Just thinking in terms of probability (especially given their proximity to the conflict and the usefulness of having a private entity take on missions which did not fall under the oversight of the military chain of command), about the nature of "legal accountability" and how far it can be stretched (since the US military does indeed have a lot impunity in how it's conducted its affairs in various foreign operations over the past few decades), and the willingness of our government to lie to American citizens if it believes the cost is worth it...I would not be surprised in the least if the allegations that Blackwater committed offensive operations were true.
Will we find out for sure? Probably not until everyone involved is old or long dead.
First link ...to a James Risen article, lol.
Second link ...only a single unnamed source about an alleged operation in 2006. And, the only named claimant on another point is Tony Shaffer. Also, the article circles back to referencing the NY Times, let me guess...James Risen article?
“For what it’s worth (and your mileage may vary on their veracity), there were allegations reported on at the time that Blackwater did in fact engage in offensive operations, and that their assignments were not purely defensive.”
I was too busy laughing at his posting to reply. Thanks for doing it for me.
“I would not be surprised in the least if the allegations that Blackwater committed offensive operations were true.”
What allegations? I was over there for four years and worked proximate to Blackwater often. The State Department controlled/ruled everything, just as with AFGN. If you know anything about State’s behavior in foreign countries you’d know there is N-F-W they take chances disaffecting host nations particularly by condoning clandestine operations within their host’s nation. They don’t like the DoD or anything military. It’s not their ‘thing’. If it’s not cocktail-party etiquette it’s gauche and repudiated.