Wanting It Both Ways: Senators Critical of Blackwater Want Assurances It Will Continue Serving

Senators who have been critical of Blackwater are now concerned that it might quit the security business in Iraq, and want assurances that the company will continue.

They've been beating the stuffing out of the company, accusing it of all kinds of wrongdoing. But then, when the company's leaders say that the security contracts aren't worth all the heat from Congress and the media, the senators worry that Blackwater might actually leave them high and dry.

They add, with a twist, that recent news reports suggesting that the North Carolina-based company might get out of the diplomatic security business are all the more reason for the State Department not to be so dependent on private contractors.

The Federal Times reports,

Given these intentions, the senators want to know whether State has been assured Blackwater will fulfill its recently renewed multimillion-dollar security contract. They also want to know what the department plans to do to shore up its Diplomatic Security Service and lessen its reliance on private security contractors.

They cite recent news reports that quote State officials as saying the other two private security contractors providing services under State’s Worldwide Personnel Protective Services contract would be unable to take on Blackwater’s work if the company pulled out.

Senators Bob Casey (D-Penn.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) co-signed a letter of concerns to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Blackwater to Scale Back Security Work

The next president may have to change his calculus for the war in Iraq. Expensive government investigations have made Blackwater's cost of providing diplomatic security prohibitively high, and the company will no longer seek federal security contracts. If, that is, we are to believe the accuracy of what the Associated Press is reporting.

With its largest embassy in the world in Baghdad, the US depends almost completely on Blackwater to provide security for diplomats, aid workers, and visiting VIPs such as congressmen and senators. No government agency or military service can provide the scope of security that Blackwater is providing.

In the photo, General David Petraeus recognizes Blackwater diplomatic security men who rescued the Polish ambassador to Iraq last year after an assassination attempt.

Constant dogging by political opponents of the war in Congress, misleading media attacks, and endless government investigations that cost the company millions are reportedly blamed for prompting Blackwater to decide that providing security in a wartime environment just isn't worth it.

"The experience we've had would certainly be a disincentive to any other companies that want to step in and put their entire business at risk," says Blackwater founder and CEO Erik Prince.

The company will continue its current diplomatic security contract for the State Department in Iraq, but the report is unclear whether or not the company will seek to renew it upon its expiration in about ten months.

Blackwater did not begin as a security company, and providing security was never a part of the firm's master plan. "Our focus is away from security work. We're just not bidding on it," adds Blackwater President Gary Jackson.

Diplomatic security accounted for more than half of Blackwater's business in 2005 and 2006, and has wound down to about 30 percent now. "If I could get it down to 2% or 1%, I would go there," says Jackson. However, he held out the possibility of staying in the security business.

Says AP, "The decision to scale back future security business reflects not only the difficult year Blackwater has had but also the fact that there's probably not as much growth opportunity."

Blackwater Returns Focus to Training and Logistics

Blackwater founder and CEO Erik Prince told the Associated Press that the company will be returning to its original focus of training, aviation and logistics, moving away from security contracting operations.

However, for the time being the company will continue to protect US diplomats in Iraq; there are no plans to abandon existing contracts or leave American officials vulnerable.

"Security was not part of the master plan, ever," company president Gary Jackson said. Security peaked above 50 percent of the company's revenue, but is now down to about 30 percent and is expected go to much lower, Jackson said.

"If I could get it down to 2 percent or 1 percent, I would go there," Jackson said, adding that the media have falsely portrayed much about that aspect of the company. "If you could get it right, we might stay in the business."

While it often goes unreported, Blackwater does extensive work in training and logistics. The AP explains that the company's "7,000-acre compound offers unparalleled training facilities that attract swarms of US military, federal law enforcement and local officials each year."

"The company also has expanded its aviation division [pictured above], which provides airplane and helicopter maintenance and also drops supplies into hard-to-reach military bases. A 6,000-foot runway is under construction and a large map in the company's hanger shows units based across the world, from Africa to the Middle East to Australia."