--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every individual who has worked for…" description: "\"Every individual who has worked for Blackwater in Iraq has previously served in the U.S. military or as a police officer. Many were highly decorated. A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/erik-prince-5732_blackwater_every-individual-who-has-worked-for-blac_847486.jpg" --- # Every individual who has worked for Blackwater in Iraq has… ![“Every individual who has worked for Blackwater in Iraq has previously served in the U.S. military or as a police officer. Many were highly decorated. And from the beginning, these individuals have been bound by detailed contracts that ensure intensive government direction and control.” quote by Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/erik-prince-5732_blackwater_every-individual-who-has-worked-for-blac_847486.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/erik-prince-5732_blackwater_every-individual-who-has-worked-for-blac_847486.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/erik-prince-5732_blackwater_every-individual-who-has-worked-for-blac_847486.jpg) > “Every individual who has worked for Blackwater in Iraq has previously served in the U.S. military or as a police officer. Many were highly decorated. And from the beginning, these individuals have been bound by detailed contracts that ensure intensive government direction and control.” [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blackwater staff are former military or police, bound by strict contracts that give the government tight control over their operations. **In simple terms:** Former forces work under government‑directed contracts. Key Takeaway Recognize the military background and oversight. Themes security government contracting military Mood serious analytical Type policy informative When to use this quote - private security - military recruitment - policy enforcement - risk management Key Concepts law policy ethics accountability Questions to Reflect On - How does oversight affect effectiveness? - What are the moral implications of privatized force? A Different Perspective Contracts may limit flexibility and raise ethical concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blackwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackwater/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Police officer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police-officer/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a practicing Roman Catholic, but you don't have to be Catholic, you don't have to be a Christian to work for Blackwater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-a-practicing-roman-catholic-but-you-don-t-have-to-be-catholic-you/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [The people we helped in the field, they know what the legacy is. The 40% or so of Americans that really can't stand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/the-people-we-helped-in-the-field-they-know-what-the-legacy-is-the-40/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I loved being a SEAL. I loved working with those kind of guys and a sense of mission, and Blackwater was started to continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-loved-being-a-seal-i-loved-working-with-those-kind-of-guys-and-a/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [For people to mischaracterize my time or ownership of Blackwater as being some great financial bonanza, it was not. It was most definitely not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/for-people-to-mischaracterize-my-time-or-ownership-of-blackwater-as/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I built Blackwater to stay connected to the SEAL teams and to serve that whole community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-built-blackwater-to-stay-connected-to-the-seal-teams-and-to-serve/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [In Iraq, State Department civilians and U.S. soldiers have been operating in the same location in an active war zone. While the troops have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/in-iraq-state-department-civilians-and-u-s-soldiers-have-been/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Some people will always hate the name Blackwater. They might not like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/some-people-will-always-hate-the-name-blackwater-they-might-not-like/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [One of the real core competencies of Blackwater, or companies like Blackwater, is we can operate in difficult places without any outside support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/one-of-the-real-core-competencies-of-blackwater-or-companies-like/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [You pretty much remove the entire political texture from Blackwater when you come to China. What they look at is our 100 per cent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/you-pretty-much-remove-the-entire-political-texture-from-blackwater/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Blackwater's work with the CIA began when we provided specialized instructors and facilities that the Agency lacked. In the years that followed, the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/blackwater-s-work-with-the-cia-began-when-we-provided-specialized/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [“He knows that there will be days ahead, long, tedious days which have no real beginning or ending, but which run together into night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/he-knows-that-there-will-be-days-ahead-long-tedious-days-which-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Blackwater was smuggling weapons into Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doe/blackwater-was-smuggling-weapons-into-iraq/) [John Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doe/) > [The Iraq war is a huge subject and there have been many films about it. But it was when the private contractors started taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/the-iraq-war-is-a-huge-subject-and-there-have-been-many-films-about/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [Blackwater USA has already taken in more than $1 billion from the public coffers. All in all, that's not a bad take for Erik…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/blackwater-usa-has-already-taken-in-more-than-1-billion-from-the/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [“Celebrity Retrieval? I've never heard of them." "They're a kind of private Blackwater.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-castoro/celebrity-retrieval-i-ve-never-heard-of-them-they-re-a-kind-of/) [Laura Castoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-castoro/) ## More by Erik Prince > [We now know that gun-free zones, though well intentioned, do not prevent attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-now-know-that-gun-free-zones-though-well-intentioned-do-not/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [The video game industry is constantly evolving. The sheer creativity matched with cutting-edge technologies gives me the comfort that innovation is alive and well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/the-video-game-industry-is-constantly-evolving-the-sheer-creativity/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Blackwater's work with the CIA began when we provided specialized instructors and facilities that the Agency lacked. In the years that followed, the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/blackwater-s-work-with-the-cia-began-when-we-provided-specialized/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Video games are an exciting medium. The creativity of design, the technology and the interaction represent the best of American innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/video-games-are-an-exciting-medium-the-creativity-of-design-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [There are some phone calls where it's not even worth wasting the electrons on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/there-are-some-phone-calls-where-it-s-not-even-worth-wasting-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Why should I pay for business? Fly coach, you arrive at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/why-should-i-pay-for-business-fly-coach-you-arrive-at-the-same-time/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and treasure endlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot-spend-blood-and-treasure/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [You pretty much remove the entire political texture from Blackwater when you come to China. What they look at is our 100 per cent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/you-pretty-much-remove-the-entire-political-texture-from-blackwater/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Limited government is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/limited-government-is-best/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [In Joe Yorio you find a guy who's smarter at business than I am. I'm an entrepreneur and idea guy; he's a professional businessman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/in-joe-yorio-you-find-a-guy-who-s-smarter-at-business-than-i-am-i-m/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [One of the real core competencies of Blackwater, or companies like Blackwater, is we can operate in difficult places without any outside support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/one-of-the-real-core-competencies-of-blackwater-or-companies-like/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm painted as this war profiteer by Congress. Meanwhile I'm paying for all sorts of intelligence activities to support American national security, out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-painted-as-this-war-profiteer-by-congress-meanwhile-i-m-paying/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm an American working for America. Anything we do is to support U.S. policy. You know the definition of a mercenary is a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-an-american-working-for-america-anything-we-do-is-to-support-u-s/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Our failed population-centric approach to Afghanistan has only led to missed opportunities, which is why Afghanistan depends on donors for 90% of government revenues.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/our-failed-population-centric-approach-to-afghanistan-has-only-led-to/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [President Trump should appoint a special presidential envoy and empower them to wage an unconventional war against Taliban and Daesh forces, to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/president-trump-should-appoint-a-special-presidential-envoy-and/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) [Explore all 100 Erik Prince quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## More Blackwater quotes > [“Celebrity Retrieval? I've never heard of them." "They're a kind of private Blackwater.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-castoro/celebrity-retrieval-i-ve-never-heard-of-them-they-re-a-kind-of/) [Laura Castoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-castoro/) > [Blackwater's work with the CIA began when we provided specialized instructors and facilities that the Agency lacked. In the years that followed, the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/blackwater-s-work-with-the-cia-began-when-we-provided-specialized/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [You pretty much remove the entire political texture from Blackwater when you come to China. What they look at is our 100 per cent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/you-pretty-much-remove-the-entire-political-texture-from-blackwater/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [One of the real core competencies of Blackwater, or companies like Blackwater, is we can operate in difficult places without any outside support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/one-of-the-real-core-competencies-of-blackwater-or-companies-like/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Blackwater was smuggling weapons into Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doe/blackwater-was-smuggling-weapons-into-iraq/) [John Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doe/) > [Some people will always hate the name Blackwater. They might not like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/some-people-will-always-hate-the-name-blackwater-they-might-not-like/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [“He knows that there will be days ahead, long, tedious days which have no real beginning or ending, but which run together into night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/he-knows-that-there-will-be-days-ahead-long-tedious-days-which-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [In Iraq, State Department civilians and U.S. soldiers have been operating in the same location in an active war zone. While the troops have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/in-iraq-state-department-civilians-and-u-s-soldiers-have-been/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I built Blackwater to stay connected to the SEAL teams and to serve that whole community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-built-blackwater-to-stay-connected-to-the-seal-teams-and-to-serve/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [For people to mischaracterize my time or ownership of Blackwater as being some great financial bonanza, it was not. It was most definitely not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/for-people-to-mischaracterize-my-time-or-ownership-of-blackwater-as/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I loved being a SEAL. I loved working with those kind of guys and a sense of mission, and Blackwater was started to continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-loved-being-a-seal-i-loved-working-with-those-kind-of-guys-and-a/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [The Iraq war is a huge subject and there have been many films about it. But it was when the private contractors started taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/the-iraq-war-is-a-huge-subject-and-there-have-been-many-films-about/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [The people we helped in the field, they know what the legacy is. The 40% or so of Americans that really can't stand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/the-people-we-helped-in-the-field-they-know-what-the-legacy-is-the-40/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Blackwater USA has already taken in more than $1 billion from the public coffers. All in all, that's not a bad take for Erik…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/blackwater-usa-has-already-taken-in-more-than-1-billion-from-the/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [I'm a practicing Roman Catholic, but you don't have to be Catholic, you don't have to be a Christian to work for Blackwater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-a-practicing-roman-catholic-but-you-don-t-have-to-be-catholic-you/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) [Browse all 17 Blackwater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackwater/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every individual who has worked for Blackwater in Iraq has previously served in the U.S. military or as a police officer. Many were highly decorated. 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