AMMAN — A leading U.S. security firm has offered to provide forces
for any counter-insurgency mission around the world.
J. Cofer Black, vice chairman of Blackwater USA told the Special
Operations Forces Exhibition (Sofex-2006), that his company
could supply private soldiers to any country. Black, a former U.S. State
Department counter-terrorism coordinator, said Blackwater has been marketing
the concept of private armies for low-intensity conflicts.
"About a year ago, we realized we could do it," Black said.
Blackwater has been a leading private security firm in Iraq. The company
provides thousands of foreign and Iraqi personnel for government and private
security missions.
In his presentation in Amman, Jordan, on March 27, Black said Blackwater could supply
peace-keeping forces. He said the company was capable of providing a
brigade-sized force on alert.
One option, Black said, was for Blackwater to provide forces for Sudan's
Darfour province. He said the company could bolster existing peace-keeping
forces from the African Union.
"I believe there is a contribution to be made by a small force," Black
said. "The issue is who's going to let us play on their team?"
Black said Blackwater would not participate in conventional military
operations. He said he has
discussed his concept with the United States and NATO.
"There is clear potential to conduct security operations at a fraction of
the cost of NATO operations," Black said. "It's unusual and that's why I'm
raising it. This is not what you do if your objective is more money."
