Help In These Times reach its five-week $10,000 online fundraising goal! With two weeks left, we're only halfway there. Donate now!

‘Zee’ End of Blackwater?

The troubled security firm gets a makeover.

By Joel Handley

To distance itself from ongoing controversies, lawsuits and canceled contracts, Blackwater Worldwide, the private security firm known for its mercenary work in Iraq and Afghanistan, has changed its name to Xe (pronounced “zee”). The company announced this linguistic detoxification after the U.S. State Department refused to renew its contract to protect diplomats in Iraq. On March 2, Blackwater founder Erik Prince… return to article

Also by Joel Handley
Popular Discussions