While the mainstream media is covering Blackwater USA, yesterday’s Morning Edition shared information about British-based Aegis Defense Service. The company’s CEO, Lt. Col. Tim Spicer, has been involved in two international incidents while at the head of his previous “private security” company, Sandline: one which led to the overthrow of the government in Papau New Guinea in the mid 90s, and the other a possible violation of a U.N. arms embargo, bringing weapons into Sierra Leone in the late 90s. After that, Spicer laid low until 2004, when his new company, Aegis, was awarded a 3-year, $293 million contract with the U.S. government.
Since then:
In 2004, several senators, focusing on Spicer’s background, demanded the Pentagon investigate the contract.
The Government Accountability Office subsequently investigated Aegis and faulted the company for not performing adequate background checks on its employees.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), said there are yet more concerns. “In November 2005, there was an Internet video that surfaced that showed an Aegis contractor firing wildly at civilian cars on an Iraqi highway to the tune of Mystery Train by Elvis Presley,” she said.
I have found a video which claims to be the footage mentioned above. {WARNING: disturbing, violent content.}
And now, in September 2007:
Aegis has been granted a two-year $475 million contract, the largest-single security contract in Iraq…. Aegis will oversee coordination of all other contractors in Iraq, and provide intelligence services and security for the Army Corp of Engineers.
These are the people we want running things for us over there, representing us to the world?
