The Blackwater USA reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Blackwater USA

Blackwater USA is a private military contractor and security firm, describing itself as providing support to "military, government agencies, law enforcement and civilian entities in training, targets and range operations."

Blackwater USA consists of five companies:

• Blackwater Training Center
• Blackwater Target Systems
• Blackwater Security Consulting, Moyock, NC
• Blackwater Canine
• Blackwater Air (AWS).

Blackwater's president, Gary Jackson, is a former Navy SEAL, as are other executives within the firm. Company literature claims the company runs, "the largest privately-owned firearms training facility in the nation."

In March 2004, Blackwater contractors who were serving as security for food shipments in Fallujah, Iraq, were attacked and killed. Their charred bodies were beaten and dragged before cameras in a gruesome display.

Controversy has since emerged about whether it is permissable in US mainstream political discourse to refer to these contractors as mercenaries.

External links

• Company web site
• AP: NC firm was providing security for food delivery in Iraq
• Alternet story on Blackwater, Mercenaries 'R' Us, March 24, 2004
• [NY Times Article]

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