US Military Reports Confirm Unprovoked Blackwater Shooting
By Logan Murphy Thursday Oct 04, 2007 5:49pm(guest blogged by BillW)
Just days after the Blackwater CEO and founder Erik Prince's testimony under oath that his personnel " have never intentionally killed civilians ," we now learn that US military reports confirm the Iraqi Govt's account of Blackwater's mercenaries' unprovoked opening fire on unarmed Iraqis:
Download | play Download | play
The U.S. military reports appear to corroborate the Iraqi government's contention that Blackwater was at fault in the shooting incident in Nisoor Square, in which hospital records say at least 14 people were killed and 18 were wounded.
"It was obviously excessive, it was obviously wrong," said the U.S. military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the incident remains the subject of several investigations. "The civilians that were fired upon, they didn't have any weapons to fire back at them. And none of the IP or any of the local security forces fired back at them," he added, using a military abbreviation for the Iraqi police. The Blackwater guards appeared to have fired grenade launchers in addition to machine guns, the official said.
Yesterday, over "strong opposition" from the White House, the House passed "the Blackwater Bill" by a whopping veto-proof 389-30 that would expand US court jurisdiction to all US civilian contractors working in combat zones, and Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry are said to be proposing to similar legislation in the Senate.
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Draft Blackwater Mercs!!!!
Video Not working!
gOd forbid these idiots come back to the states to do business on a permanent basis.
Blackwater is a result of the all-volunteer army.
Don't want a draft?
Then accept Blackwater.
California Dave @ 1:
Well, they're already in the warzone, so a draft would be redundant. Instead, just cut their salary by 90% and take away their spiffy armor.
Prince serves as a board member of Christian Freedom International, a non-profit group with a mission of helping "Christians who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ."
Wonderful. You believe in Jesus? No? BOOM!
Seems that even the Repubs in Congress are little concerned about having a independent army within our borders. Whose to say that Blackwater will stay pro-American.
Blackwater - an army for the highest bidder
Blackwater: The true phony soldiers.
That the WH was "strongly opposed" to this is a yawn.
When was the Bush Administration ever FOR transparency and accountability.
WHITE HOUSE DISTORTS SCIENCE AGAIN: OIL AND BLACKWATER DO MIX!
L.A. Confidential @ 6:
That's pretty much 97% of Iraq, isn't it?
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/scandal-brewing-at-oral-roberts-u/n20071005...
Rice issues new rules for Blackwater USA
AP - 12 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ordered federal agents on Friday to ride with Blackwater USA escorts of U.S. diplomatic convoys in Baghdad to tighten oversight after a shooting in which private guards are accused of killing 13 Iraqi civilians.
(Bill Taxpayers of Course)
VietVet8666 @ 4:
Because the war isn't supported by the people the pols are afraid to enact a draft and afraid to pay for it. Shucks their even afraid to pull out of it.. Even though our national security is now starting to look like it will soon depend on it.
Screw national security, just get re-elected baby!
Will we actually see a veto override before he leaves? Just one would be nice.
War funding is a non-starter, but it would be nice to see an "insure poor kids and arrest murderers" bill manage to squeek through.
nobody here wants a draft, i suspect
so, in that case, accept the consequences
one is Blackwater
another is shrub
Blue Buddha @ 10:
Yes no doubt they must enjoy blowing away all those evil muslims.
Blackwater is a result of the all-volunteer army.
Don’t want a draft?
Then accept Blackwater.
Horse hockey. Blackwater is a result of a corrupt administration wanting to fight a war off the books, without any oversight, without anyone being able to know what they are up to, accountable to no one.
No one should find any of this "acceptable." It's treasonable.
Who's money is paying Blackwater?
That would be an interesting investigation.
Hillary would use Blackwater.
She is an ends-justify-the-means person.
VietVet8666 @ 19:
I think Hillary will just make sure everyone has an endless supply of doritos and beer rather then go with Blackwater.
what do you guys expect? They have no clue who the fucking enemy is. It's not right, but can you blame them?
Oh wait a minute here. It's getting nasty now.
In a scathing attack, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards went after frontrunner Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, Friday, calling her a "corporate Democrat," comparing top Clinton campaign strategist Mark Penn to former Bush aide Karl Rove, and assailing Penn's ties to Blackwater USA, the embattled private firm of military contractors accused by the Iraqi government of firing upon and killing 11 unarmed Iraqi civilians last month.
"Bush has been a perfect example of cronyism because Blackwater has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to republicans and to President Bush," Edwards said while campaigning in Iowa. "I also saw this morning that Senator Clinton's primary advisor, Mark Penn who is like her Karl Rove - his firm is representing Blackwater."
Blue Buddha @ 5:
That's exactly what drafting them would do...
The corruption enablers who voted "No" (all Repubs, no surprise):
Alexander
Baker
Barton (TX)
Boustany
Broun (GA)
Burgess
Buyer
Cannon
Deal (GA)
Doolittle
Franks (AZ)
Hastert
Hoekstra
Hunter
Johnson, Sam
Lamborn
Linder
McCrery
Miller (FL)
Miller, Gary
Pitts
Price (GA)
Renzi
Rogers (AL)
Rohrabacher
Sessions
Shadegg
Tancredo
Westmoreland
Young (AK)
In Washington this week, all eyes were on the Blackwater hearings. But the relentless focus on potential atrocities committed by unaccountable, grotesquely overpaid private security firms in Iraq and Afghanistan obscures the larger issue for the United States. That is, mercenary forces simply should have no place in the national defense of an American democracy.
For the details, see:
"The Meaning of Blackwater."
Angry One @ 25:
Everything in the media is designed to keep W. Bush off the Public Radar. Much of the time it works. Everytime Bush ends up in the spotlight we get a flood of disinformation to distract us from him.
And what about the men behind the curtain?
When we going to expose that?
Blue, I agree completely!!!!
Im shocked NPR today at lunch said Condi had sent investigators over to make sure everything is ok,, and I swear to you,, the NPR ladies said everything was ok,, and that steps would be taken to make sure nothing else happened.. But wait,, my Goodman said that the State Dept person in Iraq that wrote the report was in fact a Blackwater contractor.. shocking.. Im just shocked.
L.A. Confidential @ 22:
differnt day different dictater
This House bill would seem to address actions taken by Blackwater personnel in the future. Will those contractors who recently killed Iraqi civilians be held accountable for their actions or will the only thing that will be done will be to simply terminate the Blackwater employees from their contracts?
Want a different tomorow?
"Put A Lid On It"
First let me say there is no reason for Erik Prince to go around saying "I can't talk because something is under investigation." There is nothing that can be said that would tarnish facts,evidence, or the oder of events. However, delaying or preventing disclosure could be a way of "putting a lid" on the facts to spin the incident in a favorable direction.
Talk about above the law; Blackwater is operating above the law because there is little respect for the Iraqi developing government. This is dehumanizing to the Iraqi people, and if found guilty, Blackwater and those who hired them should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Yes, Mr Bush, Iraqi people to matter and are not filler for your "cool" army like guards to practice their cool procedures, complete with American made equipment, on Iraqi citizens.
I hope something can be done to bring some since of hope to this whole Iraqi situation. Is there some light in this dark event? I could only imagine what it must be like to live in Iraq's hell. To think, American righteousness crated it is very discouraging and scary. Will we,as a nation, ever be able to take a step back to look at what we have done to a people?
The war in Iraq has got to end.
Joseph
L.A. Confidential @ 12:
Excuse me? Every American in Iraq is stretched so thin that s/he squeaks, and Ms. Rice wants guards for the guards who are doing what soldiers ought to be doing in the first place? (Well, no, they really should be dong peacetime duty back home, but you know what I mean.)
Will she also have federal agents guarding the Blackwater guards who are in charge of guarding the FBI staff sent to investigate them?
VietVet8666 @ 4:
Bullsh*t! Blackwater is a result of incompetent leadership in the White House and Congress.
Oh, and did I say a dumb gullible electorate that continue to support this treasonous bunch of criminals.
Blackwater is not the disease...they're the symptom. The rot is in Washington. We the People(tm) keep hiring these scorpions. We know they're scorpions when we do it.
Well. They might have some worries
Cause there might be some juries, after all.
American Mercenary forces, Wars of choice for Corporate gain, A huge Military industrial Complex tied directly to the Bush family, a Totally incompetent Whitehouse administration, Lap-dog congress, Huge spending out of country, none in country except for Corporate Pork barrel stuff. Closeted Staffers and Child molesters, and a president who can pronounce his most dangerous weapon - the nu cu lur bomb.
I hope this nightmare is over soon, maybe there will be some of America left that isn't in total ruins ................................ or not.
Erroll @ 31:
The bill is not retroactive. The blackwater employee that shot the Iraqi guard is working for another contractor.
But I thought they were being attacked because they vote Republican. Damn liberal military, let's smear them.
Not to worry an "out of context" will follow shortly In fact all these type of reports should be followed by OOC instead of sic. Has any General in Iraq ever been quoted in context before retirement
Oh, and Clinton destroyed our Military remember that one?
VietVet8666 @ 32:
motorfingaz @ 35:
Expand upon your assertion if you want to drop something like that on a thread. I hope you are only trying to provoke a reaction, perhaps make those of us who you deem sheltered from the reality of war examine our own positions more closely?
Fine, I'll play: Seriously, VietVet, that is a false godamn choice. We shouldn't be in Iraq in the first place; that's one. Two, recruitment probably wouldn't be as low as it is if the entire country hadn't been lied to; I'd wager that anyone that was even thinking about signing for duty is thinking it over twice. Blackwater itself is just a great way to divvy out cash to Bush Buddies.
Sorry, VV. That is not the post I wanted to put up! In fact, it is an incomplete thought. Anyway, I had re-examined my answer and wanted to put up something a little less filled with hyberbole! I don't know how that happened.
Apologies!
What I really wanted to say was just this, in reaction to your post @32:
It seems like you are being deliberately mysterious. Maybe you are only trying to provoke a reaction, perhaps examine our own positions and responsibilities as US citizens more closely?
What do you want to say?
File under "cynical profiteering bullshit" and insert into the "Payback's a bitch" file that you and I will be paying for long after Bush goes into exile.
"Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry are said to be proposing to similar legislation in the Senate...."
Yeah... well that virtually guarantees that this "veto-proof legislation" is going to go down in flames.
Finally some good news...finally..
[...] US Military Reports Confirm Unprovoked Blackwater Shooting [...]
www.shadowcompanythemovie.com
VietVet8666 @ 4:
BUZZZ!
Blackwater is the result of a president who wants to privatize every potentially profit making organization in the federal government. Including every branch of the military.
Thanks for playing.
“It was obviously excessive, it was obviously wrong,” said the U.S. military official.........and for anyone who cares to pay attention it is obviously something that is repeated on a daily basis.
It was obvious murder.
Isn't it time to hold the CEOs of corporations responsible for the behaviors of their armed and lethal employees?
Mitch @ 21:
Yeah I blame them. They think they can shoot anything that moves, men women and children. They are thugs and should be put out of business. What will you do if they start shooting up this country and on your street? They think they are above the law just like that nutcase in the white house. They are better armed and better protected then our military. Can you guarantee they will never come here and do the same? They must enjoy killing people, do you think they will stop when they no longer have innocent Iraqi's to use as targets? Do we want them in this country? Not me, there needs to be a huge investigation, a withholding of US taxpayers money from being used to fund these terrorists. This is no more than a renegade militia who does the bidding of this criminal administration. None of them feels the necessity to bother obeying laws either, if they did we wouldn't have a militia funded by our tax money.
How the hell can we say we are fighting terrorists when we have our own terrorist organization. They operate in secret where else in the world? What is the difference between them and Al Quada? One is supposedly Christian and one is Muslim? I see no other differences. How are we to know as well that they have not been behind some of the problems in this country? This administration loves to keep us afraid of more terror attacks.
Erik Prince: nothing would please me more than to see that pissant little fuck behind bars for a good, motherfucking long time.
I saw his quote on Wiki:
So this suckfly takes cash out of the American taxpayer's pocket, but thinks we've got no business seeing what he does with that money?
We're seeing it now, bitch.
Justice has a propensity to get served in most cases, one way or another. I wouldn't be too terribly surprised to hear on the news in 2015 about Eric Princes or some of his "boys" waking up to an "exploding furnace", or getting mysteriously run off the road. At least if they face justice in a courtroom, their families will not be endangered
V V
(Note-I am not ADVOCATING violence.....just observing its propensity to take place)
VietVet8666 @ 4:
That's supposed to be some sort of solution. Accept "the devil". How about, an end to American voter apathy, and encouraging your government to try diplomacy, instead of going world-wide to shoot people up, for more riches.
about dod zamn time.......and bring on the draft.......lets have one.and you know why.
A little comedy from CONSERVAPEDIA:
Blackwater
Blackwater USA is a private security company consisting of professional military, law enforcement, security, peacekeeping, and stability operation personnel. It was founded by a former Navy SEAL in in 1997, and is involved in United States military operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Blackwater was brought into the national spotlight when allegations stated that Blackwater employees had shot innocent civilians during a firefight in Baghdad, Iraq, in September 2007, and that this was a part of a greater problem involving a "cowboy culture" in Iraq. Blackwater founder, Erik Prince, appeared before the United States House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and stating that his company had a "record of honorable service" to the United States.[2] Prince claims that in 16,000 missions in Iraq since 2005, Blackwater contractors have discharged their weapons fewer than 200 times. [3]
Two hundred times-- 200X. Yeah one guy, into one Iraqi car. (see above)
Edwin @ 58:
yeah...but how many rounds......this is such bullshit it's beyond words.
Edwin....no offense.....I got your point...thanks
It's all very telling that the us military is pointing their fingers at blackwater while rushing thru their own investigation into the Haiditha massacre, can anyone say negligent homicide when it's 7 kids, 3 women and a bunch of old people get slaughtered?
No video-- sob. And this looks to be the video of the day (for me anyway).
The size of the hole in that door should tell ya something
Blackwater is the American dream - high pay, the best weapons, no accountability, immunity from prosecution, and a chance to bully anyone you feel like it because you are bigger and stronger; all while patriotically serving the USA!
Is anyone else having trouble downloading this?
LEAVE, BLACKWATER, ALONE, You Bastards :(
Do you remember those movie westerns where the local land baron had his personal civilian army to keep control of the local town and abuse its citizens?
Almost exactly a year ago posse commitatus was abridged to allow the use of our military against us. So now, if our own military was busy elsewhere and could not be used against us in the next state of emergency, the President has a backup to maintain control - Blackwater USA.
Can you spell, T-h-e L-a-n-d B-a-r-r-o-n?
Andy @ 68:
Invade first... look for WMD later, how's that for a parody :)
Erik Prince belongs in Gitmo
Downloads not working....
Yeah,
What Rob says.
VietVet8666 @ 4:
The military does not want a draft, and Blackwater is doing what the USMC has done for DECADES, for pennies on the dollar, and loyal to the UCMJ and the US Constitution -- unlike Blackwater, which is an illegal operation involved in mulitiple warcrimes.
We have had a volunteer military for three decades. Blackwater was founded in 1997. So your argument is UTTER bs.
And, pay even half or a third of what BW does WITH OUR MONEY, and you could have as many USMC as your heart desires. That is, provided the traitor-in-chief is busted and the UCMJ and the Congresional control over war goes back into effect, across the board.
jr @ 70:
He's going to prison.
EJ @ 67:
Learn, the, proper, use, of, the, comma.
Jenger @ 46:
You're slandering people a lot better than you, buddy.
Match even a tenth of what they have done AND WILL DO for the United States and the world and you will be a hero.
JasonS @ 36:
Apparently, Jason, you will never be able to notice that these 'corpians' were NEVER ELECTED.
We the people elected John Kerry in 2004, and Al Gore in 2000. We were robbed, but neither actually-elected president would have invaded Iraq in order to start WWIII.
Congress better do a hell of a lot more than that, if they value their own skins. Blackwater is being fashioned as a neocon private army, and Congress is nuts if they don't think that they themselves can't become targets of the Blackwater mercenaries if the neocons decided it.
This is in large part Congress's fault for allowing funding that "privatized" functions which should never take place outside of government. Those jobs should only be done by uniformed military, the Secret Service or US marshalls.
You create mercenary armies, sooner or later you end up having to fight them. Dumb. Beyond dumb. If the neocons are to complete their totalitarian takeover of the country, they are going to need an army of thugs answerable only to them. Enter Blackwell and other companies like Blackwell.
These people need to be put out of business by being denied any government contracts.
mudshark @ 61:
Sorry mudshark, others, and all. I had meant to "doctor" it up a bit, using quotes and italics etc., but instead clicked "submit comment" by accident. It would have been very clear it was a bunch of mullarky from Phyllis Schlafly's Conservapedia. Sometimes I check to see how they are polluting the minds of the legions of home-schooled red-state children.
My bad. Once you click submit... well you get it. I hope folks here know me better than that by now. I am a (not so) closeted "anarchist". At least I'm extremely anti-authority, and wonder what use "the establishment" is, other than to stroke their own egos (and pistol whip others.)
[PS I teach English overseas. I often use the internet to find teaching exercises and worksheets for my classes. I can't tell you the plethora of "Christian" home-schooling sites that have "popped up" in the last 5 years. They're everywhere; very "red-state" stuff, too. ]
EJ @ 67:
We will leave them alone when they are disbanded. We are not a country of thugs!
Hillary would use Blackwater.
She is an ends-justify-the-means person
___________________________________________
What an asshole!
'Blackwater is a result of the all-volunteer army.
Don’t want a draft?
Then accept Blackwater.'
What the Hell are you talking about? Without a draft, the US MUST EMPLOY MERCENARIES?
Right; and let us know when Elvis gets here.
for some reason the video links will not work? have you been issued with a dmca notice or somthing?
I predict a signing statement on this one, preventing any sort of investigation into Blackwater.
and be prepared when they come home. The Iraq war is just their bootcamp and a means to build up their arsenal using taxpayers money. After the army is completely broken, and america goes into a depression, Blackwater will be the muscle behind Cheney's war on americans.
When I read about Blackwater in Iraq, I wonder about the conduct of other security firms working stateside. Is there a larger problem with poor oversight, lack of random audits, and perception by security personnel that nobody can question them? State auditors ahve the power to investigate Blackwater-like problems with other security firms.
KF @ 84:
Could be a state's rights issue. Recall, the State AG's have filed suit to ivnestigate the NSA and telecoms; the President may "not want" an investigation, but there are 50 State AG's who have the power, and some who have shown the practice, of getting judicial support to challenge the President's decisions. How this plays out at the State level, or whether State AGs and auditors choose to audit/review Blackwater-like security firms in their own states remains to be seen. The President does not have the court support to block state action to ensure the US government complies with State citizens' rights.
Paul in LA @ 77:
Yes, unelected security firms are the problem: They provide security services not just in Iraq, but also for various state, local, and other federal requirements. Please encourage your Member of Congress to broadly review the Blackwater-like entities that appear to be operating by the same Blackwater rules: Less than stellar regard for professional standards of conduct; creative use of questionable practices to carrry out improper activity.
Paul in LA @ 73:
Do not agree withyou that this is "pennies on the dollar"; the opposite appears to be true: Despite spending more money, the discipline of the contractors is below what is needed. Makes no sense to spend more money, and then causing a greater backlash against the US. Foreign fighters do not care whether the security is by the marines or a contractor -- they are American.
L.A. Confidential @ 3:
You hit the nail on the head; and your concern is not speculaitve, but real: These firms are returning to the US and do provide security. The issue is whether Blackwater's problems are part of a larger problem with poor oversight by the US government. State had a problem overweeing Blackwater in Iraq; what kinds of problems does DHS have with transportation-related security firms like Wakenhut?
VietVet8666 @ 4:
No, we can accept "better oversight of Blackwater" as the standard. Blackwater can go away or stay; but it needs more involved management.
Ultimately, it's not going to matter since:
1) Bush runs the Justice Dept with an iron fist. He's actually stated on more than one occasion that certain people aren't going to be prosecuted no matter what
2) If it passes, he'll just issue a signing statement saying that he can damn well ignore the law.
sundog @ 7:
Will be interesting to see which private security firms would be employed to implement martial law, run the DHS detention camps, and do things that US troops are prohibited from doing under Posse Comitatus. It would appear to be the ripe time to ask what the US government plans to do -- by way of using these allegedly reckless private security firms -- to implement the still-secret continuity in government plan that Cheney/Bush won't let Members of Congress see. We saw how quickly the Patriot Act was ramrodded through, and NSL's abused. What's the plan of the President and Cheney -- and Congress for that matter -- to "appeal to the confusion and crisis" as an excuse to not oversee Blackwater-like firms used during a domestic rebellion, insurrection, or other local disturbance? It would be good to get this issues on the table now. Can't argue that they are "not foreseeable" as we're talking about them now.
Warmer @ 91:
I appreciate your concern that "it won't matter" with the implicit assumption that the US Congress and US government have failed and proved itself incompetent. However, I ask that you not lose hope; and consider there are state-level elected officials like your state auditor and State Attorney General and legislators who might be marginally more responsive than your Members of Congress. Indeed, the states have proven a formidable check on this President's FISA violations, taking the lead to litigate NSA violations. Yes, the President may be over the DOJ, but he is not over all States. Further, may I kindly remind all readers, that "refusing to prosecute" when one should is not simply an issue of discretion, but obstruction of justice. Those who have a duty to act, but refuse, can be charged with oath of office violations and charged with malfeasance. Yes, the President may "say" that he can ignore the law; but this signing statement is not policy, but evidence of his decision to not fully defend the Constitution. The President, Congress and State leadership see what is going on; the question is whether Congress can continue to delude the American public to make them believe that "inaction is the standard" when inaction can be prosecuted, especially when it comes to issues of alleged war crimes which Members of Congress did not timely prevent. If you attempt to discuss this issue with others at the State level, but are not given a timely response, I encourage you to let C&L readers know your efforts. Thank you for coming forward.
Edwin @ 79:
Thank you for your work in teaching English. I speak only for myself, but if you or your students have a particluar concern with the English you are reading from me as it relates to Blackwater and the security issues discussed here, feel free to make suggestions; and I will be willing to improve my comments on these security issues for all C&L readers.
As to your overall comment: Anti-authority may not necessarily be the "right lablel" -- the concern I detect is more with being "pro-common sense." Something sorely lacking within the American leadership, despite the changes in party control.
Straight Shooter @ 24:
Alexander disappoints me immensely. I used to think he was a different kind of republican. What was I thinking?
Top reasons Blackwater kills innocent people.
1. They think they can.
2. They know they can.
3. They can get away with it.
4. They are killers.
5. They get paid big bucks to kill.
6. They are little boys who feel like men by shooting unarmed people.
7. They are scared to death, and scared people do scary things.
8. Its good practice.
9. They are in training and they have been told to do this.
10. They think its fun......
Iraq is a great training ground for them. In fact the more they are deployed over there the more competent they will be when they are deployed against the American people, whom they are ultimately meant to be used against.
Bush and company will keep the real US armed forces deployed overseas so when the ultimate coup and Marshall law is announced, military rule will be enforced by mercs and UN troops, because they know that our volunteer armed forces, though willing to fight and kill overseas may balk at fighting and killing their next-door neighbors. Mercs like Blackwater on the other-hand who fight, not for the ideals of freedom but for money, and UN troops filled with foreign nationals will have no compunction against killing the US people.
I heard Blackwater is hiring.
There, now you have your evidence. Why was it impossible for you to copy the republicans and spit your venom before the evidence was in? You could have appeared to be a true, responsible liberal by waiting until there was some objective evidence. You are killing our party, and you are too stupid to realize it.
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