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.

___________________________

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

[impala454]

yeah i heard this on the radio... that is pretty crappy. i guess it is good to see the iraqi government take control of an issue though. i'm almost positive this is the company my cousin works for over there though... heh hope he still has a job.

[cupcake]

well BW still has contracts all over the globe. my buddy just got back from a-stan.

besides, they have arguably the best training facility in the world. everyone, from feds to mil, uses it.

but this is a big blow losing this contract. I'm more worried about the dudes getting fried.

[impala454]

i'll have to email my cousin and ask about it.

[Seeker]

Good riddance, Black Water is run by a bunch of neo-con cronies and will be used by Bush to murder American citizens when the time comes to declare marshall law. You saw what happened in New Orleans right? The Feds called in Blackwater to confiscate all the guns from law-abiding citizens after hurricane Katrina. I can't wait for them to try that shit in Dallas, you'll have a couple of dead Blackwater cronies on your hands. Their heads will be on stakes in front of my house if they ever try to violate my 2nd amendment right.

[impala454]

The Feds called in Blackwater to confiscate all the guns from law-abiding citizens who were shooting at rescue helicopters and looting everything in sight after hurricane Katrina.

fixed


oh and got email back from my cousin, he said the company he works for is out of the UK. same type of company though, hired guns basically.

[Seeker]

Clearly you forgot the story of Blackwater going door to door throughout neighborhoods in New Orleans confiscating guns from ALL citizens, law-abiding or not. There was even one news report of Blackwater assaulting an elderly grandma who refused to give up her gun because then she'd have no protection from the real criminals. Don't post unless you know what the fuck you're talking about dude.

[impala454]

clearly you're still delusional as hell and take any small story you get and blow it up into some post with the words "Bush" "neo-con" and some type of conspiracy.

i believe they did declare marshall law in that time anyways didn't they?

[cupcake]

fixed
oh and got email back from my cousin, he said the company he works for is out of the UK. same type of company though, hired guns basically.

probably aegis. if so...that is a superb firm.

Lance, BW was contracted by the dept of homeland security to secure the lawlessness down there after the cops split and the guard was busy with trying to unfuck the logistical infastructure of the joint. you have a beef with that, take it up with the DHS.

my personal thoughts on BW...they tend to be a bit more cowboy than is my style. meaning, they will shoot first and without prejudice. you get within 100 meters of their convoy and you will be lit up, as is advertised on their vehicles via signs. I tend to think some things aren't so black and white and that situation dictates.

one of my best buds went over to them because they pay the highest and he's confirmed the guys are pretty wild. skilled operators, only they are no longer mil and not held accountable by the UCMJ. it's unfair to paint them all as doc holidays, because he is the consumate professional, but that's the rep the company has earned.

any American PMC that fires at US Marines is suspect to overzealousness in my eyes. that did not sit well with me.

[impala454]

yeah aegis that's it

[cupcake]

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

[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.

[FORSAKENR320]

it's unfair to paint them all as doc holidays,

"i'm your huckleberry"