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Blackwater vs. Pinkwater: The Wife of Erik Prince Picks a Fight With CODEPINK
It felt surreal to be inside the home of Erik Prince, the founder, owner and chairman of Blackwater (or Xe, as it is now called). Prince, a former Navy Seal, provides security for the CIA, the Pentagon and the State Department. His company trains 40,000 people a year in skills that include personal protection. Yet his home in McLean, Virginia, has no security. None. Not even a fence or a guard dog or a No Trespassing sign. And his mother-in-law, who helps care for his young children, invited a total stranger--me--into his home without hesitation.
I had gone to Prince's home, together with two CODEPINK colleagues, assuming it would be empty. I'd read in the New York Times that Mr. Prince and his family had moved out of the country, fleeing from a series of civil lawsuits, criminal charges and Congressional investigations stemming from his company's contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the news, "In documents filed last week in a civil lawsuit brought by former Blackwater employees accusing Mr. Prince of defrauding the government, Mr. Prince sought to avoid giving a deposition by stating that he had moved to Abu Dhabi [which is in the United Arab Emirates] in time for his children to enter school there on August 15." Susan Burke, the lawyer seeking the deposition, announced that she was flying to the Emirates to find him.
I had been feeling particularly upset about Blackwater lately. Seeing the combat troops leaving Iraq, I'd been thinking about the banner CODEPINK members held in countless anti-war vigils: "Iraq War: Who Lies? Who Dies? Who Pays? Who Profits?" Politicians lied about weapons of mass destruction, Iraqis and American soldiers died, U.S. taxpayers paid, and companies like Blackwater make a killing. In just a few years, Blackwater received over $1 billion in U.S. government contracts, contracts that accounted for 90 percent of its revenue. Erik Prince, the company's sole owner, was now taking his profits, trying to sell the company and running away to the Emirates, a country that has no extradition treaty with the United States.
So we decided to make a symbolic gesture of visiting his home in McLean to bid good riddance to bad rubbish. On Friday, August 20, five days after the Prince children were supposed to be starting their new lives as schoolchildren in the Emirates, we mapquested the old McLean home and drove there, ready to take a photo with our "Adios Diablo Prince" sign and leave.
But when we got there, to our surprise we could see through the window that the house was full of people and furniture. There were no moving boxes, no empty rooms. Could the new owners have settled in so quickly? Curious, I rang the doorbell and before I knew it, I was invited in and found myself inside the living room with a bunch of young children and several adults, who turned out to be grandma, grandpa and wife Joanna Prince.
The rest happened very quickly. Joanna asked who I was and why I was there. I asked the same questions: Was this the Prince family and if so, why weren't they in Abu Dhabi? She freaked, told the grandparents to call the police, and she pushed me out the door.
We hung around outside waiting for the police. We wanted to assure them that there was no problem--that I had indeed been invited inside and left when asked to leave. In the meantime, I wrote a letter to Erik.
Dear Erik Prince,
On behalf of U.S. taxpayers, we say "Shame on You." Through your company Blackwater, or Xe as you now like to call it, you made--or should I say stole?--hundreds of millions of dollars and your employees also killed innocent civilians in Iraq. You should be held responsible. Don't run away to the Emirates to escape prosecution. Stay here in the USA and face the consequences of your actions, like a good Christian.
Sincerely,
Pinkwater
When the police arrived, Joanna Prince lied and said I'd been told to leave the house and refused. I was arrested, charged with trespassing, held for 5 hours and forced to pay $500 in bail. I have to appear in court on September 28. So does Joanna Prince. Will she show up in court or will she--like her husband--run away to Abu Dhabi? Will the court subpoena her to appear? Will her husband, a man who shuns publicity, tell her that she is crazy to pick a public fight with CODEPINK (or Pinkwater, as we now call ourselves) and make her drop the charges? Will I be able to sue her for false arrest?
Stay tuned for round two of Xe (formerly Blackwater) vs. Pinkwater (formerly CODEPINK).
You can see the video of this episode here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
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62 Comments so far
Show AllGo Medea! Bring these cockroaches out of the dark and expose them!
Kudos to CodePink, now Pinkwater, whose creative actions knows no bounds!
Medea, just curious -- how were you dressed when Prince's mother-in-law invited you in?
Why waste time going to a place where you would obviously get arrested? Mclean does not answer to liberal thinking. I also heard that Codepink endorsed Obama and Pelosi who return gave Blackwater/Xe plenty to get away with. Look, I will happily vote against Frank Wolfe (I live in the western part of Fairfax County) but Codepink needs to be serious about supporting anti-war candidates all over the country. Instead, time, gas, and money were wasted with such futile exercises talking to criminals who will happily laugh at us and say "I know and I have the privilege of doing it, hahaha hahaha !" Now, they have to show up in court on September 28 when that time, money, and resources could have been spent electing anti-war candidates who would fight to shut down Blackwater. Stay tuned for Round 2? No thanks. I already know the fate knowing Northern VA's rich conservative makeups in the courts.
Now that is food for thought! Methinks it is a set up. Isn't Prince the king of security? Hmmm... more questions than answers. But you Demo Man seem to dislike Code Pink for reasons I don't understand, but am attempting to.
I don't dislike Code Pink but they could operate better. For example, on this site I heard that Code Pink endorsed Pelosi and Obama despite their prowar history. Where would Prince be if we had anti-war leaning politicians running the country? Imagine a government calling for a divestment of Blackwater and making him and his family pay for their crimes. That would also raise the question as to whether Prince and his family would be working with Blackwater by now if we had such a government and this is where we should be at by now. Anyone can try to play "hero" against a villian and its home but what if the same Medea Benjamin would help elect 50-75 anti-war candidates to Congress so that even tenured politicians backed away from doing business with Blackwater? It does neither Medea or Code Pink any good to continuously self-defeat themselves by endorsing prowar hacks such as Pelosi against Sheehan. This act of self-defeatism raises a fundamental question. What is the purpose of making a major endorsement for a politician destined to side with the villain so that the villain can claim victim status while the hero is framed as the villain? My goal, if I were Medea, would have been to be a systematic and fundamental hero rather than doing something I know will most likely fail.
Demolition Man, CODEPINK simply can't and doesn't endorse or work for candidates. It's a 501(c)(3) and can't engage in electoral politics.
I don't know much about 501s other than what I once heard about them. But can't they at least give something strong and positive about anti-war candidates regardless of their party without openly endorsing them? Are 501s not allowed to say good things about candidates running for office that would stimulate people's interests in getting to know them and possibly voting for them?
Medea and that orgazination is much to be admired. Only please do not tamper with the name Code Pink. That name appropriately mocks the war on terror in a way no other name could possibly achieve.
By all means file suit; for lying to the police, which led to a false arrest.
Add that to the list of charges!
Do not underestimate the power of an establishment prosecutor and an establishment judge to skew the outcome in the favor of the complainant and the government.
(They have not, however, taken on the likes of Medea Benjamin and Code Pink before.)
Prince is a freaking COWARD. Only a COWARD would run away like this. What a PANSY!Some brave soldier, isn't he?
Pretty pathetic, and his actions tell me that he KNOWS that what he did is indefensible, so he RUNS like a little SCHOOL GIRL! He KNOWS that he was involved in scamming and murder, he has NO intentions of being HONORABLE at all. JUST what I'd expect from such a scum bag.
The fact that his wife is ALSO a lying pig doesn't surprise me at all. Birds of a feather...
Counter sue, Medea. Take this woman to task for her lies, just like her CHICKENSH*T husband should be. BOTH of them should be in jail. Press charges. Too bad you didn't have a video camera there to document what REALLY happened. Then she wouldn't have a single leg to stand on. Much like the people her husband "provided security" for.
Medea: If that name Pinkwater is a satire for the name Blackwater, that is excellent, but please keep your original name of Code Pink.
acutenecrotizingfasciitus
Because of the U.S. public's penchant for labeling anything that goes wrong in the scandalous sectors of the population with the suffix -gate, & because the media lacks any imagination or originality, as this little ripple grows out of proportion to its importance, it will become known as Pinkwatergate.
Next time you go to visit lying murderous psychos keep a tape recorder or bug in your pocket.
Once again a big THANK YOU Code Pink!
There is absolutely no excuse for Mr. Prince's actions... And, Codepink didn't need to enter Mr. Prince's house.
Holding signs and making noise outside of his house is perfectly fair. The Princes have to answer for what they are doing and have done.
But if we are truly for peace, we must demonstrate our commitment to peace and justice by respecting others' personal boundaries, as well. Even as we protest what they are doing and demand change.
(Otherwise, many thanks to the tireless and creative efforts of Codepink.)
What are you talking about? She knocked on their door and was invited inside.
I wish more people in my neighborhood did that when I tried door-to-door Green candiate petitioning - instead, everyone refused to answer their doors. Silly old- fashioned me. Answering a door and treating someone knocking like a human being must be "quaint" these days.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (Who will guard the guardians, watch the watchers, etc?)
Hello esabi,
Whether you decided to play the video or not I recommend you do so now. Medea Banjamin was I repeat was invited in and when asked to leave she did. If someone calls the police you could be charged with leaving the scene of a crime. Since DA's seem to lard up as many charges as possible the DA's would drool over an additional charge.
"If someone calls the police you could be charged with leaving the scene of a crime."
I did not know that, but if true, Pinkwater should have waited for the police outside of the property.
They were on a mission here.
Now if someone comes into my house that looks OK and friendly and then I realize they are there to possibly embarrass me or ask personal questions and I tell them to leave, but they hang out on my porch and write a message to put on my door, that is not leaving.
If Medea's defense is that she was told to "leave" but wasn't told to leave the "property", I don't think it will help.
I like Code Pink but I believe this was a mistake to hang out waiting for the police on the property after being told to leave.
But as Phil Ochs used to say "every revolutionary needs a trial", so as far as I know I would advise her to face up to the fact that she made a technical mistake in tactics and admit to being human caught up in the Issue of fighting the crimes of war.
"Politicians lied about weapons of mass destruction, Iraqis and American soldiers died, U.S. taxpayers paid, and companies like Blackwater make a killing."
Dosen't leave much to be said does it?
Darn, I may indeed become a fan of Code Pink if they are going to keep this kind of thing up.
A great big THANK YOU to Medea and the others of Code Pink who were attempting to bid farewell to Mr. Blackwater, er Prince. That Mrs. Prince would actually call the police and press charges seems too good to be true as by that action she made the visit by Code Pink just that much more highly visible!
Keep up the awesome work that you've been doing Code Pink.
Good job code pink, pink water, pink xi.
Of course prince ran like a chicken, it is all about becoming an elite by the corporate method of grand larceny of public money on false pretenses to be a paid private contractor of the u.s. mic.
Now, if only we can get him back home for processing of his crimes and then go get that dick cheney for the same. Little w should be arrested for impersonating a member of the national guard and jailed also.
Dear Codepink:
I love street theatre! That was wonderful. I guess Blackwater/Xe/Agatha Christie must be studying old techinques of the double agents of days gone by. Hence Agatha Christie and the red herring of moving far, far away.
Clever ruse, Mr.. Prince, considering all the news outlets said that you had run away. So clever, to be hiding in plain sight. Of course, now that you've done it once, I don't suppose that anyone would believe that you would do it again.
Stay tuned when, when the entire family, doesn't move, dyes their hair "BLACK" and Mr. Prince is discovered pretending to be the ground's keeper.
Oh yes, on MY evil side, it might be fun to leak to the tea party that a certain address is going to become a mosque. I doubt if Mr. Prince would be welcomed in the Middle East although, it was kind of hard to believe that he was going there in the first place.
Naw, never mind, forget the mosque rumor; I'm sticking to the grounds' keeper story!
Lying to the police and preffering false charges are very serious offences that could get the woman jail time if she hasn't beaten a hasty retreat before then. I would definitely sue her for mischief and prefer charges against her personally for her lies and their resulting damages to you.
ya know... if we... yes me too.. librul men... collectively had half the balls of most women activists... well... we'd strap rush limbaugh to the hood of a nascar car... just BEFORE the race... or toss him down a west virginia mine shaft...
RIGHT ON!! ladies.
meebbee THAT's what'll get the zombiized consumers (sorry amy zimet - i stole that on the way in from your sidebar) off their diabetic dodge ram collective asses... you know... 'member years ago... your sister or girlfriend was disrespected... even if it wasn't your sister or girlfriend... i sorta like what henry did in the movie goodfellas to to the sweater collegiately draped around his neck asshole who took advantage of the girl...
he beat the living crap out of him... mebbee if lloyd blankfein were beat within 2 seconds of his "dealmaker" existence... he might have a different response in the next senate hearing about "we're only here do make the deal"...
or like the guards in shawshank redemption... when the "toughs" try to get the warden's accountant in a compromising homosexual act... as... who was the black guy who narrated... anyway... the "tough guy"... "spent the rest of his days at the state hospital... sipping his food"...
wasn't it a certain President of the United States-to-be... saying at an outdoor stadium... accepting his party's nomination... ENOUGH!!
Amazing! One that such a monster is married but, then again, American women only care about money... And two that he is running to the Middle East of all places; that they would allow such scum in is even more amazing. All I can wish for Erik Prince is that his children convert to Islam. That may just be all the punishment he needs!
Respectfully, Rev.B. are you not aware of Abu Dhabi and the international banking and multinational interests that this city is home to? The m.e. is certainly not homogenous. Didn't you know that the Bush's are best buddies with the Saudis, for example? And the UAE? These are places that dick cheney goes to hide out.
Sorry, but i think it is important to be aware of certain basic facts.
Peace.
'These are places that dick cheney goes to hide out.'
And probably where ken lay resides ... just a nagging thought
I thought for years that Ken Lay was still alive but an old friend was actually one of the EMTs who attended him when he died and he is actually dead.
interesting...thanks. (one less thing to waste my time thinking about)
You don't know anything about that poster and there are RW plants all over the liberal sites. Seems like he wouldn't have, "wondered for years" if his "old" friend was really an "EMT". Either way, you don't have beans for a truth meter - this is internet.
You know, you're right. 'wondered for years' seemed strange to me too. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but you're absolutely right to question it.
I could never get myself to believe that such a deeply immoral and crooked man as Ken Lay--with enough connections to ensure he would never serve hard time--would get so worked up over his troubles as to have a heart attack a week before he went to trial. How convenient.
Especially since I also vaguely remember something about his estate being untouchable because he was never convicted; so even if the smartest man in the room is dead, his ill-gotten fortune is intact.
And Jerry Fallwell.
I would have thought the fact she was outside the house would counter the charge of refusing to leave.
I think the best way to resolve this unfortunate incident is for Obama to invite CodePink and the whole damn Prince clan over to the White House to clear the air over a few brewskis.
Perhaps Daniel Pinkwater can be tapped to moderate the discussion.
so, who will be in charge of dropping orange paint on the whitehouse?
That was so refreshing. Women are going to have to lead this movement. Refuse to sleep with these war mongers. Refuse to sleep with republicans. Refuse to sleep with the rich war mongers especially. As long as these men can get beautiful women to sleep with them we are all screwed.
maybe america could redeem itself.... if more people emulated the actions of the code pink activists. thank you medea benjamin and code pink for drawing attention to war profiteers and murderers. they should be outed everyday - especially at their residences.
...peace...
Right on and write on, Medea Benjamin!
ED TANT
Athens, GA
www.edtant.com
Nanoo
Just goes to show the accuracy of the New York Times, regarding this story.
Im not quite getting the gist of her visit to VA....going to a supposedly empty house and taking a photo with an anti war sign...!? What exactly was this supposed to accomplish? Seems as if shes delighted that an encounter did evolve out of a non-event.
But I commend the ladies for all their hard work. They certainly do walk the walk.
Publicity is the gist of it.
Not a single one of your silly posts deals with any provable fact. All we see is a mind (yours) being wasted. Your entire output here is a waste of space. Medea Benjamin, just like all humanity, is capable of good, of error and even of duplicity. But she puts her beliefs on the line every damn day and works hard for a cause in which she believes.
You, don't.
If the truth be known, while Glenn Beck is a propagandist of the first water, you and he share at least that much, though you inhabit little forums where you can glory in your pomposity and arrogance. I do not defend Medea as much as I expose you for the petty tyrant and ridiculous troll that you are. I sincerely believe you to be a paid shill for the GOP or some even further right wing group sowing dischord
What is your resume to be forever demeaning Benjamin?
The very first link you cite, from the Socialist perspective, speaks to Benjamin's and Nader's efforts to reform the Democratic Party and diminishes it as they believe all ones efforts should be put into building an alternative party. This is a far cry from your misleading attempts to paint Benjamin, and I guess Nader by association, as a democratic loyalist. You are simply a liar.
I shouldn't really respond to one whose every post becomes more strident and silly.
The link you yourself offered in defense of your stupidity about Benjamin , speaking of appalling, states that , in their opinion, Benjamin and Nader support the PDA which in turn supports the Democratic Party. In their words,"they seek to suck you back into that party". I support anyone making an effort to change this nations course, that includes both Nader and Benjamin. I do not support mouth breathing morons who criticize while offering no path to said change.
I hope that you get the medication you so desperately need, until then talk to the hand, with middle finger raised....
My "lie" comes from your own source, you imbecilic,mouth breathing moron. What a maroon!!!
That's pretty sad but thanks for that extra info and I hope she rethinks her ways.
"Iraq War: Who Lies? Who Dies? Who Pays? Who Profits?" Politicians lied about weapons of mass destruction, Iraqis and American soldiers died, U.S. taxpayers paid, and companies like Blackwater make a killing. In just a few years, Blackwater received over $1 billion in U.S. government contracts, contracts that accounted for 90 percent of its revenue.
The stated goals of the PDA call for a redress for these issues through direct political action and grassroot effort.