Erik Prince is of course known for Blackwater. But that was his first act, a distant memory and doesn't help us understand who is today and why is so dangerous 2/
interc.pt/2Jd7L3Q
After he sold Blackwater + Obama Admin made clear he was not welcome, he left to UAE, effectively in exile 3/
And because of the great reporting of @MarkMazzettiNYT from 2010-2012 we learned that Prince ran a half billion $ enterprise for UAE 4/
But he blew it. 5/
A cautionary tale, really, for any government listening to EP pitch a paramilitary strategy/war/product 6/

Except, he can't get outside investors. He's become toxic in the UAE + he's a novice 7/
Then, most of the fund's investments sink! 9/
He goes from Middle East to China, and strikes it big! The man has a Midas Touch. $110M investment. Not shabby 10/

(You can read that chapter here: theintercept.com/2016/04/11/bla… ) 11/
In most cases, he didn't disclose his financial interest to the FSG board prior to contract. A Prince pattern. 12/
The man can't help himself. He has a vision: a total supply chain of paramilitary services. Hardware, soldiers, weapons, vehicles, surveillance, intel. 13/
Edgar Prince built Prince Auto into a billion $ business. Famous for the light in car visors, he was a major political donor to Gerald Ford, also from Michigan. 14/
Alfred Sloan, one time CEO of GMC, is a Prince hero. Bought his auto parts suppliers, made GMC more profitable.
Prince has been doing this for war since Blackwater 15/
4 all the hype about Prince, former Navy SEAL, founder of Blackwater, the truth is less flattering. "He's never fired a shot in anger," is the cliche I hear often 16/
He hates Obama and he really hates HRC. Blames both for ruining his career working for USG.
And that is when things get interesting. 17/
Wouldn't you know it? Prince + family have given a fortune to far-right conservative causes + politicians for years. The Prince family LOVES Mike Pence 18/
And, even less surprising: it doesn't go well. Ex operative quits 19/
We know from Mueller report Prince pays to authenticate a cache of stolen emails he hopes are hers 20/
Can you see where this is going? 21/
In China, where he's still CEO of FSG, he tells people he's going to be Defense Secretary!
Prince is in pole-position 22/
8 years of Obama hell are over + Prince is back, baby!
Then, UAE + MBZ come calling again. All is forgiven. Prince sees (and seizes) the opportunity. 23/