US Foreign Policy: The Negative Effects of the CIA-Blackwater Relationship

On August 19, New York Times posted an article on Blackwater's involvement in planning and allegedly participating on the CIA's assassination squad for "Jihadist's". The squad, quickly becoming known as Cheney's brainchild, was kept secret from Congress, along with Blackwater's involvement.

The report on Blackwater's involvement sheds a light on just how close Erik Prince, the founder of the mercenary company, and the Bush White House relationship had gotten.

In The Nation, Jeremy Scahill reports that Prince was given a "green badge" that gave him access to most CIA stations. Harper reported that Prince regularly met with senior directorates of operations for the CIA.

The practice of hiring outside private organization to conduct these kinds of operations brings up many concerns over accountability.

Assassination by the CIA had been outlawed when it was discovered the CIA had attempted to assassinate Fidel Castro of Cuba. After 9/11 though the Bush administration had ruled that the law did not apply to the war on terror and assassination were legitimate under the circumstances.

In a telephone interview with The Nation, Illinois Democrat Jan Schakowsky, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said, "What we know now, if this is true, is that Blackwater was part of the highest level, the innermost circle strategizing and exercising strategy within the Bush administration. Erik Prince operated at the highest and most secret level of the government. Clearly Prince was more trusted than the US Congress because Vice President Cheney made the decision not to brief Congress. This shows that there was absolutely no space whatsoever between the Bush administration and Blackwater."

The relationship between the CIA and Blackwater is very tangled. Who uses who for what and where the liabilities lay are so difficult to figure out, that many theories have started to pop up in the media and political world.

There are rumors of Blackwater in Pakistan, conducting secret operations. Many have accused Blackwater there to be using an American NGO as cover. There are allegations of a crusade-like personal mission by Prince to eliminate Islam. Due to Blackwater's reputation it is quickly becoming known as the CIA's dirty jobs wing. Where Blackwater is implemented whenever and wherever the CIA can not be thought to be responsible.

Blackwater's reputation is extremely muddy. They have been connected to many abuses in Iraq, including killing regular unarmed Iraqi citizens, some running away from Blackwater personnel. The company has been caught with illegal weapons and ammunitions. There are allegations of child prostitution, guns and drugs smuggling and sex rings. Blackwater has a reputation so sullied that they have changed their name repeatedly, this time deciding on Xe.

Many have asked for the Obama administration to stop dealing with Erik Prince's company. And I would have to join in on the request. For a country that is trying to change the way the world views it, the US can not be caught dealing with criminals and mercenaries. Especially ones who kill innocent civilians we are trying to win over to Democracy.

Not only the killing of innocents but if any of the other allegations prove to be true in court (civil case), or by Congress (investigating assassination squad) the United States government will have one more stain in its modern history to explain.

The war in Iraq and Afghanistan, though still requiring a great deal of work, are moving in a positive direction. The populations there are warming up to the idea of Democracy and open societies. The Talibans and Al Qaedes of the world are having a harder time recruiting and explaining why there are so many dead Muslims in their "jihad".

Militants caught recently are confessing they were conducting their operations for money and not faith.

US troops are on a steady decline out of Iraq, the efforts in Afghanistan have produced the first election, mostly handled by the Afghan, with a serious challenge to the incumbent. There is less and less support for the militant like activities of the extremists. The citizens of Afghanistan, once considered the Taliban heroes, are calling the radical form of Islam that the Taliban preaches, un-Islamic. The same sentiment is shared by a growing majority of Al Qadea and Taliban supporters in Pakistan.

Real and great progress has being achieved across the globe concerning the military and diplomatic goals of the United States. And to associate with the sort of crimes Blackwater has allegedly committed will slow down the United States' progress that has yet to be achieved.

We (United States) have wasted many opportunities in the military activities across the globe in the Bush proposed "war on terror". We have done things that have helped militants' recruiting efforts, instead of hurt it. The war in Iraq, water boarding, secret prisons, pow abuse and cultural insensitivity are just few of the reasons the war on terror, in progress the past eight years, is still drying up the US Treasury.

Since President Obama's speech in Cairo, most in the "Muslim world" are generally accepting the US's policies. If Blackwater is revealed to have knowingly taking part in planning, participating in and covering up murder and prostitution of Muslims, it will be a giant leap backwards for the United States foreign policy, if the government does not distance itself from such an company.

Blackwater's contracts should be terminated and it executives and personnel need to be tried before the law.