Eamonn McCann looks at revelations that Blackwater is expanding its operations to recruit a mercenary army for the government of the United Arab Emirates.
Socialist Worker, May 24, 2011
Blackwater’s Erik Prince
YOU CAN buy a war for half a billion dollars. But get in quick. That’s at current market prices.
Costs may rise following last Saturday’s New York Times story revealing that the United Arab Emirates has paid $529 million to a company set up by Blackwater boss Eric Prince to recruit and train a mercenary army to undertake “special missions” against the oil state’s enemies, defend oil pipelines, crush internal opposition and so forth.
Emirate dictator Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan has also agreed to pay more than $100 million a year to meet running costs and supply weapons and equipment–including rifles, mortars and armored vehicles.
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