Blackwater Hearing Part 5: Erik Prince Testimony (2007)
Posted by Susan in Virginia Wildlife on May 26th, 2010 | 0 commentsOctober 2, 2007 In the late 1990s, Erik Prince spent part of his inherited wealth to purchase about 6000 acres (24 km2) of the Great Dismal Swamp, a vast swamp on the North Carolina/Virginia border, now mostly a National Wildlife Refuge. Here he created his state-of-the-art private training facility, and his contracting company, Blackwater, which he named for the peat-colored water of the swamp. Blackwater USA was formed in 1990 to provide training support to military and law enforcement organizations. In 2002 Blackwater Security Consulting (BSC) was formed. It was one of several private security firms employed following the US invasion of Afghanistan. BSC is one of over 60 private security firms employed during the Iraq War to guard officials and installations, train Iraq's new army and police, and provide other support for occupation forces. Blackwater was also hired during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by the United States Department of Homeland Security, as well as by private clients, including communications, petrochemical and insurance companies. Overall, the company has received over $1 billion USD in US government contracts. Blackwater consists of nine divisions, and a subsidiary, Blackwater Vehicles. Xe is a privately held company and does not publish much information about internal affairs. Xe's founder and former CEO Erik Prince, a former Navy SEAL, attended the Naval Academy, graduated from Hillsdale College, and was an intern in George HW Bush's White ...
Tags: documentary, Blackwater, Dirt, deaths, BikeNorfolk to Virginia Beach
Posted by Susan in Virginia Beach on May 7th, 2010 | 0 commentsMy evening commute from Norfolk to Virginia Beach on Friday, November 17, 2006.
Tags: Night, I-264, Virginia, Beach, traffica
Posted by Susan in Virginia Tourism on Oct 5th, 2009 | 0 commentsMy entry in the 2007 "Answer the Call" contest sponsored by the West Virginia Tourism Council. Alas, it did not win the contest, but I enjoyed making it, regardless.
Tags: driving, Hinton, West, Virginia, TamarackRandom Adventures in West Virginia
Posted by Susan in Virginia Tourism on May 10th, 2009 | 1 commentMy entry in the 2007 "Answer the Call" contest sponsored by the West Virginia Tourism Council. Alas, it did not win the contest, but I enjoyed making it, regardless.
Tags: Pipestem, Hinton, West, mountains, hillsAtlantic Avenue Virginia Beach
Posted by Susan in Virginia Beach on Apr 25th, 2009 | 1 commentDriving from Rudee Inlet north on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach. Enjoy the empty road before the season because once it begins, especially at night, the cruisers
Tags: driving, Avenue, Atlantic, americantowns, vbdenny
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