Secret desert mercenary force set up for Arab sheik by Blackwater founder

A crown prince has hired Erik Prince to build a secret army for him.

Mr Prince, the controversial American who founded, then sold, private security company Blackwater, is charged with building up a force of several thousand commandos for Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, The New York Times reports in an investigative feature.

The fighting force trains at a secretive compound in the desert sands of the United Arab Emirates, roughly 20 miles outside Abu Dhabi, according to The New York Times.

Erik Prince: The founder of Blackwater testified before Congress on his controversial company's role in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2007. He has a new venture in the UAE

Erik Prince: The founder of Blackwater testified before Congress on his company's role in Iraq in 2007. His new venture is in the UAE

Western ally: Barack Obama welcomes Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and the country's defacto ruler, to Washington in 2010. The sheik reportedly hired Erik Prince

Ally: Barack Obama welcomes Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, to Washington in 2010. The sheik reportedly hired Erik Prince

United Arab Emirates: The small country is reportedly training a force of foreign commandos in the desert

United Arab Emirates: The small country is reportedly training a force of foreign commandos in the desert

The force, reported to number 580 men, had been reduced from an original goal of 800, but allegedly has plans to ramp up to several thousand.

The New York Times reported that Mr Prince's new company, Reflex Responses (also called R2) has been paid $529million to train the troops to assist the UAE government with intelligence gathering, security, counterterrorism and suppression of any revolts.

It is said to be preparing for a March 31 deployment, but The New York Times found evidence of delays and lack of readiness.

The troops are said to be largely made up of Colombians and South Africans, a result of alleged orders from Mr Prince to recruit from areas that have seen conflict and to avoid hiring Muslims, whom the leader allegedly said couldn't be trusted 'to kill fellow Muslims', The New York Times reports.

The New York Times points out that the legality of such mercenary forces is murky in the international sphere, and that it may be illegal for Americans to participate in such a venture, even though the force is apparently majority owned by local interests.

Blackwater: Members of the U.S. security firm were deployed in Iraq, as shown here in Baghdad in 2005

Blackwater: Members of the U.S. security firm were deployed in Iraq, as shown here in Baghdad in 2005

Died for Blackwater:  In this undated photo, Thomas Jaichner, left, is shown in Iraq. While working for Blackwater as the guard of a diplomat, Mr Jaichner was killed by a sniper in 2005

Died for Blackwater: Thomas Jaichner, left, worked for Blackwater in Iraq guarding a diplomat when he was killed by a sniper in 2005

Mr Prince, 41, has been living in the UAE since last year. He had been facing mounting legal and political pressure in the U.S. as a result of Blackwater's controversial roles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The North Carolina-based company earned billions of dollars in contracts from the federal government for security work in the Middle East, and was criticized after several employees allegedly killed 17 Iraqi civilians in a 2007 shootout.

The incident prompted international outrage, and Iraqi officials asked the U.S. government to look for a different contractor.

Mr Prince had founded Blackwater in 1997 with money from his family's businesses - auto parts and real estate in his home state of Michigan. The married father of seven claims to have been a Navy Seal and is known for his strong support of Christian and conservative causes.

Mr Prince sold Blackwater in December 2010 to an investment group, USTC Holdings. Allegedly to blunt growing negative public opinion, Blackwater had been renamed Xe Services.  

Training camp: Entrance to Blackwater Security Consulting Firearms Training Center in Moyock, N.C. in 2004, before the company was renamed Xe Services

Training camp: Entrance to Blackwater Security Consulting Firearms Training Center in Moyock, N.C. in 2004, before the company was renamed Xe Services

According to The New York Times, Mr Prince has taken steps to keep a low profile with respect to R2. His name is said to be left off key documents, he is said to use the codename 'Kingfish' and he reportedly visits the UAE training compound rarely.

However, Mr Prince is said to be the key decision maker behind the clandestine operation.

Security analysts told The New York Times the Emirates are likely interested in bolstering their relatively inexperienced security force, especially given the rising power of their nearby neighbor, Iran.

R2 is said to have obtained about $21million in start-up capital and a multimillion-dollar contract from the UAE to protect a string of planned nuclear power plants and to provide cybersecurity, reports The New York Times.

The New York Times claimed that Mr Prince aspires to build a bigger complex there, 'where his company can train troops for other governments'.

Collateral: Hussam Hassan inspects his father's car in Iraq in 2007, after it was destroyed in a shooting incident by Blackwater guards that officials there said killed 17

Collateral: Hussam Hassan inspects his father's car in Iraq in 2007, after a shooting incident by Blackwater guards that officials said killed 17

According to The New York Times, the current R2 force is being trained by American, British and other international ex-soldiers.

The group is said to be outfitted by the Emirates, with equipment including M-16 rifles, mortars, Leatherman knives, Land Rovers, parachutes, motorcycles, rucksacks - and 24,000 pairs of socks. 

The New York Times claims R2 executives recently arranged for their men to spend an evening with prostitutes in a hotel.

The paper estimates the foreign troops are making around $150 a day, while advisers to R2 can make $200,000 a year or more.

As The New York Times suggested, Mr Prince's force could further destabilize a volatile region that is already rife with Anti-American and anti-foreign sentiment.

Signed: The New York Times unearthed a contract for Reflex Responses to train a fighting force for an Arab sheik

Signed: The New York Times unearthed a contract for Reflex Responses to train a fighting force for an Arab sheik




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