, p. 283.

2 Alfonso Rojo, “The Gulf War: Death Comes to a Town Almost Forgotten by War—Eyewitness,” Guardian (London), February 18, 1991.

3 Ibid.

4 David Fairhall, Kathy Evans, and Richard Norton-Taylor, “RAF Admits Bomb Hit Civilian Area—‘50 Die’ as Laser Aimer Fails,” Guardian (London), February 18, 1991.

5 David White, “Britain Admits Bomb Missed Target and Hit Town,” Financial Times (London), February 18, 1991.

6 Finlay Marshall, “RAF Regrets Civilian Deaths In Fallouja,” The Press Association Limited, February 18, 1991.

7 Ibid.

8 “Pentagon Top Brass ‘Admit Bomb Error,’” Courier-Mail (Queensland, Australia), February 18, 1991.

9 This is based on the author’s time spent in Fallujah in 2002.

10 Rajiv Chandrasekaran, “Troops Kill Anti-U.S. Protesters; Accounts Differ; 13 Dead, Many Hurt, Iraqis Say,” Washington Post, April 30, 2003.

11 Interview, November 2006.

12 Rajiv Chandrasekaran, “Troops Kill Anti-U.S. Protesters; Accounts Differ; 13 Dead, Many Hurt, Iraqis Say,” Washington Post, April 30, 2003.

13 Charles J. Hanley, “U.S. Troops, Conservative Religion a Fiery Combination in Heartland Town,” Associated Press, May 1, 2003.

14 Rajiv Chandrasekaran, “Troops Kill Anti-U.S. Protesters; Accounts Differ; 13 Dead, Many Hurt, Iraqis Say,” Washington Post, April 30, 2003.

15 Charles J. Hanley, “U.S. Troops, Conservative Religion a Fiery Combination in Heartland Town,” Associated Press, May 1, 2003.

16 Ibid.

17 Anthony Shadid, Night Draws Near, p. 233.

18 Charles J. Hanley, “U.S. Troops, Conservative Religion a Fiery Combination in Heartland Town,” Associated Press, May 1, 2003.

19 Larry Kaplow, “U.S. Claims Defense in Killing 13, Iraqis Said Just Protesting,” Cox News Service, April 29, 2003. Also: Rajiv Chandrasekaran, “Troops Kill Anti-U.S. Protesters; Accounts Differ; 13 Dead, Many Hurt, Iraqis Say,” Washington Post, April 30, 2003.

20 Ellen Knickmeyer, “U.S. Soldiers Fire on Iraqi Protesters After Reportedly Taking Fire; Hospital Chief Says 13 Iraqis Are Dead,” Associated Press, April 29, 2003.

21 Ellen Knickmeyer, “U.S. Soldiers Fire on Iraqi Protesters After Reportedly Taking Fire; Hospital Chief Says 13 Iraqis Are Dead,” Associated Press, April 29, 2003.

22 Among others: “US Troops Shoot Dead Three Iraqi Demonstrators,” Xinhua News Agency (China), April 30, 2003.

23 Mohamed Hasni, “US Troops Shoot Dead 13 Iraqis at Anti-American Protest,” Agence France-Presse, April 29, 2003.

24 Ellen Knickmeyer, “U.S. Soldiers Fire on Iraqi Protesters After Reportedly Taking Fire; Hospital Chief Says 13 Iraqis Are Dead,” Associated Press, April 29, 2003.

25 Rajiv Chandrasekaran, “Troops Kill Anti-U.S. Protesters; Accounts Differ; 13 Dead, Many Hurt, Iraqis Say,” Washington Post, April 30, 2003.

26 Human Rights Watch Report, “Violent Response: The U.S. Army in Al-Falluja,” June 2003.

27 These claims were very widespread and represented in virtually all on-the-ground media reports from Fallujah on the incident.

28 Rajiv Chandrasekaran, “Troops Kill Anti-U.S. Protesters; Accounts Differ; 13 Dead, Many Hurt, Iraqis Say,” Washington Post, April 30, 2003.

29 Alan Philps, “U.S. Troops Fire Into Crowd: 13 Iraqis Killed, 75 Wounded. U.S. Claims Protesters Fired First Shots,” Daily Telegraph (London), April 30, 2003.

30 Ibid.

31 Elizabeth Neuffer, “US, Iraqis at Odds on Protesters’ Deaths,” Boston Globe, April 30, 2003.

32 Ibid.

33 Rajiv Chandrasekaran, “Troops Kill Anti-U.S. Protesters; Accounts Differ; 13 Dead, Many Hurt, Iraqis Say,” Washington Post, April 30, 2003.

34 Phil Reeves, “Iraq Aftermath: At Least 10 Dead As US Soldiers Fire on School Protest; US Put Under Pressure After Civilian Shooting, As Europe Forges Ahead,” The Independent (London), April 30, 2003.

35 Ibid.

36 Ibid.

37 Ellen Knickmeyer, “U.S. Soldiers Fire on Iraqi Protesters After Reportedly Taking Fire; Hospital Chief Says 13 Iraqis Are Dead,” Associated Press, April 29, 2003; Mohamed Hasni, “US Troops Shoot Dead 13 Iraqis at Anti-American Protest,” Agence France-Presse, April 29, 2003.

38 Human Rights Watch Report, “Violent Response: The U.S. Army in Al-Falluja,” June 2003.

39 Ibid.

40 Ellen Knickmeyer, “U.S. Soldiers Fire on Iraqi Protesters After Reportedly Taking Fire; Hospital Chief Says 13 Iraqis Are Dead,” Associated Press, April 29, 2003.

41 “US Troops Kill 13 at Pro-Saddam Rally, Claim Self-defence,” Agence France-Presse, April 29, 2003.

42 Elizabeth Neuffer, “US, Iraqis at Odds on Protesters’ Deaths,” Boston Globe, April 30, 2003.

43 Phil Reeves, “Iraq Aftermath: At Least 10 Dead As US Soldiers Fire on School Protest; US Put Under Pressure After Civilian Shooting, As Europe Forges Ahead,” The Independent (London), April 30, 2003.

44 Human Rights Watch Report, “Violent Response: The U.S. Army in Al-Falluja,” June 2003.

45 Ibid.

46 Scott Wilson, “U.S. Forces Kill 2 More Civilians; Tensions Remain High in City in Central Iraq,” Washington Post, May 1, 2003.

47 Ian Fisher, “U.S. Force Said to Kill 15 Iraqis During an Anti-American Rally,” New York Times, April 30, 2003.

48 See, for example: Martin Sieff, “Falluja Fire-bell in the Night,” United Press International, May 1, 2003.

49 P. Mitchell Prothero, “Second Day of Fighting at al-Falluja,” UPI, April 30, 2003.

50 Ian Fisher with Michael R. Gordon, “G.I.s Kill 2 More Protesters in an Angry Iraqi City,” New York Times, May 1, 2003.

51 P. Mitchell Prothero, “Second Day of Fighting at al-Falluja,” UPI, April 30, 2003.

52 Ian Fisher with Michael R. Gordon, “G.I.s Kill 2 More Protesters in an Angry Iraqi City,” New York Times, May 1, 2003.

53 Scott Wilson, “U.S. Forces Kill 2 More Civilians; Tensions Remain High in City in Central Iraq,” Washington Post, May 1, 2003.

54 Ibid.

55 Ibid.

56 Ian Fisher with Michael R. Gordon, “G.I.s Kill 2 More Protesters in an Angry Iraqi City,” New York Times, May 1, 2003.

57 “Rumsfeld Flies Into Iraq and Declares Iraqis Free,” Agence France-Presse, April 30, 2003.

58 Ibid.

59 Phil Reeves, “Iraq Aftermath: Iraqi Rage Grows After Fallujah Massacre,” Independent on Sunday (London), May 4, 2003.

60 As published on Guardian (London) Web site, “Full text: The Saddam Hussein ‘Letter,’” translated by Brian Whitaker, April 30, 2003.

61 Charles J. Hanley, “U.S. Troops, Conservative Religion a Fiery Combination in Heartland Town,” Associated Press, May 1, 2003.

62 Niko Price, “U.S. Troops Again Fire on Anti-American Protesters; Rumsfeld Visits Baghdad,” Associated Press, April 30, 2003.

63 Charles J. Hanley, “U.S. Troops, Conservative Religion a Fiery Combination in Heartland Town,” Associated Press, May 1, 2003.

64 Sudarsan Raghavan, “Resistance Songs Urge Iraqis to Rise Up Against Occupiers,” Knight-Ridder , December 28, 2003.

65 Ivan Watson, “Inexpensive Propaganda DVDs Being Produced by Insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq,” National Public Radio Morning Edition transcript, March 31, 2004.

66 Sudarsan Raghavan, “Resistance Songs Urge Iraqis to Rise Up Against Occupiers,” Knight-Ridder , December 28, 2003.

CHAPTER 5

1 Some of the best information on Paul Bremer’s time in Iraq can be found in his book: L. Paul Bremer III with Malcolm McConnell, My Year in Iraq: The Struggle to Build a Future of Hope, Simon & Schuster, New York, 2006.

2 T. Christian Miller, “War’s Aftermath: Stinging Report on Missing Funds; Audit Finds U.S.-led Coalition Managed Iraqi Money Poorly,” Los Angeles Times, January 31, 2005.

3 Bremer cochaired, with former Attorney General Edwin Meese, the Heritage Foundation’s Homeland Security Taskforce.

4 Nixon Center program brief, “Countering the Changing Threat of International Terrorism; A Presentation by Ambassador L. Paul Bremer” at The Nixon Center, Washington, D.C., July 19, 2000. See: www.nixoncenter.org/publications/Program%20Briefs/vol6no19 Bremer.htm.

5 See Marsh & McLennan Web site www.mmc.com/about/history.php.

6 L. Paul Bremer, “What Now? Crush Them; Let Us Wage Total War on Our Foes,” Wall Street Journal, September 13, 2001.

7 Fox Special Report with Brit Hume transcript, “Terrorism Hits America,” Fox News, September 11, 2001.

8 Naomi Klein, “Downsizing in Disguise,” The Nation, June 23, 2003.

9 Ibid.

10 Ibid.

11 L. Paul Bremer, My Year in Iraq, pp. 6-7.

12 Knut Royce (Newsday), “Diplomat Expected to Take Charge in Iraq; Bremer to Replace Garner as Leader of Postwar Transition,” Seattle Times, May 2, 2003.

13 Naomi Klein, “Downsizing in Disguise,” The Nation, June 23, 2003.

14 Romesh Ratnesar with Simon Robinson, “Life Under Fire,” Time, July 14, 2003.

15 David Leigh, “General Sacked by Bush Says He Wanted Early Elections,” Guardian, March 18, 2004.

16 Mike Allen, “Expert on Terrorism to Direct Rebuilding,” Washington Post, May 2, 2003.

17 Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 8.

18 Scott Wilson, “Bremer Adopts Firmer Tone for U.S. Occupation of Iraq,” Washington Post, May 26, 2003.

19 Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 4.

20 In My Year in Iraq, Bremer describes Defense Secretary Rumsfeld as giving him his “marching orders” regarding de-Baathification with Feith doing the groundwork, p. 39.

21 Naomi Klein, “Baghdad Year Zero,” Harper’s, September 2004.

22 Lara Marlowe, “Mission Impossible,” Irish Times, April 17, 2004.

23 Anthony Shadid, Night Draws Near, p. 152.

24 David Rieff, “Blueprint for a Mess,” The New York Times Magazine, November 2, 2003.

25 Marc Lacey, “After the War: The Military; Jobs at Risk, Ex-Iraqi Soldiers Vow Fight If Allies Don’t Pay,” New York Times, May 25, 2003.

26 Ilene R. Prusher, “Jobless Iraqi Soldiers Issue Threats,” Christian Science Monitor, June 5, 2003.

27 Edward Wong, “Beleaguered Premier Warns U.S. to Stop Interfering in Iraq’s Politics,” New York Times, March 30, 2006.

28 Andrew Marshall (Reuters), “Sacked Troops, Tribes Threaten U.S. with War,” Toronto Star, June 3, 2003.

29 Ibid.

30 Interview with Robert Frost, “Breakfast With Frost,” BBC, as quoted on the BBC Web site, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3029538.stm, June 29, 2003.

31 Romesh Ratnesar with Simon Robinson, “Life Under Fire,” Time, July 14, 2003.

32 Ibid.

33 Mark Zimmermann, “Iraq Envoy Says Faith Gives Him Strength,” Catholic Standard, June 19, 2003.

34 Ed Sealover, “Candidates Talk Religion at Focus Forum,” Colorado Springs Gazette, August 1, 2006.

35 Dick Foster, “Bremer Says He Has Background Others Lack; Lawyer Running on His International Experience, Problem-solving Ability,” Rocky Mountain News (Denver), July 26, 2006.

36 From Duncan Bremer’s campaign blog: http://bremerforcongress.blogspot.com/2006/08/freedom-of-religion.html, accessed November 13, 2006.

37 Focus on the Family radio show hosted by James Dobson, “A Visit With Ambassador and Mrs. Bremer,” June 27, 2006.

38 Mark Zimmermann, “Iraq Envoy Says Faith Gives Him Strength,” Catholic Standard, June 19, 2003.

39 Naomi Klein, “Baghdad Year Zero,” Harper’s, September 2004.

40 Ibid.

41 Jeff Madrick, “Economic Scene; The Economic Plan for Iraq Seems Long on Ideology, Short on Common Sense,” New York Times, October 2, 2003.

42 Alissa J. Rubin, Mark Fineman, and Edmund Sanders, “Iraqis on Council to Get Guards,” Los Angeles Times, August 13, 2003.

43 Author copy, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction July 2004 Quarterly Report.

44 Bill Sizemore and Joanne Kimberlin, “Blackwater: On the Front Lines,” Virginian-Pilot, July 25, 2006.

45 L. Paul Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 148.

46 L. Paul Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 152.

47 Ibid.

48 Jonathan E. Kaplan, “Private Army Seeking Political Advice in D.C.,” The Hill, April 14, 2004.

49 Dana Priest and Mary Pat Flaherty, “Under Fire, Security Firms Form an Alliance,” Washington Post, April 8, 2004.

50 John Helyar, “Fortunes of War,” Fortune, July 26, 2004, as posted at http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/07/26/377180/index.htm.

51 Chris Talor speaking at “Contractors on The Battlefield: Learning from The Experience in Iraq,” George Washington University, January 28, 2005.

52 Ibid.

53 Ibid.

54 Energy Intelligence Group, Inc., “Perspective: Doing Business in Iraq,” Energy Compass, October 16, 2003.

55 According to its filings with the North Carolina Secretary of State, Blackwater Security Consulting LLC was formed on September 29, 2003.

56 As stated on Blackwater’s Web site, www.blackwatersecurity.com/dospsd.html.

57 Ibid.

58 “In his own words: ‘The guys who do this are not money-hungry pigs,’” Virginian-Pilot, July 28, 2006.

59 Tim Shorrock, “Contractor’s Arrogance Contributed to Iraqi Rebellion, Marine Colonel Says,” http://timshorrock.blogspot.com/2005/01/contractors-arrogance-contributed-to.html, posted January 31, 2005.

60 Ibid.

61 Ibid.

62 Interview with PBS Frontline, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/warriors/interviews/hammes.html, posted June 21, 2005.

63 Michael Duffy, “When Private Armies Take to the Front Lines,” Time, April 12, 2004.

64 Joanne Kimberlin, “Crash Course in Survival; Class Teaches Those Preparing for Iraq How to Defend Themselves Amid Danger,” Virginian-Pilot, June 30, 2004.

65 The full story of this incident is detailed in: T. Christian Miller, Blood Money: Wasted Billions, Lost Lives, and Corporate Greed in Iraq, Little Brown and Company, New York, 2006, pp. 169-171.

66 T. Christian Miller, Blood Money, p. 168.

67 Interview with PBS Frontline, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/warriors/interviews/hammes.html, posted June 21, 2005.

68 As reported by CNN, “Purported bin Laden Tape Offers Gold for Bremer,” http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/05/06/bin.laden.message, posted May 7, 2004.

69 Robert Young Pelton, “Riding Shotgun in Baghdad,” Popular Mechanics, April 2005.

70 “In his own words: ‘The guys who do this are not money-hungry pigs.’” Virginian-Pilot, July 28, 2006.

71 L. Paul Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 151.

72 Ibid., p. 245.

73 Ibid., p. 246.

74 Alan Sipress, “Bremer Survived Ambush Outside Baghdad; Officials Don’t See Attack as Attempt at Assassination,” Washington Post, December 20, 2003.

75 Ibid.

76 Michele Faul, “Bremer Escaped Injury in Ambush on Convoy; Iraqi Woman Killed by Blast at Shiite Party Office,” Associated Press, December 19, 2003.

77 Alan Sipress, “Bremer Survived Ambush Outside Baghdad; Officials Don’t See Attack as Attempt at Assassination,” Washington Post, December 20, 2003.

78 Ibid.

79 Coalition Provisional Authority briefing transcript, Baghdad, December 19, 2003.

80 Sophie Claudet, “Coalition Removes First of Saddam’s Four Infamous Heads Atop Baghdad Palace,” Agence France-Presse, December 2, 2003.

81 Ibid.

82 “In his own words: ‘The guys who do this are not money-hungry pigs,’” Virginian-Pilot, July 28, 2006.

83 Jim Wolf (Reuters), “U.S. Tells Contractors to Bring Guards If They Use Work Sites in Iraq,” Orlando Sentinel, November 20, 2003.

84 “The Baghdad boom; Mercenaries,” The Economist, March 27, 2004.

85 Ibid.

86 James Hider, “Soldiers of Fortune Rush to Cash in on Unrest in Baghdad,” The Times of London, March 31, 2004.

87 John G. Roos, “1-shot killer; This 5.56mm round has all the stopping power you need—but you can’t use it,” The Army Times, December 1, 2003.

88 Ibid.

89 Ibid.

90 Ibid.

91 Ibid.

92 “A Better Bullet; Blended-metal Ammo Rates Realistic Testing,” Armed Forces Journal, December 2003 editorial.

93 Ibid.

94 John G. Roos, “1-shot killer,” The Army Times, December 1, 2003.

95 “A Better Bullet,” Armed Forces Journal, December 2003 editorial.

96 Ben Thomas’s blog, http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=63089073&blogID=107649210&MyToken=89c3dd1c-4760-4c6b-8e90-65039e474568, posted April 8, 2006.

97 See, for example: Michael Duffy, “When Private Armies Take to the Front Lines,” Time, April 12, 2004.

98 Mary Pat Flaherty and Jackie Spinner, “In Iraq, Contractors’ Security Costs Rise,” Washington Post, February 18, 2004.

99 Jackie Calmes, “Washington Wire: A Special Weekly Report From The Wall Street Journal’s Capital Bureau,” Wall Street Journal, February 13, 2004.

100 Marego Athans, “Security Businesses, Black Market in Guns Thrive,” Baltimore Sun, March 18, 2004.

101 Walter Pincus, “More Private Forces Eyed for Iraq; Green Zone Contractor Would Free U.S. Troops for Other Duties,” Washington Post, March 18, 2004.

102 David Barstow, James Glanz, Richard A. Oppel Jr., and Kate Zernike, “Security Companies: Shadow Soldiers in Iraq,” New York Times, April 19, 2004.

CHAPTER 6

1 Nicolas Pelham, “Fear of Ambush Slows Urgent Drive to Rebuild,” Financial Times, January 13, 2004.

2 James Hider, “Soldiers of Fortune Rush to Cash in on Unrest in Baghdad,” The Times (London), March 31, 2004.

3 Michael Stetz, “War Against Terror Gives Former SEALs the Chance to Resurrect Their Skills,” San Diego Union-Tribune, June 3, 2004.

4 Ted Roelofs, “Good Money, Constant Fear; Local Residents Stake Their Claim as Iraqi Civilian Contractors,” Grand Rapids Press, September 26, 2004.

5 Joanne Kimberlin, “Iraq ‘Operators’ Perform Duties in the Line of Fire,” Virginian-Pilot, April 15, 2004.

6 Michael Stetz, “War Against Terror Gives Former SEALs the Chance to Resurrect Their Skills,” San Diego Union-Tribune, June 3, 2004.

7 Ibid.

8 Joanne Kimberlin, “Iraq ‘Operators’ Perform Duties in the Line of Fire,” Virginian-Pilot, April 15, 2004.

9 Unless otherwise noted, all biographical information on Scott Helvenston is from the author’s interviews with his mother, conducted throughout 2006, as are her quotes in this book.

10 Matt Crenson, “Military Experts Envision Lightning-Fast Special Forces Attack as Next Move in Afghanistan,” Associated Press, October 11, 2001.

11 Samuel Lee, “War Is Hell, But It Makes for Good TV,” Straits Times (Singapore), January 21, 2002.

12 Mark A. Perigard, “‘Missions’ Accomplished—USA Reality Series Crowns a Champion Tonight,” Boston Herald, April 17, 2002.

13 Jay Price and Joseph Neff and Correspondent Charles Crain, “Series: The Bridge”; Chapter 5: “‘Scotty Bod’ Grows Up,” News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), July 30, 2004.

14 Andrea Perera, “Mom Mourns Her Fallen Son; Leesburg Woman Saw TV Reports, Then Got Call; Ex-Seal Was Pentathlon Champ, Actor in Movies,” Orlando Sentinel, April 2, 2004.

15 Abby Goodnough and Michael Luo, “Amid Grief, They Focus on Pride; Iraq Ambush Victims’ Kin Recall How Their Loved Ones Lived,” New York Times, April 4, 2004.

16 Andrea Perera, “Mom Mourns Her Fallen Son; Leesburg Woman Saw TV Reports, Then Got Call; Ex-Seal Was Pentathlon Champ, Actor in Movies,” Orlando Sentinel, April 2, 2004.

17 Jonathan Franklin, “US Contractor Recruits Guards for Iraq in Chile,” Guardian, March 5, 2004.

18 Ibid.

19 Author copy, Scott Helvenston e-mail; subject: extreme unprofessionalism, March 27, 2004.

20 Ibid.

21 Ibid.

22 Kathy Potter e-mail; subject: shared Conversations with Scott, April 13, 2004.

23 Ibid.

24 Joseph Neff and Jay Price, “Contractors in Iraq Make Costs Balloon; Extensive Paramilitary Work Earns Profit on Several Levels,” News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), October 24, 2004.

25 Ibid.

26 Ibid.

27 Transcript, “Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight,” House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, February 7, 2007.

28 Author copy of contract.

29 Richard P. Nordan v. Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC et al., filed January 5, 2005.

30 Jay Price and Joseph Neff, “Security Company Broke Own Rules; Four U.S. Civilians Ambushed and Killed in Fallujah, Iraq, Lacked Some Protection Their Contract Promised,” August 22, 2004.

31 Ibid.

32 Ibid.

33 Richard P. Nordan v. Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC et al., filed January 5, 2005.

34 Author copy, Scott Helvenston e-mail; subject: extreme unprofessionalism, March 27, 2004.

35 Ibid.

36 Ibid.

37 Ibid.

38 Richard P. Nordan v. Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC et al., filed January 5, 2005.

39 E-mail to author April 14, 2006.

40 Author copy.

CHAPTER 7

1 Human Rights Watch Report, “Violent Response: The U.S. Army in Al-Falluja,” June 2003.

2 Department of Defense Transcript, “82nd Airborne Division Commanding General’s Briefing from Iraq,” January 6, 2004.

3 Anthony Shadid, Night Draws Near, p. 235.

4 Patrick Graham, “23 Killed as Iraqi Rebels Overrun Police Station,” Observer, February 15, 2004.

5 L. Paul Bremer III, My Year in Iraq, pp. 314-15.

6 Associated Press, “A Year After Invasion, Some Iraqis Allege More Insecurities,” March 20, 2004.

7 CNN, “General: It’s ‘Fun to Shoot Some People,’” CNN.com, February 4, 2005. See: www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/03/general.shoot/.

8 Hamza Hendawi, “Marines Seek to Pacify Fallujah With Show of Force, Residents Are Skeptical,” Associated Press, March 30, 2004.

9 Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,” Washington Post, April 11, 2004.

10 Ibid.

11 Christopher Torchia, “13 Killed in Iraq, Including US Marine,” Associated Press, March 26, 2004.

12 “Four Killed, Seven Wounded in Iraq Battle: Hospital,” Agence France-Presse, March 26, 2004.

13 Hamza Hendawi, “Marines Seek to Pacify Fallujah With Show of Force, Residents Are Skeptical,” Associated Press, March 30, 2004.

14 Stephen Farrell and Richard Beeston, “Out of the Desert Darkness Came Hellfire,” The Times of London, March 23, 2004.

15 Nayla Razzouk, “Iraqis Fear ‘Resistance Leader’ Yassin’s Killing May Fuel Terrorism,” Agence France-Presse, March 22, 2004.

16 Ibid.

17 Hamza Hendawi, “Marines Seek to Pacify Fallujah With Show of Force, Residents Are Skeptical,” Associated Press, March 30, 2004.

18 Dexter Filkins (Associated Press), “2 Civilians Killed in Mosul Gunbattles,” Houston Chronicle , March 27, 2004.

19 Hamza Hendawi, “Marines Seek to Pacify Fallujah With Show of Force, Residents Are Skeptical,” Associated Press, March 30, 2004.

20 Ibid.

21 Transcript, NewsHour With Jim Lehrer, PBS, March 31, 2004.

22 Thomas E. Ricks, Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq, Penguin Press, New York, 2006, p. 331.

23 Transcript, press briefing, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, Baghdad, Iraq, March 30, 2004.

24 Unless otherwise noted, all biographical information on Jerry Zovko, as well as the comments of his mother, Danica Zovko, is from interviews conducted by the author, Summer 2006.

25 Joseph Neff and Jay Price, “A Private Driven man; A 1995 Tour in Bosnia Matured Jerry Zovko and Steered Him to the Contracting Business That Would Take Him to Iraq,” News and Observer, July 28, 2004.

26 Interview, Summer 2006.

27 Joseph Neff and Jay Price, “Army Molds a Future; During His 20 Years in the Service, Wesley Batalona Built Skills That Would Come Into Play Later for the Tough Former Sergeant,” News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), July 27, 2004.

28 Ibid.

29 “Slain US Security Agents Once Served With Navy Seals, Special Forces,” Agence France-Presse, April 2, 2004.

30 Ibid.

31 Jay Price, Joseph Neff, and Charles Crain, “Mutilation Seen Around the World,” News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), July 25, 2004.

32 Bill Powell, “Into the Cauldron: The Murder of Four American Civilians in Fallujah Provokes a Vow of Retaliation. But Can Anything Defuse the Rage in Iraq?” Time, April 8, 2004.

33 Ibid.

34 The description of this mission and the details of it come largely from three sources: various Blackwater contracts obtained by the author; the lawsuit filed against Blackwater by the families of the four men in January 2005; and the groundbreaking investigative reporting done by Jay Price and Joseph Neff of the News and Observer newspaper.

35 PBS Frontline Web site, “Private Warriors: Contractors: The High-Risk Contracting Business, ” www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/warriors/contractors/highrisk.html, posted June 21, 2005.

36 Jay Price and Joseph Neff, “Families Sue Over Fallujah Ambush: Relatives Contend an N.C. Company Denied Necessary Equipment to Four Men Who Were Killed in the Iraqi City,” the News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), January 6, 2005.

37 Jay Prince and Joseph Neff, “Security Company Broke Own Rules; Four U.S. Civilians Ambushed and Killed in Fallujah, Iraq, Lacked Some Protection Their Contract Promised,” News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), August 22, 2004.

38 Jay Price, Joseph Neff, and Charles Crain, “Graveyard; The Ambush Was So Sudden That the Four Private Contractors Had Little Chance to React. The Men had Driven Into Fallujah Rather Than Bypassing That Tinderbox in the Sunni Triangle. The City’s Barely Suppressed Fury Boiled to the Surface,” News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), July 31, 2004.

39 Jay Prince, Joseph Neff, and Charles Crain, “Ambush Kills 4 Workers in Iraq; Men Worked for N.C. Security Firm,” News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), June 7, 2004.

40 Richard P. Nordan v. Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC et. al., filed January 5, 2005.

41 Jay Prince and Joseph Neff, “Security Company Broke Own Rules; Four U.S. Civilians Ambushed and Killed in Fallujah, Iraq, Lacked Some Protection Their Contract Promised,” News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), August 22, 2004.

42 Author copy of contract.

43 Jay Price, Joseph Neff, and Charles Crain, “Graveyard; The Ambush Was So Sudden That the Four Private Contractors Had Little Chance to React. The Men had Driven Into Fallujah Rather Than Bypassing That Tinderbox in the Sunni Triangle. The City’s Barely Suppressed Fury Boiled to the Surface,” News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), July 31, 2004.

44 Ibid.

45 Joshua Hammer, “Cowboy Up,” The New Republic, May 24, 2004.

46 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah,” September 2007.

47 Ibid.

48 Bill Powell, “Into the Cauldron; The Murder of Four American Civilians in Fallujah Provokes a Vow of Retaliation. But Can Anything Defuse the Rage in Iraq?” Time, April 8, 2004.

49 As quoted in the documentary Shadow Company, released 2006, produced and directed by Nick Bicanic, Purpose Films.

50 Robert Young Pelton, Licensed to Kill, p. 134.

51 David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,” New York Times, April 9, 2004.

52 Thomas E. Ricks, Fiasco, p. 331.

53 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah,” September 2007.

54 Bill Powell, “Into the Cauldron; The Murder of Four American Civilians in Fallujah Provokes a Vow of Retaliation. But Can Anything Defuse the Rage in Iraq?” Time, April 8, 2004.

55 Sewell Chan, “Descent Into Carnage in a Hostile City; In Fallujah, Mob Unleashes Its Rage,” Washington Post, April 1, 2004. Note: Subsequent autopsies determined that the men died immediately, disputing these accounts, but the bodies were horribly mutilated.

56 Bill Powell, “Into the Cauldron; The Murder of Four American Civilians in Fallujah Provokes a Vow of Retaliation. But Can Anything Defuse the Rage in Iraq?” Time, April 8, 2004.

57 Ibid.

58 Sameer N. Yacoub, “Insurgents Attack U.S. Convoy in Fallujah Day After Bodies of American Civilians Dragged Through Streets,” Associated Press, April 1, 2004.

59 Sewell Chan, “Descent Into Carnage in a Hostile City; In Fallujah, Mob Unleashes Its Rage,” Washington Post, April 1, 2004.

60 Ibid.

61 Ibid.

62 Ibid.

63 Michael Georgy, “Iraqis Drag Bodies Through Streets After Attack,” Reuters, March 31, 2004.

CHAPTER 8

1 Bing West, No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah, Bantam Dell, New York, 2005, p. 58.

2 Transcript, “Deputy Director for Coalition Operations Hosts News Conference on Security Operations in Iraq,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, March 31, 2004.

3 Tom Raum, “Stakes for U.S. Much Higher in Iraq Than They Were in Somalia,” Associated Press, April 1, 2004.

4 Transcript, “Deputy Director for Coalition Operations Hosts News Conference on Security Operations in Iraq,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, March 31, 2004.

5 Ibid.

6 Ibid.

7 Ibid.

8 Ibid.

9 Transcript, “Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Dinner Marriott Wardman Park Hotel Washington, D.C.,” White House News Release, March 31, 2004.

10 L. Paul Bremer III, My Year in Iraq, p. 317.

11 Ibid.

12 Ibid.

13 Tom Raum, “Stakes for U.S. Much Higher in Iraq Than They Were in Somalia,” Associated Press, April 1, 2004.

14 David Stout, “White House, With Support, Vows to Finish Mission in Iraq, New York Times, April 1, 2004.

15 Ibid.

16 Transcript, The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Network, March 31, 2004.

17 Ibid.

18 Transcript, The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Network, April 1, 2004.

19 Ibid.

20 Transcript, Scarborough Country, MSNBC, March 31, 2004.

21 Claude Salhani, “Analysis: Mogadishu Revisited?” UPI, March 31, 2004.

22 Paul McGeough, “Shocked Iraqis Wait for US Retribution,” Sydney Morning Herald, April 3, 2004.

23 Transcript, “Deputy Director for Coalition Operations Hosts News Conference on Security Operations in Iraq,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, March 31, 2004.

24 Transcript, CNN Crossfire, CNN, April 1, 2004.

25 Transcript, “Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing With Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, April 1, 2004.

26 Ibid.

27 Ibid.

28 Transcript, “Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing With Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, April 12, 2004.

29 Jeffrey Gettleman, “4 From U.S. Killed in Ambush in Iraq; Mob Drags Bodies,” New York Times, April 1, 2004.

30 Transcript, Larry King Live, CNN, April 1, 2004.

31 Anne Barnard and Thanassis Cambanis, “Brutality, Cheers in Iraq: Mob Drags Burned Bodies of Four Slain American Civilians Through Streets,” Boston Globe, April 1, 2004.

32 Paul McGeough, “Shocked Iraqis Wait for US Retribution,” Sydney Morning Herald, April 3, 2004.

33 Ibid.

34 Sewell Chan, “Descent Into Carnage in a Hostile City; In Fallujah, Mob Unleashes Its Rage,” Washington Post, April 1, 2004.

35 Kevin Johnson, “Fallujah Leaders Set Defiant Tone,” USA Today, April 5, 2004.

36 Ibid.

37 Jack Fairweather, “American Dead Butchered ‘Like Sheep,’” The Telegraph (London), April 1, 2004.

38 Transcript, White House Press Briefing, March 31, 2004.

39 Transcript, “Interview With Maybritt Illner of Zdf German Television,” FDCH Federal Department and Agency Documents, April 1, 2004.

40 Transcript, “Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing With Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, April 1, 2004.

41 Transcript, CNN Live Today, CNN, April 1, 2004.

42 Joanne Kimberlin, “Three Slain Blackwater Workers Identified,” Virginian-Pilot, April 2, 2004.

43 Jonathan E. Kaplan, “Private Army Seeking Political Advice in D.C.,” The Hill, April 14, 2004.

44 Gerry J. Gilmore, “U.S. Firm Mourns Slain Employees,” American Forces Press Service, April 2, 2004.

45 Ibid.

46 Ben Deck, “N.C. Sheriff: Some Blackwater Workers Ex-Law Enforcement Officers,” Cox News Service, March 31, 2004.

47 Transcript, “Hearing of the Emerging Threats & Capabilities Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee,” Federal News Service, April 2, 2004.

48 D. R. Staton, “Chaplain Corner 04/05/04,” Blackwater Tactical Weekly, April 5, 2004.

49 Sonja Barisic, “Deaths of North Carolina Company’s Employees in Iraq Hit Stir Hometown,” Associated Press, April 1, 2004.

50 Thomas E. Ricks, Fiasco, p. 332.

51 Alissa J. Rubin and Doyle McManus, “Why America Has Waged a Losing Battle on Fallouja,” Los Angeles Times, October 24, 2004.

52 Ibid.

53 Thomas E. Ricks, Fiasco, p. 332

54 Alissa J. Rubin and Doyle McManus, “Why America Has Waged a Losing Battle on Fallouja,” Los Angeles Times, October 24, 2004.

55 Jim Steele’s “Premiere Speakers Bureau” bio.

56 Jon Lee Anderson, “Letter From Baghdad: The Uprising,” The New Yorker, May 3, 2004.

57 Jim Steele’s “Premiere Speakers Bureau” bio. Steele, of course, does not refer to them as “death squads” but rather a “counter-terrorist force.”

58 Jon Lee Anderson, “Letter From Baghdad: The Uprising,” The New Yorker, May 3, 2004.

59 Ibid.

60 Ibid.

61 Peter Maass, “The Salvadorization of Iraq?” The New York Times Magazine, May 1, 2005.

62 Ibid.

63 Jim Steele’s “Premiere Speakers Bureau” bio.

64 Jon Lee Anderson, “Letter From Baghdad: The Uprising,” The New Yorker, May 3, 2004.

CHAPTER 9

1 David Barstow, James Glanz, Richard A. Oppel Jr., and Kate Zernike, “Security Companies: Shadow Soldiers in Iraq,” New York Times, April 19, 2004.

2 One of the best and most comprehensive and credible histories of Muqtada al-Sadr can be found in Anthony Shadid’s book Night Draws Near.

3 Robert Fisk, “Iraq on the Brink of Anarchy,” The Independent (London), April 6, 2004.

4 This would later be official policy with the implementation of Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17, June 27, 2004.

5 Jeffrey Gettleman, “A Young Radical’s Anti-U.S. Wrath Is Unleashed,” New York Times, April 5, 2004.

6 Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,” Washington Post, April 11, 2004.

7 Jason Burke, Kamal Ahmed, Jonathon Steele, and Ed Helmore, “Ten Days That Took Iraq to the Brink,” The Observer (London), April 11, 2004.

8 Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,” Washington Post, April 11, 2004.

9 Jeffrey Gettleman, “A Young Radical’s Anti-U.S. Wrath Is Unleashed,” New York Times, April 5, 2004.

10 Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,” Washington Post, April 11, 2004.

11 Jeffrey Gettleman, “U.S. Accepts Responsibility, But Not Blame, in Deaths of 2 Iraqi Journalists,” New York Times, March 30, 2004.

12 Anthony Shadid, Night Draws Near, p. 367.

13 Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,” Washington Post, April 11, 2004.

14 Ibid.

15 Dan Murphy, “Risks Rise for Iraqi Journalists,” Christian Science Monitor, April 5, 2004.

16 Jeffrey Gettleman, “A Young Radical’s Anti-U.S. Wrath Is Unleashed,” New York Times, April 5, 2004.

17 Mohamad Bazzi (Newsday), “U.S. Goes After the Cleric Who Incited Violence, Move Against Shiite Could Spark More Clashes in Iraq,” Seattle Times, April 6, 2004.

18 Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,” Washington Post, April 11, 2004.

19 Ibid.

20 Ibid.

21 Jeffrey Gettleman, “A Young Radical’s Anti-U.S. Wrath Is Unleashed,” New York Times, April 5, 2004.

22 Anne Barnard, “Cleric Followers Battle US Troops; Shi’ite Protests in Iraq Cities Turn Violent, Kill 8 Americans,” Boston Globe, April 5, 2004.

23 Anthony Shadid, Night Draws Near, p. 369.

24 Ibid.

25 David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,” New York Times, April 9, 2004.

26 Unless otherwise noted, Corporal Lonnie Young’s account of the battle at Najaf on April 4, 2004, is drawn from the following: U.S. Fed News, “True Grit: Real-Life Account of Combat Readiness,” U.S. Marine Corps press release, September 2, 2004.

27 Anthony Shadid, Night Draws Near, p. 370.

28 Dana Priest, “Private Guards Repel Attack on U.S. Headquarters,” Washington Post, April 6, 2004.

29 Kate Wiltrout, “‘If I Had to Die, It Would Be Defending My Country,’” Virginian-Pilot, September 18, 2004.

30 Dana Priest, “Private Guards Repel Attack on U.S. Headquarters,” Washington Post, April 6, 2004.

31 Anthony Shadid, Night Draws Near, p. 370.

32 Author copy of video.

33 David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,” New York Times, April 9, 2004.

34 Ibid.

35 Kate Wiltrout, “‘If I Had to Die, It Would Be Defending My Country,’” Virginian-Pilot, September 18, 2004.

36 David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,” New York Times, April 9, 2004.

37 Author copy of video.

38 John G. Roos, “1-shot killer; This 5.56mm Round Has All the Stopping Power You Need—But You Can’t Use It,” The Army Times, December 1, 2003.

39 Ben Thomas aka “Mookie Spicoli,” posting on “Get Off The X” forum, October 12, 2006. http://getoffthex.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/440107932/m/7871025602?r=6851057602#6851057602, captured November 21, 2006.

40 Ibid.

41 Ibid.

42 Dana Priest, “Private Guards Repel Attack on U.S. Headquarters,” Washington Post, April 6, 2004.

43 Robert Fisk, “Three-Hour Gun Battle Leaves 22 Dead as Shia Join Iraq Conflict,” The Independent (London), April 5, 2004.

44 Dana Priest, “Private Guards Repel Attack on U.S. Headquarters,” Washington Post, April 6, 2004.

45 Kate Wiltrout, “‘If I Had to Die, It Would Be Defending My Country,’” Virginian-Pilot, September 18, 2004.

46 Transcript, “Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing With Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, Deputy Director for Coalition Operations,” Department of Defense Briefing, April 5, 2004.

47 David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,” New York Times, April 9, 2004.

48 “Deadly Clashes Erupt Between Iraqi Shiites and Coalition Troops,” Agence France-Presse, April 4, 2004.

49 Kate Wiltrout, “‘If I Had to Die, It Would Be Defending My Country,’” Virginian-Pilot, September 18, 2004.

50 Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,” Washington Post, April 11, 2004.

51 Robert Fisk, “Three-Hour Gun Battle Leaves 22 Dead as Shia Join Iraq Conflict,” The Independent (London), April 5, 2004.

52 Anne Barnard, “Cleric Followers Battle US Troops; Shi’ite Protests in Iraq Cities Turn Violent, Kill 8 Americans,” Boston Globe, April 5, 2004.

53 Ibid.

54 Transcript, Democracy Now! August 31, 2005.

55 Melinda Liu, “Mean Streets: Inside the Brutal Battle of Sadr City. As a Venue for Urban Warfare, This Is As Bad As It Gets,” Newsweek (Web exclusive), April 27, 2004.

56 Ibid.

57 Hala Boncompagni, “US Brands Radical Shiite Cleric an Outlaw Amid Anti-Coalition Uprising,” Agence France-Presse, April 5, 2004.

58 “Warrant Outstanding for Arrest of Cleric Behind Iraq Unrest: Coalition,” Agence France-Presse, April 5, 2004. Note: The CPA claimed that the warrant had been issued months earlier by an Iraqi judge insisting that the timing of the release of the warrant was a decision of that judge and not occupation officials.

59 “Privatizing Warfare,” New York Times editorial, April 21, 2004.

60 Ibid

CHAPTER 10

1 Seattle Times news services, “8 U.S. Troops Killed in Iraqi Shiite Revolt Anti-U.S. Cleric’s Backers Riot; Coalition Calls in Jets, Copters; In Separate Action Today, Marines Move to Retake Control of Fallujah,” Seattle Times, April 5, 2004.

2 Bassem Mroue, “Marines Tighten the Noose on Rebel Town,” Daily Telegraph (Sydney, Australia), April 7, 2004.

3 Pamela Constable, “Marines, Insurgents Battle for Sunni City; Death Toll Disputed in Air Attack on Mosque,” Washington Post, April 8, 2004.

4 Bassem Mroue, “Marines Tighten the Noose on Rebel Town,” Daily Telegraph (Sydney, Australia), April 7, 2004.

5 Pamela Constable, “Marines, Insurgents Battle for Sunni City; Death Toll Disputed in Air Attack on Mosque,” Washington Post, April 8, 2004.

6 Bassem Mroue, “Marines Tighten the Noose on Rebel Town,” Daily Telegraph (Sydney, Australia), April 7, 2004.

7 Ibid.

8 Ibid.

9 Thomas E. Ricks, Fiasco, p. 333.

10 Rajiv Chandrasekaran, “Anti-U.S. Uprising Widens in Iraq; Marines Push Deeper Into Fallujah; Cleric’s Force Tightens Grip in Holy Cities,” Washington Post, April 8, 2004.

11 Thanassis Cambanis, “Americans Advance on Fallujah,” Boston Globe, April 8, 2004.

12 Rajiv Chandrasekaran, “Anti-U.S. Uprising Widens in Iraq; Marines Push Deeper Into Fallujah; Cleric’s Force Tightens Grip in Holy Cities,” Washington Post, April 8, 2004.

13 Ibid.

14 Bassem Mroue and Abdul-Qader Saadi, “US Bombs Fallujah Mosque; More Than 40 Worshippers Killed; Revolutionary Violence Engulfs Iraq,” Associated Press, April 7, 2004.

15 Jack Fairweather, “‘There Were Bodies by the Road But No One Stopped. We Just Wanted to Get Out of That Hellish Place;’ Jack Fairweather Talks to Families Who Fled the Fighting in Fallujah,” The Daily Telegraph (London), April 12, 2004.

16 Rahul Mahajan, “Fallujah and the Reality of War,” Commondreams.org, November 6, 2004.

17 David Blair, Alec Russell, and David Rennie, “Urban Warfare Grips Iraq; US Forces Hit Mosque Compound in Fallujah With Bombs and Rockets; Britons Evacuated as Coalition HQ Is Abandoned to the Mahdi Militia,” The Daily Telegraph (London), April 8, 2004.

18 Pamela Constable, “Troops Gaining Grip in Sections of Fallujah,” Washington Post, April 7, 2004.

19 Ibid.

20 Ibid.

21 Bing West, No True Glory, p. 176.

22 Ibid.

23 Thanassis Cambanis, “Americans Advance on Fallujah,” Boston Globe, April 8, 2004.

24 Ibid.

25 Patrick Cockburn, “Iraq: The Descent Into Chaos: US Has Killed 280 in Fallujah This Week, Says Hospital Doctor,” The Independent (London), April 9, 2004.

26 Ibid.

27 Anne Barnard, “Anger Over Fallujah Reaches Ears of the Faithful,” Boston Globe, April 11, 2004.

28 Pamela Constable, “Marines Try to Quell ‘a Hotbed of Resistance,’” Washington Post, April 9, 2004.

29 Thomas E. Ricks, Fiasco, p. 333.

30 Ibid.

31 Jack Fairweather, “‘There Were Bodies by the Road But No One Stopped. We Just Wanted to Get Out of That Hellish Place;’ Jack Fairweather Talks to Families Who Fled the Fighting in Fallujah,” The Daily Telegraph (London), April 12, 2004.

32 Dahr Jamail, “Americans Slaughtering Civilians in Falluja,” The New Standard, April 11, 2004.

33 Ibid.

34 Dahr Jamail, “Sarajevo on the Euphrates: An Eyewitness Account From Inside the US Siege of Falluja,” TheNation.com (Web only), April 12, 2004.

35 Rahul Mahajan, “Fallujah and the Reality of War,” Commondreams.org, November 6, 2004.

36 Dahr Jamail, “Americans Slaughtering Civilians in Falluja,” The New Standard, April 11, 2004.

37 Jeffrey Gettleman, “Marines Use Low-Tech Skill to Kill 100 in Urban Battle,” New York Times, April 15, 2004.

38 Joshua Hammer, “Fallujah: In the Hands of Insurgents,” Newsweek, May 24, 2004: “Lt. Gen. James T. Conway, commander of the I Expeditionary Force, told NEWSWEEK that the Marines’ use of ‘precision’ weaponry ensured that ‘90 to 95 percent’ of Iraqis killed inside the city were combatants.”

39 Jeffrey Gettleman, “Marines Use Low-Tech Skill to Kill 100 in Urban Battle,” New York Times, April 15, 2004.

40 Mustafa Abdel-Halim, “U.S. Forces Want Al-Jazeera Out of Fallujah,” IslamOnline.net (Cairo), April 9, 2004.

41 Transcript, Democracy Now! February 22, 2006.

42 Ibid.

43 Melinda Liu, “War of Perceptions: The U.S. Military Is Devising a Plan to End the Siege of Fallujah. But Will It Win on the Battleground of Iraqi Public Opinion?” Newsweek (Web exclusive), April 29, 2004.

44 Mustafa Abdel-Halim, “U.S. Forces Want Al-Jazeera Out of Fallujah,” IslamOnline.net (Cairo), April 9, 2004: “‘American forces declared al-Jazeera must leave before any progress is made to settle the Fallujah stand-off,’ al-Jazeera director general Wadah Khanfar told IslamOnline.net, citing sources close to the Iraqi Governing Council.”

45 Author copy, “Letter From Ahmed Mansour,” April 29, 2004.

46 Transcript, “Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing With Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, April 12, 2004.

47 Ibid.

48 Transcript, Defense Department Regular News Briefing, April 15, 2004.

49 Ibid.

50 Kevin Maguire and Andy Lines, “Exclusive: Bush Plot to Bomb His Arab Ally,” Daily Mirror (London), November 22, 2005.

51 Ibid. Note: The United States bombed Al Jazeera’s offices in Afghanistan in 2001, shelled the Basra hotel where Al Jazeera journalists were the only guests in April 2003, killed Iraq correspondent Tareq Ayoub a few days later in Baghdad, and imprisoned several Al Jazeera reporters (including at Guantánamo), some of whom say they were tortured. In addition to the military attacks, the U.S.-backed Iraqi government banned the network from reporting in Iraq.

52 Transcript, Democracy Now! February 22, 2006.

53 Anne Barnard, “Anger Over Fallujah Reaches Ears of the Faithful,” Boston Globe, April 11, 2004.

54 Christina Asquith, “Refugees Tell of Rising Anger in Fallujah,” Christian Science Monitor, April 14, 2004.

55 Transcript, “President Addresses the Nation in Prime Time Press Conference,” The White House, April 13, 2004.

56 Anne Barnard, “Anger Over Fallujah Reaches Ears of the Faithful,” Boston Globe, April 11, 2004.

57 Jack Fairweather, “‘There Were Bodies by the Road But No One Stopped. We Just Wanted to Get Out of That Hellish Place;’ Jack Fairweather Talks to Families Who Fled the Fighting in Fallujah,” The Daily Telegraph (London), April 12, 2004.

58 Anne Barnard, “Anger Over Fallujah Reaches Ears of the Faithful,” Boston Globe, April 11, 2004.

59 White House News Release, January 20, 2004. The accompanying photo of Mrs. Bush and Pachachi read: “Mrs. Bush applauds her special guest, Dr. Adnan Pachachi, President of the Iraqi Governing Council, during President Bush’s State of the Union Address at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004. ‘Sir, America stands with you and the Iraqi people as you build a free and peaceful nation,’ said the President in his acknowledgement of Dr. Pachachi.”

60 Anne Barnard, “Anger Over Fallujah Reaches Ears of the Faithful,” Boston Globe, April 11, 2004.

61 Anthony Shadid, Night Draws Near, p. 373.

62 Rajiv Chandrasekaran, “Key General Criticizes April Attack in Fallujah Abrupt Withdrawal Called Vacillation,” Washington Post, September 13, 2004.

63 Ibid.

64 Transcript, Coalition Provisional Authority Press Briefing, Department of Defense News Transcript, April 12, 2004.

65 Thanassis Cambanis, “U.N. Envoy Offers Plan for Interim Government,” Boston Globe, April 15, 2004.

66 Transcript, This Week With George Stephanopoulos, ABC, April 25, 2004.

67 Dahr Jamail, “Vigilant Resolve,” DahrJamailIraq.com, February 15, 2005.

68 Patrick Cockburn, “The Failure in Iraq Is Even Deeper Than People Imagine,” The Independent (London), April 17, 2004.

69 Transcript, Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, April 20, 2004.

70 Bill Sizemore and Joanne Kimberlin, “Blackwater: When Things Go Wrong,” Virginian-Pilot, July 26, 2006.

71 Ibid.

72 Author copy of AFP/Getty photo of Fallujah bridge.

73 Dahr Jamail, “Vigilant Resolve,” DahrJamailIraq.com, February 15, 2005.

CHAPTER 11

1 Whitney Gould, “Iraq Casualty Was a Born Leader; Gore, a St. John’s Northwestern Graduate, Died in Helicopter Crash,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 24, 2005.

2 Unless otherwise noted, all quotes attributed to Danica Zovko and information about her experiences are based on interviews conducted by the author in the summer of 2006.

3 Jay Price and Joseph Neff, “The Bridge; The Scene in Fallujah Was Unforgettable: Four Americans Shot, Their Bodies Defiled, Two of Them Hung From a Bridge. They Weren’t Soldiers, But Private Guards Working For a North Carolina Company,” News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), July 25, 2004.

4 Unless otherwise noted, all quotes attributed to Katy Helvenston-Wettengel and information about her experiences are based on interviews conducted by the author throughout 2006.

5 Bill Sizemore and Joanne Kimberlin, “Blackwater: On the Front Lines,” Virginian-Pilot, July 25, 2006.

6 Jonathan E. Kaplan, “Private Army Seeking Political Advice in D.C.,” The Hill, April 14, 2004.

7 Erik Prince’s Prince Manufacturing biography.

8 Federal lobbying records.

9 Bill McAllister, “Guns for Hire,” Washington Post, June 18, 1998; Dena Bunis, “U.S. Representatives Release Net-Worth Figures for ’98,” Orange County Register (California), June 17, 1999.

10 Federal lobbying records.

11 Representative Dana Rohrabacher’s speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, September 17, 2001.

12 Public Citizen report, “Rep. Roy Blunt: Ties to Special Interests Leave Him Unfit to Lead,” January 2006.

13 Jonathan E. Kaplan, “Private Army Seeking Political Advice in D.C.,” The Hill, April 14, 2004.

14 David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,” New York Times, April 9, 2004.

15 Ibid.

16 Ibid.

17 Joseph Neff and Jay Price, “After the Horror, Strong Words Mask Inaction; Little Has Been Done to Determine the Facts of the Ambush in Fallujah That Cost Four Civilian Contractors Their Lives,” News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), August 1, 2004.

18 Ibid.

19 Douglas Quenqua, “Security Firms in Iraq Look to Up US Political Support,” PR Week, April 26, 2004.

20 James Rosen, “Contractors Operate in a Legal Gray Area; The Roles of an Interrogator and an Interpreter in the Abuse Scandal Are Murky. Even Less Clear Is Whom They Answer to,” Star Tribune (Minneapolis), May 23, 2004.

21 Ibid.

22 See Jeremy Scahill, “Mercenary Jackpot,” The Nation, August 28, 2006.

23 Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 17, June 27, 2004.

24 Author copy of the letter dated April 8, 2004.

25 Office of Senator Jack Reed, “Statement by Senator Reed Regarding the Private Contractor Allegations,” Press Release, February 16, 2005.

26 David Barstow, James Glanz, Richard A. Oppel Jr., and Kate Zernike, “Security Companies: Shadow Soldiers in Iraq,” New York Times, April 19, 2004.

27 Brenda Kleman, “Blackwater USA Eyes HQ Expansion,” Cox News Service, April 16, 2004.

28 Transcript, “Inside the World of a Security Contractor in Iraq,” CNN, June 18, 2006.

29 Brenda Kleman, “Blackwater USA Eyes HQ Expansion,” Cox News Service, April 16, 2004.

30 Ibid.

31 Press Release, “Blackwater USA to Host 2004 World SWAT Conference and Challenge May 17-22, 2004,” PR Web Newswire, April 14, 2004.

32 Ibid.

33 Kim O’Brien Root, “World Swat Challenge; Top-Ranked Teams Vie for National Tactics Title,” Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia), May 22, 2004.

34 Ibid.

35 The description of David Grossman’s presentation at the conference is drawn from Peter Carlson, “Sultans of SWAT; Competition Has Law Enforcement Assault Teams Gunning to Be the Best,” Washington Post, May 25, 2004.

36 Gary Jackson, Blackwater Tactical Weekly, May 17, 2004.

37 Douglas Quenqua, “Security Firms in Iraq Look to Up US Political Support,” PR Week, April 26, 2004.

38 Ibid.

39 Jonathan E. Kaplan, “British Security Firm in Iraq Seeks K Street Input,” The Hill, April 21, 2004.

40 David Barstow, James Glanz, Richard A. Oppel Jr., and Kate Zernike, “Security Companies: Shadow Soldiers in Iraq,” New York Times, April 19, 2004.

41 Joanne Kimberlin, “Blackwater Sees Increase in Applications,” Virginian-Pilot, April 10, 2004.

42 Ibid.

43 David Barstow, James Glanz, Richard A. Oppel Jr., and Kate Zernike, “Security Companies: Shadow Soldiers in Iraq,” New York Times, April 19, 2004.

44 Robert Fisk and Patrick Cockburn, “Deaths of Scores of Mercenaries Not Reported,” The Star (South Africa), April 13, 2004.

45 Greg Griffin, “Reconstructing a Country: Civilians Face Increased Danger; U.S. Contractors Resolve to Stay in Iraq,” Denver Post, April 22, 2004.

46 Joshua Chaffin, James Drummond, and Nicolas Pelham, “Not Only Are Staff Being Moved to Safer Locations, But the Escalating Cost of Security Is Eating Into the Resources Available to Improve Infrastructure,” Financial Times, May 6, 2004.

47 John F. Burns and Kirk Semple, “U.S. Finds Iraq Insurgency Has Funds to Sustain Itself,” New York Times, November 26, 2006.

48 Greg Griffin, “Reconstructing a Country: Civilians Face Increased Danger; U.S. Contractors Resolve to Stay In Iraq,” Denver Post, April 22, 2004.

49 Jeremy Kahn and Nelson D. Schwartz, “Private Sector Soldiers: With Violence Escalating in Iraq, Tens of Thousands of U.S. Contractors Are Getting More Than They Bargained For,” Fortune, May 3, 2004.

50 Greg Griffin, “Reconstructing a Country: Civilians Face Increased Danger; U.S. Contractors Resolve to Stay in Iraq,” Denver Post, April 22, 2004.

51 Jeremy Kahn and Nelson D. Schwartz, “Private Sector Soldiers: With Violence Escalating in Iraq, Tens of Thousands of U.S. Contractors Are Getting More Than They Bargained For,” Fortune, May 3, 2004.

52 Sandip Roy, “U.S. to Worldwide Firms: Iraq Safer Than You Think,” Pacific News Service, May 07, 2004.

53 Ibid.

54 Saifur Rahman, “Call to Take Advantage of Opportunities in Iraq,” Gulf News (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), April 21, 2004.

55 Sandip Roy, “U.S. to Worldwide Firms: Iraq Safer Than You Think,” Pacific News Service, May 07, 2004.

56 David Barstow, James Glanz, Richard A. Oppel Jr., and Kate Zernike, “Security Companies: Shadow Soldiers in Iraq,” New York Times, April 19, 2004.

57 Ibid.

58 Ibid.

59 James Hider, “Soldiers of Fortune Rush to Cash In on Unrest,” The Times (London), March 31, 2004.

60 Joshua Chaffin, James Drummond, and Nicolas Pelham, “Not Only Are Staff Being Moved to Safer Locations, But the Escalating Cost of Security Is Eating into the Resources Available to Improve Infrastructure,” Financial Times, May 6, 2004.

61 Jeremy Kahn and Nelson D. Schwartz, “Private Sector Soldiers: With Violence Escalating in Iraq, Tens of Thousands of U.S. Contractors Are Getting More Than They Bargained For,” Fortune, May 3, 2004.

62 David Barstow, James Glanz, Richard A. Oppel Jr., and Kate Zernike, “Security Companies: Shadow Soldiers in Iraq,” New York Times, April 19, 2004.

63 Ibid.

64 Diana McCabe, “Risky Business: Even in Baghdad’s ‘Green Zone,’ Life Can Be Tough, But Big Paychecks and a Sense of Nation-Building Inspire Workers,” Orange County Register, April 21, 2004.

65 Ibid.

66 Barry Yeoman, “How South African Hit Men, Serbian Paramilitaries, and Other Human Rights Violators Became Guns for Hire for Military Contractors in Iraq,” Mother Jones, November/December 2004 issue.

67 Michael Duffy, “When Private Armies Take to the Front Lines,” Time, April 12, 2004.

68 CBS News, “Abuse of Iraqi POWs by GIs Probed,” 60 Minutes II, April 28, 2004.

69 Deborah Hastings, “Military Reports Match Some Lawsuit Details,” Associated Press, October 24, 2004.

70 Tim Shorrock, “CACI and Its Friends,” The Nation, June 21, 2004.

71 Press Release, “Lawsuit Charges Two U.S. Corporations Conspired with U.S. Officials to Torture and Abuse Detainees in Iraq,” The Center for Constitutional Rights, June 9, 2004.

72 Michael Duffy, “When Private Armies Take to the Front Lines,” Time, April 12, 2004.

73 David Barstow, James Glanz, Richard A. Oppel Jr., and Kate Zernike, “Security Companies: Shadow Soldiers in Iraq,” New York Times, April 19, 2004.

74 Paul Tharp, “Security Firms Get Boost From Rambo Work in Iraq,” New York Post, April 8, 2004.

75 Seth Borenstein and Scott Dodd, “Private Security Companies in Iraq See Big Paychecks, Big Risks,” Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, April 2, 2004.

76 Jay Price, “Armed Security Business Booms,” News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), April 2, 2004.

77 Jonathan Franklin, “US Contractor Recruits Guards for Iraq in Chile,” The Guardian, March 5, 2004.

78 Dana Priest and Mary Pat Flaherty, “Under Fire, Security Firms Form an Alliance,” Washington Post, April 8, 2004.

79 Robert Fisk, “Saddam in the Dock: So This Is What They Call the New, Free Iraq,” The Independent on Sunday (London), July 4, 2004.

80 Mary Pat Flaherty, “Iraq Work Awarded to Veteran of Civil Wars; Briton Who Provided Units in Asia and Africa Will Oversee Security,” Washington Post, June 16, 2004.

81 For Spicer’s own account of these events, see: Lt. Col. Tim Spicer OBE, An Unorthodox Soldier: Peace and War and the Sandline Affair, Mainstream Publishing Company, Edinburgh, Great Britain, 1999.

82 Stephen Armstrong, “The Enforcer: Colonel Tim Spicer Is Effectively in Charge of the Second Largest Military Force in Iraq—Some 20,000 Private Soldiers. Just Don’t Call Him a Mercenary,” The Guardian (London), May 20, 2006.

83 P. W. Singer, “Nation Builders and Low Bidders in Iraq,” New York Times, June 15, 2004.

84 Jonathan Guthrie, “Tim Spicer Finds Security in the World’s War Zones,” Financial Times (London), April 7, 2006.

85 Mary Pat Flaherty, “Iraq Work Awarded to Veteran of Civil Wars; Briton Who Provided Units in Asia and Africa Will Oversee Security,” Washington Post, June 16, 2004.

86 Jonathan Guthrie, “Tim Spicer Finds Security in the World’s War Zones,” Financial Times (London), April 7, 2006.

87 Mary Fitzgerald, “U.S. Contract to British Firm Sparks Irish American Protest; Anger Over Iraq Deal Stems From 1992 Murder in Belfast,” Washington Post, August 9, 2004.

88 P. W. Singer, “Nation Builders and Low Bidders in Iraq,” New York Times, June 15, 2004.

89 Mary Fitzgerald, “U.S. Contract to British Firm Sparks Irish American Protest; Anger Over Iraq Deal Stems From 1992 Murder in Belfast,” Washington Post, August 9, 2004.

90 Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, Edward M. Kennedy, Christopher J. Dodd, Charles E. Schumer, John F. Kerry, Letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, August 25, 2004.

91 Charles M. Sennott, “Security Firm’s $293m Deal Under Scrutiny,” Boston Globe, June 22, 2004.

92 James Boxell and Jimmy Burns, “Aegis Iraqi Contract Renewed,” Financial Times (London), April 19, 2006.

93 P. W. Singer, “Nation Builders and Low Bidders in Iraq,” New York Times, June 15, 2004.

94 Ibid.

95 Jonathan Finer, “Contractors Cleared in Videotaped Attacks; Army Fails to Find ‘Probable Cause’ in Machine-Gunning of Cars in Iraq,” Washington Post, June 11, 2006.

96 Ibid.

97 Ibid.

98 James Boxell, “Iraq Investigation Clears Aegis Defence,” Financial Times (London), June 15, 2006.

99 T. Christian Miller, “Federal Audit Criticizes Iraq Contract Oversight; Inspector General Finds That a Controversial Security Firm Failed to Meet its Obligations,” Los Angeles Times, April 23, 2005.

100 Matthew Lynn, “Men With Guns Are the New Dotcoms,” The Spectator (London), November 4, 2006.

101 Kim Sengupta, “Blair Accused of Trying to ‘Privatise’ War in Iraq,” The Independent (London), October 30, 2006.

102 “Four Hired Guns Killed in Baghdad Ambush Saturday,” Agence France-Presse, June 6, 2004.

103 Danica Kirka, “Four Employees of U.S. Company Killed in Ambush in Baghdad,” Associated Press, June 6, 2004.

104 Ibid.

105 William R. Levesque, “Clearwater Security Worker Killed in Iraq,” St. Petersburg Times (Florida), June 8, 2004.

106 Ibid.

107 “Four Private Security Workers Killed in Iraq,” Deutsche Presse-Agentur, June 6, 2004.

108 “Have Gun… Will Travel,” The Warsaw Voice (Poland), June 23, 2004.

109 Joseph Neff and Jay Price, “Ambush Kills 4 Workers in Iraq; Men Worked for N.C. Security Firm,” News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), June 7, 2004.

110 William R. Levesque, “Clearwater Security Worker Killed in Iraq,” St. Petersburg Times (Florida), June 8, 2004.

111 Ibid.

112 Joseph Neff and Jay Price, “Ambush Kills 4 Workers in Iraq; Men Worked for N.C. Security Firm,” News & Observer, June 7, 2004.

113 Vickie Chachere, “Palm Harbor Man Among Dead in Ambush on Iraq Convoy,” Associated Press, June 7, 2004.

114 Ibid.

115 Odai Sirri, “Allawi May Resort to Baathist Expertise,” AlJazeera.net, June 7, 2004.

116 L. Paul Bremer III, My Year in Iraq, p. 384.

117 Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 17, June 27, 2004.

118 Press Release, “Fact Sheet on the Anti-War Profiteering Amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill,” Senator Patrick Leahy, June 15, 2004.

119 Scott Shane, “Cables Show Central Negroponte Role in 80’s Covert War Against Nicaragua,” New York Times, April 13, 2005; Michael Dobbs, “Papers Illustrate Negroponte’s Contra Role; Newly Released Documents Show Intelligence Nominee Was Active in U.S. Effort,” Washington Post, April 12, 2005.

120 Ibid.

121 Comprehensive coverage of Negroponte’s time in Honduras can be found in the four-part series in Baltimore Sun in June 1995 reported by Gary Cohn and Ginger Thompson.

122 Carol Rosenberg, “Weary Iraqis Losing Confidence in U.S.,” Miami Herald, April 8, 2004.

123 Author copy of the contract documents.

124 E-mail from State Department representative, August 2006.

125 Author copy of audit.

126 Ibid.

127 Gary Jackson, Blackwater Tactical Weekly, November 22, 2004.

128 Ibid.

CHAPTER 12

1 Jan H. Kalicki, “Caspian Energy at the Crossroads,” Foreign Affairs, September/October 2001.

2 Stephen Kinzer, “Azerbaijan Has Reason to Swagger: Oil Deposits,” New York Times, September 14, 1997.

3 Ibid.

4 Report of the National Energy Policy Development Group, “Reliable, Affordable, Environmentally Sound Energy for America’s Future,” released by the White House in May 2001.

5 Ibid.

6 U.S. Department of Energy, “Top World Oil Net Exporters,” www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/topworldtables1_2.html, accessed December 14, 2006.

7 Candace Rondeaux, “A Pipeline to Promise, or a Pipeline to Peril,” St. Petersburg Times, May 15, 2005.

8 Ibid.

9 “Caspian Pipeline Dream Becomes Reality,” BBC News, September 14, 2002.

10 Eric Margolis, “Shevy’s Big Mistake: Crossing Uncle Sam,” Toronto Sun, November 30, 2003.

11 Nick Paton Walsh, “Russia Accused of Plot to Sabotage Georgian Oil Pipeline,” Guardian, December 1, 2003.

12 Mevlut Katik, “Amid Risk, Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Edges Forward,” EurasiaNet, December 1, 2003.

13 Nick Paton Walsh, “US Privatises Its Military Aid to Georgia,” Guardian, January 6, 2004.

14 Presidential Determination on Azerbaijan, signed by George W. Bush on January 25, 2002.

15 John J. Fialka, “Search for Crude Comes With New Dangers—U.S. Strategic and Diplomatic Thinking Adjusts to Handle Hot Spots With Oil Potential,” Wall Street Journal, April 11, 2005.

16 Alman Talyshli, “Rumsfeld’s Baku Trip Stirs Controversy,” EurasiaNet, April 13, 2005.

17 Author copy of contract, dated July 28, 2004.

18 Chris Taylor speaking at “Contractors on the Battlefield: Learning from the Experience in Iraq,” George Washington University, January 28, 2005.

19 Erik Prince’s remarks at West 2006 Conference.

20 Nathan Hodge, “After the Gold Rush,” Slate.com, February 9, 2006.

21 U.S. Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce Web site, www.usacc.org/contents.php?cid=97, accessed December 5, 2006.

22 U.S. Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce Web site, www.usacc.org/contents.php?cid=2, accessed December 5, 2006.

23 Ibid.

24 Tim Shorrock, “Contractor’s Arrogance Contributed to Iraqi Rebellion, Marine Colonel Says,” http://timshorrock.blogspot.com/2005_01_01_timshorrock_archive.html, accessed December 14, 2006.

25 Emery P. Dalesio, “NC Firm Was Providing Security for Food Delivery in Iraq,” Associated Press, March 31, 2004.

26 Chris Taylor speaking at “Contractors on the Battlefield: Learning from the Experience in Iraq,” George Washington University, January 28, 2005.

27 Transcript, “Secretary Rumsfeld and Ambassador Jon Purnell Press Conference in Uzbekistan,” Department of Defense, February 24, 2004.

28 Nick Paton Walsh, “US Privatises Its Military Aid to Georgia,” Guardian, January 6, 2004.

29 Ibid.

30 Russ Rizzo, “Pentagon Aims to Bolster Security in Caspian Sea Region,” Stars and Stripes (European edition), August 10, 2005.

31 Brett Forrest, “Azerbaijan Over a Barrel,” Fortune (European Edition), November 28, 2005.

32 “US Working to Boost Sea Forces in Oil-Rich Caspian: Envoy,” Agence France-Presse, September 21, 2005.

33 Kathy Gannon, “As Azerbaijan Democracy Struggles, Iran Makes Its Weight Felt,” Associated Press, April 30, 2006.

34 “2005 In Review: Conflicts in Caucasus Still Characterized by Gridlock,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, December 22, 2005.

35 “The Danger of a Military Buildup in the South Caucasus,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, October 16, 2006.

36 “Caspian Hopes and Hazards,” Africa Analysis (the Financial Times Limited), April 16, 2004.

37 Ariel Cohen, “Azerbaijan Intrigue,” Washington Times, October 25, 2005.

38 Joshua Kucera, “US Helps Forces, Gains Foothold in Caspian Region,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, May 25, 2005.

39 Alman Talyshli, “Rumsfeld’s Baku Trip Stirs Controversy,” EurasiaNet, April 13, 2005.

40 Ibid.

41 Candace Rondeaux, “A Pipeline to Promise, or a Pipeline to Peril,” St. Petersburg Times, May 15, 2005.

42 Vladimir Radyuhin, “Another Move in the Great Game,” The Hindu, May 27, 2005.

43 Ibid.

44 Ibid.

45 White House press release, “Caspian Pipeline Consortium Fact Sheet,” November 13, 2001.

46 Ibid.

47 Ibid.

48 U.S. Department of Energy press release, “Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline First Oil Ceremony: Remarks of Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman,” May 25, 2005.

49 Report of the National Energy Policy Development Group, “Reliable, Affordable, Environmentally Sound Energy for America’s Future,” released by the White House in May 2001.

50 U.S. Department of Energy press release, “Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline First Oil Ceremony: Remarks of Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman,” May 25, 2005.

51 Ibid.

52 David E. Sanger, “There’s Democracy, and There’s an Oil Pipeline,” New York Times, May 29, 2005.

53 Human Rights Watch, World Report 2005.

54 U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices-2005, released March 8, 2006.

55 Ibid.

56 Ibid.

57 www.BlackwaterUSA.com.

58 Tim Shorrock, “Contractor’s Arrogance Contributed to Iraqi Rebellion, Marine Colonel Says,” http://timshorrock.blogspot.com/2005_01_01_timshorrock_archive.html, accessed December 14, 2006.

CHAPTER 13

1 School of the Americas Watch, “What is the SOA?” www.soaw.org.

2 Amnesty International report, “United States of America: Human Dignity Denied; Torture and Accountability in the ‘War on Terror,’” October 27, 2004.

3 Unless otherwise noted, all biographical information about and quotations from Jose Miguel Pizarro are drawn from an interview conducted in October 2006 by the author.

4 One of the most comprehensive accounts of the U.S. role in Chile can be found in Peter Kornbluh’s incredibly detailed book, The Pinochet File: A Declassified Dossier on Atrocity and Accountability, The New Press, New York, 2003.

5 Peter Kornbluh, The Pinochet File, p. 5.

6 Ibid., “Project FUBELT: ‘Formula for Chaos,’”pp. 1-35.

7 Ibid., p. 17.

8 National Security Archive, “Chile and the United States: Declassified Documents Relating to the Military Coup, 1970-1976”; “CIA, Notes on Meeting with the President on Chile, September 15, 1970.”

9 Peter Kornbluh, The Pinochet File, p. 91.

10 Ibid., p. 113.

11 Jeff Cohen and Norman Solomon, “Chile Coup—Media Coverage Still Evasive 20 Years Later,” Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting’s Media Beat, September 8, 1993.

12 Peter Kornbluh, The Pinochet File, p. 234.

13 Ibid., p. 176.

14 Ibid., p. 153.

15 Ibid., p. 176

16 Ibid., p. 154.

17 Ibid., p. 344.

18 Marcelo Miranda, “Reclutamientos irregulares en Chile,” El Periodista (Chile), January 30, 2004.

19 Gracia Rodrigo and Jorge Suez, “Parlamentarios rechazaron que en dependencias de la Armada se haya efectuado la inscripción de ex funcionarios interesados en trabajar para una firma en ese país en labores de seguridad,” La Tercera (Chile), October 20, 2003.

20 “Ex comandos chilenos entrenan en EE.UU. antes de partir a Irak Los ex uniformados chilenos llegarán al Medio Oriente la próxima semana para prestar apoyo paramilitar a profesionales norteamericanos,” La Tercera (Chile), February 24, 2004.

21 Pizarro interview, October 2006.

22 Isabel Guzmán, Mauricio Aguirre, and Jorge Suez, “La Armada suspendió el proceso de captación de personal para una empresa particular e inició sumario interno Ministra Bachelet pide investigar reclutamiento de chilenos para tareas de seguridad en Irak. La oferta laboral es para prestar servicios de vigilancia en instalaciones portuarias, petrolíferas y civiles en el Golfo Pérsico,” La Tercera (Chile), October 21, 2003.

23 Gracia Rodrigo and Jorge Suez, “Parlamentarios rechazaron que en dependencias de la Armada se haya efectuado la inscripción de ex funcionarios interesados en trabajar para una firma en ese país en labores de seguridad,” La Tercera (Chile), October 20, 2003.

24 Mauricio Aguirre, “El jueves, en dos vuelos de distintas aerolíneas, los militares (R) se embarcaron hacia EE.UU, para arribar a su destino final los primeros días de marzo. Ex comandos chilenos partieron a Irak a prestar labores de seguridad,” La Tercera (Chile), February 22, 2004.

25 Author interview with Pizarro, October 2006.

26 Gracia Rodrigo and Jorge Suez, “Parlamentarios rechazaron que en dependencias de la Armada se haya efectuado la inscripción de ex funcionarios interesados en trabajar para una firma en ese país en labores de seguridad,” La Tercera (Chile), October 20, 2003.

27 Gracia Rodrigo and Jorge Suez, “Parlamentarios rechazaron que en dependencias de la Armada se haya efectuado la inscripción de ex funcionarios interesados en trabajar para una firma en ese país en labores de seguridad,” La Tercera (Chile), October 20, 2003.

28 Isabel Guzmán, Mauricio Aguirre, and Jorge Suez, “La Armada suspendió el proceso de captación de personal para una empresa particular e inició sumario interno Ministra Bachelet pide investigar reclutamiento de chilenos para tareas de seguridad en Irak. La oferta laboral es para prestar servicios de vigilancia en instalaciones portuarias, petrolíferas y civiles en el Golfo Pérsico,” La Tercera (Chile), October 21, 2003.

29 Garry Leech, “Washington Targets Colombia’s Rebels,” Colombia Journal, July 29, 2002.

30 Gustavo González, “Chilean Mercenaries in the Line of Fire,” Inter Press Service, April 7, 2004.

31 Pizarro interview, October 2006.

32 Pizarro interview; Héctor Rojas, “José Miguel Pizarro dice que recluta a efectivos para trabajar en labores de seguridad en el Medio Oriente, pero niega que se trate de mercenaries. Empresario asegura que enviará 3.000 ex militares chilenos a Irak en 2006,” La Tercera (Chile), October 28, 2005.

33 Mauricio Aguirre, “El jueves, en dos vuelos de distintas aerolíneas, los militares (R) se embarcaron hacia EE.UU, para arribar a su destino final los primeros días de marzo. Ex comandos chilenos partieron a Irak a prestar labores de seguridad,” La Tercera (Chile), February 22, 2004.

34 Ibid.

35 “Empresa estadounidense adelanta viaje de ex comandos chilenos a Irak Por razones de seguridad, los ejecutivos de Blackwater—entidad que contrató los servicios de los ex militares—no quisieron dar mayores detalles sobre el traslado de los ex uniformados al Medio Oriente,” La Tercera (Chile), February 26, 2004.

36 “Ex comandos chilenos entrenan en EE.UU. antes de partir a Irak,” La Tercera (Chile), February 24, 2004.

37 Mauricio Aguirre, “El jueves, en dos vuelos de distintas aerolíneas, los militares (R) se embarcaron hacia EE.UU, para arribar a su destino final los primeros días de marzo. Ex comandos chilenos partieron a Irak a prestar labores de seguridad,” La Tercera (Chile), February 22, 2004.

38 Ibid.

39 Louis E.V. Nevaer, “For Security in Iraq, Corporate America Turns South,” Pacific News Service, June 15, 2004.

40 Jonathan Franklin, “US Contractor Recruits Guards for Iraq in Chile,” Guardian, March 5, 2004.

41 Mauricio Aguirre, “De aprobar la evaluación a la que serán sometidos por la empresa estadounidense de seguridad Blackwater, los paramilitares se sumarán al contingente de avanzada que ya se encuentra en Irak desempeñando labores de vigilancia para el gobierno encabezado por George Bush,” La Tercera (Chile), March 7, 2004.

42 Fiona Ortiz, “Chile Guards in Iraq, a Thorn for Government at Home,” Reuters, April 20, 2004.

43 Gustavo González, “Chilean Mercenaries in the Line of Fire,” Inter Press Service, April 7, 2004.

44 Roberto Manríquez, “Chile in Haiti & Iraq,” Znet, June 2, 2004.

45 Interview by e-mail October 2006.

46 Ibid.

47 Gustavo González, “Chilean Mercenaries in the Line of Fire,” Inter Press Service, April 7, 2004.

48 Carmen Gloria Vitalic, “Ejército investiga reclutamiento de ex militares para trabajar como ‘guardias’ en Irak,” La Tercera (Chile), July 21, 2004.

49 Irene Caselli, “More Chilean Mercenaries to Be Sent to Iraq,” The Santiago Times (Chile), September 9, 2004.

50 Ibid.

51 Ricardo Calderon, “Atrapados en Bagdad,” Semana (Colombia), August 20, 2006.

52 Sonni Efron, “Worry Grows as Foreigners Flock to Iraq’s Risky Jobs,” Los Angeles Times, July 30, 2005.

53 Ibid.

54 Ibid.

55 Unless otherwise noted, the quotes from the various Colombians speaking about their experiences with Blackwater are drawn from Ricardo Calderon, “Atrapados en Bagdad,” Semana (Colombia), August 20, 2006.

56 Andy Webb-Vidal, “Colombian Ex-Soldiers in Iraq Pay Dispute,” Financial Times, August 21, 2006.

57 “Honduras Orders Chileans Training to Become Security Guards in Iraq to Leave Country,” Associated Press, September 20, 2005.

58 Carmen Gloria Vitalic, “Ejército investiga reclutamiento de ex militares para trabajar como ‘guardias’ en Irak,” La Tercera (Chile), July 21, 2004.

59 Ginger Thompson and Gary Cohn, “Torturers’ Confessions: Now in Exile, These CIA-TRAINED Hondurans Describe Their Lives—and the Deaths of Their Victims,” Baltimore Sun, June 13, 1995.

60 Weekly News Update on the Americas #817, September 25, 2005.

61 “In Honduras, Former Soldiers Leave for Private-Security Work in Iraq,” Associated Press, August 23, 2005.

62 “Honduras Orders Chileans Training to Become Security Guards in Iraq to Leave Country,” Associated Press, September 20, 2005.

63 Hugo Infante, “Comandos chilenos en Irak relatan cómo han sobrevivido en ese país,” La Tercera (Chile), June 6, 2004.

64 Ibid.

65 Darío Bermúdez, “Capítulos desconocidos de los mercenarios chilenos en Honduras camino de Iraq,” La Nación (Chile), September 25, 2005; interviews October 2006.

66 “Honduras Orders Chileans Training to Become Security Guards in Iraq to Leave Country,” Associated Press, September 20, 2005.

67 Carmen Gloria Vitalic, “Ejército investiga reclutamiento de ex militares para trabajar como ‘guardias’ en Irak,” La Tercera (Chile), July 21, 2004.

68 Freddy Cuevas, “Honduras Fines U.S. Subsidiary Over Alleged Mercenary Training,” Associated Press, November 25, 2006.

69 “Honduras Extends Deadline for Deporting Chileans After Nicaragua Refuses to Accept Them,” Associated Press, September 24, 2005.

70 “Chileans Trained in Honduras to Be Shipped to Iraq,” the Santiago Times, September 21, 2005.

71 Weekly News Update on the Americas #817, September 25, 2005.

72 “Honduras Deports Chileans Training for Private Guard Duty in Iraq,” Associated Press, September 23, 2005.

73 “Chilean Security Guards Destined for Iraq, Training in Honduras,” Honduras This Week, September 26, 2005.

74 “Engañados dos hondureños que trabajaban en Irak,” EFE Agency (Spain), October 29, 2005.

75 Freddy Cuevas, “Honduras Fines U.S. Subsidiary Over Alleged Mercenary Training,” Associated Press, November 25, 2006.

76 Ibid.

77 “Former Officer Accused of Recruiting Soldiers, Police, for Security Work in Iraq,” Associated Press, October 21, 2005.

78 Héctor Rojas, “José Miguel Pizarro dice que recluta a efectivos para trabajar en labores de seguridad en el Medio Oriente, pero niega que se trate de mercenaries. Empresario asegura que enviará 3.000 ex militares chilenos a Irak en 2006,” La Tercera (Chile), October 28, 2005.

79 Interview, October 2006.

80 Interview by e-mail, October 2006.

CHAPTER 14

1 Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and information from Danica Zovko come from author interviews in the summer of 2006.

2 Author copy.

3 Joseph Neff and Jay Price, “After the Horror, Strong Words Mask Inaction; Little Has Been Done to Determine the Facts of the Ambush in Fallujah That Cost Four Civilian Contractors Their Lives,” News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), August 1, 2004.

4 “A Warrior Who Wanted Peace,” St. Petersburg Times (Florida), April 14, 2004.

5 “Death and Funeral Notices,” San Diego Union-Tribune, April 9, 2004.

6 Renae Merle, “Contract Workers Are War’s Forgotten; Iraq Deaths Create Subculture of Loss,” Washington Post, July 31, 2004.

7 Ibid.

8 Ibid.

9 Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and information from Katy Helvenston-Wettengel come from author interviews throughout 2006.

10 David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,” New York Times, April 9, 2004.

11 Transcript, The Big Story With John Gibson, Fox News, March 31, 2004.

12 Ibid.

13 Transcript, Morning Edition, NPR, April 1, 2004.

14 Transcript, The Big Story With John Gibson, Fox News, April 2, 2004.

15 Patrick Graham, “Veiled Threat: Why an SUV Is Now the Most Dangerous Vehicle in Iraq,” The Observer (London), April 4, 2004.

16 Ibid.

17 Mark LeVine, “Seeing Iraq Through the Globalization Lens,” Christian Science Monitor, April 5, 2004.

18 David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,” New York Times, April 9, 2004.

19 Ibid.

20 Ibid.

21 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah,” September 2007.

22 David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,” New York Times, April 9, 2004.

23 Jim Steele’s “Premiere Speakers Bureau” biography.

24 Jon Lee Anderson, “The Uprising,” The New Yorker, May 3, 2004.

25 Colin Freeman, “Fallujah: Brutal Ambush Might Have Been Avoided,” San Francisco Chronicle, April 19, 2004.

26 Ibid.

27 Michael Duffy, “When Private Armies Take to the Front Lines,” Time, April 12, 2004.

28 Colin Freeman, “Fallujah: Brutal Ambush Might Have Been Avoided,” San Francisco Chronicle, April 19, 2004.

29 Ibid.

30 Ibid.

31 Joseph Neff and Jay Price, “After the Horror, Strong Words Mask Inaction; Little Has Been Done to Determine the Facts of the Ambush in Fallujah That Cost Four Civilian Contractors Their Lives,” News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), August 1, 2004.

32 Ibid.

33 “U.S. Security Contractor Cites Explosive Growth Amid Iraq War,” Associated Press, October 13, 2004.

34 Ibid.

35 Ibid.

36 Interviews 2006.

37 Interviews 2006.

38 Blackwater Tactical Weekly, November 8, 2004.

39 Bill Sizemore and Joanne Kimberlin, “When Things Go Wrong,” Virginian-Pilot, July 26, 2006.

40 Author copy of photo.

41 Blackwater Tactical Weekly, November 22, 2004.

42 Beckman Coulter v. Flextronics (Orange County Superior Court, California). The verdict was the largest in California in 2003 and the largest in Orange County history.

43 Interview 2006.

44 Richard P. Nordan v. Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC et. al., filed January 5, 2005.

45 Ibid.

46 Author copy of contract.

47 Blackwater Motion to Dismiss, filed January 31, 2005.

48 Richard P. Nordan v. Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC et. al., filed January 5, 2005.

49 Ibid.

50 Interview 2006.

51 Richard P. Nordan v. Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC et. al., filed January 5, 2005.

52 Ibid.

53 Joseph Neff and Jay Prince (the News & Observer), “Use of Private Contractors in War Zones Proves Costly,” Associated Press, October 25, 2004.

54 Author copy of contract.

55 Author copy of letter.

56 Author copy of letter.

57 Transcript, Hearing of House Government Reform Committee, September 28, 2006.

58 E-mail to producers of PBS Frontline, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/warriors/etc/response.html, posted June 21, 2005.

59 Ibid.

60 “Interim Audit Report on Inappropriate Use of Proprietary Data Markings by the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) Contractor,” Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, October 26, 2006.

61 Ibid.

62 Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta Jr., “Halliburton Contracts in Iraq: The Struggle to Manage Costs,” New York Times, December 29, 2003.

63 Halliburton Statement, December 7, 2006.

64 Letter from Representative Henry Waxman to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, December 7, 2006.

65 Ibid.

66 Transcript, “Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight,” House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, February 7, 2007.

67 See Jeremy Scahill and Garrett Ordower, “KBR’s $400 Million Iraq Question,” The Nation online, March 12, 2007.

68 Transcript, “Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight,” House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, February 7, 2007.

69 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah,” September 2007.

70 Ibid.

71 Ibid.

72 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah,” September 2007.

73 Blackwater report, “Blackwater’s Response to ‘Majority Staff Report,’” October 23, 2007.

74 Author copy of contract.

75 Interview 2006.

76 Richard P. Nordan v. Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC et. al., filed January 5, 2005.

77 See Chapter 5.

78 Richard P. Nordan v. Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC et. al., filed January 5, 2005.

79 Ibid.

80 Ibid.

81 Transcript, “Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight,” House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, February 7, 2007.

82 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah,” September 2007.

83 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah,” September 2007.

84 Ibid.

85 Ibid.

86 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah,” September 2007.

87 Interview 2006.

88 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah,” September 2007.

89 Richard P. Nordan v. Blackwater Security Consulting, LLC et. al., filed January 5, 2005.

90 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah,” September 2007.

91 Ibid.

92 Blackwater report, “Blackwater’s Response to ‘Majority Staff Report,’” October 23, 2007.

93 Ibid.

94 Bill Sizemore and Joanne Kimberlin, “When Things Go Wrong,” Virginian-Pilot, July 26, 2006.

95 E-mail to author April 14, 2006.

96 Scott Dodd, “Families of 4 Contractors Killed in Iraq Sue Security Company,” Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, January 6, 2005.

97 Interviews 2006.

98 Interviews 2006.

99 Transcript, “Hearing of the National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee,” June 13, 2006.

100 Author copy, “Blackwater Defendants’ Memorandum in Opposition,” December 26, 2006.

101 Author copy, “Reply Brief in Support of Motion,” December 27, 2006.

102 Author copy, “United States’ Limited Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion,” December 26, 2006.

103 Author copy, “Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury of Colonel Richard O. Hatch,” December 26, 2006.

104 Quadrennial Defense Review Report, February 6, 2006.

105 Blackwater appellate brief, filed October 31, 2005.

106 Bernd Debusmann, “In Iraq, Contractor Deaths Near 650, Legal Fog Thickens,” Reuters, October 10, 2006.

107 Interview 2006.

108 Blackwater appellate brief, filed October 31, 2005.

109 Blackwater petition, filed December 19, 2005. Note: Order 17 was signed by Bremer on June 27, 2004, three months after the Fallujah ambush.

110 Blackwater appellate brief, filed October 31, 2005.

111 Ibid.

112 Ibid.

113 Ibid.

114 “Halliburton/KBR the Lex Column,” Financial Times (London), November 16, 2006.

115 KBR amicus curiae, filed September 22, 2006.

116 Ibid.

117 Joseph Neff, “Blackwater Suit Can Go Forward; A Wake Judge Rules in Favor of Families of Four Killed in Iraq,” News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), November 28, 2006.

118 Interviews 2006.

119 Jeremy Scahill and Garrett Ordower, “From Whitewater to Blackwater,” TheNation.com, posted October 26, 2006.

120 Blackwater petition to U.S. Supreme Court, October 18, 2006.

121 Ibid.

122 Joseph Neff, “Blackwater Suit Can Go Forward; A Wake Judge Rules in Favor of Families of Four Killed in Iraq,” News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), November 28, 2006.

123 Author copy, Blackwater’s “Petition for a Writ of Certiorari,” filed December 20, 2006.

124 Author copy, Blackwater’s “Petition for Order Directing Arbitration,” December 20, 2006; Author copy, Blackwater’s “Demand for Arbitration,” signed December 14, 2006.

125 Bill Sizemore, “Suit Against Blackwater Over Contractor Deaths Moves to Arbitration,” Virginian-Pilot, May 20, 2007.

126 Ibid.

127 Author copy of statement.

128 Attila Berry and Joe Palazzolo, “Blackwater Sues Wiley Rein for Malpractice; Former Client Claims Firm Botched Fallujah Case,” Legal Times, January 28, 2008.

129 Interview 2006.

CHAPTER 15

1 Many of the descriptive details on the crash of Blackwater 61 and its aftermath are drawn from the author’s copy of the National Transportation Safety Board accident docket.

2 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board accident docket.

3 Amended Complaint, filed October 4, 2005.

4 Presidential Airways’ Emergency Motion to Quash Subpoena, February 24, 2006.

5 Flight records from flightaware.com accessed in October and November 2006; Federal Aviation Administration airplane registration records.

6 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board accident docket.

7 Ibid.

8 Ibid.

9 Ibid.

10 Ibid.

11 Blackwater Tactical Weekly, October 18, 2004.

12 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board accident docket.

13 Ibid.

14 Ibid.

15 Ibid.

16 Ibid.

17 Ibid.

18 Ibid.

19 Ibid.

20 Ibid.

21 Ibid.

22 Ibid.

23 Ibid.

24 Suzanne Goldenberg, “CIA Accused of Torture at Bagram Base; Some Captives Handed to Brutal Foreign Agencies,” Guardian, December 27, 2002.

25 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board accident docket.

26 Ibid.

27 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board accident docket; “Coalition Forces in Afghanistan as of Oct. 4, 2004, www.defenselink.mil/home/ features/1082004d.html.

28 Rafael A. Almeda, “A Soldier Until the End,” Sun-Sentinel, December 3, 2004.

29 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board accident docket.

30 Ibid.

31 All in-flight dialogue from cockpit voice recorder transcript contained in “Specialist’s Factual Report of Investigation,” National Transportation Safety Board Vehicle Recorders Division, October 18, 2005.

32 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board accident docket.

33 Ibid.

34 Ibid.

35 Ibid.

36 Jennifer Feehan, “Plane Crash Kills a Weston Man in Afghanistan,” Toledo Blade, December 2, 2004.

37 Amended Complaint, filed October 4, 2005.

38 Griff Witte, “Blackwater Broke Rules, Report Says,” Washington Post, October 5, 2005.

39 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board accident docket.

40 Ibid.

41 Griff Witte, “Blackwater Broke Rules, Report Says,” Washington Post, October 5, 2005.

42 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board Aircraft Accident Brief.

43 Ibid.

44 Jay Price and Joseph Neff, “Inquiry Pins Blackwater Crash on Pilot,” News & Observer, December 6, 2006.

45 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board Aircraft Accident Brief.

46 Presidential Airways’ Emergency Motion to Quash Subpoena, February 24, 2006.

47 Judge John Antoon, Order denying Blackwater motions, September 27, 2006.

48 Presidential Airways’ Emergency Motion to Quash Subpoena, February 24, 2006.

49 Judge John Antoon, Order denying Blackwater motions, September 27, 2006.

50 Ibid.

51 Ibid.

52 Ibid.

53 Presidential Airways’ Emergency Motion to Quash Subpoena, February 24, 2006.

54 Ibid.

55 Ibid.

56 Judge John Antoon, Order denying Blackwater motions, September 27, 2006.

57 Ibid.

58 Ibid.

59 Ibid.

60 Ibid.

61 Jane Mayer, “Outsourcing Torture,” The New Yorker, February 14, 2005.

62 Ibid.

63 “United States Policy with Respect to the Involuntary Return of Persons in Danger of Subjection to Torture,” Public Law 105-277.

64 Jane Mayer, “Outsourcing Torture,” The New Yorker, February 14, 2005.

65 Ibid.

66 Jim Landers, “CIA Official Says War on Terrorism Will Be Won With Great Force,” Dallas Morning News, October 19, 2001.

67 William M. Leary, “Supporting the ‘Secret War’: CIA Air Operations in Laos, 1955-1974,” CIA Studies in Intelligence, Winter 1999-2000.

68 Stephen Grey, Ghost Plane: the True Story of The CIA Torture Program, St. Martin’s New York, 1996, p. 108.

69 Press release, “Blackwater USA Completes Acquisition of Aviation Worldwide Services,” PRWEB, May 3, 2003.

70 Ibid.

71 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board accident docket.

72 Ibid.

73 Press release, “Blackwater USA Completes Acquisition of Aviation Worldwide Services,” PRWEB, March 3, 2003.

74 Jeffrey S. Hampton, “Blackwater Aviation Unit to Relocate,” Virginian-Pilot, March 29, 2006.

75 Ibid.

76 Ibid.

77 “Hangar Plaque Honors C.I.A.’s Air Operative,” New York Times, December 30, 1985.

78 David E. Hendrix, “CIA Got Burned on Airplane Deal, Suit Says Hemet City Councilman James Venable Ended Up with Some of the Planes,” Press-Enterprise, January 11, 1996.

79 Press Release, April 12, 2006.

80 Stephen Grey, Ghost Plane: The True Story of the CIA Torture Program, St. Martin’s, New York, 1996, pp. 142-143.

81 Ibid., p. 125.

82 Aaron Sarver, “Tracking the CIA Torture Flights,” In These Times, September 27, 2006.

83 All flight records from flightaware.com accessed in October and November 2006.

84 “To Catch a Spy,” Washington Post, March 26, 2006.

85 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board accident docket.

86 Stephen Grey, Ghost Plane, p. 39.

87 Author copy of National Transportation Safety Board accident docket.

88 Ibid.

89 Glen Owen, “The Picture That Proves ‘Torture Flights’ Are STILL Landing in the UK,” Daily Mail, June 10, 2007.

90 Blackwater press release, “British Tabloid Withdraws False Story on Blackwater,” June 14, 2007.

91 Barry Yeoman, “Soldiers of Good Fortune,” Mother Jones, May/June 2003.

92 Interviews, July, August 2006; Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,” Harper’s, www.harpers.org/sb-revolving-door-blackwater-1158094722.html, September 12, 2006; Robert Young Pelton, Licensed to Kill.

93 Michael Hirsh, John Barry, and Daniel Klaidman, “Interrogation: A Tortured Debate,” Newsweek, June 21, 2006.

CHAPTER 16

1 Bob Woodward, Bush at War, pp. 50-52.

2 Biographical information on Cofer Black is largely drawn from Steve Coll, Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001, Penguin, New York, 2004.

3 Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, p. 267.

4 Ibid., p. 267.

5 Ibid., “Front Matter.”

6 Ibid., p. 271.

7 Ibid., p. 267.

8 Billy Waugh with Tim Keown, Hunting the Jackal: A Special Forces and CIA Ground Soldier’s Fifty-Year Career Hunting America’s Enemies, William Morrow, New York, 2004, p. 143.

9 Robert Young Pelton, Licensed to Kill, p. 28.

10 Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, p. 271.

11 Ibid., pg. 271.

12 Billy Waugh with Tim Keown, Hunting the Jackal, p. 151.

13 Ibid., p. 150.

14 Ibid., p. 155.

15 Ibid., pp. 156-157.

16 Ibid., pp. 156-200.

17 Ibid., p. 198.

18 J. Cofer Black official biography, U.S. Department of State.

19 Ibid.

20 Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, p. 454.

21 Ned Zeman, David Wise, David Rose, and Bryan Burrough, “The Path to 9/11: Lost Warnings and Fatal Errors,” Vanity Fair, November 2004.

22 James Bamford, A Pretext for War: 9/11, Iraq, and the Abuse of America’s Intelligence Agencies, Doubleday, New York, 2004, p. 221.

23 J. Cofer Black testimony before the 9/11 Commission, April 13, 2004.

24 J. Cofer Black testimony before the Joint House/Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing into September 11, September 26, 2002.

25 Ibid.

26 Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, p. 455.

27 James Bamford, A Pretext for War, p. 219; Ned Zeman, David Wise, David Rose and Bryan Burrough, “The Path to 9/11: Lost Warnings and Fatal Errors,” Vanity Fair, November 2004.

28 Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, p. 492.

29 Ibid., pp. 456-459.

30 Ibid., p. 457.

31 Ibid, pp. 456-457.

32 James Bamford, A Pretext for War, p. 219.

33 Nick Paton Walsh, “The Envoy Who Said Too Much: One Minute He Was Our Man in Tashkent, the Next He Was a Major Embarrassment for the Foreign Office,” Guardian, July 15, 2004.

34 Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, p. 502.

35 James Bamford, A Pretext for War, p. 220.

36 Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, p. 516.

37 Ibid., p. 518.

38 Jon Lee Anderson, “A Lion’s Death: The Assassination of the Taliban’s Most Important Afghan opponent,” The New Yorker, October 1, 2001.

39 Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, p. 543

40 Ned Zeman, David Wise, David Rose, and Bryan Burrough, “The Path to 9/11: Lost Warnings and Fatal Errors,” Vanity Fair, November 2004.

41 Ibid.

42 “Two Months Before 9/11, an Urgent Warning to Rice,” Washington Post, October 1, 2006.

43 Ibid.

44 Ibid.

45 Author copy of declassified memo titled “Bin Ladin Determined to Strike in US,” August 6, 2001.

46 J. Cofer Black testimony before the Joint House/Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing into September 11, September 26, 2002.

47 Gordon Corera, “How Terror Attacks Changed the CIA,” BBC News Online, March 12, 2006.

48 Bob Woodward, Bush at War, Simon & Schuster, New York, 2002, p. 52.

49 Ibid.

50 Ibid.

51 Gary Schroen, First In: An Insider’s Account of How the CIA Spearheaded the War on Terror in Afghanistan, Ballantine, New York, 2005, p. 38.

52 Ibid.

53 Ibid.

54 Jane Mayer, “The Search for Osama,” The New Yorker, August 4, 2003.

55 Bob Woodward, Bush at War, p. 103.

56 Robert Young Pelton, Licensed to Kill, pp. 30-32.

57 Transcript, Interview with Steve Coll, PBS Frontline, www.pbs.org/ wgbh/pages/frontline/ darkside/interviews/coll.html, posted June 20, 2006.

58 Dana Priest, “Wrongful Imprisonment: Anatomy of a CIA Mistake German Citizen Released After Months in ‘Rendition,’” Washington Post, December 4, 2005.

59 Ibid.

60 Dana Priest and Barton Gellman, “U.S. Decries Abuse but Defends Interrogations; ‘Stress and Duress’ Tactics Used on Terrorism Suspects Held in Secret Overseas Facilities,” Washington Post, December 26, 2002.

61 Transcript, Wolf Blitzer Reports, CNN, April 30, 2004.

62 Dana Priest, “Wrongful Imprisonment: Anatomy of a CIA Mistake German Citizen Released After Months in ‘Rendition,’” Washington Post, December 4, 2005.

63 Ibid.

64 Dana Priest and Barton Gellman, “U.S. Decries Abuse but Defends Interrogations; ‘Stress and Duress’ Tactics Used on Terrorism Suspects Held in Secret Overseas Facilities,” Washington Post, December 26, 2002.

65 Ibid.

66 Michael Hirsh, John Barry, and Daniel Klaidman, “A Tortured Debate,” Newsweek, June 21, 2004.

67 Jane Mayer, “Outsourcing Torture,” The New Yorker, February 14, 2005.

68 Ibid.

69 Jane Mayer, “Outsourcing Torture,” The New Yorker, February 14, 2005.

70 Evan Thomas and Michael Hirsh, “Torture and Terror: Interrogators Have Pondered the Uses of Torture for Centuries and in the Wake of 9/11 the US Has Embraced So-called Torture Lite,” Newsweek, November 22, 2005.

71 Dana Priest, “Wrongful Imprisonment: Anatomy of a CIA Mistake German Citizen Released After Months in ‘Rendition,’” the Washington Post, December 4, 2005.

72 Richard Sale, “Embarrassed Rumsfeld Fired CIA Official,” United Press International, July 28, 2004.

73 Barton Gellman and Thomas E. Ricks, “U.S. Concludes Bin Laden Escaped at Tora Bora Fight; Failure to Send Troops in Pursuit Termed Major Error,” the Washington Post, April 17, 2002.

74 Bob Woodward and Dan Eggen, “Aug. Memo Focused on Attacks in U.S. Lack of Fresh Information Frustrated Bush,” the Washington Post, May 19, 2002.

75 Richard Sale, “Embarrassed Rumsfeld Fired CIA Official,” United Press International, July 28, 2004.

76 Ibid.

77 White House press release, October 10, 2002.

78 Transcript, “Counterterrorism Chief Says Terrorist Attacks Fell Sharply in 2002,” U.S. State Department, May 14, 2002.

79 Transcript, 2003 State of the Union Address, January 28, 2003.

80 Kathleen T. Rhem, “State Department: Terrorist Attacks Down 44 Percent in 2002,” American Forces Press Service, April 30, 2003.

81 Transcript, “Release of the 2003 ‘Patterns of Global Terrorism’ Annual Report,” U.S. Department of State, April 29, 2004.

82 Transcript, “Rollout of ‘Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003’ Annual Report,” U.S. Department of State, April 29, 2004.

83 Alan B. Krueger and David Laitin, “Faulty Terror Report Card,” the Washington Post, May 17, 2004.

84 Ibid.

85 “Verbatim,” Time (Asia), July 5, 2004.

86 Cam Simpson (Chicago Tribune), “Corrected Report Shows 2003 Terror Attacks the Highest in 2 Decades,” Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, June 23, 2004.

87 Alan B. Krueger and David Laitin, “Faulty Terror Report Card,” the Washington Post, May 17, 2004.

88 Transcript, “Ambassador J. Cofer Black, Coordinator, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism Foreign Press Center Briefing,” U.S. Department of State, April 29, 2004.

89 Barry Schweid, “Revised State Department Report Shows Rise in Terror Incidents Worldwide,” Associated Press, June 23, 2004.

90 Author copy of letter.

91 Paul Krugman, “White House Claims on Terrorism Don’t Add Up,” International Herald Tribune, June 26, 2004.

92 Salamander Davoudi, “US Re-Releases Flawed Global Terror Report,” Financial Times, June 23, 2004.

93 Paul Krugman, “White House Claims on Terrorism Don’t Add Up,” International Herald Tribune, June 26, 2004.

94 Barry Schweid, “Revised State Department Report Shows Rise in Terror Incidents Worldwide,” Associated Press, June 23, 2004.

95 Ibid.

96 Ann Scott Tyson and Dana Priest, “Pentagon Seeking Leeway Overseas; Operations Could Bypass Envoys,” the Washington Post, February 24, 2005.

97 “US Supplies Three Patrol Ships to Boost Olympic Security,” Agence France-Presse, June 26, 2004.

98 Ibid.

99 BlackwaterUSA.com, captured November 30, 2006.

100 “Blackwater’s Top Brass,” the Virginian-Pilot, July 24, 2006.

101 Transcript, “Hearing of the International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee,” April 1, 2004.

102 Ibid.

103 Blackwater Tactical Weekly, May 17, 2004.

104 Paul Wiseman, “The Hunt for Bin Laden: Dragnet Snares Many of His Men, But Terrorist Kingpin Still at Large,” USA Today, September 10, 2004.

105 “US State Department Counter-Terrorism Chief Resigns,” AFX News, November 7, 2004.

106 Douglas Jehl, “Officials Won’t Be Disciplined for Actions Before Sept. 11,” the New York Times, October 6, 2005.

107 John B. Roberts II, “Chinese Mole Hunt at CIA; Agency Keeps Human-Intelligence Apparatus, Barely,” the Washington Times, October 14, 2005.

108 Blackwater USA Press Release, “Ambassador Cofer Black Becomes Vice-Chairman at Blackwater USA,” February 4, 2005.

109 The Black Group Web site, www.blackgroupllc.com/services.html, captured November 30, 2006.

110 The Black Group Web site, www.blackgroundllc.com/about.html, captured November 30, 2006.

111 The Black Group Web site, www.blackgroupllc.com/contact.html, captured November 30, 2006.

112 The Black Group Web site, www.blackgroupllc.com/, captured November 30, 2006.

CHAPTER 17

1 Transcript, “President Bush Discusses Early Transfer of Iraqi Sovereignty,” www.whitehouse.gov, June 28, 2004.

2 L. Paul Bremer III, My Year in Iraq, p. 395.

3 Transcript, “President Bush Discusses Early Transfer of Iraqi Sovereignty,” www.whitehouse.gov, June 28, 2004.

4 Scott Shane, “Poker-Faced Diplomat, Negroponte Is Poised for Role as Spy Chief,” the New York Times, March 29, 2005.

5 Ibid.

6 Carla Anne Robbins, “Negroponte Has Tricky Mission: U.S. Diplomat Is at Center of Debate Over Power of Iraq Envoy, the Wall Street Journal, April 27, 2004.

7 Jay Hancock, Gary Cohn, and Tom Bowman, “Contra-era Envoy Nominated to Be U.N. Ambassador; Diplomat Helped Hide Honduran Abuses from Congress in ’80s; Vocal Supporters, Critics,” the Baltimore Sun, March 7, 2001; Michael Dobbs, “Papers Illustrate Negroponte’s Contra Role; Newly Released Documents Show Intelligence Nominee Was Active in U.S. Effort,” the Washington Post, April 12, 2005; Robert Parry, “Negroponte’s Dark Past: The Case Against Bush’s New Intelligence Czar,” In These Times, March 28, 2005.

8 Jay Hancock, Gary Cohn, and Tom Bowman, “Contra-era Envoy Nominated to Be U.N. Ambassador; Diplomat Helped Hide Honduran Abuses from Congress in ’80s; Vocal Supporters, Critics,” the Baltimore Sun, March 7, 2001.

9 Scott Shane, “Poker-Faced Diplomat, Negroponte Is Poised for Role as Spy Chief,” the New York Times, March 29, 2005.

10 Carla Anne Robbins, “Negroponte Has Tricky Mission: U.S. Diplomat Is at Center of Debate Over Power of Iraq Envoy, the Wall Street Journal, April 27, 2004.

11 Ibid.

12 “Honduras Rushes to Pull Out Troops,” www.CNN.com, April 20, 2004.

13 Wil Haygood, “Ambassador With Big Portfolio: John Negroponte Goes to Baghdad With a Record of Competence, and Controversy,” the Washington Post, June 21, 2004.

14 Tyler Marshall, “Operation Limited Freedom: The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad Is a Hub of ‘Extreme Diplomacy.’ All Moves Are Scripted, and There’s Even a Hostage Negotiator on Site,” the Los Angeles Times, January 22, 2005.

15 Transcript, Democracy Now! April 27, 2004.

16 Jeremy Scahill, “Mercenary Jackpot,” The Nation, August 28, 2006.

17 Michael Hirsh and John Barry, “‘The Salvador Option’: The Pentagon May Put Special-Forces-Led Assassination or Kidnapping Teams in Iraq,” Newsweek (Web exclusive), January 8, 2005.

18 Ibid.

19 Transcript, “Joint Media Availability With U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov Following Their Meeting,” Department of Defense Briefing, January 11, 2005.

20 Greg Jaffe, “Bands of Brothers—New Factor in Iraq: Irregular Brigades Fill Security Void—Jailed by Hussein, Gen. Thavit Is Leading Thousands Now; Questions About Loyalty—‘Toughest Force We’ve Got,’” the Wall Street Journal, February 16, 2005.

21 Ibid.

22 Ibid.

23 Ibid.

24 Peter Maass, “The Way of the Commandos,” The New York Times Magazine, May 1, 2005.

25 Ibid.

26 Ibid.

27 Michael Hirsh and John Barry, “‘The Salvador Option’: The Pentagon May Put Special-Forces-Led Assassination or Kidnapping Teams in Iraq,” Newsweek (Web exclusive), January 8, 2005.

28 Ibid.

29 Douglas Jehl and Elisabeth Bumiller, “Bush Picks Longtime Diplomat for New Top Intelligence Job,” the New York Times, February 18, 2005.

30 Robert Dreyfuss, “Phoenix Rising,” The American Prospect, January 1, 2004.

31 Ibid.

32 Ibid.

33 Ibid.

34 Transcript, Democracy Now! January 10, 2005.

35 Scott Shane, “Poker-Faced Diplomat, Negroponte Is Poised for Role as Spy Chief,” the New York Times, March 29, 2005.

36 Ibid.

37 Michael Hirsh and John Barry, “‘The Salvador Option’: The Pentagon May Put Special-Forces-Led Assassination or Kidnapping Teams in Iraq,” Newsweek (Web exclusive), January 8, 2005.

38 Transcript, Democracy Now! February 18, 2005.

39 Anthony Shadid and Steve Fainaru, “Militias on the Rise Across Iraq: Shiite and Kurdish Groups Seizing Control, Instilling Fear in North and South,” the Washington Post, August 21, 2005.

40 Transcript, Democracy Now! February 28, 2006.

41 Ibid.

42 Scott Ritter, “The Salvador Option: By Any Standard, the Ongoing American Occupation of Iraq Is a Disaster,” www.aljazeera.net , January 20, 2005.

43 Tom Lasseter, “Sectarian Resentment Extends to Iraq’s Army,” Knight-Ridder, October 12, 2005.

44 Patrick Cockburn, “Does Anyone in Washington or at Downing Street Know What’s Really Happening in Iraq?” CounterPunch, November 28, 2006.

45 David Brown, “Study Claims Iraq’s ‘Excess’ Death Toll Has Reached 655,000,” the Washington Post, October 11, 2006.

46 Transcript, “President Discusses War on Terror and Rebuilding Iraq,” www.whitehouse.gov, December 7, 2005.

47 Jim Warren, “Kentucky Buddies Are Killed in Iraq: 2 Ex-Soldiers Were With Security Firms Died in Separate Incidents,” the Lexington Herald Leader, April 23, 2005.

48 Liz Sly, “6 Americans Die in Crash of Helicopter: Civilians Employed by Private Security Firm,” the Chicago Tribune, April 22, 2005.

49 “Security Company Faces Loss of Seven in Iraq: ‘A Very Sad Day for the Blackwater Family,’” Associated Press, April 22, 2005.

50 Ibid.

51 Transcript, ABC World News Tonight, April 23, 2005.

52 Hector Gutierrez, “Coloradan Killed in Iraq Crash Trying to Earn Family Nest Egg,” Rocky Mountain News, April 23, 2005.

53 Ibid.

54 Liz Sly, “6 Americans Die in Crash of Helicopter: Civilians Employed by Private Security Firm,” the Chicago Tribune, April 22, 2005.

55 John F. Burns, “Video Appears to Show Insurgents Kill a Downed Pilot,” the New York Times, April 23, 2005.

56 Ibid.

57 Author copy of video.

58 John F. Burns, “Video Appears to Show Insurgents Kill a Downed Pilot,” the New York Times, April 23, 2005.

59 Thomas Wagner, “Militant Group Says It Shot Down Helicopter in Iraq, Killed Sole Survivor,” Associated Press, April 22, 2005.

60 Ibid.

61 Ibid.

62 Blackwater USA press release, April 21, 2005.

63 Transcript, CNN Live From, April 21, 2005.

64 Transcript, CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports, April 21, 2005.

65 Ibid.

66 Transcript, Defense Department Briefing, April 22, 2005.

67 Emery P. Dalesio, “N.C. Security Company Faces Largest Death Toll in Iraq,” Associated Press, April 23, 2005.

68 Samiha Khanna, “Slain Guards’ Lives Recalled: N.C. Company Loses 7 in Iraq,” the News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), April 24, 2005.

69 Steve Hundley, “U.S. Sends Soldiers Into a Meat Grinder,” Austin American-Statesman, June 11, 2006.

70 Samiha Khanna, “Slain Guards’ Lives Recalled: N.C. Company Loses 7 in Iraq,” the News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), April 24, 2005.

71 “11 Die As Missile Downs Copter—Blackwater’s Black Day: 7 Employees Killed,” the Commercial Appeal (Memphis), April 22, 2005.

72 Blackwater USA press release, April 21, 2005.

73 Ibid.

74 Joe D. Morton, Acting Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security and Director for the Office of Foreign Missions, Statement to Employees of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, April 22, 2005.

75 Transcript, Daily Press Briefing, U.S. State Department, April 21, 2005.

76 Ibid.

77 “11 Die As Missile Downs Copter—Blackwater’s Black Day: 7 Employees Killed,” the Commercial Appeal (Memphis), April 22, 2005.

78 Thomas Wagner, “Car Bomb Kills 8 at Baghdad Mosque; Militant Group Says It Killed Survivor of Copter Crash,” Associated Press, April 22, 2005.

79 Emery P. Dalesio, “N.C. Company Loses Seven in Iraq,” Associated Press, April 23, 2005.

CHAPTER 18

1 U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform Minority Staff Special Investigations Division, “Halliburton’s Questioned and Unsupported Costs in Iraq Exceed $1.4 Billion,” June 27, 2005.

2 Ibid.

3 David Firestone, “Senate Votes to Require Open Bidding on Contracts,” the New York Times, October 3, 2003.

4 Bloomberg News, “Pentagon Official Sees No Gouging,” the Houston Chronicle, July 2, 2004.

5 Joseph Schmitz, “Improving Oversight at Defense; Mission Drives Overhaul of IG’s Office,” Federal Times, September 8, 2003; Department of Defense biography of Joseph Schmitz, www.defenselink.mil/bios/ schmitz_bio.html.

6 T. Christian Miller, “Pentagon Investigator Resigning: Joseph E. Schmitz, the Defense Department’s Inspector General, Is Suspected of Blocking Investigations of Senior Bush Officials,” the Los Angeles Times, September 3, 2005.

7 Ibid.

8 Author copy of Schmitz’s letter.

9 Ibid.

10 Transcript of Joseph Schmitz’s remarks as prepared for delivery at the City Club of Cleveland, June 25, 2004.

11 Joseph E. Schmitz official biography, Department of Defense, February 10, 2005.

12 As stated on the Web site of the Order of Malta Federal Association, USA, www.smom.org/worldwide-history.php, captured December 4, 2006.

13 Ibid.

14 Remarks delivered by Inspector General Joseph E. Schmitz of the Department of Defense to the 16^th International Military Chaplains Conference, Ljubljana, Slovenia, February 9, 2005.

15 J. Cofer Black speaking at the American Enterprise Institute, May 17, 2006.

16 Blackwater USA press release, “Joseph E. Schmitz Becomes Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for The Prince Group,” September 13, 2005.

17 Ibid.

18 Howard Seelye, “Schmitz Striving for Moderate Image in Race for Utt’s Seat,” the Los Angeles Times, April 12, 1970.

19 Ibid.

20 Phil Kerby, “The Reagan Backlash,” The Nation, September 25, 1967.

21 David Haldane and Jean O. Pasco, “Fiery O.C. Ultraconservative Schmitz Dies,” the Los Angeles Times, January 11, 2001.

22 Ibid.

23 Adam Bernstein, “Conservative GOP Congressman John G. Schmitz, 70, Dies,” the Washington Post, January 12, 2001.

24 David Haldane and Jean O. Pasco, “Fiery O.C. Ultraconservative Schmitz Dies,” the Los Angeles Times, January 11, 2001.

25 “LeTourneau’s Father Dies,” the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 12, 2001.

26 Thomas J. Foley, “Rousselot, Schmitz Condemn Visit Plan,” the Los Angeles Times, July 17, 1971.

27 Ibid.

28 Adam Bernstein, “Conservative GOP Congressman John G. Schmitz, 70, Dies,” the Washington Post, January 12, 2001.

29 David Haldane and Jean O. Pasco, “Fiery O.C. Ultraconservative Schmitz Dies,” the Los Angeles Times, January 11, 2001.

30 Adam Bernstein, “Conservative GOP Congressman John G. Schmitz, 70, Dies,” the Washington Post, January 12, 2001.

31 Ibid.

32 David Haldane and Jean O. Pasco, “Fiery O.C. Ultraconservative Schmitz Dies,” the Los Angeles Times, January 11, 2001.

33 Ibid.

34 Mark Martin, “John G. Schmitz, Former Congressman From Orange County,” the San Francisco Chronicle, January 12, 2001.

35 John P. Schmitz, profile, www.mayerbrownrowe.com/lawyers/profile.asp?hubbardid=S884112239, accessed December 5, 2006.

36 Lawrence E. Walsh, “Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters,” Chapter 28, August 4, 1993.

37 Ibid.

38 Ibid.

39 Ibid.

40 Ibid.

41 Ibid.

42 Ibid.

43 Department of Defense biography of Joseph Schmitz, www.defenselink.mil/bios/schmitz_bio.html.

44 Lawrence E. Walsh, “Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters,” Chapter 31, August 4, 1993.

45 John P. Schmitz profile, www.mayerbrownrowe.com/lawyers/profile.asp?hubbardid=S884112239, accessed December 5, 2006.

46 Ibid.

47 Author copy of Senate Office of Public Records lobbying records.

48 “Bush Donor Profile: John Patrick Schmitz,” Texans for Public Justice, www.tpj.org/docs/pioneers/pioneers_view.jsp?id=723, accessed December 5, 2006.

49 Alex Tresniowski, Lorenzo Benet, and Stacey Wilson, “One Year Later,” People, May 15, 2006.

50 Ibid.

51 Ibid.

52 “LeTourneau’s Father Dies,” the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 12, 2001.

53 Department of Defense biography of Joseph Schmitz, www.defenselink.mil/bios/schmitz_bio.html.

54 Ibid.

55 Patton Boggs’s Iraq Reconstruction page, www.pattonboggs.com/practiceareas/a-z/ 104.html, as it appeared on June 15, 2003.

56 Ibid.

57 Joseph E. Schmitz, “Comments About Recent Veto of HHS Bill,” letter published in the Washington Times, November 7, 1989.

58 Joseph E. Schmitz, “It’s Not a Federal Matter,” letter published in the Washington Post, July 13, 1990.

59 Joseph E. Schmitz, “Mr. Dershowitz’s Dilemma Is No Dilemma,” letter published in the Washington Times, July 6, 1992.

60 Transcript, “U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Holds a Hearing on Defense Department Nominations,” October 23, 2001.

61 Joseph E. Schmitz, “If you pull that lever for Clinton…,” letter published in the Washington Times, October 30, 1992.

62 Ibid.

63 Transcript, “U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Holds a Hearing on Defense Department Nominations,” October 23, 2001.

64 Ibid.

65 Ibid.

66 As stated on the Department of Defense Inspector General’s Web site.

67 Remarks as delivered by Inspector General Joseph E. Schmitz of the Department of Defense, “Wrestling with Discipline: Life Lessons in Leadership,” National Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Clinic, St. Louis, Missouri, March 20, 2004.

68 Remarks as delivered by Inspector General Joseph E. Schmitz of the Department of Defense, Association of Naval Aviators Defense Industry Leaders Breakfast, Tysons Corner, Virginia, June 10, 2004.

69 T. Christian Miller, “The Scrutinizer Finds Himself Under Scrutiny,” Los Angeles Times, September 25, 2005.

70 Ibid.

71 Ibid.

72 Ibid.

73 Transcript, White House Daily Press Briefing, March 25, 2003.

74 Stephen Labaton, “Pentagon Adviser Is Also Advising Global Crossing,” New York Times, March 21, 2003; Seymour M. Hersh, “Lunch With the Chairman: Why Was Richard Perle Meeting with Adnan Khashoggi?” The New Yorker, March 17, 2003.

75 Stephen Labaton, “Pentagon Adviser Is Also Advising Global Crossing,” New York Times, March 21, 2003.

76 Ibid.

77 Ibid.

78 Janine Zacharia, “Pentagon Clears Richard Perle of Wrongdoing,” Jerusalem Post, November 19, 2003.

79 Stephen Labaton, “Report Finds No Violations at Pentagon by Adviser,” New York Times, November 15, 2003.

80 Janine Zacharia, “Pentagon Clears Richard Perle of Wrongdoing,” Jerusalem Post, November 19, 2003.

81 Jennifer C. Kerr, “Perle Didn’t Violate Ethics Rules, IG Report Says,” Associated Press, November 15, 2003.

82 “Investigation Clears Perle of Wrongdoing—Rumsfeld,” Reuters, November 16, 2003.

83 R. Jeffrey Smith and Josh White, “General’s Speeches Broke Rules; Report Says Boykin Failed to Obtain Clearance,” Washington Post, August 19, 2004.

84 William M. Arkin, “The Pentagon Unleashes a Holy Warrior,” Los Angeles Times, October 16, 2003.

85 Ibid.

86 R. Jeffrey Smith and Josh White, “General’s Speeches Broke Rules; Report Says Boykin Failed to Obtain Clearance,” Washington Post, August 19, 2004.

87 William M. Arkin, “The Pentagon Unleashes a Holy Warrior,” Los Angeles Times, October 16, 2003.

88 Transcript, NBC Nightly News, October 15, 2003.

89 William M. Arkin, “The Pentagon Unleashes a Holy Warrior,” Los Angeles Times, October 16, 2003.

90 Ibid.

91 Ibid.

92 Michael Smith, “Donald Rumsfeld’s New Killer Elite, The Times (London) Online, February 12, 2006.

93 William M. Arkin, “The Pentagon Unleashes a Holy Warrior,” Los Angeles Times, October 16, 2003.

94 Sidney Blumenthal, “The Religious Warrior of Abu Ghraib: An Evangelical US General Played a Pivotal Role in Iraqi Prison Reform,” the Guardian, May 20, 2004. See also: John Barry, Michael Hirsh, and Michael Isikoff, “The Roots of Torture,” Newsweek, May 24, 2004.

95 Jim Mannion, “General to Be Investigated for Anti-Muslim Remarks,” Agence France-Presse, October 21, 2003.

96 Ibid.

97 R. Jeffrey Smith and Josh White, “General’s Speeches Broke Rules; Report Says Boykin Failed to Obtain Clearance,” Washington Post, August 19, 2004.

98 Ibid.

99 Transcript of Joseph Schmitz’s remarks as prepared for delivery at the City Club of Cleveland, June 25, 2004.

100 Joe Milicia, “Inspector General Says Prisoner Abuse Result of ‘Bad Eggs,’” Associated Press, June 25, 2004.

101 Ibid.

102 Transcript of Joseph Schmitz’s remarks as prepared for delivery at the City Club of Cleveland, June 25, 2004.

103 Ibid.

104 Ibid.

105 Ibid.

106 Ibid.

107 Remarks as delivered by Inspector General Joseph E. Schmitz of the Department of Defense, Information Assurance Industry Day, Arlington, Virginia, March 30, 2004.

108 Transcript of Joseph Schmitz’s remarks as prepared for delivery at the City Club of Cleveland, June 25, 2004.

109 Ibid.

110 Ibid.

111 Ibid.

112 T. Christian Miller, “The Scrutinizer Finds Himself Under Scrutiny,” Los Angeles Times, September 25, 2005.

113 Ibid.

114 Ibid.

115 Remarks as delivered by Inspector General Joseph E. Schmitz of the Department of Defense, Von Steuben Monument Dedication: “The Role of Inspectors General in Defending American Values,” Monmouth Battlefield, Monmouth, New Jersey, May 15, 2004.

116 Transcript of Joseph Schmitz’s remarks as prepared for delivery at the City Club of Cleveland, June 25, 2004.

117 T. Christian Miller, Blood Money, p. 57.

118 T. Christian Miller, “The Scrutinizer Finds Himself Under Scrutiny,” Los Angeles Times, September 25, 2005.

119 T. Christian Miller, Blood Money, pp. 55-68.

120 T. Christian Miller, “Pentagon Investigator Resigning: Joseph E. Schmitz, the Defense Department’s Inspector General, Is Suspected of Blocking Investigations of Senior Bush Officials,” Los Angeles Times, September 3, 2005.

121 T. Christian Miller, “The Conflict in Iraq: Pentagon Deputy’s Probes in Iraq Weren’t Authorized, Officials Say,” Los Angeles Times, July 7, 2004.

122 T. Christian Miller, “The Scrutinizer Finds Himself Under Scrutiny,” Los Angeles Times, September 25, 2005.

123 T. Christian Miller, Blood Money, p. 68.

124 T. Christian Miller, “The Scrutinizer Finds Himself Under Scrutiny,” Los Angeles Times, September 25, 2005.

125 Author copy of press release.

126 Ibid.

127 Ibid.

128 Author copy of letter dated July 27, 2005.

129 Ibid.

130 T. Christian Miller, “Pentagon Investigator Resigning: Joseph E. Schmitz, the Defense Department’s Inspector General, Is Suspected of Blocking Investigations of Senior Bush Officials,” Los Angeles Times, September 3, 2005.

131 T. Christian Miller, “Pentagon Ousts Official Under FBI Investigation,” Los Angeles Times, December 11, 2004.]

132 Author copy: Joseph E. Schmitz, “Inspecting Sex Slavery Through the Fog of Moral Relativism,” September 18, 2004.

133 Ibid.

134 Cam Simpson, “Commander: Contractors Violating U.S. Trafficking Laws,” Chicago Tribune, April 23, 2006.

135 The series “Pipeline to Peril” by Cam Simpson was published in Chicago Tribune, October 9-10, 2005.

136 Cam Simpson, “Commander: Contractors Violating U.S. Trafficking Laws,” Chicago Tribune, April 23, 2006.

137 Ibid.

138 Ibid.

139 Mike Allen, “Details on Boeing Deal Sought; Senators Raise Questions About White House Involvement,” Washington Post, June 8, 2005.

140 Greg Schneider and Renae Merle, “Pentagon to Lease Boeing Tanker Planes: Unusual Deal Saves Jobs; McCain Alleges Bias,” Washington Post, May 24, 2003.

141 Ibid.

142 Ibid.

143 Peter Spiegel, “Pentagon Gives Go-Ahead Over Boeing Deal,” Financial Times, May 24, 2003.

144 Caroline Daniel, James Harding, Joshua Chaffin, and Marianne Brun-Rovet, “A Cosy Relationship: Boeing’s Pentagon Deal Bears Testament to Its Skilful Lobbying Efforts,” Financial Times, December 8, 2003.

145 Ibid.

146 Greg Schneider and Renae Merle, “Pentagon to Lease Boeing Tanker Planes: Unusual Deal Saves Jobs; McCain Alleges Bias,” Washington Post, May 24, 2003.

147 Renae Merle, “Lockheed Adds Director Fresh From the Pentagon,” Washington Post, June 27, 2003.

148 Caroline Daniel, James Harding, Joshua Chaffin, and Marianne Brun-Rovet, “A Cosy Relationship: Boeing’s Pentagon Deal Bears Testament to Its Skilful Lobbying Efforts,” Financial Times, December 8, 2003.

149 “Holes in the Tanker Story,” Washington Post, June 20, 2005.

150 R. Jeffrey Smith, “Tanker Inquiry Finds Rumsfeld’s Attention Was Elsewhere,” Washington Post, June 20, 2006.

151 Mike Allen, “Details on Boeing Deal Sought; Senators Raise Questions About White House Involvement,” Washington Post, June 8, 2005.

152 Author copy of Senator Grassley letter to Schmitz, dated August 8, 2005.

153 Ibid.

154 “Holes in the Tanker Story,” Washington Post, June 20, 2005.

155 R. Jeffrey Smith, “Tanker Inquiry Finds Rumsfeld’s Attention Was Elsewhere,” Washington Post, June 20, 2006.

156 Ibid.

157 Mike Allen, “Details on Boeing Deal Sought; Senators Raise Questions About White House Involvement,” Washington Post, June 8, 2005.

158 “Holes in the Tanker Story,” Washington Post, June 20, 2005.

159 Transcript, “Hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee,” June 7, 2005.

160 U.S. Senate lobbying registration records.

161 Ibid.

162 Author copy of Senator Grassley letter to Schmitz, dated August 8, 2005.

163 Alicia Mundy, “Material Withheld from Tanker Report Angers Senate Panel; Many Names, Data Blacked Out—Key Pentagon Official Refused to Aid Probe,” Seattle Times, June 8, 2005.

164 Joe Milicia, “Inspector General Says Prisoner Abuse Result of ‘Bad Eggs,’” Associated Press, June 25, 2004.

165 “DoD Inspector General Lauds Bremer,” American Forces Information Service, November 15, 2004.

166 Ibid.

167 Ibid.

168 Remarks as delivered by Department of Defense Inspector General Joseph E. Schmitz to Order of Malta, Federal Association, USA, at the Church of the Little Flower, Bethesda, Maryland, February 5, 2005.

169 Blackwater USA press release, “Red Cross-Blackwater Fundraiser and Silent Auction a Huge Success!” November 23, 2005.

170 George Cahlink, “Defense IG Schmitz Leaves for Senior Post With Blackwater,” Defense Daily, September 1, 2005.

CHAPTER 19

1 Blackwater USA press release, “Blackwater USA Continues to Support Katrina Devastated Areas; Aid Focuses on Humanitarian, Security and Clean Up Needs,” September 13, 2005.

2 Unless otherwise noted, descriptions of Blackwater’s operations and quotes from its personnel in New Orleans are from the author’s time there in September 2005.

3 Alex Berenson and John M. Broder, “Police Begin Seizing Guns of Civilians,” New York Times, September 9, 2005.

4 Joanne Kimberlin and Bill Sizemore, “Blackwater: On American Soil,” Virginian-Pilot, July 27, 2006.

5 Ibid.

6 Ted Roelofs, “Iraq or New Orleans, It’s All Part of the Job; Former Kentwood Cop Describes War-like Horrors from Security Assignment,” Grand Rapids Press, September 13, 2005.

7 Ibid.

8 Frank Borelli, “Blackwater in Louisiana,” SwatDigest.com, September 8, 2005.

9 Griff Witte, “Private Security Contractors Head to Gulf,” Washington Post, September 8, 2005.

10 Bill Sizemore, “Blackwater Employees Create a Stir in New Orleans,” Virginian-Pilot, September 15, 2005.

11 Blackwater USA press release, “Blackwater Joins Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort!” September 1, 2005.

12 Blackwater USA press release, “Blackwater USA Continues to Support Katrina Devastated Areas; Aid Focuses on Humanitarian, Security and Clean Up Needs,” September 13, 2005.

13 Interview, May 2006.

14 Lolly Bowean and Deborah Horan, “Outsiders Come Looking for Work,” Chicago Tribune, September 18, 2005.

15 August Cole, “From Green Zone to French Quarter,” MarketWatch, September 18, 2005.

16 Blackwater Tactical Weekly, September 19, 2005.

17 August Cole, “From Green Zone to French Quarter,” MarketWatch, September 18, 2005.

18 Author copy of Erik Prince’s speech at West 2006 conference in San Diego, January 11, 2006.

19 Joanne Kimberlin and Bill Sizemore, “Blackwater: On American Soil,” Virginian-Pilot, July 27, 2006.

20 Ibid.

21 Author copy of contract.

22 Interviews, September 2005.

23 Author copy of government contract records.

24 Interview, June 2006.

25 Joanne Kimberlin and Bill Sizemore, “Blackwater: On American Soil,” Virginian-Pilot, July 27, 2006.

26 Bruce Alpert, “Democrats Fight Repeal of Prevailing Wage Law; Recovery Contractors Can Reduce Salaries,” Times-Picayune (New Orleans), September 27, 2005.

27 Pratap Chatterjee, “Big, Easy Iraqi-Style Contracts Flood New Orleans,” CorpWatch, September 20, 2005.

28 Rita J. King, “A High-Stakes Game With Almost No Rules,” CorpWatch, August 16, 2006.

29 Ibid.

30 Spencer S. Hsu, “$400 Million FEMA Contracts Now Total $3.4 Billion,” Washington Post, August 9, 2006.

31 “Fluor’s Slowed Iraq Work Frees It for Gulf Coast,” Reuters, September 9, 2005.

32 Christian Parenti, “New Orleans: Raze or Rebuild?” The Nation online, September 12, 2005.

33 Interviews, September 2005.

34 Christopher Cooper, “Old-Line Families Escape Worst of Flood and Plot the Future,” Wall Street Journal, September 8, 2005.

35 Interview, September 2006.

36 ISI Web site, www.isiusa.us/html/about.swf, captured December 7, 2006.

37 Transcript, “U.S. Senators Tom Coburn (R-Ok) and Barack Obama (D-Il) Hold a News Conference on Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts,” September 14, 2005.

38 Author copy of letter.

39 Author copy of letter.

40 Interview, 2006.

41 Author copy of memo.

42 Joanne Kimberlin and Bill Sizemore, “Blackwater: On American Soil,” Virginian-Pilot, July 27, 2006.

43 Renae Merle, “Storm-Wracked Parish Considers Hired Guns: Contractors in Louisiana Would Make Arrests, Carry Weapons,” Washington Post, March 14, 2006.

44 LeRoy v. Blackwater USA, filed August 25, 2005, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana.

45 Joanne Kimberlin, “Fort Swaggart: Bible Campus Becomes Blackwater Base,” Virginian-Pilot, July 27, 2006.

46 Joanne Kimberlin and Bill Sizemore, “Blackwater: On American Soil,” Virginian-Pilot, July 27, 2006.

47 Author copy of Erik Prince’s speech at West 2006 conference in San Diego, January 11, 2006.

48 Joanne Kimberlin and Bill Sizemore, “Blackwater: On American Soil,” Virginian-Pilot, July 27, 2006.

49 Terry Rodgers, “Finish the Fence, Congressmen Say; Republican Leaders Gather at Border to Promote ‘Real ID Act,’” San Diego Union-Tribune, March 30, 2005.

50 Press Release, “Rep. Rohrabacher Commends Minuteman Project,” April 19, 2005.

51 Dan Robinson, “US Citizen Volunteers on Border Security: We Won’t Stop,” Voice of America, May 12, 2005.

52 Transcript, “Hearing of the Management, Integration, and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee. Subject: Training More Border Agents: How the Department of Homeland Security Can Increase Training Capacity More Effectively,” May 24, 2005.

53 Ibid.

54 Ibid.

55 Blackwater Tactical Weekly, June 13, 2005.

56 Stephen Losey, “Border Patrol Should Consider Outsourcing its Training, Lawmaker Says,” Federal Times, May 27, 2005.

57 Blackwater USA press release, “Red Cross-Blackwater Fundraiser and Silent Auction a Huge Success!” November 23, 2005.

58 Ibid.

59 Blackwater Tactical Weekly, August 28, 2006.

60 Author copy of memo dated September 16, 2005.

61 Jeffrey H. Birnbaum and James V. Grimaldi, “Lobby Firm Is Scandal Casualty; Abramoff, DeLay Publicity Blamed for Shutdown,” Washington Post, January 10, 2006.

62 Government lobbying records.

63 Judy Sarasohn, “Security Contractors Try Friendly Persuasion,” Washington Post, December 22, 2005; government lobbying records.

64 Government lobbying records.

65 Erik Prince bio from Prince Manufacturing.

66 Paul Kane and John Bresnahan, “Letters Depict a Softer Abramoff,” Roll Call, March 29, 2006.

67 Author copy of Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation records.

68 Toward Tradition Web site, www.towardtradition.org.

69 “The Rabbi Responds,” Seattle Weekly, January 18, 2006.

70 Jack Abramoff plea agreement, January 3, 2006.

71 David Postman and Hal Bernton, “Abramoff Used Area Foundation as Conduit for Money,” Seattle Times, January 9, 2006.

72 Ibid.

73 Ibid.

74 Kate Ackley and Tory Newmyer, “Key Clients Quit Alexander Strategy Group; Others Weigh Options,” Roll Call, January 11, 2006.

75 Anna Palmer, “Pickups,” Legal Times, March 27, 2006.

76 Ibid.

CHAPTER 20

1 Transcript, President Bush speaking in the Oval Office, November 8, 2006.

2 Renae Merle, “Census Counts 100,000 Contractors in Iraq,” Washington Post, December 5, 2006.

3 Transcript, “Remarks By Vice President Dick Cheney at an Armed Forces Full Honor Review in Honor of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld,” December 15, 2006.

4 Transcript, Face the Nation, CBS, December 17, 2006.

5 Peter Baker, “Bush to Expand Size of Military,” Washington Post, December 19, 2006.

6 President George W. Bush, “State of the Union,” January 23, 2007.

7 Nathan Hodge, “Washington Urged to Save Money By Raising Private Military ‘Contractor Brigade,’” Financial Times, February 10, 2005.

8 Mark Hemingway, “Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the Rise of Private Military Contractors,” The Weekly Standard, December 18, 2006.

9 Mark Hemingway, “Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the Rise of Private Military Contractors,” The Weekly Standard, December 18, 2006.

10 Author copy of fact sheet from “6^th International Special Operations Exhibition and Conference (SOFEX 2006),” held March 27-30, 2006, King Abdullah Air Base, Amman, Jordan.

11 Ibid.

12 “Record Number of Participants to Visit SOFEX 2006,” DefenseWorld.net, captured November 2, 2006.

13 BlackwaterUSA.com.

14 Official biography, “His Majesty King Abdullah II,” Jordanian Embassy to the United States, www.jordanembassyus.org/new/jib/monarchy/hmka.shtml, captured December 2, 2006.

15 Riad Kahwaji, “Jordan Forming Spec Ops Air Unit; Contracted U.S. Aviators Will Conduct Training,” Armed Forces Journal, February 1, 2005.

16 Ibid

17 Ibid.

18 Author copy of Erik Prince’s speech at West 2006.

19 Riad Kahwaji, “Jordan Leads Region in Spec Ops Capabilities,” Defense News, March 20, 2006.

20 “Exclusive Interview: Partner for Peace. His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,” www.special-operations-technology.com/print_article.cfm?DocID=1361, undated.

21 Jonathan Franklin, “The SWAT Olympics: North America’s Toughest, Most Heavily Armed Cops Go Head-to-Head in Live Ammo Games to See Who’s the Ultimate Badass. What’s Not to Love?” Maxim, September 2004.

22 Blackwater USA press release, “Blackwater USA Parachute Team Launched,” March 21, 2006.

23 Kelly Kennedy, “Private Firm Pitches Army-for-Hire Plan,” Air Force Times, April 10, 2006.

24 Ibid.

25 Ibid.

26 Transcript, “Private Military Firm Pitches Its Services in Darfur,” National Public Radio, All Things Considered, May 26, 2006.

27 Ibid.

28 E-mail to author, December 2006.

29 Transcript, Chris Taylor, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Blackwater USA, speaking at George Washington University Law School, January 28, 2005.

30 E-mail to author, December 2006.

31 Peter S. Goodman, “China Invests Heavily in Sudan’s Oil Industry; Beijing Supplies Arms Used on Villagers,” Washington Post, December 23, 2004.

32 Ibid.

33 C.I.A. World Factbook, https://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2178rank.html, captured December 6, 2006.

34 Peter S. Goodman, “China Invests Heavily In Sudan’s Oil Industry; Beijing Supplies Arms Used on Villagers,” Washington Post, December 23, 2004.

35 Sara Flounders, “The U.S. Role in Darfur, Sudan: Oil Reserves Rivaling Those of Saudi Arabia?” The Centre for Research on Globalization, June 6, 2006.

36 Mark Hemingway, “Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the Rise of Private Military Contractors,” The Weekly Standard, December 18, 2006.

37 Nathan Hodge, “Blackwater CEO Touts Private Peacekeeping Model,” Defense Daily, February 23, 2005.

38 Ibid.

39 Christian Freedom International “About Us,” www.christianfreedom.org/about_cfi/Statement%20of%20Faith.html, accessed on November 26, 2006.

40 Jim Jacobson, “Slave Redemption Money Rewards the Slaver,” Washington Times, May 30, 1999.

41 Ibid.

42 “The Danger Zone” radio program, produced by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, October 8, 2006.

43 Transcript, “Private Military Firm Pitches Its Services in Darfur,” National Public Radio, All Things Considered, May 26, 2006.

44 Willis Witter, “Private Firms Eye Darfur,” Washington Times, October 2, 2006.

45 Author copy of Erik Prince’s speech at West 2006.

46 E-mail to author, December 2006.

47 Mark Hemingway, “Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the Rise of Private Military Contractors,” The Weekly Standard, December 18, 2006.

48 Ibid.

49 Max Boot, “Darfur Solution: Send in the Mercenaries,” Los Angeles Times, May 31, 2006.

50 Ibid.

51 Max Boot, “A Mercenary Force for Darfur,” Wall Street Journal, October 25, 2006.

52 Ted Koppel, “These Guns for Hire,” New York Times, May 22, 2006.

53 See: Democracy Now! “Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria’s Oil Dictatorship,” September 30, 1998.

54 Unless otherwise noted, comments from Representative Schakowsky are drawn from an interview in June 2006.

55 Kelly Kennedy, “Private Firm Pitches Army-for-Hire Plan,” Air Force Times, April 10, 2006.

56 Joanne Kimberlin, “Blackwater Eyes Creation of Private ‘Brigade Force,’” Virginian-Pilot, July 28, 2006.

57 Transcript, “Hearing of the National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee,” June 13, 2006.

58 IPOA Member List, http://ipoaonline.org/php/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=30, accessed December 7, 2006.

59 J. J. Messner, letter to the editor, “Don’t Call Us Mercenaries!,” The Nation, July 10, 2006.

60 James Rosen, “Contractors Operate in a Legal Gray Area; The Roles of an Interrogator and an Interpreter in the Abuse Scandal Are Murky. Even Less Clear Is Whom They Answer to,” Star Tribune, May 23, 2004.

61 Rebecca Ulam Weiner, “Peace Corp.; As the International Community Dithers Over Darfur, Private Military Companies Say They’ve Got What It Takes to Stop the Carnage; If Only Someone Would Hire Them,” Boston Globe, April 23, 2006.

62 IPOA History, http://ipoaonline.org/php/index.php?option=com_content& task=view&id =13&Itemid=30, captured December 7, 2006.

63 Transcript, “Hearing of the National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee,” June 13, 2006.

64 Transcript, Chris Taylor, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Blackwater USA, speaking at George Washington University Law School, January 28, 2005.

65 IPOA Code of Conduct, Version 10, http://ipoaonline.org/php/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=62, accessed December 7, 2006.

66 Ibid.

67 Transcript, “Hearing of the National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee,” June 13, 2006.

68 IPOA Mission Statement, http://ipoaonline.org/php/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=31, accessed December 7, 2006.

69 Transcript, “Hearing of the National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee,” June 13, 2006.

70 P. W. Singer, Corporate Warriors, p. 114.

71 Ibid., pp. 116-117.

72 Republic of South Africa Prohibition of Mercenary Activities and Prohibition and Regulation of Certain Activities in Areas of Armed Conflict Bill, October 2005.

73 BBC News, “Q&A: Equatorial Guinea ‘Coup Plot,’” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3597450.stm, January 13, 2005.

74 BBC News, “Q&A: Equatorial Guinea ‘Coup Plot,’” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3597450.stm, January 13, 2005; BBC News, “Profile: Simon Mann,” September 10, 2004.

75 Republic of South Africa Prohibition of Mercenary Activities and Prohibition and Regulation of Certain Activities in Areas of Armed Conflict Bill, October 2005.

76 “South Africa Passes Controversial Mercenaries Bill,” Reuters, August 29, 2006.

77 John Reed, “S. African Ban on Mercenaries Could Hit Conflict Zone Workers,” Financial Times, August 30, 2006.

78 Republic of South Africa Prohibition of Mercenary Activities and Prohibition and Regulation of Certain Activities in Areas of Armed Conflict Bill, October 2005.

79 John Reed, “S. African Ban on Mercenaries Could Hit Conflict Zone Workers,” Financial Times, August 30, 2006.

80 Doug Brooks, “New Legislation Will Undermine South Africa’s Security Staff Abroad,” Cape Times, October 5, 2005.

81 “Defence Portfolio Committee Hears: Role of South Africans ‘Critical for World Peace,’” Mercury (South Africa), May 24, 2006.

82 Clare Nullis, “South Africa Assembly OKs Mercenary Bill,” Associated Press, August 29, 2006.

83 Rebecca Ulam Weiner, “Peace Corp.; As the International Community Dithers Over Darfur, Private Military Companies Say They’ve Got What It Takes to Stop the Carnage; If Only Someone Would Hire Them,” Boston Globe, April 23, 2006.

84 Clare Nullis, “South Africa Assembly OKs Mercenary Bill,” Associated Press, August 29, 2006.

85 Ibid.

86 Mark Hemingway, “Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the Rise of Private Military Contractors,” The Weekly Standard, December 18, 2006.

87 Joanne Kimberlin, “Blackwater Eyes Creation of Private ‘Brigade Force,’” Virginian-Pilot, July 28, 2006.

88 Author copy, Central Contractor registration documents for Greystone Limited.

89 Ibid.

90 Ibid.

91 Author copy of guest list.

92 Author copy of brochure.

93 Author copy of invitation.

94 Author copy of video.

95 Nathan Hodge, “Washington Urged to Save Money by Raising Private Military ‘Contractor Brigade,’” Financial Times, February 10, 2005.

96 West 2006 Web site, www.afcea.org/events/west/2006/intro.html, accessed December 7, 2006.

97 Author copy of Erik Prince’s speech at West 2006.

98 Stephen Daggett and Amy Belasco, “Defense Budget for FY2003: Data Summary,” Congressional Research Service, March 29, 2002.

99 P. W. Singer, Corporate Warriors, p. 15.

100 Ibid., p. 16.

101 Ian Traynor, “The Privatisation of War,” the Guardian, December 10, 2003.

102 Paul Krugman, “Battlefield of Dreams,” New York Times, May 4, 2004.

103 Bill Sizemore, “The Layered Look: On Multi-level Contracts, Everyone Gets a Cut,” Virginian-Pilot, July 28, 2006.

104 “Rebuilding Iraq,” Government Accountability Office, June 2006.

105 Ibid.

106 Ibid.

107 www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_reconstruction_costs.htm.

108 Peter W. Singer, “Peacekeepers, Inc.” Policy Review, June 2003.

109 Gary Stoller, “Homeland security generates multibillion dollar business,” USA Today, September 10, 2006.

110 Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.

111 Ibid.

112 Mark Hemingway, “Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the Rise of Private Military Contractors,” The Weekly Standard, December 18, 2006.

113 David Lerman and Stephanie Heinatz, “War in Iraq: For Contractors, War Is a Job, Not an Adventure,” Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia), April 4, 2004.

114 Author copy of Erik Prince’s speech at West 2006.

115 Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.

116 Quadrennial Defense Review report, February 6, 2006.

117 Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.

118 Quadrennial Defense Review report, February 6, 2006.

119 Mark Hemingway, “Warriors for Hire: Blackwater USA and the Rise of Private Military Contractors,” The Weekly Standard, December 18, 2006.

120 Cofer Black’s remarks at American Enterprise Institute Conference, “Contractors on the Battlefield: A Briefing on the Future of the Defense Industry,” May 17, 2006.

121 Ibid.

EPILOGUE

1 Federal Procurement Data System records.

2 Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’” Virginian-Pilot, October 28, 2007.

3 Ibid.

4 Ibid.

5 August Cole, “Blackwater Vies for Jobs Beyond Security,” Wall Street Journal, October 15, 2007.

6 Ibid.

7 Paul Richfield, “$15B Narcoterrorism War to be Outsourced,” Army Times, September 14, 2007.

8 Ibid.

9 Solomon Moore, “Disputed in Iraq, Blackwater Now Splits California Town,” New York Times, December 11, 2007.

10 Toby Muse, “U.S. Contractors Get Half of Aid to Colombia,” USA Today, June 15, 2007.

11 John Ross, “Full Spectrum Mercenaries,” CounterPunch.org, November 9, 2007.

12 Solomon Moore, “Disputed in Iraq, Blackwater Now Splits California Town,” New York Times, December 11, 2007.

13 United Nations, “Report of the Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Violating Human Rights and Impeding the Exercise of the Right of People to Self-Determination,” January 8, 2008.

14 Solomon Moore, “Disputed in Iraq, Blackwater Now Splits California Town,” New York Times, December 11, 2007.

15 Anne Krueger, “Blackwater Pulls Application for Potrero Training Center,” San Diego Union-Tribune, March 7, 2008.

16 August Cole, “Blackwater Vies for Jobs Beyond Security,” Wall Street Journal, October 15, 2007.

17 Teri Weaver, “Tiny Base Assimilates Into Japanese Town,” Stars and Stripes, October 8, 2007.

18 Wendell Minnick, “Blackwater Training Taiwanese,” Defense News, February 12, 2008.

19 “Life-and-Death Repercussions of Blackwater Trashing,” Serviam, January/February 2008 issue.

20 “ARES Systems Group Armor Applique Gets Thumbs Up From Army Aberdeen Test Center,” Market Wire, March 3, 2008.

21 Kris Osborn, “Six Companies Compete for DoD MRAP II Contract,” Navy Times, November 5, 2007.

22 David Macaulay, “Blackwater USA Hires Ford Workers to Build New APC,” Daily Advance, February 20, 2007.

23 Kris Osborn, “Six Companies Compete for DoD MRAP II Contract,” Navy Times, November 5, 2007.

24 David Macaulay, “Blackwater USA Hires Ford Workers to Build New APC,” Daily Advance, February 20, 2007.

25 “Blackwater USA President Outlines Firm’s Future Plans,” Associated Press, July 31, 2007.

26 David Macaulay, “Blackwater USA Hires Ford Workers to Build New APC,” Daily Advance, February 20, 2007.

27 Jon W. Glass, “Off the Ground,” Virginian-Pilot, November 23, 2007.

28 Ibid.

29 Ibid.

30 Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’” Virginian-Pilot, October 28, 2007.

31 R.J. Hillhouse, “Exclusive Interview: Blackwater USA’s President Gary Jackson,” TheSpyWhoBilledMe.com, April 26, 2007.

32 Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’” Virginian-Pilot, October 28, 2007.

33 United Nations, “Report of the Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Violating Human Rights and Impeding the Exercise of the Right of People to Self-Determination,” January 8, 2008.

34 Interview, July 2007.

35 Total Intelligence Solutions Press Release, “Former CIA and Counterterrorism Experts Respond to Security and Intelligence Demands of the Private Sector,” February 20, 2006.

36 www.totalintel.com, accessed March 17, 2008.

37 Interview, July 2007.

38 R.J. Hillhouse, “The ODNI’s Wal-Mart Approach to Intel,” TheSpyWhoBilledMe.com, June 18, 2007.

39 R.J. Hillhouse, “Corporate Content and the President’s Daily Brief,” TheSpyWhoBilledMe. com, July 23, 2007.

40 Ben Hammer, “Blackwater Boss, Former CIA Execs Create New Firm,” Washington Business Journal, March 12, 2007.

41 Richer’s biographical details are drawn from multiple sources, including: Richer’s official Total Intelligence biography; Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,” Harper’s online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006; Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,” Washington Post, November 3, 2007; Ben Van Heuvelen, “The Bush Administration’s Ties to Blackwater,” Salon, October 2, 2007.

42 Prado’s Total Intelligence bio.

43 Ibid.

44 Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,” Harper’s online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006.

45 Mark Mazzetti and Scott Shane, “Tape Inquiry: Ex-Spymaster in the Middle,” New York Times, February 20, 2008.

46 Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,” Harper’s online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006.

47 Total Intelligence bios.

48 Ibid.

49 Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,” Washington Post, November 3, 2007.

50 www.totalintel.com/dsp_gfc.php, accessed March 17, 2008.

51 Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,” Washington Post, November 3, 2007.

52 Ben Hammer, “Blackwater Boss, Former CIA Execs Create New Firm,” Washington Business Journal, March 12, 2007; Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,” Washington Post, November 3, 2007.

53 Total Intelligence Solutions Press Release, “Former CIA and Counterterrorism Experts Respond to Security and Intelligence Demands of the Private Sector,” February 20, 2006.

54 Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,” Washington Post, November 3, 2007.

55 Ibid.

56 Ibid.

57 Ken Silverstein, “Revolving Door to Blackwater Causes Alarm at CIA,” Harper’s online, Washington Babylon column, September 12, 2006.

58 Kudlow & Company, “Ambassador Cofer Black Discusses Investing in Jordan,” CNBC transcript, July 9, 2007.

59 Dana Hedgpeth, “Blackwater’s Owner Has Spies for Hire,” Washington Post, November 3, 2007.

60 Ibid.

61 John McCain speech in Derry, New Hampshire, January 3, 2008.

62 Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’” Virginian-Pilot, October 28, 2007.

63 Peter Grier and Gordon Lubold, “Private Security in Iraq: Whose Rules?” Christian Science Monitor, September 20, 2007.

64 Barrack Obama Press Release, “Obama Statement on Supplemental Bill That Sets a Target Redeployment Date,” April 26, 2007.

65 Erik Leaver, “Iraq Supplemental Analysis,” Institute for Policy Studies, March 14, 2007.

66 Interview, March 2007.

67 Transcript of Gen. David Petraeus’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, January 24, 2007.

68 Steve Fainaru, “Iraq Contractors Face Growing Parallel War,” Washington Post, June 16, 2007.

69 Interview, March 2007.

70 T. Christian Miller, “Private Contractors Outnumber US Troops in Iraq,” Los Angeles Times, July 4, 2007.

71 Government Accountability Office, “Report to the Committee on Armed Services, US Senate,” March 2008.

72 Jeremy Scahill, “All Cowboys Out Now,” The Nation, November 26, 2007.

73 See Jeremy Scahill, “Bush’s Shadow Army,” The Nation, April 2, 2007.

74 Jeremy Scahill, “All Cowboys Out Now,” The Nation, November 26, 2007.

75 Transcript, hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.

76 Ibid.

77 John H. Broder and David Rohde, “State Department Use of Contractors Leaps in 4 Years,” New York Times, October 24, 2007.

78 Jeremy Scahill, “Obama’s Mercenary Position,” The Nation, March 17, 2008.

79 Hillary Clinton Press Release, “Senator Clinton Cosponsors Legislation to Ban Use of Private Security Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan,” February 28, 2008.

80 Joanne Kimberlin, “At Blackwater, Time Is Now Told in ‘Before’ and ‘After,’” Virginian-Pilot, October 28, 2007.