108 “‘They Protect People’s Lives’—One Month After Baghdad Killings, Bush Defends Blackwater USA,” Democracy Now!, October 18, 2007.
109 Unless otherwise noted, the description and quotes relating to Erik Prince’s Congressional testimony on October 2, 2007, are drawn from the author’s firsthand observations or the official transcript of the proceedings provided by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
110 “Edwards Points to a Link,” Washington Post, October 6, 2007.
111 Charles R. Black, Jr. biography, BKSH & Associates.
112 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.
113 Steve Fainaru, “Guards in Iraq Cite Frequent Shootings,” Washington Post, October 3, 2007.
114 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.
115 Ibid.
116 Ibid.
117 Transcript, Bill Moyers Journal, February 1, 2008.
118 Dena Bunis, “Rohrabacher Stands Behind Blackwater Chief,” Orange County Register, October 9, 2007.
119 Author copy.
120 “Blackwater Most Often Shoots First, Congressional Report Says,” CNN.com, October 2, 2007.
121 David M. Herszenhorn, “House’s Iraq Bill Applies U.S. Laws to Contractors,” New York Times, October 5, 2007.
122 James Gordon Meek, “Blackwater to Guard FBI Team Probing It,” New York Daily News, October 3, 2007.
123 Karen DeYoung, “Federal Guards to Protect Agents in Blackwater Investigation,” Washington Post, October 4, 2007.
124 Author interview, September 2007.
125 James Risen and David Johnston, “Justice Department Briefed Congress on Legal Obstacles in Blackwater Case,” New York Times, January 16, 2008.
126 Jonathan Karl and Kirit Radia, “ABC News Obtains Text of Blackwater Immunity Deal,” ABCNews.go.com, October 30, 2007.
127 Author interview, October 2007.
128 Author interview, October 2007.
129 Ned Parker, “‘Wall of Silence’ Protects Security Contractor in Iraq,” Los Angeles Times, September 21, 2007.
130 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.
131 Transcript, Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.
132 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.
133 Ibid.
134 Transcript, Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.
135 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority Staff Report, “Additional Information About Blackwater USA,” October 1, 2007.
136 Transcript, Hearing on Iraq Private Contractor Oversight, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, October 2, 2007.
137 Steve Fainaru, “How Blackwater Sniper Fire Felled 3 Iraqi Guards,” Washington Post, November 8, 2007.
138 Jennifer Daskal, “Blackwater in Baghdad,” Salon, December 14, 2007.
139 Ibid.
140 Jomana Karadsheh and Alan Duke, “Blackwater Incident Witness: ‘It Was Hell,’” CNN.com, October 2, 2007.
141 Sudarsan Raghavan, “U.S. Offers Cash to Victims in Blackwater Incident,” Washington Post, October 25, 2007.
142 Ibid; Jennifer Daskal, “Blackwater in Baghdad,” Salon, December 14, 2007.
143 Sudarsan Raghavan, “U.S. Offers Cash to Victims in Blackwater Incident,” Washington Post, October 25, 2007.
144 Karen DeYoung, “Immunity Jeopardizes Iraq Probe,” Washington Post, October 30, 2007.
145 David Johnston and John M. Broder, “F.B.I. Says Guards Killed 14 Iraqis Without Cause,” New York Times, November 14, 2007.
146 Lara Jakes Jordan, “FBI Finds Blackwater Trucks Patched,” Associated Press, January 12, 2008.
147 Author copy of the report.
148 Lara Jakes Jordan, “FBI Finds Blackwater Trucks Patched,” Associated Press, January 12, 2008.
149 Ibid.
150 Max Boot, “Accept the Blackwater Mercenaries,” Los Angeles Times, October 3, 2007.
151 Prepared Statement of Erik D. Prince for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, October 2, 2007.
152 Sworn statement of “Paul,” September 18, 2007; Ginger Thompson, “From Texas to Iraq, and Center of Blackwater Case,” New York Times, January 19, 2008.
153 Sworn statement of “Paul,” September 18, 2007.
154 Sudarsan Raghavan and Josh White, “Blackwater Guards Fired at Fleeing Cars, Soldiers Say,” Washington Post, October 12, 2007.
155 Sworn statement of “Paul,” September 18, 2007.
156 Prepared Statement of Erik D. Prince for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, October 2, 2007.
157 Steve Fainaru and Sudarsan Raghavan, “Blackwater Faced Bedlam, Embassy Finds,” Washington Post, September 28, 2007.
158 Sudarsan Raghavan and Josh White, “Blackwater Guards Fired at Fleeing Cars, Soldiers Say,” Washington Post, October 12, 2007.
159 Transcript, interview with Erik Prince, The Charlie Rose Show, PBS, October 15, 2007.
160 David Johnston and John M. Broder, “F.B.I. Says Guards Killed 14 Iraqis Without Cause,” New York Times, November 14, 2007.
161 Sudarsan Raghavan and Josh White, “Blackwater Guards Fired at Fleeing Cars, Soldiers Say,” Washington Post, October 12, 2007.
162 Peter Spiegel, “Gates: U.S., Guards Are at Odds in Iraq,” Los Angeles Times, October 19, 2007.
163 Karen DeYoung, “Security Firms in Iraq Face New Rules,” Washington Post, October 24, 2007.
164 James Risen and David Johnston, “Justice Department Briefed Congress on Legal Obstacles in Blackwater Case,” New York Times, January 16, 2008.
165 Executive Office of the President, “Statement of Administration Policy,” October 3, 2007.
166 Author interview, January 2008.
167 Press Release from Representative Jan Schakowsky, “Schakowsky Condemns State Department for Offering Blackwater Immunity,” October 30, 2007.
168 “Family Members of Slain Iraqis Sue Blackwater USA for Deadly Baghdad Shooting,” Democracy Now!, October 11, 2007.
169 Author copy of the complaint.
170 Author interview, October 2007.
171 Transcript, The Thom Hartmann Show, Air America, January 29, 2008.
172 “Iraqi Shooting Victims’ Families Sue Blackwater,” Virginian-Pilot, October 12, 2007.
173 Transcript, interview with Erik Prince, Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer, CNN, October 14, 2007.
174 J. Michael Waller, “Lawyers for Terror,” New York Post, October 17, 2007.
175 Author interview, January 2008.
176 Author copy of the complaint.
177 “Blackwater Sued Again for Sept. 9th Attack, Five Iraqis Dead, Ten Wounded,” Democracy Now!, December 19, 2007.
178 Eric Schmitt and Paul von Zielbauer, “Accord Tightens Control of Security Contractors in Iraq,” New York Times, December 5, 2007.