Xe Services LLC - Revision history

Melissa Jones: /* Lobbying for Xe services(Covington & Burling: 2010) */ typos

2014-11-03T02:25:42Z

Lobbying for Xe services(Covington & Burling: 2010): typos

Melissa Jones: update/ renamed

2014-11-03T02:23:09Z

update/ renamed

Melissa Jones: /* History */

2014-11-03T01:35:45Z

History

Melissa Jones: /* Lobbying Activity */ decapitalisation and internal links

2014-11-03T01:28:24Z

Lobbying Activity: decapitalisation and internal links

Melissa Jones at 01:24, 3 November 2014

2014-11-03T01:24:54Z

David: moved Globalisation:Xe Services LLC to Xe Services LLC

2011-07-09T16:27:28Z

moved Globalisation:Xe Services LLC to Xe Services LLC

Melissa Jones: /* Theopolitical Agendas and the “War On Terror” */ tweak/typos

2011-07-07T11:42:49Z

Theopolitical Agendas and the “War On Terror”: tweak/typos

Melissa Jones: typos

2011-07-07T11:32:39Z

typos

Show changes

Melissa Jones: /* People */

2011-07-07T11:20:54Z

People

Melissa Jones: /* People */

2011-07-07T11:18:54Z

People

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ===Lobbying for Xe services(Covington & Burling: 2010)===
-According to OpenSecrets.org in 2010 Xe Services have so far spent $700,000 on lobbying firm [[Covington & Burling]] <ref> Opensecrets.org [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?lname=Xe+Services&year=2010 Influence & Lobbying, Xe Services]Last updated 2010, Accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>, who according to The Vault <ref> The Vault 2010 [http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/rankings/individual?rankingId1=2&rankingId2=2&rankings=1&regionId=0 Law Firm Rankings 2011]Last Updated 2010, Accessed 09th November 2010 </ref> are the second most prestigeous law firm in Washington DC based on a survey carried out on 15,000 law associates in 2010. The following lobbyists are representing Xe services in 2010.
+According to OpenSecrets.org in 2010 Xe Services have so far spent $700,000 on lobbying firm [[Covington & Burling]] <ref> Opensecrets.org [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?lname=Xe+Services&year=2010 Influence & Lobbying, Xe Services]Last updated 2010, Accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>, who according to ''The Vault'' <ref> The Vault 2010 [http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/rankings/individual?rankingId1=2&rankingId2=2&rankings=1&regionId=0 Law Firm Rankings 2011]Last Updated 2010, Accessed 09th November 2010 </ref> are the second most prestigious law firm in Washington DC based on a survey carried out on 15,000 law associates in 2010. The following lobbyists are representing Xe services in 2010.
-: [[Michael Barnes]]: A former congress member in the US House of Representatives between 1979 - 1987, and is also a former US Marine core Corporal. <ref> Opensecrets.org [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=10344 Influence & Lobbying, Michael D Barnes] Last Updated November 2010, accessed 09thNovember 2010 </ref>
+: [[Michael Barnes]]: A former congress member in the [[US House of Representatives]] between 1979 - 1987, and is also a former US marine corps corporal. <ref> Opensecrets.org [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=10344 Influence & Lobbying, Michael D Barnes] Last Updated November 2010, accessed 09thNovember 2010 </ref>
 : [[Stuart Eizenstat]]: Has worked within federal state government since 1977 <ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=19277 Influence & Lobbying, Stuart E Eizenstat] November 2010, accessed 09thNovember 2010 </ref>, and is also a professor of Jewish history and culture. <ref> Holocaust era assets Conference 2009 [http://www.holocausteraassets.eu/en/news-archive/detail/stuart-e--eizenstat-will-head-the-us-delegation-at-the-holocaust-era-/ Stuart E. Eizenstat will head the US delegation at the Holocaust Era ] 2009, accessed 08thNovember 2010 </ref>
-: [[Martin Gold]]: A member for the United States Commission for thePreservation of America's Heritage abroad. Gold also lobbies for [[American Task Force Argentina]].<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=14409 Influence & Lobbying, Martin B Gold] November 2010, accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>
+: [[Martin Gold]]: A member for the United States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage abroad. Gold also lobbies for [[American Task Force Argentina]].<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=14409 Influence & Lobbying, Martin B Gold] November 2010, accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>
-: [[Brian Smith]]: Worked in the white house office as assistant to the special council between 1993 - 2001 under the Clinton administration<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lobbyist.php?lname=Smith%2C+Brian+D&id=Y00000417311&year=2010 Influence & Lobbying, Brian Smith] November 2010, accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>
+: [[Brian Smith]]: Worked in the White House office as assistant to the special council between 1993 - 2001 under the Clinton administration<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lobbyist.php?lname=Smith%2C+Brian+D&id=Y00000417311&year=2010 Influence & Lobbying, Brian Smith] November 2010, accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>
-: [[Bill Wichterman]]: Worked as a special assistant to president Bush in the Whitehouse between 2001 - 2008 <ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=35783 Influence & Lobbying, Bill Wichterman] November 2010, accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>
+: [[Bill Wichterman]]: Worked as a special assistant to president Bush in the White House between 2001 - 2008 <ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=35783 Influence & Lobbying, Bill Wichterman] November 2010, accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>
 ===Lobbying for The Prince Group (Cromwell & Moring/ C&M Capitolink: 2006-2010)===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 <youtube size="medium" align="right" caption=" Video 1: [[Erik Prince]] is cagey about ambitions to build a fast-response peace keeping force - interview with Charlie Rose">-GULPEzJJ6c</youtube>
-'''Xe Services''' (pronounced 'Zee') is a private military contractor (PMC) based in Moyock, North Carolina.<ref>[http://www.xeservices.com/AboutUs.aspx About Us], Xe Services], accessed 6 January 20110.</ref> The company changed its name from '''Blackwater Worldwide''' in February 2009.<ref>Associated Press, [http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/14/business/fi-blackwater14 Blackwater dumps tarnished brand name], Los Angeles Times, 14 February 2009.</ref>
+'''Xe Services''' (pronounced 'Zee') was a private military contractor (PMC) based in Moyock, North Carolina.<ref>[http://www.xeservices.com/AboutUs.aspx About Us], Xe Services], accessed 6 January 20110.</ref> The company changed its name from '''Blackwater Worldwide''' in February 2009.<ref>Associated Press, [http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/14/business/fi-blackwater14 Blackwater dumps tarnished brand name], Los Angeles Times, 14 February 2009.</ref>
-Xe is a subsidiary of [[Prince Group]], owned by [[Erik Prince]].<ref>Jeff Stein, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/23/AR2010062305255.html CIA hires Xe, formerly Blackwater, to guard facilities in Afghanistan, elsewhere], Washington Post, 24 June 2010.</ref>
+Xe was a subsidiary of [[Prince Group]], owned by [[Erik Prince]].<ref>Jeff Stein, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/23/AR2010062305255.html CIA hires Xe, formerly Blackwater, to guard facilities in Afghanistan, elsewhere], Washington Post, 24 June 2010.</ref> It was sold in 2010 to a group of private investors and was renamed as [[Academi]].
-The company has seen dogged by controversy around its operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.<ref>Peter Beaumont [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/20/al-qaida-george-bush CIA terror link puts rebranded Blackwater under fire again] ''The Guardian Online'', 20th Aug 2009, Accessed 4th Nov 2010 </ref>.
+The company was dogged by controversy around its operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.<ref>Peter Beaumont [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/20/al-qaida-george-bush CIA terror link puts rebranded Blackwater under fire again] ''The Guardian Online'', 20th Aug 2009, Accessed 4th Nov 2010 </ref>.
-Critics have also focused on Erik Prince's links with the Republican Party and the US conservative movement. In his book ''Blackwater'', journalist Jeremy Scahill described Prince as being in the thick of a "right-wing effort to unite conservative Catholics, evangelicals and neoconservatives in a common theoconservative holy war - with Blackwater serving as a sort of armed wing of the movement."<ref>[Jeremy Scahill, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army, Serpent's Tail, 2007, p.22.</ref>
+Critics have also focused on Erik Prince's links with the [[Republican Party]] and the US conservative movement. In his book ''Blackwater'', journalist Jeremy Scahill described Prince as being in the thick of a "right-wing effort to unite conservative Catholics, evangelicals and neoconservatives in a common theoconservative holy war - with Blackwater serving as a sort of armed wing of the movement."<ref>[Jeremy Scahill, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army, Serpent's Tail, 2007, p.22.</ref>
-There are also a number of high profile ex CIA and Pentagon officials on Xe's staff.<ref> Sourcewatch [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Xe Xe] 10th June 2010, Accessed 4th Nov 2010 </ref>.
+There were also a number of high profile ex CIA and Pentagon officials on Xe's staff.<ref> Sourcewatch [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Xe Xe] 10th June 2010, Accessed 4th Nov 2010 </ref>.
 ==History==

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==History==
-Xe Services LLC <ref> [http://www.xeservices.com/ Xe Services LLC] </ref> (Xe)was formed in February 2009 as a re-branding of Blackwater Worldwide after the Blackwater brand came under scrutiny following reports that contractors of the company had orchestrated a bloody civilian cull in an Iraqi Square in 2007. Blackwater itself was founded in 1997 by former navy seal Erik Prince in Moyock, North Carolina. <ref>Associated Press, "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/13/blackwater-changes-name-xe US security firm mired in Iraq controversy changes its name]", ''Guardian.co.uk'', 13th Feb 2009, accessed 12th Oct 2010</ref>
+Xe Services LLC <ref> [http://www.xeservices.com/ Xe Services LLC] </ref> (Xe)was formed in February 2009 as a rebranding of Blackwater Worldwide after the Blackwater brand came under scrutiny following reports that its contractors had orchestrated a bloody civilian cull in an Iraqi Square in 2007. Blackwater itself was founded in 1997 by former Navy Seal Erik Prince in Moyock, North Carolina. <ref>Associated Press, "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/13/blackwater-changes-name-xe US security firm mired in Iraq controversy changes its name]", ''Guardian.co.uk'', 13th Feb 2009, accessed 12th Oct 2010</ref>
-There are now believed to be at least 30 front companies under the umbrella of Mr Prince's Prince Group LLC <ref> Public Intelligence [http://publicintelligence.net/blackwaterxe-front-companies-chart/ Blackwater/Xe Front Companies Chart] 6th Sept 2010, accessed 2nd Nov 2010 </ref>.
+In 2010 there were believed to be at least 30 front companies under the umbrella of the Prince Group LLC <ref> Public Intelligence [http://publicintelligence.net/blackwaterxe-front-companies-chart/ Blackwater/Xe Front Companies Chart] 6th Sept 2010, accessed 2nd Nov 2010 </ref>.
 ==People==

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 ===Lobbying for Xe services(Covington & Burling: 2010)===
-According to OpenSecrets.org in 2010 Xe Services have so far spent $700,000 on Lobbying Firm Covington & Burling <ref> Opensecrets.org [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?lname=Xe+Services&year=2010 Influence & Lobbying, Xe Services]Last updated 2010, Accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>, who according to The Vault <ref> The Vault 2010 [http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/rankings/individual?rankingId1=2&rankingId2=2&rankings=1&regionId=0 Law Firm Rankings 2011]Last Updated 2010, Accessed 09th November 2010 </ref> are the second most prestigeous law firm in Washington DC based on a survey carried out on 15,000 law associates in 2010. The following lobbyists are representing Xe services in 2010.
+According to OpenSecrets.org in 2010 Xe Services have so far spent $700,000 on lobbying firm [[Covington & Burling]] <ref> Opensecrets.org [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?lname=Xe+Services&year=2010 Influence & Lobbying, Xe Services]Last updated 2010, Accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>, who according to The Vault <ref> The Vault 2010 [http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/rankings/individual?rankingId1=2&rankingId2=2&rankings=1&regionId=0 Law Firm Rankings 2011]Last Updated 2010, Accessed 09th November 2010 </ref> are the second most prestigeous law firm in Washington DC based on a survey carried out on 15,000 law associates in 2010. The following lobbyists are representing Xe services in 2010.
 : [[Michael Barnes]]: A former congress member in the US House of Representatives between 1979 - 1987, and is also a former US Marine core Corporal. <ref> Opensecrets.org [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=10344 Influence & Lobbying, Michael D Barnes] Last Updated November 2010, accessed 09thNovember 2010 </ref>
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 : [[Stuart Eizenstat]]: Has worked within federal state government since 1977 <ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=19277 Influence & Lobbying, Stuart E Eizenstat] November 2010, accessed 09thNovember 2010 </ref>, and is also a professor of Jewish history and culture. <ref> Holocaust era assets Conference 2009 [http://www.holocausteraassets.eu/en/news-archive/detail/stuart-e--eizenstat-will-head-the-us-delegation-at-the-holocaust-era-/ Stuart E. Eizenstat will head the US delegation at the Holocaust Era ] 2009, accessed 08thNovember 2010 </ref>
-: [[Martin Gold]]: A member for the united states commission for the preservation of Americas heritage abroad. Gold also Lobbys for American Task Force Argentina.<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=14409 Influence & Lobbying, Martin B Gold] November 2010, accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>
+: [[Martin Gold]]: A member for the United States Commission for thePreservation of America's Heritage abroad. Gold also lobbies for [[American Task Force Argentina]].<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=14409 Influence & Lobbying, Martin B Gold] November 2010, accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>
 : [[Brian Smith]]: Worked in the white house office as assistant to the special council between 1993 - 2001 under the Clinton administration<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lobbyist.php?lname=Smith%2C+Brian+D&id=Y00000417311&year=2010 Influence & Lobbying, Brian Smith] November 2010, accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 : [[Bill Wichterman]]: Worked as a special assistant to president Bush in the Whitehouse between 2001 - 2008 <ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=35783 Influence & Lobbying, Bill Wichterman] November 2010, accessed 09th November 2010 </ref>
-===Lobbying for The Prince Group(Cromwell & Moring/ C&M Capitolink: 2006-2010)===
+===Lobbying for The Prince Group (Cromwell & Moring/ C&M Capitolink: 2006-2010)===
-More discreetly however is Xe Services continual association with [[Paul Behrends]] who is lobby firm Cromwell & Moring's senior policy advisor<ref> Cromwell & Moring 2010[http://www.crowell.com/Professionals/Paul-Behrends Professionals] Last Updated 2010, accessed 10th November 2010 </ref>  and personal friend of Erik Prince. Since 2009 Cromwell & Morning have secured $260,000 of lobbying contracts from 'The Prince Group'<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?year=2009&lname=Prince+Group&id= Influence & Lobbying, The Prince Group] Last Updated 2010, accessed 11th November 2010 </ref> whilst Cromwell & Morings sister firm C&M Capitolink have also secured $610,000 worth of contracts from Blackwater between 2006 and 2008<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmsum.php?lname=C%26M+Capitolink Influence & Lobbying,C&M Capitolink] November 2010, accessed 10th November 2010 </ref>. During the years 2006 - 2010 [[Paul Behrends]] has Lobbied for both Blackwater and The prince group.
+More discreetly however is '''Xe Services''' continual association with [[Paul Behrends]] who is lobby firm [[Cromwell & Moring]]'s senior policy adviser.<ref> Cromwell & Moring 2010[http://www.crowell.com/Professionals/Paul-Behrends Professionals] Last Updated 2010, accessed 10th November 2010 </ref>  and personal friend of Erik Prince. Since 2009 Cromwell & Morning have secured $260,000 of lobbying contracts from 'The Prince Group'<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?year=2009&lname=Prince+Group&id= Influence & Lobbying, The Prince Group] Last Updated 2010, accessed 11th November 2010 </ref> whilst Cromwell & Morings sister firm [[C&M Capitolink]] have also secured $610,000 worth of contracts from Blackwater between 2006 and 2008<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmsum.php?lname=C%26M+Capitolink Influence & Lobbying,C&M Capitolink] November 2010, accessed 10th November 2010 </ref>. During the years 2006 - 2010 [[Paul Behrends]] has lobbied for both Blackwater and The Prince group.
 ===Lobbying for Blackwater Lodge & Training Center(Henry J Steenstra: 2008/09)===
 [[Henry J Steenstra]]: According to Opensecrets.org Seenstra has recieved $430,000 for his services to Blackwater Lodge & Training centre between 2008 - 2009<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmlbs.php?year=2008&lname=Blackwater+Lodge+%26+Training+Center&id= Influence & Lobbying, Henry J Steenstra] November 2010, accessed 16th November 2010 </ref>. It is unclear as to wether or not Steenstra is still lobbying for blackwaters training centre in 2010.
-===Brief history of Lobbying activity prior to rebranding(1998 - 2008)===
+===Brief history of lobbying activity prior to rebranding(1998 - 2008)===
 The earliest available information regarding lobbying activity prior to rebranding from blackwater to Xe services dates back to 1998 when [[Paul Behrends]] lobbied for an undisclosed fee whilst employed at law firm 'The Rhoads Group'<ref> Opensecrets.org 2010 [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientlbs.php?lname=Blackwater+USA&year=1998 Influence & Lobbying, Blackwater USA] Last Updated 2010, accessed 12th November 2010 </ref>. The following Firms and Lobbyists are no longer lobbying for [[Eric Prince]] or any of his companies.

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:24, 3 November 2014
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	==Notes==		==Notes==
	<references/>		<references/>
		+	[[Category:Private Military Corporations]][[Category:Terrorism Industry]]

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:27, 9 July 2011
(No difference)

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 === Theopolitical Agendas and the “War On Terror”===
-Having found a strong relationship between [[Erik Prince]] and the fundamentalist Christian Right of America there are a few important questions we must ask. Firstly, if Prince and Blackwater/Xe’s involvement in the ‘war on terror’ is not purely about money - Prince claims he is ‘not a financially driven guy’ <ref> Prince, E [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbDmwsuyrKA&feature=player_embedded Prince: Our Profit Margins Are Private] 2nd Oct 2007, Accessed 15th Nov 2010 </ref> - then what are the motives for running a private military company (PMC)? Secondly, is it really appropriate for a PMC like Blackwater to be donating thousands of pounds to congressional candidates and religious lobbying groups when their, supposedly competitive, contract is dependent on these peoples’ decisions? Finally, if all of the information on this page is readily available and a wealth of further reading regarding Blackwater’s misconduct and attitudes, why are they still receiving large US contracts <ref> Parvaz, D. [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/10/201010117237790858.html Blackwater Gets New US Contract] Al Jazeera  online, 2nd Oct 2010, Accessed 15th Nov 2010 </ref>? Erik Prince has been witnessed by former employees as stating that he "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe" <ref> Scahill, Jeremy [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/nov/11/blackwater-mercenary-scandal-legal-sanction "the blackwater plot deepens"] Guardian.co.uk, nov 11th 2009, accessed October 16th 2010 </ref>, a statement which gives an illuminating insight into Prince's mindset. The mixing of theopolitical ideology and armed combat is a dangerous phenomenon, but is not confined to Erik Prince's operations or even to PMCs, there have been religious wars since the first religions were formed and these have often been centred around space and resources. The White House under George W Bush,for example, fell back on Christian doctrinaire rhetoric to rally America against its supposedly common enemy of terrorism, with the tacit implication that Islam was a dangerous faith. The real danger, when PMCs such as Blackwater become involved, is that they are, for all intents and purposes, unaccountable <ref> BBC [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7024370.stm Blackwater Boss Grilled Over Iraq] 2nd Oct 2007, Accessed 15th Nov 2010 </ref>.In the witness testimony of John Doe #2, kept anonymous for fear of reprisals, Prince is accused of deploying men to Iraq “who shared his vision of Christian supremacy, knowing and wanting these men to take every available opportunity to murder Iraqis. Many of these men used call signs based on the Knights of the Templar, the warriors who fought the Crusades” <ref> Prince in Skahill [http://www.thenation.com/article/blackwater-founder-implicated-murder Blackwater Founder Implicated In Murder] 4th Aug 2009, Accessed 15th Nov 2010 </ref>. Although Prince claims not to be a financially driven individual the company makes a large profit from pursuing Prince’s goals. The Sudanese controversy was a case in point with Blackwater attempting to negotiate a deal for almost half of Sudan’s plentiful resources in return for supplying weaponry and training to the, mostly Christian, South of the country <ref>  Mcclatchy Newspapers [http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/27/553602/blackwater-ignored-sanctions.html Blackwater’s Sudan Operations Ignored U.S. Sanctions] 27th June 2010, Accessed 15th Nov 2010 </ref>. This gives us an insight into the mixture of religious and neo-liberal agenda of Blackwater and, perhaps also, the war on terror.
+Questions have been asked about the strong relationship between [[Erik Prince]] and the fundamentalist Christian Right of America. If Prince and Blackwater/Xe’s involvement in the "war on terror" is not purely about money - Prince claims he is ‘not a financially driven guy’ <ref> Prince, E [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbDmwsuyrKA&feature=player_embedded Prince: Our Profit Margins Are Private] 2nd Oct 2007, Accessed 15th Nov 2010 </ref> - then what are the motives for running a private military company (PMC)? Another question is whether it is appropriate for a PMC like Blackwater to be donating thousands of pounds to congressional candidates and religious lobbying groups when their supposedly competitive contract is dependent on these peoples’ decisions? And why, despite Blackwater’s reported misconduct does it continue to receive large US contracts? <ref> Parvaz, D. [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/10/201010117237790858.html Blackwater Gets New US Contract] Al Jazeera  online, 2nd Oct 2010, Accessed 15 Nov 2010 </ref>? Erik Prince has been witnessed by former employees as stating that he "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe" <ref> Scahill, Jeremy [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/nov/11/blackwater-mercenary-scandal-legal-sanction "the blackwater plot deepens"] Guardian.co.uk, Nov 11th 2009, accessed October 16th 2010 </ref>, a statement which gives an illuminating insight into Prince's mindset. The mixing of theopolitical ideology and armed combat is a dangerous phenomenon, but is not confined to Erik Prince's operations or even to PMCs; there have been religious wars since the first religions were formed and these have often been centred around space and resources. The White House under [[George W Bush]],for example, fell back on Christian doctrinaire rhetoric to rally America against its supposedly common enemy of terrorism, with the tacit implication that Islam was a dangerous faith. The real danger, when PMCs such as Blackwater become involved, is that they are, for all intents and purposes, unaccountable. <ref> BBC [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7024370.stm Blackwater Boss Grilled Over Iraq] 2nd Oct 2007, Accessed 15 Nov 2010 </ref> In the witness testimony of John Doe #2, kept anonymous for fear of reprisals, Prince is accused of deploying men to Iraq “who shared his vision of Christian supremacy, knowing and wanting these men to take every available opportunity to murder Iraqis. Many of these men used call signs based on the Knights of the Templar, the warriors who fought the Crusades”. <ref> Prince in Skahill [http://www.thenation.com/article/blackwater-founder-implicated-murder Blackwater Founder Implicated In Murder] 4th Aug 2009, Accessed 15 Nov 2010 </ref> Although Prince claims not to be financially driven, the company makes a large profit from pursuing Prince’s goals. The Sudanese controversy was a case in point with Blackwater attempting to negotiate a deal for almost half of Sudan’s plentiful resources in return for supplying weaponry and training to the, mostly Christian, South of the country. <ref>  Mcclatchy Newspapers [http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/27/553602/blackwater-ignored-sanctions.html Blackwater’s Sudan Operations Ignored U.S. Sanctions] 27th June 2010, Accessed 15th Nov 2010 </ref> This gives us an insight into the mixture of religious and neoliberal agenda of Blackwater and, perhaps also, the war on terror.
 ===Erik Prince===

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 *[[Paul Behrends]] - Behrends has been lobbying on and off for Blackwater since 1998. In 1998 he was working with [[Rhoads Group]] where lobbied on behalf of Blackwater USA <ref> Open Secrets [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmlbs.php?lname=Rhoads+Group&year=1998 Paul Behrends: Lobbyist profile, summary 1998] accessed 3rd Nov </ref>. from 2006-2008 Behrends handled the Blackwater USA and Worldwide contract at lobbyists [[C&M Capitolink]]. <ref> Open Secrets [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lobbyist.php?year=2008&lname=Behrends,+Paul&id=Y00000268860 Paul Behrends: Lobbyist profile, summary 2008] accessed 3rd Nov 2010 </ref> In 2009 he moved to [[Cromwell & Moring]] where he represented the [[Prince Group]].<ref> Open Secrets [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lobbyist.php?year=2009&lname=Behrends,+Paul&id=Y00000268860 Paul Behrends: Lobbyist Profile, Summary 2009] accessed 3rd Nov 2010 </ref> <br>
 *[[Cofer Black]] Black is the ex-head of Counter Terrorism at the CIA and is now Vice Chairman of Blackwater and the head of [http://www.totalintel.com/ Total Intelligence Solutions] (another Prince Group subsidiary). He maintains strong links to the US Government, remaining counter-terrorism advisor to Republican politician [[Mitt Romney]]. <ref> Scahill, J. [http://www.democracynow.org/2007/12/10/what_is_blackwaters_role_in_the What is Blackwater’s Role in the 2008 Presidential Race?] ''Democracy Now!'', 10th December 2007, Accessed 4th Nov 2010 </ref>
-*[[Susan Burke]]
+*[[Susan Burke]]- Susan Burke is a lawyer who has been lead attorney in the prosecution against Blackwater on several occasions, most notably in the case regarding the Nisour Square massacre on 16 September 2007 which is still ongoing. She also represented the case brought by Brad and Melan Davis alleging fraud.  <ref> Burke PLLC [http://www.burkepllc.com/attorneys/susan-burke.php Susan L. Burke] accessed 17th November 2010 </ref>.
-Susan Burke is a lawyer who has been lead attorney in the prosecution against Blackwater on several occasions, most notably in the case regarding the Nisour Square massacre on 16 September 2007 which is still ongoing. She also represented the case brought by Brad and Melan Davis alleging fraud.  <ref> Burke PLLC [http://www.burkepllc.com/attorneys/susan-burke.php Susan L. Burke] accessed 17th November 2010 </ref>.
+*[[Stuart Eizenstat]]- According to federal lobbying records in the first quarter of 2010 Xe Services spent $530,000 to acquire the services of [[Stuart Eizenstat]] who is a well connected Democrat lobbyist having served in both the Clinton and Carter administrations. <ref> Jeremy Scahill [http://www.thenation.com/blog/bipartisan-mercs-blackwater-hires-powerful-democratic-lobbyist Bipartisan Mercs?: Blackwater Hires Powerful Democratic Lobbyist] The Nation Online, 14th May 2010, accessed 30th Oct 2010 </ref>
-*[[Stuart Eizenstat]]
+*[[William Webster]] -William Webster was part of a three-person panel placed in control of the case against Blackwater regarding the death of four of their employees in Fallujah. This was controversial considering Webster has previous links to Blackwater. He previously served alongside Joseph Schmitz on the board of an American company named [[Singlepoint]]. Webster was also the head of the Central Intelligence Agency when Cofer Black was “a major figure”.  <ref> Scahill in Democracy Now [http://www.democracynow.org/2007/5/23/pivotal_family_lawsuit_against_blackwater_usa Pivotal Family Lawsuit Against Blackwater USA Blocked from Court – and Moved to Panel with Company Ties] 23rd May 2007, accessed 17th November 2010 </ref>.
 ==Religious Affiliations==