Posted on 10/08/2007 6:06:51 PM PDT by LibWhacker
BAGHDAD - Iraqi authorities want the U.S. government to sever all contracts in Iraq with Blackwater USA within six months. They also want the firm to pay $8 million in compensation to families of each of the 17 people killed when its guards sprayed a traffic circle with heavy machine gun fire last month.
The demands — part of an Iraqi government report examined by The Associated Press — also called on U.S. authorities to hand over the Blackwater security agents involved in the Sept. 16 shootings to face possible trial in Iraqi courts.
The tone of the Iraqi report appears to signal further strains between the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the White House over the deaths in Nisoor Square — which have prompted a series of U.S. and Iraqi probes and raised questions over the use of private security contractors to guard U.S. diplomats and other officials.
Al-Maliki ordered the investigation by his defense minister and other top security and police officials on Sept. 22. The findings — which were translated from Arabic by AP — mark the most definitive Iraqi positions and contentions about the shootings last month.
The report also highlights the differences in death tolls and accounts that have complicated efforts to piece together the chain of events as one Blackwater-protected convoy raced back toward Baghdad's Green Zone after a nearby bombing, while a second backup team in four gun trucks sped into the square as a backup team.
The Iraqi investigation — first outlined Thursday by The Associated Press — charges the four Blackwater vehicles called to the square began shooting without provocation. Blackwater contends its employees came under fire first.
The government, at the conclusion of its investigation, said 17 Iraqis died. Initial reports put the toll at 11.
It said the compensation — totaling $136 million — was so high "because Blackwater uses employees who disrespect the rights of Iraqi citizens even though they are guests in this country."
The U.S. military pays compensation money to the families of civilians killed in battles or to cover property damage, but at far lower amounts.
The United States has not made conclusive findings about the shooting, though there are multiple investigations under way and Congress has opened inquiries into the role of private security contractors. Last week, the FBI took over a State Department investigation, raising the prospect that it could be referred to the Justice Department for prosecution.
The Iraqi government report said its courts were to proper venue in which to bring charges.
It said Blackwater's license to operate in Iraq expired on June 2, 2006, meaning it had no immunity from prosecution under Iraqi laws set down after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.
The government report also challenged the claim that a decree in June 2004 by then-Iraqi administrator L. Paul Bremer granted Blackwater immunity from legal action in incidents such as the one in Nisoor Square. The report said the Blackwater guards could be charged under a criminal code from 1969.
U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said the diplomatic mission would have no comment on the report. Iraq's Interior Ministry spokesman, Abdul-Karim Khalaf, said the document was in American hands.
The report found that Blackwater guards also had killed 21 Iraqi civilians and wounded 27 in previous shootings since it took over security for U.S. diplomats in Baghdad after the U.S. invasion. The Iraqi government did not say whether it would try to prosecute in those cases.
The State Department has counted 56 shooting incidents involving Blackwater guards in Iraq this year. All were being reviewed as part of the comprehensive inquiry ordered by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
I want a pony. Can I have a pony?
If they pull this off, a WHOLE lot of Iraqi politicians, government officials, diplomats and VIPs are going to die..
In the confusion — all sorts of assassinations are likely to occur.... Hell, it might make the murder of Fat Sadr, not only possible but it could be blamed on the chaos of the situation...
Hmmmmm.... Maybe this IS a good idea.
..and the people who want victory in the United States want the Iraqi government to stand on their own and stop playing the poor Muslim victim. Start by cleaning up the insurgents and dumping their bullet ridden sorry a$$ed carcasses on the other side of their respective borders. Then concentrate real hard and clean up your corrupt government and stop wasting American lives and resources.
I also find myself wondering what the hell the legal status of a "mercenary" force like Blackwater has in a foreign country.
I also find myself wondering what the hell the legal status of a “mercenary” force like Blackwater has in a foreign country.
Think of them like a headhunter that bundles people to corporations.....in this case Blackwater is the headhunter and State Dept is the corporation......and the bundle project is security engineering and validation.
Then take our military and our contractors out of there and only protect our people as opposed to protecting them. Perhaps they will then understand “about to die.” This current B-S is only political and not for real. If it were for real they are committing suicide, which we all now know they are balless to do.
They're beginning to sound like the DNC now...
They and the DNC are more willing to do battle against our warriors than against the enemy!
Right - we'll turn them over just as soon as the Iraqi government turns over the bastards that have been killing our guys from ambush....
I'm becoming a disbeliever we can EVER establish anything in Iraq worthy of the cost -- or that we can EVER rely upon any Islamic republic as a long term reliable ally in the war against militant Islam and the terrorists they have produced and continue to produce...
How about establishing Condi’s one billion dollar embassay in Baghdad? How long do you think it will last when the troops leave? Can we hold her liable for the cost? Stupid is as stupid does.
Blackwater is just one of many "security" groups currently involved in Iraq
Why blame it on Blackwater? What the hell are a bunch of US politicians doing in Iraq anyway?
>I also find myself wondering what the hell the legal status of a “mercenary” force like Blackwater has in a foreign country.
Why?
Blackwater is needed, and Iraqi’s need to learn to get out of the way when they hear sirens. It is as simple as that.
Blackwater is needed, and Iraqi’s need to learn to get out of the way when they hear sirens. It is as simple as that.
We have to get out of the way when we hear police and fire engne sirens.
You guys are thinking along exactly the same lines I am. I mean, Jesus Christ... does Maliki, et al. have a direct hot line to Reid and Pelosi’s talking points FAX machine?
Maliki was shut down on this point last week. Now the rats have latched onto it and two seconds later Maliki picks the thread up again??? Time to cut the phony Americans (see my tagline) off at the knees and slap our puppets silly until they get into their thick wooden noggins who exactly is holding the strings.
I got a problem with my $$$$ going to the enemy.
But mercs are good.
That’s what Ross used!
Your query is on point, the State Dept. is inhabited by career leftists...which is why Bush could have been more effective if he had cleaned house of all the the leftists before moving forward on any issue. I hope the GOP has learned how important this subject is....
If Blackwater leaves, everyone leaves.
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