WITHOUT ANY WORDS AND BLANK SHOTS.
The way Bush and Cheney’ private army helped to build democracy in Iraq

American company ‘Blackwater’ was set up in 1996 and now is called ‘Xe Services’. For a long time it has lived in a shadow of the U. S. foreign policy. But during the last few years scandalous activity of this firm — that specialists regard to be small but capable private army — became well-known all over the world and its cases are tried in the numerous courts.

American company Blackwater was set up in 1996 and now is called ‘Xe Services’. For a long time it has lived in a shadow of the U. S. foreign policy. But during the last few years scandalous activity of this firm — that specialists regard to be small but capable private army — became well-known all over the world and its cases are tried in the numerous courts. Not long ago one of recent informational cause was given by Iraq officials, where Blackwater pretty much distinguished itself in due time. Government ordered 250 former and active company employees to leave the country in the course of week.

Why did Blackwater fall into such disfavour? Iraqi officials had to undertake these measures when the American judge didn’t press charges against company employees regarding assault at the peaceful Iraqis — including beatings and murders. The case is the much-talked-about shooting of 17 Baghdad residents. This incident provoked sharp rise of the anti-American sentiments in Iraq and forced the U. S. State Department to deny the company services.

At the same time Blackwater is famous not only for the 2007 mass shooting. According to the statistics data, during 2 years, from 2005 to 2007, Blackwater employees took part in 195 exchanges of fire. They were first who opened the fire in 163 cases. 25 employees were fired because of alcoholism and drug-addiction, 28 people were fired because of illegal use of weapons.

Mind that all this data concerns the activity of the company, which was financed by George W. Bush administration during both of his presidential terms. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Blackwater is a state-national corporation. Experts explain, though, that officially ‘Xe’ company has nothing to do with the administration. However, it doesn’t prevent them from getting their revenues from the American taxpayers. One rare document concerning the ‘Xe Service’ activity, was found in the Internet. According to this information, value of the company’s state contracts increased 8-fold. And this is a matter of hundreds of million dollars. "Undoubtedly, more then eightfold acceleration of profit from state contracts is just a mere coincidence. As we all know from the speeches of domestic human rights activists, there is no corruption in the jolly USA. This is where the discordant choir of major Dymovsky’ supporters should join but I believe that these people won’t read down to this" — expert Vladimir Belyaev comments in his blog.

Initially "Xe" mission in Iraq was to secure Paul Bremer, head of Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. But Bush’ war dogs didn’t confine themselves to it even when the bellicose Bush Administration gave them a free hand to all possible evil deeds. By the way, one of these condonations was subscribed by Bremer himself. Due to his order, private security organizations aren’t subjected to the Iraqi legislation. Accordingly, all the private security contract organizations don’t fall under the purview of the procedural jurisdiction. As international jurists note, this order equates the private paramilitary structures employees’ status with the diplomatic one. But while diplomat has to observe the protocol conditions, his hirelings just have to show some superficial respect to the Iraqi laws — and that’s it.

It seems that for the residents of the occupied country it was a tough job to make such powerful organization respect them. On the 24th of October, 2005 Blackwater soldier, being on duty, noticed the oncoming car. He decided not to spend time and cartridges for the cautionary shot in the air. So he shot a burst into the car and a bullet hit the passerby’ head. Neither victim nor his family was given a helping hand.

And here is one more graphic example of this security structure activity. On the 24th of September, 2006 four Blackwater cars were driving on the wrong side of the road at the speed of 73kmh. Red "Opel" driver lost control of his car, evading a crush, brushed one of the Blackwater cars and crushed into the call box. Automobile caught fire. Blackwater mercenaries give themselves the trouble to stop, take the stuff from the damaged car and move on. Nobody ever thought of lending a hand.

The other day one more shameful fact was revealed. This time warlike Americans working in Afghanistan — yet another U. S.-occupied territory. Two "Xe Services" (earlier known as Blackwater) ex-employees accused their top brass of trickery. According to the claimants’ words, during their work for the U. S. leadership in Afghanistan, Blackwater spend American budget funds for the "cultural vacation" of its employees. That really meant flying and service costs for Philippines prostitutes. And during the 2005 rescue mission after "Katrina" hurricane in Louisiana, Blackwater also made out an invoice to the U. S. government for "cleaning services". Allocated funds were spent on strippers.

Finally, in 2007 peaceful Baghdad inhabitants’ shooting that took place at one of the central squares of Iraqi capital received publicity. Still American court of contemporary Barack Obama era discharged the company even of this crime. The only appreciable result of all exposures was the fact that company’s founder, Erik Prince, had to retire from the CEO post in 2009. And in February Blackwater Worldwide officially changed its name to "Xe Services" and started using the "U. S. Training Center" trademark.

Thereby American methods of fighting for democratic victory all over the world knock out all the democratic stereotypes — which are so frequently used by the U. S. government — again. Freedom and justice became the most depreciated concepts in the beginning of the 20th century, by virtue of "honored" American deeds in Iraq and Afghanistan.

By Maxim Nemov