Blackwater Boss Lobbies for Private Assassin Teams

Blackwater wants the US government to hire teams of mercenaries to combat Iranian influence around the world, according to the Nation, which has obtained a tape of a talk boss Erik Prince gave to a friendly audience. Prince—who generally bans the media from his talks—said private soldiers from companies like his own would be a more politically sensitive and cost-effective way of defeating "the sinister hand" of Iran in Nigeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia.

Prince discussed his firm's operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, dismissing concerns that Blackwater employees could be considered unlawful combatants under the Geneva Conventions. He also mentioned the company's operations in Pakistan, although Blackwater, the US government, and the Pakistani government have all officially denied that the security contractor is operating in Pakistan.
(More Erik Prince stories.)