Blackwater USA founder Erik Prince proposed the creation of a foreign military in Afghanistan last year--a concept the Trump administration is now planning to put into action in Syria. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Apr 17, 2018
Blackwater founder Erik Prince, whose former mercenary firm was behind the massacre of civilians in Iraq, has been approached about helping to forge an Arab military force to replace the U.S. presence in Syria, according to the Wall Street Journal.
\u201cErik Prince says he's "been informally contacted by Arab officials about the prospect of building a force in Syria but that he was waiting to see what Mr. Trump would do." \n\nBecause of course he has https://t.co/8PeIxAH7p7\u201d— Vera Bergengruen (@Vera Bergengruen) 1523932804
The Trump administration has reportedly spoken with officials in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) about contributing funds and manpower to build a military force in the country to prevent the resurgence on ISIS fighters after U.S. soldiers leave.
President Donald Trump and his advisers have expressed a desire to withdraw the roughly 2,000 U.S. troops who are in Syria within the next five to six months.
The White House is evidently considering the advice of Prince, who last summer proposed to the Trump administration a plan to replace U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan with contractors from foreign countries, who would be overseen by "an American viceroy who would lead all U.S. government and coalition efforts--including command, budget, policy, promotion, and contracting--and report directly to the president."
As Common Dreams reported at the time, the war profiteer's concept amounted to "literal colonialism" according to one critic. Washington Post foreign affairs writer Ishaan Tharoor denounced the idea as "sheer 19th century bloodlust and thirst for empire."
According to the Journal, "Mr. Prince said Monday that he has been informally contacted by Arab officials about the prospect of building a force in Syria but that he was waiting to see what Mr. Trump would do."
Under Prince's leadership, the American contractors who worked in Iraq were at the center of some of the war's most notorious incidents, with four Blackwater security employees convicted in the killings of several Iraqi civilians in a 2004 shooting.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Blackwater founder Erik Prince, whose former mercenary firm was behind the massacre of civilians in Iraq, has been approached about helping to forge an Arab military force to replace the U.S. presence in Syria, according to the Wall Street Journal.
\u201cErik Prince says he's "been informally contacted by Arab officials about the prospect of building a force in Syria but that he was waiting to see what Mr. Trump would do." \n\nBecause of course he has https://t.co/8PeIxAH7p7\u201d— Vera Bergengruen (@Vera Bergengruen) 1523932804
The Trump administration has reportedly spoken with officials in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) about contributing funds and manpower to build a military force in the country to prevent the resurgence on ISIS fighters after U.S. soldiers leave.
President Donald Trump and his advisers have expressed a desire to withdraw the roughly 2,000 U.S. troops who are in Syria within the next five to six months.
The White House is evidently considering the advice of Prince, who last summer proposed to the Trump administration a plan to replace U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan with contractors from foreign countries, who would be overseen by "an American viceroy who would lead all U.S. government and coalition efforts--including command, budget, policy, promotion, and contracting--and report directly to the president."
As Common Dreams reported at the time, the war profiteer's concept amounted to "literal colonialism" according to one critic. Washington Post foreign affairs writer Ishaan Tharoor denounced the idea as "sheer 19th century bloodlust and thirst for empire."
According to the Journal, "Mr. Prince said Monday that he has been informally contacted by Arab officials about the prospect of building a force in Syria but that he was waiting to see what Mr. Trump would do."
Under Prince's leadership, the American contractors who worked in Iraq were at the center of some of the war's most notorious incidents, with four Blackwater security employees convicted in the killings of several Iraqi civilians in a 2004 shooting.
Blackwater founder Erik Prince, whose former mercenary firm was behind the massacre of civilians in Iraq, has been approached about helping to forge an Arab military force to replace the U.S. presence in Syria, according to the Wall Street Journal.
\u201cErik Prince says he's "been informally contacted by Arab officials about the prospect of building a force in Syria but that he was waiting to see what Mr. Trump would do." \n\nBecause of course he has https://t.co/8PeIxAH7p7\u201d— Vera Bergengruen (@Vera Bergengruen) 1523932804
The Trump administration has reportedly spoken with officials in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) about contributing funds and manpower to build a military force in the country to prevent the resurgence on ISIS fighters after U.S. soldiers leave.
President Donald Trump and his advisers have expressed a desire to withdraw the roughly 2,000 U.S. troops who are in Syria within the next five to six months.
The White House is evidently considering the advice of Prince, who last summer proposed to the Trump administration a plan to replace U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan with contractors from foreign countries, who would be overseen by "an American viceroy who would lead all U.S. government and coalition efforts--including command, budget, policy, promotion, and contracting--and report directly to the president."
As Common Dreams reported at the time, the war profiteer's concept amounted to "literal colonialism" according to one critic. Washington Post foreign affairs writer Ishaan Tharoor denounced the idea as "sheer 19th century bloodlust and thirst for empire."
According to the Journal, "Mr. Prince said Monday that he has been informally contacted by Arab officials about the prospect of building a force in Syria but that he was waiting to see what Mr. Trump would do."
Under Prince's leadership, the American contractors who worked in Iraq were at the center of some of the war's most notorious incidents, with four Blackwater security employees convicted in the killings of several Iraqi civilians in a 2004 shooting.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.