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It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Private Security Contractor

7-16-2012

By Adam Jacobson
Law and Security Program

Captain America, Superman…Blackwater? The disgraced private military and security firm will soon join the ranks of these patriotic superheroes with its own comic book. According to a press release, “The Blackwater Chronicles,” will be a graphic novel based on the real-life “adventures” of Blackwater contractors in Iraq.

Creator Billy Tucci says,

“Like most people, all I had heard or read concerning private security contractors was that they were reckless cowboys whose actions in Iraq and Afghanistan were considered almost criminal by the media who weren’t there.  Then I read the amazing first-hand experiences in Robert Young Pelton’s book, ‘Licensed To Kill’. Pelton lived, rode and flew under fire with Blackwater and other PSCs [private security contractors] on their daily missions. His book and the men he introduced me to provided incredible insight to the men behind the myth and the sacrifices they made.”

The press release also notes that the Blackwater comic book “is being done with the direct approval of Blackwater founder and former owner Erik Prince and the contractors.” Not surprising. In recent years, we’ve seen a PR campaign from Blackwater, which now also has its own video game.

To be clear: the same Blackwater contractors that Tucci is attempting to glorify are accused of killing 17 unarmed civilians and wounding dozens more at Baghdad’s Nisoor Square in 2007. This is not media speculation, this is fact.

Blackwater contractors were found guilty of killing Afghan civilians and have been implicated in other abuses, including killing the bodyguard of the Iraqi Vice President. Blackwater (now known as Academi, after a short time under the name Xe) may even be responsible for the deaths of their own contractors, sending them into the most dangerous places without even the most basic required equipment and briefing.

Human Rights First has been leading the fight for the Civilian Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (CEJA) to increase accountability and oversight of U.S. private security contractors abroad.  These are the same standards that service members and Department of Defense contractors and are held to, and industry leaders are in favor of clear-cut rules and fair measures that hold bad actors accountable.

Try as it might, Blackwater cannot whitewash its bloody history. Its legacy is tainted with incidents of serious crimes and abuse. If it shows up in comic books, it should be as the villain, not the hero.


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Posted in Blog | 3 Comments »

  • James

    Clearly you know nothing about the story or the artist or have seen the book.Good luck forming coherent legal opinions based on ithis kind of gnorance. It’s a great story with excellent art just like all of Billy’s work.

  • john

    you guys really do yourselves a disservice with such blatant bias…
    blackwater in nisour square was unconscionable, but to ignore that PSCs are integral to creating peace/stability in today’s environment of ‘intervention austerity’ is ridiculous…. try mounting a UN peacekeeping operation without a PSC augment. Good luck.

  • John

    You are the ones who does not understand whats happening in the world. First. yes you can “mount a UN peacekeeping operation” without PMC. (mercenaries). Check the page. there are several examples. This is not about Blackwater or another mercenaries in the world, or for that matter a silly comic book. is about the lack of respect of human rights that PMC have shown in iraq. Im not against the use of PMC. But they have to be controled, They must be Accountable. check the video. http://4thletter.net/2012/07/on-billy-tuccis-blackwater-propaganda-comic/