Iraqi lifts Blackwater's license after civilians killed

[BMT (RIP)]

http://www.fayobserver.com/article_ap?id=110676


BMT

[Team Sergeant]

The beginning of the end.

Well deserved. Bye Bye blackwater.......

Team Sergeant



Iraq Pulling License of Blackwater Security


Posted: Today at 7:09 a.m.
Updated: Today at 12:48 p.m.

BAGHDAD — The Interior Ministry said Monday that it was pulling the license of an American security firm allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of civilians during an attack on a U.S. State Department motorcade in Baghdad.

The ministry said it would prosecute any foreign contractors found to have used excessive force in the Sunday incident.

Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul-Karim Khalaf said eight people were killed and 13 were wounded when security contractors working for Blackwater USA opened fire in a predominantly Sunni neighborhood of western Baghdad.

"We have canceled the license of Blackwater and prevented them from working all over Iraqi territory. We will also refer those involved to Iraqi judicial authorities," Khalaf said.

Blackwater, based in Moyock, N.C., provides security for many U.S. civilian operations in the country. Phone messages left early Monday at Blackwater's office in North Carolina and with a company spokeswoman were not immediately returned.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman said witness reports pointed to Blackwater involvement but said the incident was still under investigation. It was not immediately clear if the measure against Blackwater was intended to be temporary or permanent.

U.S. troops are immune from prosecution in Iraq under the U.N. resolution that authorizes their presence, but Khalaf said the exemption does not apply to private security companies.

The U.S. Embassy said a State Department motorcade came under small-arms fire that disabled one of the vehicles, which had to be towed from the scene near Nisoor Square in the Mansour district.

An embassy official provided no information about Iraqi casualties but said no State Department personnel were wounded or killed. He spoke on condition of anonymity, because he was not authorized to speak to media.

He said the shooting was being investigated by the State Department's diplomatic security service and law enforcement officials working with the Iraqi government and the U.S. military.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki late Sunday condemned the shooting by a "foreign security company" and called it a "crime."

Tens of thousands of private security contractors operate in Iraq – some with automatic weapons, body armor, helicopters and bullet-proof vehicles.

The contractors, including many Americans and Britons, provide protection for Westerners and dignitaries in Iraq as the country has plummeted toward anarchy and civil war. Blackwater personnel, many of whom are former military members, also have worked in Afghanistan and in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

"One of the problems you always have when you subcontract something out is oversight," said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Springer, a military analyst for WRAL. "If you don't have somebody watching these folks, then you don't know if your contract is being handled adequately, safely, securely and doing the job that's supposed to be done."

Many have been accused of indiscriminately firing at American and Iraqi troops and of shooting to death an unknown number of Iraqi citizens who got too close to their heavily armed convoys, but none has faced charges or prosecution.

Iraqi police said the contractors were in a convoy of six sport-utility vehicles and left the scene after the shooting. A witness said the gunfire broke out following an explosion.

"We saw a convoy of SUVs passing in the street nearby. One minute later, we heard the sound of a bomb explosion followed by gunfire that lasted for 20 minutes between gunmen and the convoy people who were foreigners and dressed in civilian clothes. Everybody in the street started to flee immediately," said Hussein Abdul-Abbas, who owns a mobile phone store in the area.

The wartime numbers of private guards are unprecedented - as are their duties, many of which have traditionally been done by soldiers. They protect U.S. military operations and have guarded high-ranking officials, including Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Baghdad.

They also protect journalists, visiting foreign officials and thousands of construction projects.


http://www.wral.com/news/national_wo...story/1822697/

[Team Sergeant]

Fox news picked it up....

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,297022,00.html

oh and the Navy Times:

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/0...kwater_070917/

Blackwater reportedly banned from Iraq

By John T. Bennett - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 17, 2007 14:30:38 EDT

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to place a call to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Monday to discuss reports that his government has banned Blackwater USA after an alleged gunfight that reportedly left eight civilians dead.

CNN reported on its Web site Monday that Blackwater employees were involved in a gunfight in Nusoor Square, a Sunni area. As a result of the gun battle and carnage, the Iraqi Interior Ministry decided to ban the American security firm from the country, the cable news outlet reported.

At midday Monday, the State Department had yet to obtain official confirmation of the incident and the reported ouster of Blackwater.

A Blackwater spokeswoman has yet to respond to a reporter’s telephone message.

The Moyock, N.C.-based firm has contracts with the U.S. government to conduct security and other functions inside Iraq. American officials have leaned heavily on Blackwater and similar outfits to conduct such tasks there, largely because the U.S. military and other agencies lack the manpower to conduct many security tasks in addition to the myriad other missions they already are carrying out.

The State Department is investigating the incident.

The crappy LA Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...eadlines-world

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I'm betting blackwater and eric prince will throw the contractors involved to the wolves, any bets?

[echoes]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

I sent the story to "Drudge".....
Shall we send some asprin to billionaire eric prince? (eric prince, you still living well off the blood of your brothers? You are still suing their families are you not?)
Team Sergeant

Sir,

Not sure if I should post over in the other thread or here...
But just wanted to add that I'll be at sam's club to get a bulk supply for mr. prince...just tell where to send it...

Holly

[82ndtrooper]

I'm ashamed that I have to admit that I attended two of their tactical pistols courses.

[nmap]

No doubt Mr. Prince will throw anyone and everyone to the wolves, if given a chance. However...if I were the devious sort (which I am), it might occur to me that those injured, as well as the relatives of those killed, might possibly have some sort of claim against Blackwater. And since it is a U.S. company, I suppose a lawsuit would end up in U.S. courts.

The individual contractors wouldn't have deep pockets, but Blackwater would.

Now I wonder...might a U.S. based personal injury lawyer decide to seek damages? And might that cause Blackwater's cookies to be well and truly busted?

Perhaps one of the lawyers in the forum might care to comment?

[82ndtrooper]

Originally Posted by nmap

No doubt Mr. Prince will throw anyone and everyone to the wolves, if given a chance. However...if I were the devious sort (which I am), it might occur to me that those injured, as well as the relatives of those killed, might possibly have some sort of claim against Blackwater. And since it is a U.S. company, I suppose a lawsuit would end up in U.S. courts.

The individual contractors wouldn't have deep pockets, but Blackwater would.

Now I wonder...might a U.S. based personal injury lawyer decide to seek damages? And might that cause Blackwater's cookies to be well and truly busted?

Perhaps one of the lawyers in the forum might care to comment?

Already in process.

See discussion here :http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...water+security

[Snaquebite]

Hmmmm I guess they are getting bombarded on the website.

http://www.blackwaterusa.com/

Service Unavailable

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by 82ndtrooper

Already in process.

See discussion here :http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...water+security

That's a different case.

nmap was talking about the eight killed yesterday.

TS

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Snaquebite

Hmmmm I guess they are getting bombarded on the website.

http://www.blackwaterusa.com/

Service Unavailable

Yes still down, but they're still taking online applications!!!!

Applicant Questionnaire - https://secure.blackwaterusa.com/

[82ndtrooper]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

Yes still down, but they're still taking online applications!!!!

Applicant Questionnaire - https://secure.blackwaterusa.com/

Anybody care to fill one out ?

[Razor]

I know better, but I wish the USG and DoD would pay close attention to this particular paradigm--when you lower your employment standards to increase manpower, and still expect the competence and performance provided by actual professionals, you will inevitably be very disappointed in the outcome.

[nmap]

Originally Posted by 82ndtrooper

Already in process.

See discussion here :http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...water+security

I really should have been more direct.

The injured Iraqis and the families of the deceased Iraqis might be able to sue Blackwater (the corporation) in U.S. courts. And I don't believe they could be forced into arbitration.

My apologies for the poor communications. I know better.

[82ndtrooper]

Originally Posted by nmap

I really should have been more direct.

The injured Iraqis and the families of the deceased Iraqis might be able to sue Blackwater (the corporation) in U.S. courts. And I don't believe they could be forced into arbitration.

My apologies for the poor communications. I know better.

Yep, no closed arbitration, and I'd like to see Eric Prince squirming in front of a Congressional oversight committee hearing.

[Fiercely Loyal]

Does anyone know who have agood idea of who may pick up Blackwaters contracts? Maybe Triple Canopy or Aegis?