Blackwater: The Private Army That Changed Modern Warfare

Blackwater began as a private training facility in the swamps near the North Carolina-Virginia border. Within a few years, it had become one of the most recognizable private security companies in the world, employing experienced military veterans and taking on increasingly dangerous assignments for the United States government. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq transformed the company from an obscure training operation into a major player in America's post-9/11 security apparatus. In Iraq, Blackwater personnel protected diplomats, escorted convoys, operated aircraft, and fought in some extraordinarily dangerous situations. In April 2004, Blackwater contractors and American servicemen defended a compound in Najaf against hundreds of militia fighters while company helicopters flew into the battle carrying ammunition and evacuating a wounded Marine. But Blackwater's independence and aggressive operating style also raised difficult questions about where private security ended and private warfare began. Those questions exploded into international controversy after the 2007 Nisour Square shooting in Baghdad, where seventeen Iraqis were killed. Blackwater contractors maintained that they had responded to a perceived threat, while Iraqi witnesses described an unprovoked attack. The resulting investigations, prosecutions, political fallout, rebranding, and eventual disappearance of the Blackwater name became inseparable from the larger debate over private military contractors and accountability in modern war. Written and hosted by Michael Droberg. Forgotten History is a 10th Legion Pictures Production. This video is for educational and commentary purposes. All information is presented based on publicly available sources. Allegations, claims, and historical accounts are included for informational context, and viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research. ==================================================================== Help support our channel: Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenHistoryChannel Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5kKhnQUbZmABUeJJvj9aw/join Now on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2OFlwcPz715LyztzXD1Zky Forgotten History Merchandise: https://forgottenhistorychannel-shop.fourthwall.com/ ==================================================================== Thanks for watching. Please subscribe using the link below so we can continue making new content. Your subscription to the channel means a lot to us! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5kKhnQUbZmABUeJJvj9aw?sub_confirmation=1 ==================================================================== About us: Host/Military Historian/Film Consultant/US Army and USMC Veteran - Colin Heaton Screenwriter/Director/Producer/US Marine Corps Veteran - Michael Droberg https://imdb.me/michaeldroberg https://www.10thlegionpictures.com Email The Forgotten History Team: droknows@hotmail.com Brand Deal Inquiries: john@smallscreenmarketing.com Editor: Pablo Kawai ==================================================================== Associated channel for sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, and film related topics: https://www.youtube.com/c/10thLegionPictures ==================================================================== -COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER UNDER SECTION 107 OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1976 - Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. #forgottenhistorychannel