Hearing on Private Security Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan
On October 2nd, the Oversight Committee held a hearing to examine the mission and performance of private military contractor Blackwater USA in Iraq and Afghanistan. Erik Prince, the owner of Blackwater, testified as well as three State Department officials.
The hearing addressed three key questions: (1) Is Blackwater's presence advancing or undermining U.S. efforts? (2) Has State Department responded appropriately to the shooting incidents involving Blackwater forces? (3) What are the costs to U.S. taxpayers for the reliance on Blackwater and other private military contractors?
Chairman Waxman also released a memo that provides details of Blackwater Flight 61, which crashed in a remote area of Afghanistan on November 27, 2004, killing members of the flight crew and three U.S. military personnel. A transcript of this hearing is now available.
The following witnesses testified:
Erik Prince, Chairman, the Prince Group, LLC and Blackwater USA
Ambassador David M. Satterfield, Special Adviser, Coordinator for Iraq, Department of State
Ambassador Richard J. Griffin, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, Department of State
William H. Moser, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Logistics Management, Department of State
Documents:
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Graph: Blackwater Contracts Skyrocket Under the Bush Administration
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E-mails Detailing Compensation to Family of Iraqi Killed by Blackwater
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E-mails Detailing Blackwater's Penalties Against Employee Who Killed Guard of Iraqi Vice President
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Blackwater Invoices Detailing Charges of $1200 Per Day for Security Agents
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Blackwater Memo Terminating Two Contractors for Lying About A Motorcade Incident
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Staff Memorandum on Blackwater Activities in Iraq