If you have been paying attention to the news regarding the current military action in Iraq, then you have probably heard the name "Blackwater" once or twice. Blackwater is a para-military organization and security force, essentially "soldiers-for-hire", who helped augment the efforts of the US-lead coalition forces in Iraq. Blackwater was also allegedly involved in several incidents that resulted in the US withdrawing its contracts with them. They were arguably to aggressive in their duties and civilian lives were lost.
Whether or not these efforts were right or wrong is not the focus of this article. Blackwater is a military organization with a resume impressive enough for the US to hire them to augment our own military. That places Blackwater in league with the best military organizations in the world as far as training, professionalism, and equipment are concerned. Due to the negative press resulting from their alleged misconduct abroad, Blackwater has been re-branding itself; Xe, US Training Center, Greystone, and now Personal Security Awareness (http://www.personalsecurityawareness.com/index.html).
The owner of Blackwater, Erik Prince, was described in a sworn statement by a former Blackwater employee and an ex-US Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company as viewing himself as "a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life." The statement implicates Prince in the deaths of Muslim civilians along with a series of other charges. It appears that in an effort to forward this agenda, Blackwater is offering their military training to "faith-based" organizations.
While the intent appears to be to provide "security awareness" to Christians who will may be traveling abroad, the implication extends to the efforts of these organizations dealing with their Muslim counterparts in the US or any other group they might perceive as a threat. That, my fellow Satanists, would mean you and I. The current program also deals soley with automotive safety, but as any security professional will tell you, the best way to avoid an incident is to know how to create the incident yourself. If this program does become popular, it will be a short time before courses in "crowd management", "facility protection", and "self-defense" are also offered. What will happen at the next protest event when the Christian Right makes use of their para-military training to deal with their opponents on the other side of the issue? Can you imagine the next concert you attend if the protestors show up with more than just signs and alot of nonsense?
We should not deny Blackwater's right to train and teach whoever they might in the techniques that they use. We should not deny the right of "faith based" organizations to avail themselves of this training. We should, as Satanists, make ourselves aware of this possible threat and take steps accordingly. Remember the Law of The Jungle, and when in public protect yourself to the limits of your ability in accordance with local laws. Understand that some events, especially political rallies, can become volatile, and be prepared to act. Study self-defense, and if your organization puts itself in the public eye, take the necessary steps to protect yourself, your members, and your holdings.
Blackwater/Greystone recognizes the importance of "preparation by doing", and we should be no less cognizant of this. Plan and prepare, or suffer the consequences.
Casandra Thorne
Priestess of Lilith
Diabolus Order
Whether or not these efforts were right or wrong is not the focus of this article. Blackwater is a military organization with a resume impressive enough for the US to hire them to augment our own military. That places Blackwater in league with the best military organizations in the world as far as training, professionalism, and equipment are concerned. Due to the negative press resulting from their alleged misconduct abroad, Blackwater has been re-branding itself; Xe, US Training Center, Greystone, and now Personal Security Awareness (http://www.personalsecurityawareness.com/index.html).
The owner of Blackwater, Erik Prince, was described in a sworn statement by a former Blackwater employee and an ex-US Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company as viewing himself as "a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life." The statement implicates Prince in the deaths of Muslim civilians along with a series of other charges. It appears that in an effort to forward this agenda, Blackwater is offering their military training to "faith-based" organizations.
While the intent appears to be to provide "security awareness" to Christians who will may be traveling abroad, the implication extends to the efforts of these organizations dealing with their Muslim counterparts in the US or any other group they might perceive as a threat. That, my fellow Satanists, would mean you and I. The current program also deals soley with automotive safety, but as any security professional will tell you, the best way to avoid an incident is to know how to create the incident yourself. If this program does become popular, it will be a short time before courses in "crowd management", "facility protection", and "self-defense" are also offered. What will happen at the next protest event when the Christian Right makes use of their para-military training to deal with their opponents on the other side of the issue? Can you imagine the next concert you attend if the protestors show up with more than just signs and alot of nonsense?
We should not deny Blackwater's right to train and teach whoever they might in the techniques that they use. We should not deny the right of "faith based" organizations to avail themselves of this training. We should, as Satanists, make ourselves aware of this possible threat and take steps accordingly. Remember the Law of The Jungle, and when in public protect yourself to the limits of your ability in accordance with local laws. Understand that some events, especially political rallies, can become volatile, and be prepared to act. Study self-defense, and if your organization puts itself in the public eye, take the necessary steps to protect yourself, your members, and your holdings.
Blackwater/Greystone recognizes the importance of "preparation by doing", and we should be no less cognizant of this. Plan and prepare, or suffer the consequences.
Casandra Thorne
Priestess of Lilith
Diabolus Order
