Blackwater Incident "Worse Than Abu Ghraib"

Washington Post:

A confrontation between the U.S. military and the State Department is unfolding over the involvement of Blackwater USA in the shooting deaths of Iraqi civilians in a Baghdad square Sept. 16, bringing to the surface long-simmering tensions between the military and private security companies in Iraq, according to U.S. military and government officials.

In high-level meetings over the past several days, U.S. military officials have pressed State Department officials to assert more control over Blackwater, which operates under the department's authority, said a U.S. government official with knowledge of the discussions. "The military is very sensitive to its relationship that they've built with the Iraqis being altered or even severely degraded by actions such as this event," the official said.

"This is a nightmare," said a senior U.S. military official. "We had guys who saw the aftermath, and it was very bad. This is going to hurt us badly. It may be worse than Abu Ghraib, and it comes at a time when we're trying to have an impact for the long term." The official was referring to the prison scandal that emerged in 2004 in which U.S. soldiers tortured and abused Iraqis.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[realitytrumpsbull]

10:39 AM on 09/27/2007

Say it all in one word: Impeach.

[Balzac]

03:16 PM on 09/27/2007

Impeachment = Freedom.
Impeachment = Freedom.
Impeachment = Freedom.
Impeachment = Freedom.

[Captain EdwardGraham]

09:43 AM on 09/27/2007

Angelina Jolie criticises Iraq war spending
AFP via Yahoo! News - Sep 27 2:01 AM Hollywood star Angelina Jolie called for the world to get its "priorities in order" Wednesday, saying that the amount of money spent in Iraq in just a few hours could educate thousands of children.

[dirtyrearend]

02:14 AM on 09/27/2007

And they will get away with all their shit. Waxman might as well just quit playing. He knows his hearings all end up in the shitter. Why you ask. The dems got no balls. They are just playing for the cameras

[anIndependent]

05:58 PM on 09/26/2007

It sounds like the State dept is being un-American, and appears unwilling to support the troops.

[hugs4u]

07:19 PM on 09/26/2007

The leader of Blackwater is probably a good buddy to gw bush like the hunt oil company owner is.
gw protects his buddies.

[rdowli]

08:25 PM on 09/26/2007

All I ask is that you tell me your response is satire.

[Captain EdwardGraham]

05:36 PM on 09/26/2007

09/26/07 aransaspassprogress: Local soldier injured in Iraq
Marine Cpl. Lonny Medina was injured in Iraq two weeks ago when a 700 lb. door slammed into his knees. Lonny Medina, who enlisted in the Marines in 2004, was taken by a HELO helicopter to a hospital in Iraq where he is being treated by navy personnel.

Question: Why did this 700 lb. door slam into his knees?

[Norge]

05:00 PM on 09/26/2007

Jeremy Scahills' excellent new book published in 2007 titled "Blackwater,the rise of the world's most powerful mercenary arm" published by -nation books- is a fine read. It is well researched and documented giving detailed insight into the beginings and origins of blackwater, the political affiliations, religious support system and related groups
connected to the executive structure of the organization and detailed information about the interconnected relationship between Blackwater and the American government (state department and pentagon).

Also the book details areas of the world where Blackwater recruits its guns for hire.

Have a nice day.

[rdowli]

08:35 PM on 09/26/2007

Scenario for 2008: Sometime in middle to late summer, perhaps early fall, a "terrorist attack" occurs, allowing Bush to suspend the elections in the name of "national security", and take the control of the government via the "National Security Presidential Directive/NSPD 51" and "Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-20", released by the WH May 9th of this year. Considering the huge detention centers being constructed by Halliburton and Blackwater in the US, does anyone else find this a little disturbing? Now, wouldn't THAT be an interesting nightmare?

http://planetquo.com/Concentration-Camps-In-America

[mrcontinental]

03:29 PM on 09/26/2007

"The military is very sensitive to its relationship that they've built with the Iraqis being altered or even severely degraded by actions such as this event,"

The military didn't have a problem UNTIL all the quality combat NCO's and officers started a mass exodus to the incredibly lucrative Blackwater side of the house.

Hell they offered me a contract worth $20,000 per month open ended (Of course I have a rather rare skill set) but the average grunt can still make $10,000 per month straight up.

There are things going on in Iraq than would give you nightmares.

[dBlogger]

04:25 PM on 09/26/2007

Yes, of course the Blackwater mess is bigger than Abu Ghraib. These private contractors represent an army larger than the combined US Military forces, and they have no accountability, they run-amok as they please.

I don't know why HuffPo isn't SCREAMING about this, and why the other print/broadcast/web media is being equally skittish. Have we given up on being a democratically run country?

[dadw5boys]

04:33 PM on 09/26/2007

BRING HOME THE U.S. MILITARY let BLACK WATER deal with the mess they create.
U.S. Soldiers have been attacked too long by people BLACK WATER has harmed.

DISASTER CAPITALISM!
OUT SOURSCING OF THE U.S. FORGIEN POLICY WITH A PRIVATE ARMY!

[mrcontinental]

04:52 PM on 09/26/2007

Blackwater is here to stay I'm afraid. They have many friends in high places who will ensure that they do.

Wait until they get their "air force" up and running and they start covert op missions into Iran. Then you'll see some fireworks

[TJTelecaster]

02:07 PM on 09/26/2007

If the State Dept. is seen as a murdering out of control source of violence and danger for civilians in Iraq and by Iraqi's then who's gonna negotiate the diplomatic solution..?

Condi is a disaster the worst, she fucked up 9/11 and, the 9/11 commission let her sit there and lie..!

Let her go ruin The NFL but get her out of Government...

We had Gen. Colin Powell now we need him more than ever and Bush puts him on the side line..

[bookish]

02:34 PM on 09/26/2007

I was a fan of Powell, but he lost his credibility. He's out. Yes, too bad: we did need him.

[mrcontinental]

03:12 PM on 09/26/2007

It was a setup. He was much to dangerous to them, he had those pesky character traits of integrity and honesty. Totally unacceptable to them.

[tlcutter]

09:12 PM on 09/26/2007

nananananananana.

[TWOSHORT]

01:53 PM on 09/26/2007

It's ether Blackwater's 180'000 merk along side of our 130'000 in uniform or the Draft that REP CHARLIE RANGEL knew we needed down the road.If you are a Rep the Draft is a NO!NO!War ended no more money for all those Military Contractor's that who pick's?Kick back's must be in the work's.Poor when entering office very RICH when leaving office ask Condie Rice the shoe lady

[Ginzaman]

01:12 PM on 09/26/2007

NPR is JUST NOW discovering this?

[Marlyn]

04:13 PM on 09/26/2007

Don't expect anything from NPR. They have been taken over too.

[MikeMidCity]

12:39 PM on 09/26/2007

If we can't get Blackwater why then yes. If Blackwater is committing crimes against humanity but is immune from prosecution, then legally, their employer (that's you and me by way of our out of control government.), should be held accountable.

If the head of such an administration or agency can not be held responsible why? Would immunity from prosecution by government agents hold up when they act in an illegal manner outside of the scope of their duties?

I AM SICK OF CRIMINALS ACTING IN MY NAME AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. This is not my country, these are not my people.

We need to get rid of this fascist government in the next election, God willing and Diebold allowing, then prosecute every criminal act taken in this last cabal's administration.

Perhaps if we can put our own house back in order we may still regain our status as the most admired country instead of the most feared.

[Marlyn]

04:17 PM on 09/26/2007

"I AM SICK OF CRIMINALS ACTING IN MY NAME AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN."
Impeach Now. HR 333 Cheney first.

"God willing and Diebold allowing" ???
God doesn't exist and Republicans cheat using those electronic voting machines that provide NO WAY to verify the tally.

[tlcutter]

09:16 PM on 09/26/2007

What the hell is wrong w/ you. "If WE cant get blackwater"? Blackwater is providing a service to our soldiers, american contracyors and diplomats. What side are you pulling for. It is obvious that it is not the Americans you are concerned about.

[wordvarc]

12:26 PM on 09/26/2007

w's neocon 'privatizatiion' dogma has doubled my electric bill.

But much worse, it gave us Aby Gharib, Blackwater, and the monolithic corporate contracts that are the only momentum behind continued war in Iraq and begs for war with Iran in order to privatize the region's oil.

Hundreds of billions of your taxpayer money is being paid to create and sustain these rogue corporations. They are accountable to no one. The honor and pride instilled in our military is laughed at, despised, or ignored by these very high paid goons.

Check out the outrageous fraud, waste, and corruption as w attempts to privatize the mnilitary's satillite programs. The fraud was reported throigh the chain all the way to Rumsfeld where it was squelched.

.

[tlcutter]

09:17 PM on 09/26/2007

boo hoo

[duridu55]

12:17 PM on 09/26/2007

Only a corporation this pure, this Christian and Free of Homosexuals could have provided security for President Ahmadinejad yesterday.

[kittycago]

12:04 PM on 09/26/2007

http://oversight.house.gov/contact.asp


contact Waxman's committee that has oversight and tell them to DEFUND THE MERC's

[criscokid]

12:03 PM on 09/26/2007

Maybe those in the white house press corps should be asking: "If the surge is working, as the President, General Patraeus, and Ambassador Crocker all claim, why is it still necessary to retain the services of a militia group such as Blackwater, who does not abide by the military code of ethics and who has immunity from Iraqi law?" Afterall, the president is planning on sending some of the troops home by Christmas. Why can't our own military provide escorts for U.S. delegates in Iraq?

We already know the answer, but wouldn't it be fun to pull the strings of the white house puppets for awhile?

[Marlyn]

04:20 PM on 09/26/2007

Even General Petraeus uses Blackwater as his personal bodyguard.

DON'T YOU FIND THAT ODD?

[mrcontinental]

04:56 PM on 09/26/2007

They can shot at will. They don't have the liability of "rules of engagement".

[tlcutter]

09:19 PM on 09/26/2007

No not really. If you had any understanding of what was going on you would not ask such a stupid question.