# Will Erik Prince be charged with War Crimes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 4, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359 "2009-08-04T23:22:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Phatlewt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Phatlewt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phatlewt)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/21 "2009-08-05T20:29:33Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > What war crimes. When Bremer took over one of his 100 rules was > No. 17. grants foreign contractors including private security firms immunity from Iraqi laws. > We set the ground work very early for a lawless environment. If an Iraqi has a complaint ,he has to take it to U.S, Courts. good luck with that. One war-crime allegedly committed was the use of explosive ammunition, which is banned by international treaty. Surely the Geneva Conventions have supremacy to a Status of Forces agreement? > [@](#): > > Specifically, he alleges that Prince “obtained illegal ammunition from an American company called LeMas. This company sold ammunition designed to explode after penetrating within the human body. Mr. Prince’s employees repeatedly used this illegal ammunition in Iraq to inflict maximum damage on Iraqis.” ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/22 "2009-08-05T20:36:45Z")
Well in this case we’re talking about his murder of whistleblowers. I don’t know if that will get him up for war crimes though. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/23 "2009-08-05T22:56:02Z")
This case is so fucking weird, except that it isn’t. Like a bad Tom Clancy novel, or maybe just a Tom Clancy brand novel from his factory. Does Mr. Prince have a white angora cat he likes to hold in his lap while he feeds inadequate underlings to the sharks with the frikkin’ laser beams? From an ultra-right wing family loaded with Amway money (Amway? _Amway?!_ You fuckin’ _kidding_ me?) founds a security/mercenary outfit, the skies open up and rain money down upon him. His views are just to the left of Otto von Bismarck, and the people he sends to protect diplomats gun down civilians in the streets! You can’t make shit like this up, and be believed, but there it is! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/24 "2009-08-05T23:20:25Z")
If Prince is found guilty, he should be immediately set free. Publicly, and with great fanfare. In Fallujah. Swordless. ---
**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/25 "2009-08-06T00:46:21Z")
I sure hope they lock him up. I doubt it’ll be for War Crimes, but murder will do. This story fits all of the dark rumors and assumptions that people (me) have had of him for years. I hope it is a spectacular fall. Somebody that sinister and connected could really pull some stunts on the way down. Or then again, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the same business five years from now. With a bailout! Who knows any more? I think Prince’s soul is darker than Bush’s, even if Bush’s body count is higher. Bush stumbled into the ‘holy war’ lines he spoke, and I can buy that some part of him thought he was doing good for humanity. Prince seems to really live and breathe the superiority angle. wild speculation I am pulling out of my ass: He was Cheney’s go-to hitman! ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/26 "2009-08-06T01:27:18Z")
Let me get this straight. Blackwater is a murder-for-hire organization, essentially speaking. The founder of Blackwater condones murder. What’s so surprising here? ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/27 "2009-08-06T01:54:55Z")
Given that Blackwater is a civilian organization, working as hired security rather than as military per se (emphasis on “per se”), and pursuing the interests of their shareholders rather than the US government, wouldn’t this just be plain-up murder? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/28 "2009-08-06T07:27:37Z")
> [@Peanut\_Gallery](#): > > I sure hope they lock him up. I doubt it’ll be for War Crimes, but murder will do. This story fits all of the dark rumors and assumptions that people (me) have had of him for years. I hope it is a spectacular fall. Somebody that sinister and connected could really pull some stunts on the way down. Or then again, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the same business five years from now. With a bailout! Who knows any more? > > I think Prince’s soul is darker than Bush’s, even if Bush’s body count is higher. Bush stumbled into the ‘holy war’ lines he spoke, and I can buy that some part of him thought he was doing good for humanity. Prince seems to really live and breathe the superiority angle. > > wild speculation I am pulling out of my ass: He was Cheney’s go-to hitman! Have you ever seen Lord of War? Yeah, that. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/29 "2009-08-06T07:31:28Z")
> [@straight\_man](#): > > Given that Blackwater is a civilian organization, working as hired security rather than as military per se (emphasis on “per se”), and pursuing the interests of their shareholders rather than the US government, wouldn’t this just be plain-up murder? Considering that they were paid by the US government and under our protection to such a degree that we exempted them from Iraqi law for anything they did I don’t see why they’d be any less liable than a US soldier would be. A mercenary is still a soldier. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/30 "2009-08-06T08:21:36Z")
Who does Blackwater (Xe) recruit from? I know they bill $1200 per day per soldier so even if the soldier only gets 25% of that he’s making a lot more than working for the military/ Do his soldiers have to meet the same criteria as the regular forces as far as citizenship/DADT/age/background/etc.? Does he pay ex-military to re-up with him? Or does he recruit foreigners (and is that legal)? He’s a major Fundie (he complained that the G.H.W. Bush White House was far too liberal and gay tolerant) so I’ve wondered if he insists his men be Christian and straight and white- anyone know the racial or ethnicity or religious makeup of his soldiers? Does he include women? Can an athletic 19 year old can enlist in Blackwater? Thanks for answers to any of these. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/31 "2009-08-06T08:36:35Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > [Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder](http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090817/scahill) Man. And here I was thinking season 7 of 24 was not great because it was unrealistic. There goes that idea. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/32 "2009-08-06T10:34:00Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Who does Blackwater (Xe) recruit from? I know they bill $1200 per day per soldier so even if the soldier only gets 25% of that he’s making a lot more than working for the military. Here’s their career page, so you can see the requirements there: [http://xecompany.hrmdirect.com/employment/openings.php](http://xecompany.hrmdirect.com/employment/openings.php) Obviously “Navy Instructor” requires a different skill set than “Housekeeper”. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/33 "2009-08-06T18:23:07Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Obviously “Navy Instructor” requires a different skill set than “Housekeeper”. Navy Instructor- that’s a bit like librarian isn’t it? Maybe I’ll send a resume and go undercover to do some investigation. (Could get a movie deal: I see either Hillary Swank or Orlando Bloom playing me.) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/34 "2009-08-06T19:42:26Z")
Here’s an idea. Do a _Bosom Buddies_-sort of thing where you take the job as a man, but you dress as a woman in order to take advantage of the superior boarding-house facilities in San Diego. That way both Hillary Swank _and_ Orlando Bloom can play you! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/35 "2009-08-07T14:52:40Z")
Nothing in that affidavit is surprising to me. He’s a dick of the highest magnitude. That’s easily discernible from watching his prior testimony on TV. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/36 "2009-08-07T15:03:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Here’s an idea. Do a _Bosom Buddies_-sort of thing where you take the job as a man, but you dress as a woman in order to take advantage of the superior boarding-house facilities in San Diego. > > That way both Hillary Swank _and_ Orlando Bloom can play you! 😃 That’s too meta for me. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/37 "2009-08-07T15:52:28Z")
I allege that Dubya (not my favourite person) allegedly may well dress up as a woman on weekends and have hot gay sex with ex members of the “Village People”,also that Tony Blair may well have been a Mafia hitman,that theres a possibility that Queen Elizabeth axe murdered several members of her family to get to the throne. There are also rumours that Johny depp has repeatedly had sex with a camel(Though of course I don’t know how valid these rumours are) I get sick and tired of the gutless wonders who attempt smear campaigns on famous people. Personally I totally loathe Dubya but I would quite happily give a good kicking to anyone who tried to smear his name with pathetic,infantile lies and "It is said " totally unproved allegations… ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/38 "2009-08-07T15:55:51Z")
:dubious: Was anyone besides me completely baffled by that last post? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/39 "2009-08-07T15:59:59Z")
I believe **Lust4Life** feels that Mr. Prince is indeed a prince of a fellow and shouldn’t be slandered by the likes of us common folk. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359/40 "2009-08-07T16:03:35Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I believe **Lust4Life** feels that Mr. Prince is indeed a prince of a fellow and shouldn’t be slandered by the likes of us common folk. So it’s slandering him to point out that his employees have turned against him and ratted him out to the government? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-erik-prince-be-charged-with-war-crimes/505359.md?page=3)