Diplomatic security chief Richard Griffin, at long last, confirmed Blackwater’s rules of engagement for dealing with potential vehicular threats. The bottom line? “One does not have to wait until the protectee or co-worker is physically harmed before taking action,” Griffin said. His account corroborated one given by Blackwater CEO Erik Prince during Prince’s testimony
On the back of every motorcade, State’s Griffin said, there should be a warning in Arabic and English to stay back, with lights and sirens indicating drivers not to approach. Security officials are supposed to give hand signals and verbal commands to approaching vehicles to stay back. “If they still haven’t gotten the driver’s attention,” security officials will shoot flares or shine a bright light into the vehicle. If the driver continues, Blackwater guards might “throw a bottle of water” at the car, and from there, if “that all fails,” the guards are to fire into the radiator to disable the car. Should that not work, the guards are authorized to shoot into the windshield. It’s “an escalation of force policy,” Griffin said.
