Blackwater security firm banned from Iraq Options

[cupcake]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/17/...main/index.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's Interior Ministry has revoked the license of Blackwater USA, an American security firm whose contractors are blamed for a Sunday gunbattle in Baghdad that left eight civilians dead.

Sunday's firefight took place near Nusoor Square, an area that straddles the predominantly Sunni Arab neighborhoods of Mansour and Yarmouk.

In addition to the fatalities, 14 people were wounded, most of them civilians, the official said.

The ministry said the incident began around midday, when a convoy of sport utility vehicles came under fire from unidentified gunmen in the square.

The men in the SUVs, described by witnesses as Westerners, returned fire, and the witnesses said the vehicles are the kind used by Western security firms.

"We have revoked Blackwater's license to operate in Iraq. As of now they are not allowed to operate anywhere in the Republic of Iraq," Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf said Monday. "The investigation is ongoing, and all those responsible for Sunday's killing will be referred to Iraqi justice."

Blackwater is one of many security firms contracted by the U.S. government during the Iraq war. An estimated 25,000-plus employees of private security firms are working in Iraq, guarding diplomats, reconstruction workers and government officials. As many as 200 are believed to have been killed on the job, according to U.S. congressional reports.

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Mixed feelings...

One is that this isn't 04 anymore...which was the wild west. PMCs should not have free reign to shoot em up and do as they please...we're trying to stabilize a country here and that is counterproductive.

Secondly, it only takes one guy in your team to start a firefight in a general vicinity. They got ambushed and engaged the wrong folks out of frustration. Once he has engaged everyone else goes in balls out on his target. If he's "off" so is everyone else. Sucks, but you get paid over 200 G's to not "get frustrated" and to positively ID your target. Unprofessional at the least.

Third, BW is operating under a state dept contract and shoulf NOT be hung out to dry and handed over to the Iraqis. If US troops aren't liable to Iraqi courts then neither should contractors who are operating under the blanket of the US govt. I never thought I'd see this day. Bring them back here and hold them accountable like the Marines in the Haditha incident. Leaving them to some half-ass govt that hates us is utter bullshit.

I guess dyn, triple c, and soc are going to be getting all the sweet gigs now...time to dust off that C.V. lol

[The Fanatic]

from the news last night it seems highly unlikely that the US will pull BW out. the threat is just the hadjis saving face.

Yeah, it makes sense considering we are the only force that brings any legitimacy to the Iraqi government.