Iraqi Investigators Say Blackwater Guards Fired Unprovoked

Associated Press:

Iraqi investigators have a videotape that shows Blackwater USA guards opened fire against civilians without provocation in an incident last week in which 11 people died, a senior Iraqi official said Saturday. He said the case had been referred to the Iraqi judiciary.

Iraq's president, meanwhile, demanded that the Americans release an Iranian arrested this week on suspicion of smuggling weapons to Shiite militias. The demand adds new strains to U.S.-Iraqi relations only days before a meeting between President Bush and Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Read the whole story: Associated Press

Comments

[mcqball]

Blackwater protects our diplomats? But we have been at war in Iraq for over 4 years and I have not seen a single mention - coming from Iraq - of a truce, cease fire, cessation of hostilities, armistice, peace initiative, peace or similar move toward ending of the war. My conclusion is that we have no diplomats there.

[getoffmedz]

This military contractor crap although true is just MSM cover-up for the fact al Sadr now controls all of Baghdad except the U.S. fortress there.

Bush/Cheney are buying time to LOSE, gracefully, without losing face.

Our troops are dying FOR NOTHING! And Fake Republican obstructionist traitors in Congress are killing them.

[charon]

I bet Maliki is ready to invite his buds in Iran to help him destroy the Sunni as soon as he can get the US out of Iraq, and then the Shi'a empire will be twice as big--and poised to take control of the oil-rich region, while the US, exhausted and broke after a fruitless half decade in Iraq, is too weak to defend its interests in the area.

[Gonzalez]

My money is on nothing coming out of this issue. The republicans will stay in their corrupt ways and the democrats still haven't found the courage to investigate. All Bush has to say is "support the troops" and the democrats will cave - again!.

[AceInTheHole]

What else should we expect from the Devil's crew, ring around the rosies?

[factanonverba]

I was shocked to learn that there are 180,000 "security contractors," mercenaries no matter how you look at them, while there are 170,000 US military personnel. It does thus occur to me that if we disengage from Iraq, we will still have a pernicious presence in Iraq. As the Iraqi decided to expel Blackwater USA, the top echelons of the US government in desperate fashion placed calls to PM al-Maliki and forced him to overturn his decision. So is calling the shots in Iraq? The Iraqi government is told what legislation it should pass and who is allowed in their country. It is told that they desire an "ever-lasting" relationship with the United States. The fallacy that there is a democracy in Iraq is thread-bare while ours hangs by a thread.

[Crozier]

LET ME BE CLEAR: THE UNITED STATES TAXPAYER IS PAYING MORE FOR FASCIST RIGHT WING THUGS ON THEIR PAYROLL THAN THEY DO US SOLDIERS THEY PURPORT TO SUPPORT AND LOVE.

THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE GOVERNS THE ACTIONS OF AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL. THE THUGS ARE ABOVE THE LAW. GOT IT....

[cdnnewsjunky]

That fallacy, should America decide to stay in Iraq, will eventually lead to "Iraq Amercia Held Hostage Day 253".

The reaction of course, will be, gee how could that of happened. Our sociopathic right-wing politicians believe in consequences don't they?

[bullypulpit]

This is a bigger story than the media has realized. No surprise there. Yet this may be the incident that galvanizes Iraqi civilian resistance as they find that their government is impotent and servile. The US will be forced to admit its occupation forces are precisely that, and all this talk about sovereignty has been a lie.

Iraq is in the hands of thugs, protecting thugs from other thugs. Let's leave, please.

[PODdem]

We must quit refering to them a Contractors and call them what they are "MERCENARIES" so it will sink into the sheeples thick skulls so they realize what is going on here. "MERCENARI­ES""MERCEN­ARIES""MER­CENARIES""­MERCENARIE­S"

[consrevil]

Your right...ju­st had my kitchen remodeled and none of my contractors were toating AK-47's.

[PODdem]

HIRED GUNS..."ME­RCENARIES"­...HIRED GUNS..."ME­RCENARIES"­HIRED GUNS..."ME­RCENARIES"­HIRED GUNS..."ME­RCENARIES"­HIRED GUNS..."ME­RCENARIES"­HIRED GUNS..."ME­RCENARIES"

[kfdan]

These days you can't get away with much bull if a video confirms the reality. It will be interesting to see how the spin goes when the images flow!

[consrevil]

Can you say "Photoshop" ?

[consrevil]

Will these be the first Americans put on trial in Iraq, and subjected to Iraqi justice?

[hugs4u]

The world court needs to put bush, cheney, blackwater thugs, rumsfeld, and Gonzo all on trial for war crimes.

[Crozier]

At 12:01PM, after President Hillary Rodham Clinton is sworn in, the Bush Cabal will be out of office and private citizens. They will rush to their helicopters and fly off to their estates in Paraguay.

It may take years, and the winds must change in a world fed up with a return to Fascist corporatist regimes.

Then, maybe justice can be served with criminal trials at the International Court at the Hague.

I think that Rudolf Hess received the just sentence. Life sentences for these fascists is better than swift execution for war crimes against humanity.

[rovezaleeker]

Oh, come on now. You can't possibly believe this. That would be like saying that the most powerful nation in the world would attack a third world nation with no air force and no navy that posed no threat and kill hundreds of thousands of the civilians of that country. Wait, uh....neve­r mind.

[StillAmused]

It'll take a while, but there's gonna be one hell of an accounting for Junior's toxic presidency and his neocon atrocity in Iraq.

... and there WILL be film at 11:00.

[AceInTheHole]

YES INDEED, THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOGJAM OF ALL OF THESE MISCREANTS, HEADING FOR HELL AFTER THIS CRAP IS OVER.

[AceInTheHole]

One can not help but believe that in due time, justice will be served, when these bullies meet their Waterloo someday. Because in the total history of the world, there has never been a bully or a bullie's government, that has succeeded with impunity.

[Veleria29]

Justice cannot come too soon for me. What can you expect from a company connected to the Bush family. We invaded Iraq without a reason and the Blackwater bunch shot into the citizens of Iraq without a reason.

[Gonzalez]

Their is no Justice anymore under Bush. Just look at what is going on in the States.

[ProfessorDuh]

A friend of mine wrote this bit of inspiration:

A Republican Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5: 3-12)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Republican version: Blessed are the simpletons, for theirs is the presidency.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Republican version: Blessed are they who succeed, for there is no comfort for losers.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.
Republican version: Blessed are the brazen, for they shall possess the media.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.
Republican version: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for no-bid contracts, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Republican version: Blessed are the self-righteous, for they are above the law.
Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
Republican version: Blessed are the crafters of attack ads, for they shall see victory.
Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Republican version: Blessed are the fearmongers, for theirs is the electorate.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Republican version: Blessed are the warmongers, for they shall be called employees of Blackwater.