Article

2015-03-28 Arabia

Erik Prince was hired by crown prince of Abu Dhabi to put together a 800-member battalion

[ProfessionalOverseasContactors] According to the New York Time, Erik Prince billionaire founder of Blackwater was hired by the crown prince of Abu Dhabi to put together an 800-member battalion of foreign troops for the U.A.E., according to former employees on the project, American officials and corporate documents obtained by a reputable source.

The force is intended to conduct special operations missions inside and outside the country, defend oil pipelines and skyscrapers from terrorist attacks and put down internal revolts, the documents show. Such troops could be deployed if the Emirates faced unrest in their crowded labor camps or were challenged by pro-democracy protests like those sweeping the Arab world this year.

The U.A.E.’s rulers, viewing their own military as inadequate, also hope that the troops could blunt the regional aggression of Iran, the country’s biggest foe, the former employees said. The training camp, located on a sprawling Emirati base called Zayed Military City, is hidden behind concrete walls laced with barbed wire. Photographs show rows of identical yellow temporary buildings, used for barracks and mess halls, and a motor pool, which houses Humvees and fuel trucks. The Colombians, along with South African and other foreign troops, are trained by retired American soldiers and veterans of the German and British special operations units and the French Foreign Legion, according to the former employees and American officials.

Posted by BrerRabbit 2015-03-28 11:25|| || Front Page|| [11137 views ] Top

#1 Call it the White Company.

Posted by Procopius2k 2015-03-28 12:36|| 2015-03-28 12:36|| Front Page Top

#2 Good idea. As the way our president is running thing the UAE needs to grow their forces or they will perish.

Posted by 49 Pan 2015-03-28 12:37|| 2015-03-28 12:37|| Front Page Top

#3 All is foretold in this book by Steven Pressfield, author of Gates of Fire.

Posted by Matt 2015-03-28 12:47|| 2015-03-28 12:47|| Front Page Top

#4 Yep. FYI, Zen has an Official Trailer vid.
Matt ~ Disregard.

Posted by Besoeker 2015-03-28 13:10|| 2015-03-28 13:10|| Front Page Top

#5 I don't remember such a plethora of mercenaries being employed since the African revolutions of the '60s.

More of that new "smart" diplomacy's unintended(?) consequences.

Posted by AlanC 2015-03-28 15:01|| 2015-03-28 15:01|| Front Page Top

#6 I would imagine mercenary deployments tend to be common in eras without super-powers.
What happened to the Roman Legions once their salaries stopped coming over the Alps?

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2015-03-28 15:05|| 2015-03-28 15:05|| Front Page Top

00:26 Grom the Reflective
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