In Randy Martin’s book, An Empire of Indifference, he writes
about a term that Noam Chomsky popularized: “the new military humanism. (56)”
This is the concept that no matter what sort of military action the United
States embarks on, the overriding (rhetorical) concern is for the liberation of
the oppressed population in question, not imperialistic land grabbing. Martin
reports that one important, yet contradictory component of new military
humanism is “an assessment of the capacity to embrace private enterprise, which
would become the arbiter of a nation’s future viability…internal chaos could
fetch a premium return for those willing to undertake the risk…National
instability would become a market opportunity. (56)” In regard to the Iraq war,
one company who helped create and then profited—handsomely—was Blackwater, a
security firm operating as a private detail for the United States government. According
to The Christian Science Monitor staff writer Dan Murphy:
Erik Prince, the man who founded
Blackwater, the private military contractor that became synonymous with
mercenary excess during the Iraq
war… made a fortune during the early and extremely fat years for contractors of
the global war on terror, thanks to political connections and an appetite for
risk. Roughly $2 billion of US
contracts in Iraq flowed through the company. But the name
"Blackwater" eventually grew tarnished under the weight of alleged
corruption and murder in the field. It was Blackwater employees who were
ambushed and killed in Fallujah
in 2004, sparking the US assault on that Iraqi town that helped further
polarize the war. In 2007, panicking Blackwater
guards unleashed a barrage of fire in Nisour Square in Baghdad, killing 17
civilians. (1)
While
Blackwater did not reap the astronomical profits of companies such as Haliburton
(as much as $6 billion in contracts according to corpwatch.org) it was an
important fulcrum for corporations, in partnership with the United States
government, to realize new revenue sources in the war zone. When Blackwater
became embroiled in a scandal that involved their employees murdering Iraqi
civilians, this event marked the beginning of the end of the Iraq war as the
Iraqi government would no longer allow American military contractors to enjoy
freedom from criminal prosecution: the well had suddenly run dry. CEO Erik
Prince subsequently changed the name of the company to Xe Services to avoid any
negative connotations to the sordid events in Iraq. In 2010 Prince sold Xe
Services and the new owners changed the name to Academi but still perform many
of the same services offered by Prince. For example, some pages from the
training section of the Academi web site:
No industry is
immune from threat today. Whether domestic or overseas, a single event can have
widespread effects on personnel and operational continuity alike. It is
essential that companies today have up-to-date risk assessments and contingency
plans in place in order to operate successfully in today’s world.
With
industry-leading experience and a global presence, ACADEMI’s private sector
security assessment services evaluate all manner of risks, in both domestic and
international locations so that our customers can operate safely in both
permissive and non-permissive environments.
From
continuity of operations planning to employee training, site security and
contingency response actions, ACADEMI’s experience and cost-effective solutions
ensure our customers can operate with the confidence that comes with partnering
with the best.
For Corporate Assessment
Inquiries please contact
Phone:
252-435-2016
Email: corporate@academi.com
Our
results-driven professional services are delivered by our veteran trainers. Our
instructors are among the best in the world. They are recruited from elite law
enforcement agencies and the military, and they deliver real-world, innovative
instruction for all of our clients.
ACADEMI
offers both military group courses and customized versions of our other
offerings. We can provide a range of options, from a basic course (includes
facilities and instruction only) to full-spectrum advanced operations and
security training. Logistical support, including meals, lodging, firearms,
ammunition and gear rental, are also available at our Moyock, N.C., facility.
ACADEMI can also customize any course offering to meet the specific training
requirements of the unit’s mission.
Duration
5
days
Course Cost
$1,190
Including a certificate of
completion.
Attendees
4
to 12
If
you would like more information on this course please call
252-435-2035.
For
inquiries or open enrollment application submissions, please e-mail train@academi.com
Basic
LE/Military Sniper
Moyock, NC
Introduction
This is an
intensive five-day course for military and law enforcement candidates. This
course is designed for individuals with minimal or no experience using a scoped
firearm, and will give them a solid foundation on sniper skills for use with
their department or unit. This is a pass/fail course that tests marksmanship
abilities under a time requirement for a certificate of course completion.
Students who are unable to successfully qualify will receive a certificate of
attendance.
Aim
At
the end of this course the successful graduates will be able to set up their
own sniper firearm system, zero the scope to the firearm, be able to judge the
distance to a target and successfully read the winds to effectively engage the
target.
Topics
•
Safety
precautions
•
Firearm
maintenance
•
Sniper
equipment
•
Ballistics
•
Marksmanship
principles
•
Shooters
log book
•
Spotting
methods
•
Applying
corrections (elevation and windage)
•
Methods
of judging distance
•
Methods
of observation, aids and procedures
•
Sniper
range card
•
Methods
of engaging moving targets
•
Supported
and unsupported shooting positions
Ammunition Requirements
400
rounds match-grade ammunition.
Gear
•
Sniper
firearm system (bolt action or semi-auto, .308 is recommended) including scope
(mil-dot reticule pattern is recommended); a bipod mount for the firearm is
highly recommended
•
Complete
firearm cleaning kit (push rod, brass jag, powder solvent, copper solvent, bore
guide)
•
Spotting
scope with tripod (good quality scope with variable zoom settings and a
reticule pattern is recommended)
•
Ear
and eye protection
•
Backpack
or equipment bag
•
Calculator
•
Range
clothing appropriate to the season
•
Rain
gear
•
A
water bottle or other hydration system
•
Sunscreen
and insect repellant in summer months
Sling for the firearm
Duration
5
days
Course Cost
$1,190
Including a certificate of
completion.
Attendees
4
to 12
If
you would like more information on this course please call
252-435-2035.
For
inquiries or open enrollment application submissions, please e-mail train@academi.com
Works Cited:
http://academi.com/pages/train/train-overview
Martin,
Randy. An Empire of Indifference:
American War and the Financial Logic of Risk Management. Durham and London:
Duke University Press, 2007.
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firm-changes-name-again?lite
