Ugly Truth About Iraq and Afghan Wars

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Sept. 6, 2010
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            Revelations about North Carolina-based Blackwater Worldwide, AKA Xe Services LLC, touch the real pulse behind the Iraq and Afghan wars:  The perpetuation of profits for what former President Dwight D. Eisenhower called the Military Industrial Complex.  Founded by Naval Academy grad and ex-Navy Seal Erik Prince, Blackwater attracted key government insiders, including George W. Bush’s CIA Counteerterrorism chief Cofer Black, Blackwater’s vice chairman 2006-2008.  Blackwater Worldwide, one of many of defense contractors providing private security and training services for the Iraq and Afghan wars, got into hot water Feb. 6, 2006 when Blackwater USA allegedly killed 17 Iraqi civilians, prompting the government of Nouri al-Maliki to revoke Blackwater’s license Sept. 17, 2007.  To circumvent the ban, Blackwater reportedly operated under 30 different names.

            At the height of the Iraq War, Blackwater held over $1 billion in Pentagon contracts, making it among the richest contractors.  Blackwater’s personnel faced targeted killing by Iraqi civilians, especially tied to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, now exiled in Iran and protected by the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  On March 31, 2004 several members of Blackwater Security Consulting were ambushed by al-Sadr’s al-Mahdi militia during the battle of Falujah and hung as ornaments off the town’s main bridge.  Despite al-Maliki’s close ties to al-Sardr, Blackwater continued to provide security to Iraqi politicians.  Senate Armed Service Chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) indicated that Blackwater misled the government, obtaining lucrative contracts under false names when the company was banned from government contracting because of the 2007 incident.

            Whether Blackwater was justified or not in the 2007 incident, the fact remains that Pentagon contractors lobby hard to perpetuate the war.  Objections to the Iraq War stemmed largely from the lack of national security significance.  All the Bush administration’s claims about Saddam’s dangerous biological and nuclear weapons turned out to be false.  Companies like Blackwater helped restore order in and around Baghdad while roving bands of Shiite and Sunni criminal gangs vied for territory after Baghdad fell April 9, 2003.  Despite Blackwater’s 2007 blackball, they were recently awarded a $100 million contract to supply security around Kabul, prompting a defensive response from CIA Dirctor Leon Panetta.  Panetta insisted that Blackwater underbid the competition by $26 million.  Passing judgments on Blackwater obscures the real issue related to Pentagon contacting.

            Numerous U.S. companies, from sophisticated bullet-proof vest makers to egg suppliers, rely on lucrative Pentagon contracts.  These companies depend heavily the Pentagon for continued viability.  While there’s plenty of criticism to pass around, chicken suppliers don’t face the same kind of controversial or risky operations faced by companies like Blackwater.  Levin’s criticism is a bit misplaced since most U.S. Congressional or Senate personnel visiting Iraq or Afghanistan rely heavily on companies like Blackwater to provide security.  Panetta apparently dropped Xe’s contract to load missiles on predator drones in Pakistan, bringing the services in-house at the CIA.  Panetta apparently awarded the contracts to Blackwater subsidiaries XPG and Greystone, bypassing Blackwater’s ban.  Panetta most likely knew that XPG and Greystone were indeed owned by Blackwater.

            Pentagon contracting is big business, driving foreign policy including life or death decisions about the advisability of foreign wars.  When President Barack Obama came to office Jan. 20, 2009, his supporters expected decisive action against continuing ill-advised wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  When he escalated the Afghan War shortly after taking office, it signaled the Military Industrial Complex had prevailed on the new inexperienced president.  He couldn’t say no to the scores of companies on the Pentagon’s payroll, funding all aspects of military operations.  Blackwater represents the tip of the iceberg with respect to indiscriminate Pentagon contractin, more obsessed with raking in oodles of cash than the tragic outcome of war on human life or the U.S. economy.  Panetta or Levin’s criticism now comes an hour late and a dollar short to have any real credibility.

            Accusations about Blackwater subsidiaries duping the Pentagon and members of Congress are grossly exaggerated.  CIA Director Panetta and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin knew full well that Blackwater provided security through various companies.  They also know that war is dirty business.  And whatever happened in Iraq or Afghanistan in terms of unjustified violence, scapegoating Blackwater or any other U.S. security company makes no sense.  Pentagon officials routinely play magical chairs with various companies awarded lucrative contracts, making it more difficult to end misguided conflicts.  Before Levin or Panetta point fingers at Blackwater, they should look at the big picture of how the entire Pentagon places higher priority on lining the pockets of defense contractors than protecting U.S. soldiers and taxpayers.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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