US Flushes Blackwater Contract

(NEWSER) - Two former Blackwater employees accused company founder and CEO Erik Prince of murder in statements filed in federal court this week, the Nation reports. The former guards, including an ex-Marine, say Prince may have either killed or facilitated the killing of operatives probing the security contractor's Iraq operations. The investigators were working on behalf of the federal government, according to the workers. They also accuse Prince of smuggling illegal weapons into Iraq and condoning the killing of civilians. More»

Virginia firm takes over security duties

(NEWSER) - Blackwater’s turbulent term in Iraq ends today with the expiration of its contract, CNN reports. The US opted not to renew the firm’s security services deal in January after Iraqi officials denied it a renewed operating license in the wake of a 2007 shooting in a public square. “We are honored to have provided this service for 5 years and are proud of our success,” said a rep. More»

Loss of contract means many guards will just change uniforms

(NEWSER) - Blackwater is getting kicked out of Iraq but not all of its workers will be leaving with the shamed company, the New York Times reports. The Iraq government refused to renew the security firm's license after its guards were repeatedly accused of using excessive force but many, if not most, of its guards are expected to simply switch uniforms and work for Blackwater's replacement. More»

Firm renames itself Xe; will focus on training and logistics support

(NEWSER) - Private security firm Blackwater Worldwide is hoping to shed some of the controversy that has dogged it since its bloody tenure in Iraq by renaming itself Xe (pronounced “Zee”), the AP reports. Besides the name change, the firm has altered the focus of its business from contracting out private security to running training facilities and providing logistics support. More»

Official: 'They have a bad history'

(NEWSER) - The Iraqi government has refused to grant Blackwater a license to continue its security work in the country, the New York Times reports. The controversial firm probably won’t exit the country at least until spring, as the US and Iraq work on rules for private contractors. “There are many marks against this company,” said an Iraqi official. “They have a bad history and have been involved in the killing of so many civilians.” More»