Iraqi Government To File Criminal Charges Against Blackwater Staffers
By Logan Murphy Saturday Sep 22, 2007 7:01pm
Heather sent us this video from a CNN story which includes interviews with Iraqis who witnessed and survived the Blackwater attack. This video was done before the story below broke, but the video gives a lot of background and brings perspective to the horrific nature of the attack.
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Via CNN:
The Iraqi government will file criminal charges against employees of U.S. security firm Blackwater who are blamed for a gun battle in Baghdad in which civilians were killed, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said Sunday.
It is unclear how Iraqi courts will attempt to bring the contractors to trial. A July report from the Congressional Research Service said the Iraqi government has no authority over private security firms contracted by the U.S. government.
The Iraqi government claims that as many as 20 civilians were killed by the private contractors, who were guarding a U.S. diplomatic convoy.
Iraqi officials, who claim the shootings were unprovoked, dispute the U.S. claim that the guards were responding to an attack and said on Saturday they had a videotape that showed the Blackwater guards opened fire without provocation. Read more...
The Iraqi government is trying to uphold the law of their sovereign nation, but the president of another country is standing in the way. They are calling for the U.S. to replace Blackwater with another contractor, but what are the odds of that happening? I would like to think the Iraqis would stand up to their occupiers, but history shows us they won't get very far.
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So... when do we get to see the videotape?
War Watch
AP - 3 minutes ago
BAGHDAD - The U.S. military accused Iran on Sunday of smuggling surface-to-air missiles and other advanced weapons into Iraq for use against American troops.
Am I being told that our military is not able to perform the "SPECIAL" duties that Blackwater performs?
In other news... 28 Iraqi Government Officials have been kidnapped and executed by Iranian backed Terrorist Insurgent Al CiAduh members with a zesty lemon humus on their breath...
And another 14 Government officials were killed in a suicide car bomb attack inside the green zone... certainly the work of those humus eating Iranian backed Al CiAduh terrorists.
President Too stupid to eat a pretzel promised to send more troops to secure the country from ever really being free. "The Tearrists, hate freedoms and crazy lawyers and aktivist judges" said the President at a press conference today at the Blackwater international shooting range and training facility.
Bush cronies own Blackwater, so the chance of anything happening to them is nil.
L.A. Confidential @ 2:
...and are these weapons marked with Latin lettering instead of Arabic, European numbers instead of Arabic, dates in US format (the only country in the world to follow that convention), and abbreviations of English words, just like those other weapons that they supposedly smuggled into Iraq about a year ago?
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when was the first time the US used something similar to Blackwater? To the best of my knowledge this is the first time we have had a private army(mercenaries)(terrrists) doing the dirty work for the US military.
Ummmmm............... L. Paul Bremer's 100 orders?
Specifically Order 17. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A757-2004Jun23.html
It's hard to see how the Iraqi government stands a chance of justice on this.
See Antonia Juhasz's 'the Bush Agenda' for more of why.
In a just world, Blackwater would be immediately broken up. Their very existance is a disgrace.
And they're coming to a town near you.................
Regarding CNN, did anyone else notice Wolf Blitzer's passing reference to "flaming liberals" today on Late Edition? Has anyone ever heard him remark on "Flaming Fundamentalists" or "Flaming Right-wingers?
I don't know which is the more disturbing...that our mythology of incredible creatures, monsters, ghouls, demons, devils and fiends has some basis in actual factual existence, past or present....or the lengths humans have gone to, creating such vile monsters secured in parables, fables to express and take blame the depth and breadth of the dark regions and potential inside a great many people; thereby distancing themselves from the atrocities they/we perpetuate in the name of the god or devil of the age. If the devil, or the god, makes them do it, they aren't responsible.
No one ever is to blame.
Remember when British agent-provocatuers dressed as Arabs were arrested after being caught with weapons and explosives and murdering Iraqi police?
Agun battle? How the hell can it be a gun battle when the civilians do not have guns?Nothing makes sense anymore,but not just in Iraq.Things don`t seem to make much sense in America much more. One thing is pretty consistent,though.If you are not rich you`re screwed,That`s the word on the street anyway,and if your Black, Hispanic,or Muslim, you`re really screwed.
I`m going to re-start Zen meditation again.At least I`ll learn to accept my suffering.
We will be greeted as perpetrators.
Blackwater's reputation is destroyed after this event.
Let's not forget, the reason for the outrage in Falluja, was not because insurgents burned and beheaded members of the US military. Insurgents in Falluja burned and beheaded employees of an independent US corporation known as Blackwater.
Let's also not forget that for all of Blackwater's bravado and rhetoric (so many of their employees are quick to proclaim that they're "better" than our military), that no member of the US military has ever been compromised in the Middle East, as badly as those employees were compromised.
Now that Blackwater has this additional stain on their reputation, any and all local insurgents worth their salt, will easily locate and engage Blackwater employees, specifically.
Blackwater is not "fighting" the "war" in Iraq. Their specific orders are to secure US diplomats.
Moving forward, you can expect every Blackwater employee to be fired upon by a multitude of military and political forces, in Iraq.
What Coalition diplomat would want to be surrounded by that kind of potential security breach?
Blackwater's reputation is finished. Hot on the heels of this, their contracts are soon to be pulled. No contracts will be pulled because of Iraqi governing bodies' demands... but merely, out of Blackwater's slow decline into irrelevance.
It won't matter that the Pentagon somehow manages to temporarily retain Blackwater's contracts. What will matter is that folks like John McCain will need another photo-op walking through a market... and when this need arises, they'll look at Blackwater... they'll remember the massive security compromise in 2004, and they'll look at the overwhelming desire for greater security compromises on the ground, right now... and they'll find a more capable bodyguard.
Fuck you, Erik Prince. Your arrogance will be your company's downfall. You may have been a noble NAVY SEAL, but you're a shitty little excuse for a Chief Executive Officer.
Uh....exuse me, sir but.....
You didn't check all yer history.
Pretty damn sure General Gordon, or his ghost, would not agree with your assertion here.
Bob Noel @ 12:
Yes I do...
Although finding the source stories to back that up on the MSM... are oddly not there anymore...
Now they are not hiding anything .. They would NEVER do that..
Even though BBC, etc that originally reported it have a page that says this story no longer exists...
You must trust in the Ministry of Truth Brother...
Let's see some more crocodile tears by our Media next time some of these Blackwater assholes end up shot, their bodies burned and hanged from a bridge. The Bush regime may think it can protect these mercenaries from the Iraqi courts, but it can't protect them from the Iraqi people. Now,here's the really fucked up downside: the insurgents aren't going to differentiate between American soldiers and American civilian mercs. To them, a dead American is a dead American, period. It's very possible that our troops will pay the tab for whatever atrocities these "contractors" have committed.
I'll bet Blackwater isn't too scared. Iraq is not a sovereign state, but a protectorate like much of China was early in the last century. Proof? Americans can't be prosecuted by Iraqi courts, and since the mercenaries don't fall under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, they are above the law. Thanks, Prezidunz Bush!
All the contractors in Iraq have complete immunity, they can do anything and never face charges... The Iraqi's can claim they will bring charges but BushCO saw foresaw this problem and legislated accordingly.
We've all heard it. When the Iraqi government stands up and runs their country we can leave. What not one media person or pundit points out is that WE won't let them. They did NOT want us to arm the Sunni but we did anyway. They want blackwater out and held accountable for killing civilians and WE refuse. Who's country is it again? no wonder Iraq is so fubar, bush is running (ruining) it too.
every time the junta has privatized something it has ended up in disaster. The robber baron era has to end. Blackwater can go to Hell
Janet @ 21:
Janet, how it works is the Iraqi government is supposed to stand up and do what it's told by Washington. See? Very simple
I bet if the pressure gets too strong that Blackwater will do the right thing and leave Iraq. Just like a fly by night contractor, they'll just change their name and bingo a whole new ballgame. All sorts of new clients to bilk and innocent people to kill.
gene214 @ 23:
Yea I guess, since it's working out so well here doing whatever this administration wants. Thanks
rduke @ 4:
Well this is one way to keep blackoutoforder pockets lined.
____________________________________________
I'm Glad they are pursuing it!
It's a clear case of murder on blackwater's part. Now we aren't to believe our lying eyes when it comes to the the vid tape Iraqi has.
blackwater is just another name for oil, just as Jed Clampett called oil Texas' tea.
arroyo @ 10:
I didn`t hear that because I don`t have cable,but I`m sick of flaming assholes judging me because I care about my fellow man.Picket the news assholes and boycott their advertisers.I am so sick of these jerks I could spit.In fact I did spit.I`m going shopping.I`m going to buy a bunch of stuff."
"Iraqi Government To File Criminal Charges Against Blackwater Staffers"
Good. Can we extradite the bastards back there? If so, this will go a long way towards cleaning out North Carolina.
mudshark @ 8:
The closest we have come to doing this in our times is the Iran-Contra scandal in funding insurgence for the Nicaragua and for that we nailed Reagan administration and Ole North and he been pardon for his role in that affair.
Now we have something much worse and not a blink of an eye from our congress.
We will have to deal with it someday. All of our national guard are over in Iraq and at the highest risk of getting killed for not having the resource for armor, and they had to haul all their equipment to Iraq, and are not allowed to bring it back after the war would be over. Meanwhile we have a compound for Blackwater being built that will have all of the war machine latest equipment, and the black water outnumber and out gun, and out maneuver our own army getting set up in America.
Blitzer thinks that anybody who is against attacking Israel's latest enemy of choice is a flaming liberal. It is not too surprising, since his previous job was as lobbiest and writer for AIPAC. (This is true, for a long time I thought it was just propaganda.)
http://www.wrmea.com/archives/July_2007/0707016.html
Capabilty Jones @ 19:
They do fall under UCMJ. Blackwater officially has to abide by the UCMJ. So that's not the issue here. The issue is the same one that seems to trip up so many people in their understanding of Iraq and US int'l affairs generally.
The US says it wants democracy but it doesn't. Ta-da! Once you get beyond the rubric, its no surprise that occupied countries can't prosecute the US for crimes. The fact that this is even being discussed to vigorously underscores the depth of naivety and the unsophisticated nature of the typical US politico.
CNN will report that Bush wants democracy in Iraq. Then the US population analyzes each event as if the goal were democracy in Iraq. Then ppl wonder why they have a difficult time making heads or tails of what's happening. The assumption of the pursuit of democracy is a faulty premise. Once you get beyond the rose-colored glasses view of the US reality of empire, then things can make sense and there is no need to have long threads discussing whether or not the Iraqi govt will 'stand up' to the US.
Gimme a break, people. This is a f/king military occupation for chrissakes.
I heard on one report about blackwater that they called it a turkey shoot...and another was a blackwater employee walked up and shot an Iraqi for no reason...the company sent him home..That's all...I hope this makes it to the Hague....with boosh and his cohorts with it.
burnt @ 15:
Very well said, my friend.
These are the same people chimpy will use to turn on US citizens. lackingorder is a dangerous and unnecessary branch of chimpy's fourth regime. If bremer didn't use the military in the beginning of the invasion and occupation of Iraq, they shouldn't need our finest in this needless, unjust war now.
mudshark @ 8:
The closest we have done this is with funding insurgent for the Nicaragua thru the Iran/contra scandal, and for that we nailed Ole North and he has been pardon for that.
Now we have sent all our National Guard and their equipment ship to Iraq. They are the highest casualties in Iraq and the most ill prepare for the war, while Blackwater take over the role of the Guards. Blackwater outnumber, outgun, and outmaneuver our own arm forces and setting up shop in America. The national guard will not be able to fetch for the equipment to return to America if the war ever ends. Seeing what they have and are able to do in Iraq without due process of rules of engagement, leaves me to wonder what they have in mind when they come home to America?
My point is that this Blackwater is many times worse than what Ole North has done, and the congress doesn't even blink their eyes to the threat of our nation well being. History have shown that men rule nation by fear.
I remember seeing a report on the various security companies in Iraq and the comment that while some of those working there were ex-soldiers, others had little to no military training at all. They are just iidiots who were enticed by the promise of being able to play Wild West shoot-em-up and a big paycheck.
Part of the problem with the contractors is also they feel that they are all alone. They can't count on the US military to bail them out, so they are even more on edge than US soldiers who can radio for help (but the US soldiers can't always count on help arriving in time either).
We don't want or need private armies. That there is any perceived need for them, either abroad or at home, is not a good sign for a functioning democracy.
Good as Iraqis stand up. We can stand down. I'm glad they are taking this assertive action. It's a good sign.
I’ll bet Blackwater isn’t too scared. Iraq is not a sovereign state, but a protectorate like much of China was early in the last century. Proof? Americans can’t be prosecuted by Iraqi courts, and since the mercenaries don’t fall under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, they are above the law. Thanks, Prezidunz Bush!
---------------------------
They do fall under UCMJ. Blackwater officially has to abide by the UCMJ. So that’s not the issue here. The issue is the same one that seems to trip up so many people in their understanding of Iraq and US int’l affairs generally.
The US says it wants democracy but it doesn’t. Ta-da! Once you get beyond the rubric, its no surprise that occupied countries can’t prosecute the US for crimes. The fact that this is even being discussed to vigorously underscores the depth of naivety and the unsophisticated nature of the typical US politico.
CNN will report that Bush wants democracy in Iraq. Then the US population analyzes each event as if the goal were democracy in Iraq. Then ppl wonder why they have a difficult time making heads or tails of what’s happening. The assumption of the pursuit of democracy is a faulty premise. Once you get beyond the rose-colored glasses view of the US reality of empire, then things can make sense and there is no need to have long threads discussing whether or not the Iraqi govt will ’stand up’ to the US.
Gimme a break, people. This is a f/king military occupation for chrissakes.
Quote This Comment September 23rd, 2007 at 5:01 PM - PDT
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They do fall under UCMJ. Blackwater officially has to abide by the UCMJ. So that’s not the issue here.
-----------Ok, I'll buy that. Blackwater "officially" has to obey US law- but WTF are the Iraqis going to do about it? I am sure that General Patreaus isn't going to upset the apple cart if they only greased some Iraqis. Just declare them "terrorists" and add to the body count.
For that matter, what can the US government do about it, with Blackwater providing security for our people? They are too big and powerful to mess with by anybody over there.
Iraq is not a democracy, and I don't care how many crooked elections they hold!
They should file it as a a war crime with the Hague.
The file is huge by now.
Geez.
Blackwater - Barbarians for Hire!!
The only reason that Blackwater would open fire on civilians at this time is to inflame the Iraqis and keep this war going for Bush.
So, if Iraqi police troops suddenly turn tables and slaughter a Blackwater group in an ambush, they won't be prosecuted ?
Oh yeah.
What group of stupid idiots would fire on a crowd because they thought they head a bomb go off a mile away?
What a bunch of dicwads.
Yep, they're sure up on their game. They wetted their panties when they heard a bomb go off a mile away. It's a invasion going on, assholes. And you can't tell if a bomb is going off next to your crazy ass or a mile away? GTFOOH
I wonder how many minorities are over in Iraq under lackingorder's rule.
This is what happens when chimpy puts a bunch of untouchable yodels in charge. You get almost 200,000 little runamuck chimpys.
One last thing, captain chimpy crunch isn't a commander-n-anything nor is he one of his stupid made up chimpy word either "decider," of our finest.
chimpy: balanced budget? Yeah in 2012.
What a useless, lying, egomaniac
I don't think all the contractors are bad, I would bet that most of those working as such in Iraq aren't out to do bad things, it's the type of combat environment there that makes for these kinds of atrocities by both the contractors or soldiers. This kind of warfare always ends up taking a huge toll on the local population.
There is a good program on what it's like to be in Iraq on Frontline called, 'Frontline: Private Warriors'
Janet @ 21:
All too true. Break their legs and then tell the World we'll leave when they can stand on their own two feet. Then break their legs again. And tell the World we'll leave when they can stand on their own two feet. Then break their legs again..............
"I would like to think the Iraqis would stand up to their occupiers, but history shows us they won’t get very far."
Didn't they try something like that in Falluja? All they got was Willy Pete for their "standing up".
The BUSH/CHENEY/LIEBERMAN body count is now over ONE MILLION AND RISING!
...and for this unspeakable war crime, and uncounted and now uncountable more CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY committed by these fascist bastards, THE ENTIRE AMERICAN BODY POLITIC has already been accused, tried and convicted in the eyes of all the gods who ever were as well as in the eyes of rational human beings all over the world.....
How much more INSANITY ARE WE, THE PEOPLE GOING TO TOLERATE BEFORE WE REMOVE THIS PESTILENCE FROM POWER?
Hopefully the court cases that Blackwater is fighting now will keep them from building a new training camp in my county, but support is needed to Stop Blackwater in Potrero
And how do we stop the rest of them?
Hey John,
Check out the 60 minute interview with Iran's President.
Pelley was a rude jerk with a message from w.
The report to date makes it seem like the Blackwater convoy got stuck in traffic. There was an explosion some distance away. Someone in the convoy starting shooting. Then everyone started shooting everything in sight. I don't know if this is what happened, but it's how things like this happen when people get stressed out, frightened, mean and trigger happy. If the scenario according to Blackwater is accurate, and they actually had been ambushed in the midst of so much congestion, they would have been raked with rocket and small arms fire, most likely suffering some heavy damage. If they had taken fire from a sniper, as I have heard they claim, their response was clearly disproportionate. Anyway you slice it, these very highly paid mercenaries seriously screwed up.
What Malaki doesn't get is that even if there were another company to take the place of the current tormenter, it would still be the same christian falangists that make up blackwater. They would just take a different name.
So BlackWater is the blame for all of Iraqs problems...Is that the pablum CNN is force feeding us with now!!?!?!?!
Don't indict the Pentagon/BushCo...scapegoat a third party vendor.
sulphurdunn @ 48:
Exactly...If that was the scenario, military professionalism is a joke. If you threw me and my girlfriends out in the middle of Baghdad, you would expect that type of reaction.
Imagine if someone tried to pull that bullshit off in this country.
Sounds to me, Amir might now be the guy who would like to blow up a couple of Yanks. Blame him? When will we learn?
This is all I needed to read. As usual, the Iraqi *ahem!* government is full of shit.
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/28/let-freedom-reign/
Other notable moments from memory lane:
“The Iraqi people have their country back,” President Bush said at a NATO summit in Istanbul, Turkey. […]
Bush, whose Iraq policy has drawn criticism abroad and, more recently, at home, was passed a note from National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice that put it this way: “Mr. President, Iraq is sovereign.”
Bush wrote “Let freedom reign!” on the note and passed it back, according to White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
I guess is depends on what sovereignty is.
If I were in his situation, and I could not get justice, I would want revenge. Not necessarily the right thing, but a human feeling when backed into a corner.
PunPhace @ 52:
Well, you can certainly blame BushCo for taking away accountability for Blackwater's actions. But you can also blame Blackwater for carrying out the actions.
Perhaps one of the problems here is Blackwater is a wacky religious-right company? It certainly does not help matters when mercenaries think they have the keys to heaven and everyone else is a damned non-entity.
One thing for sure is that the wealthiest in America with their tax cuts can dream of their clear conscience.
Because it is 40% of all allocated war funds that go to contractors as Blackwater.
The wealthy tax cuts prove they do not support the War and its killing (at least in their twisted consciences). It is the middle class that is funding the war and the Blackwaters.
It is our tax dollars at work............................................I'd rather my taxes go to welfare queens.
Wolf is a c*cksucker.
I saw him at the airport.
Trolls like a tory.
Blackwater are baby killers.
Kill like Krauts circa WWII.
The scum rises to the top these da
This was a war crime. The Iraqis need to exercise their sovereignty on this issue, because the Bush junta's chief concern is that nobody ever be held accountable for their crimes. The blackwater massacre is a test case of whether the bad guys can get away with mass murder.
The Iraqi government could do more than ask Blackwater to leave their country. Out of the blue, they could ask all American forces to leave Iraq within a certain number of days. Something along the lines of, "Thank you but we'll take it from here. Goodbye." Such a request might reduce Sunni-Shia tensions ... not feeling helpless can do that.
What would BushCo do? Ignore their request? The rest of the world might have something to say about that, including countries with nukes such as Russia. My, my, that would put Chimpie in an awkward position now, wouldn't it?
Capabilty Jones @ 19:
You're right, they don't fall under UCMJ. chimpy basically gave them executive privilege, like he has for all his crooks.
The irony: Iraq, not the US government, is taking action to oversee contractors.
Fuck you, Erik Prince. Your arrogance will be your company’s downfall. You may have been a noble NAVY SEAL, but you’re a shitty little excuse for a Chief Executive Officer.
I am with you man. That little shithead never had to work for a thing in his life. Just like Dubya. Now some may say "oh being a navy seal is tough". True enough. But it is one thing to work and succeed to survive and live. It is entirely another to do it as a hobby.
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