Posted on 03/17/2009 10:29:23 AM PDT by Jim Robinson
Days after the Baghdad government decided it no longer wanted the company then known as Blackwater in Iraq, the State Department signed a $22.2 million deal in February to keep the embattled contractor working there through most of the summer, contract records show.
The decision keeps Blackwater - since renamed Xe - in Iraq months longer than anyone has suggested publicly, while raising questions about why the U.S. would pay a contractor for work in Iraq if it may not be able to operate there legally.
The State Department has been under pressure from Blackwater critics, including several in Congress, not to renew the company's contracts in Iraq. Much of the concern stems from a 2007 incident that left 14 Iraqi civilians dead and six former Blackwater guards facing manslaughter charges. One of the guards pleaded guilty, but the company was accused of no wrongdoing in the incident.
In late January, the Iraqi government said it would not renew Blackwater's operating license and that the company would have to leave as soon as a joint Iraqi-U.S. committee completes its work on guidelines for the operation of private security companies. State Department officials said they would honor the decision.
On Feb. 2, a department spokesman was asked whether officials planned to renew one of Blackwater's contracts past May. The spokesman, Robert Wood, said the department had told Blackwater "we did not plan to renew the company's existing task force orders for protective security details in Iraq."
But records available through a federal procurement database show that on that same day, the State Department approved a $22.2 million contract modification for Blackwater "security personnel" in Iraq, with a job completion date of Sept. 3, 2009.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com:80 ...
LOL, Obama Administration hires Blackwater to continue work in Iraq.
Anyone keeping a list?
Hiring Blackwater
Keeping 50k troops in Iraq
Using signing statements
Attacking nations without UN approval
Saying detainess in Afganistan don’t get trials
Saying the fundamentals of the economy are spund
“sound”
wow-messed up spellchecker
halliburton
Standard paper shuffling everyone. Nothing to see here..please move along.
There is nobody to replace them. If they do come up with another company it will just be the same people. They require former military and Leo’s with Secret or better security clearances and they don’t grow on trees.
The State Dept is trying to hire to replace them, but can’t get enough applicants(at lower pay).
People overlook the fact that State Dept Security controls all of their operations.
LMAO! This will drive the friggin libtards ABSOLUTELY NUTS!!!!!
Another case of his left hand not knowing what his other left hand is doing.
Geeez....don’t they watch “24”? Blackwater is plotting bio-warfare attacks on the US!
Xe????????? WTH?
Dumbo hypocrisy BUMP.
This just makes me smile. After making the big stink about Blackwater, Obama’s State Department extends their contract.
Of course they would, there isn’t anyone else. As I always say, reality always gets a vote.
But it entertains me to see Obama continuing Bush’s policies in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo, CIA black sites, and so on down the line.
The future? Hahhahaahhaah..!!
Guy was a shaped charge demolition expert. It is his job to blow the door down right before the guys with guns go in.
He works security, anti-kidnapping, body guard, etc.
Quite an interesting fellow. We were discussing liquid bandages and their application during what he called “pig lab” where brutal things are done to your pig and you have to keep it alive.
Good practice for when your buddy has his limbs blown off, etc.
We were pretty deep into it when my little sister wandered into the conversation. She is a farm gal, but even she said “I wandered into the WRONG conversation” and backed out.
I learned a lot talking to that guy. He had quite an interesting take on things, and quite a few hair raising stories.
I love the irony. LOL!
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