H
Harry Hope
Guest
Back in Septemer last year, Iraqi Prime Minster al-Maliki demanded
that the U.S. "replace private security operator Blackwater, after a
deadly shootout involving the firm's guards in Baghdad,"
according to AFP.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gAB8am9XX14L5HGNw7tgsPBQ-rCA
Maliki's call came as US and Iraqi officials agreed to set up a joint
commission of inquiry to examine the security of US
government-affiliated civilians in Iraq.
The commission, according to Iraqi government spokesman Ali
al-Dabbagh, is part of efforts to defuse a crisis sparked when
Blackwater guards escorting US embassy officials opened fire in a
Baghdad neighbourhood on Sunday, killing 10 people and wounding 13.
(snip)
"This is a big crime and the seventh such crime committed by this
company and which has been registered by the interior ministry,"
Maliki said.
The Iraqi government subsequently revoked Blackwater's license to
operate in Iraq, and the FBI later determined that at least 14 of the
17 Iraqis were killed without cause (according to the FBI, the other
three killings were "possibly" justified.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_Baghdad_shootings
Therefore you probably won't be surprised to learn that last week:
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/05/8109/
Iraqis expressed anger on Saturday at news the United States had
renewed the contract of Blackwater, a private security firm blamed for
killing up to 17 people in a shooting incident last year.
(snip)
The FBI is investigating whether Blackwater employees broke the law
during the shooting last September when Blackwater staff, apparently
believing they were under attack, fired into cars in heavy traffic,
killing civilians.
In spite of the criminal probe, the State Department announced on
Friday the firm's contract to protect U.S. personnel in Baghdad would
be renewed.
By EarlG
Democratic Underground
http://www.democraticunderground.com/
Harry
that the U.S. "replace private security operator Blackwater, after a
deadly shootout involving the firm's guards in Baghdad,"
according to AFP.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gAB8am9XX14L5HGNw7tgsPBQ-rCA
Maliki's call came as US and Iraqi officials agreed to set up a joint
commission of inquiry to examine the security of US
government-affiliated civilians in Iraq.
The commission, according to Iraqi government spokesman Ali
al-Dabbagh, is part of efforts to defuse a crisis sparked when
Blackwater guards escorting US embassy officials opened fire in a
Baghdad neighbourhood on Sunday, killing 10 people and wounding 13.
(snip)
"This is a big crime and the seventh such crime committed by this
company and which has been registered by the interior ministry,"
Maliki said.
The Iraqi government subsequently revoked Blackwater's license to
operate in Iraq, and the FBI later determined that at least 14 of the
17 Iraqis were killed without cause (according to the FBI, the other
three killings were "possibly" justified.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_Baghdad_shootings
Therefore you probably won't be surprised to learn that last week:
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/05/8109/
Iraqis expressed anger on Saturday at news the United States had
renewed the contract of Blackwater, a private security firm blamed for
killing up to 17 people in a shooting incident last year.
(snip)
The FBI is investigating whether Blackwater employees broke the law
during the shooting last September when Blackwater staff, apparently
believing they were under attack, fired into cars in heavy traffic,
killing civilians.
In spite of the criminal probe, the State Department announced on
Friday the firm's contract to protect U.S. personnel in Baghdad would
be renewed.
By EarlG
Democratic Underground
http://www.democraticunderground.com/
Harry
