KUNM and Bookworks brought Jeremy Scahill to speak Friday night at the UNM Continuing Education Center.  Scahill is the author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army. 


Leveling fierce criticism on the largest private contracting firm working for the US State Department in Iraq, Scahill recounted in grim detail the killings in Nisour Square that took place last September and left 17 Iraqi civilians dead.  Had the individuals who fired their weapons, striking many in the back as they ran, been U.S. military personnel they would have been court-martialed.  Yet because the individuals were private contractors they were protected by CPA Order 17 which states  "Contractors shall be immune from Iraqi legal process with respect to acts performed by them…" 



Scahill also noted that the State Department officials who eventually investigated the Nisour Square shootings were provided security by Blackwater during the time of the investigation.  The Justice Department has not sought charges against the company.  In an interview with Amy Goodman earlier this month, Scahill stated:

 

Blackwater in Iraq was awarded over $100 million in contracts just in the two weeks following the Nisour Square shooting. It’s had over a billion dollars in contracts from the United States State Department. And the men who were alleged to have been responsible for those killings at Nisour Square, to this day, are walking around as free individuals.

 



Scahill warned that the danger of a privatized company with no oversight is not just the reality within Iraq, but has implications back home.  During the Katrina disaster, Blackwater was one of the many private companies that swept in and profited from the relief effort.  Blackwater initially arrived without a government contract at the behest of its private clients.  Private contractors are taking on more and more roles in disaster relief as witnessed during Katrina and the recent California fires.



The ongoing trend of privatizing water and energy resources may result in a stronger domestic presence for security companies like Blackwater.

 

Scahill pointed blame for the lack of oversight in this trend of privatization on Republicans and Democrats. 

 

Like his book, Scahill commanded an encyclopedic knowledge of the company, their dealings with Iraq and the rise of the company’s founder Eric Prince.  Prince is a former Navy SEAL and intern of George H.W. Bush and comes from a staunchly Republican family.  His father is co-founder of the Family Research Council.



There was about 200 people that attended the event.  Scahill was on tour promoting the updated paperback release of his book.