Blackwater Chairman Defends Company

Oct. 2, 2007 — -- The chairman of embattled private security contractor Blackwater USA disputed lawmakers' claims today that its employees have acted recklessly in guarding U.S. government personnel in Iraq.

"I believe we acted appropriately at all times," said Blackwater founder and chairman Erik Prince, testifying at a House Oversight Committee hearing on the role and accountability of his security company.

Committee chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., called the hearing after numerous claims of irresponsible Blackwater behavior, most recently a Sept. 16 Baghdad shootout allegedly instigated by Blackwater employees that killed at least 11 Iraqis and injured more than a dozen others.

"New documents indicate that there have been a total of 195 shooting incidents involving Blackwater forces since 2005," said Waxman. "Blackwater's contract says the company is hired to provide defensive services. But in most of these incidents, it was Blackwater forces who fired first."

Because of Monday's announcement of an FBI investigation into the Sept. 16 events, Waxman complied with a Justice Department request not to discuss it at the public hearing.

Numerous Republicans even called for the hearing to be adjourned, with some saying that Prince's firm has done a "perfect job" because no individual protected by Blackwater has been killed in Iraq. But Democrats resoundingly voted down the motion to adjourn.

"You have done an amazing task," Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn., said, "and there is a huge difference from being a police officer or protected and being the military, a totally different role. I've had no one in the military say to me, 'I want to guard all these civilians.'"

In an often partisan five-hour hearing, Democrats hit back time and time again at Blackwater's behavior.

"Why are we privatizing our military to an organization that has been aggressive and in some cases reckless in the handling of their duties?" asked Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., before telling Prince, "Your actions may be undermining our mission in Iraq and really hurting the relationship and trust between the Iraqi people and the American military."