Blackwater's Baghdad rampage broke rules: report

[Praxius]

A sign at the entrance to Blackwater USA, in Moyock N.C., is shown in this Jan. 23, 2007, file photo. (AP / The Daily Advance, Joon Powell)

CTV.ca | Blackwater's Baghdad rampage broke rules: report

WASHINGTON -- A Blackwater Worldwide spokeswoman says the company supports "stringent accountability" for any wrongdoing in the wake of a New York Times report that federal investigators have found that the shooting deaths of at least 14 Iraqi civilians by Blackwater guards in Baghdad nearly two months ago violated rules of deadly force. The Times cited unidentified civilian and military officials in reporting for Wednesday's editions that the killings of at least 14 of the 17 Iraqi civilians shot by Blackwater personnel guarding a U.S. Embassy convoy were unjustified and violated standards in place governing the use of deadly force. Responding to the Times report, Anne Tyrrell, a Blackwater spokeswoman, said the company "supports the stringent accountability of the industry. If it is determined that one person was complicit in the wrongdoing, we would support accountability in that. The key people in this have not spoken with investigators." She added that the company will withhold further comment "until the findings are made available." A government official familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that no conclusions have been reached about any of the fatalities. A State Department official said he was not aware that the department had been informed of any findings. Both requested anonymity because the investigation is still under way. The Times said the Justice Department is already reviewing the findings even though the FBI is still investigating the Sept. 16 shootings. No evidence supports assertions by Blackwater employees that they were fired upon by Iraqi civilians, but the FBI has concluded that three of the deaths may have been justified under rules that allow lethal force in response to an imminent threat, the paper reported. "Without a doubt, the teams were faced with deadly force that day," the Blackwater spokeswoman said. Investigators have concluded that as many as five of the company's guards opened fire during the shootings, the newspaper reported. One guard has become the focus of the investigation, the Times reported, because that guard was responsible for several deaths. The shootings took place in Baghdad's Nisoor Square. Blackwater contends that its convoy was attacked before it opened fire, but the Iraqi government's investigation concluded that the shootings were unprovoked. State Department officials have said it has offered limited immunity to private security contractors involved in shootings in Iraq. They disagreed with law enforcement officials that such actions could jeopardize prosecutions in the Sept. 16 incident. Rep. David E. Price, D-N.,C., has sponsored legislation to apply U.S. criminal law to contractors serving overseas and called for the Justice Department to hold someone accountable for the shootings. "We've always supported any productive moves toward accountability, including Congressman Price's bill," said Tyrrell, the Blackwater spokeswoman. Paul Cox, a spokesman for Price, said late Tuesday that "we don't have any independent verification of this. I don't have any access to the report." But he said if the FBI concludes there was criminal wrongdoing, "just because there are deficiencies in the law, and Congressman Price is trying to rectify that, that's no excuse not to prosecute." "For him, it just underscores that the administration should work with Congress in trying to pass this bill," added Cox.

So now basically they are saying that it was an unprovoked attack..... all I see are words and no action... more dilly dallying around what to do and the technical loopholes one can find to pass the buck.

More info to come I imagine.

[Milton Bradley]

Just to illustrate how there is no connection, and no "conspiracy", we look to this little story making the news today.


State Dept. inspector-general bows out of Blackwater probe - CNN.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The State Department's inspector-general announced Wednesday he would recuse himself from decisions involving security contractor Blackwater, after admitting his brother serves as an adviser to the company. Howard Krongard already was under scrutiny by the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee, led by California Democrat Henry Waxman. Waxman said Krongard's oversight of construction of the nearly $600 million U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, was conducted with "reckless incompetence," and that he refused to pursue allegations of fraud and labor trafficking by contractor First Kuwaiti. Republicans on the committee accused the Democratic majority of conducting a "drive-by" investigation. During a hearing Wednesday morning, Krongard first denied that his brother had any role with Blackwater -- but reversed himself after being confronted with evidence that his brother had attended a Blackwater advisory board meeting this week.

[another day]

get these nutjobs off the streets and behind bars.

the only thing worse then a gun crazed wannabe mercenary is one that works for the government.

[Milton Bradley]

I watched the Congressional hearings for this case on C-SPAN last night, and it was beyond beliefe.


Howard Krongard sat, and lied right to the face of those posing the questions until they provided him with a peice of paper that proved his brothers position, proving him a liar.


But hey, there is no big conspiracy at the top, or anything.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Milton Bradley I watched the Congressional hearings for this case on C-SPAN last night, and it was beyond beliefe. Howard Krongard sat, and lied right to the face of those posing the questions until they provided him with a peice of paper that proved his brothers position, proving him a liar.

When were these hearings on? Do you know if and when they'll be on again?

Grandpa h.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: grandpa When were these hearings on? Do you know if and when they'll be on again? Grandpa h.

Don't know. C-SPAN is difficult to predict.


C-SPAN.org probably has it, but I'm too tired to provide the link tonight.

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Bush's use of these and other mercenaries has been far greater than many in the USA can understand, but they very soon will.

The mercenary has no regards for the laws of the land or country for whom they fight, money is well worthy of shedding blood

[grandpa]

Quote by: Arawn-ap-Hywel Bush's use of these and other mercenaries has been far greater than many in the USA can understand, but they very soon will. The mercenary has no regards for the laws of the land or country for whom they fight, money is well worthy of shedding blood

The government often does act like the Mafia, and the "protection racket" ethic is being applied on a massive scale. Mercenaries are just another link in the chain.

Grandpa h.