Blackwater's No-So-Little Steroids Problem

Posted by Steven Reynolds, The All Spin Zone at 5:39 AM on November 28, 2007.

This post, written by Steven Reynolds, originally appeared on the All Spin Zone

Blackwater has another scandal on its hands, and it is turning to Bud Selig to handle it. All praise Blackwater!

In the wake of the latest Blackwater scandal, Erik Prince, CEO of Blackwater USA, is stepping down in favor of Bud Selig. It is clear this new scandal concerning steroid use by Blackwater mercenaries needs the special type of leadership only Mr. Selig can provide. Here's a bit about the scandal from CNN:

A quarter of Blackwater security guards in Iraq use steroids and other "judgment-altering substances," according to a lawsuit filed by the families of several Iraqis killed or wounded in a Baghdad shooting in September.

Blackwater denies the charges.

The suit, filed Monday in Washington, accuses the company of fostering "a culture of lawlessness" among its guards and says the use of excessive force helps the company preserve a key selling point -- the fact that none of its protectees have been killed during the four-year-old war.

"I think there is a whole corporate culture there that essentially rewards the use of excessive force -- shooting first, asking questions later," said Susan Burke, the lead attorney in the case.

The lawsuit accuses Blackwater of war crimes, wrongful death, assault, negligent hiring and emotional distress. The plaintiffs include two wounded survivors of the September 16 shootings around Nusoor Square, in western Baghdad, and the families of five people killed in the incident. Iraqi authorities say the guards killed 17 people in an act of "premeditated murder."

Mr. Selig is not the first choice of the Blackwater Board to succeed Mr. Prince. Barry Bonds, who would have brought his own substantial body armour to the position, has unfortunately been indicted recently, so he was disqualified as a candidate for the position.

Hat tip to DKos.

Tagged as: blackwater, prince, steroids

Steven Reynolds is a regular blogger for the All Spin Zone