February 21, 2008:
Blackwater
Worldwide, one of the worlds largest private security firms, has provided
training for the Taiwanese presidential security force. It's not that Taiwan
doesn't have plenty of special warfare operators that could provide such
training, but Blackwater has achieved such an exemplary record guarding VIPs
(Very Important People) in Iraq and Afghanistan, that it has become much in
demand. Blackwater VIP protection teams have never lost a client, and have
guarded U.S. diplomats and senior government officials as well as similar "high
value" targets from Iraq, Afghanistan and other nations. Blackwater has become
the outfit to call if you are in a dangerous part of the world, and are on many
hit lists.
Taiwanese special operations forces are
extensive. The army has its Aviation and Special Forces Command (the ASFC,
consisting of the 601st, 602nd and 603rd Aviation brigades, the 862nd Special
Warfare Brigade and the Airborne Special Service Company, which specializes in
counterterrorism.) There is also a SEAL and special boat unit, plus marine and
army recon and a SWAT type unit with the Coast Guard. But none of these
specialize in VIP protection, that is taken care of by the NSB (National Security Bureau), which is a
CIA/FBI type operation that also provides bodyguards for the president.
Blackwater has built a formidable VIP
protection capability over the last decade, hiring many former U.S. and
European special operations personnel (some retired, some not, much to the
annoyance of the organizations these people were hired away from.) These
operators have gone on to develop new, and very effective, techniques for
effective VIP protection, even in highly dangerous environments.